“He swung at fewer pitches in the strike zone. When he was ahead, this led to more walks. When he was behind, this led to more strikeouts than in the past.”

I recall Keith, Ron & Gary were jumping out of their seats when Duda would allow a first-pitch fastball split the plate without taking a hack. I wonder whether Hudgens hitting philosophy – trying to drive a pitchers pitch count up by working the count – affected him there.

I think Duda needs to think less and swing more a hittable pitches and the rest will work itself out. He’s a really good hitter, an under-rated outfielder and has a sound, workmanlike approach.

With Lucas in left field and Andrew Brown in right field, our corner OF positions are currently under-rated and could be the source of substantial contributions at the plate and, in Brown’s case, in the OF. We’ll see what becomes of CF.

One thing I do know is that the virus known as Bay-Torres that swarmed over the club last year has lifted, and players roles will be a little more simplified. That can only help as a young outfield tries to establish its own identity.

But once his focus on that is gone and he is where he wants to be on the BA side he will then relax and be able to take the cuts that can drive the ball out…

His size is perfect for a 30+ HR guy….

I think Ike will be focused on the same thing which is why I predict his decline as well but your not OVER ESTIMATING what Duda is capable of…. just that I think this year he will have other priorities that will take away from his HR totals.

Great point on the 40 homer mark. I think we are still using the juiced scale when it comes to what we expect from some hitters. That is why I’m a bit uneasy about projecting 40 fingers from Ike.

His issue last year was BA….Not the HRs…

BA and HRs are usually a balancing act…The Higher the BA the fewer the HRs and the reverse….

To have the high BA you need more bat control to get more HRs you need to swing a little more freely….

I suspect Duda will concentrate more on the BA and not take the sweeping power cuts to get there….Work on contact and bat control more, and the HRs will be fewer….

I suspect the same thing with Ike this year…I doubt he hits 32 HRs as his focus will be on the BA and once he has it only THEN will he loosen up and start hitting bombs again…

SO I project both (considering what they will be concentrating on improving from last year) will wind up in the 25 HR range and if they start off hot and get that BA up and keep it by the time July hits they could go as high as 30 with the majority of them coming later in the season.

2011
He hit .316 with a .380 OBP (3 HRs) as a 1B….
Hit .353 with a .421 OBP (1 HR) as a PH…

Hit .231 with a .267 OBP (2 HRs) as a LF
Hit .268 with a .364 OBP as a RF (where he had 11 more PA than at 1st and hit most of his HRs with 6)

He started off hot when playing 1B and as soon as he had to field a more difficult position his BA dropped .048 but the HRs increased. And Most of them came in August right after he started in RF and was still hot from his time at 1B….

The fielding took away focus, wore him out, whatever…
He was much better when he was at 1B and sad to say he has no place to pley there….

If he can get somewhere between the 1B and RF numbers (July and August) while playing the OF he will be fine and probably hit close to 25 HRs. He hit 15 in half a season last year and when did we send him down?

Right around the time he got hot in 2011….August!