Aybar searching for balance in lead role

Mamba · Apr 30, 2010

When Erick Aybar became the Angels' leadoff hitter this season, he took on a new role: juggler.

In the leadoff spot, Aybar is expected to serve as an advance scout for the middle of the lineup, working counts and forcing pitchers to show their cards. At the same time, he needs to provide a spark to the offense, something the 26-year-old switch-hitter can probably do best at this point in his career by being aggressive at the plate.

So far, the balancing act has produced mixed results. Aybar leads the Angels in runs scored (14) and is second on the team in walks (10, one behind Hideki Matsui).

But Aybar is also tied for second on the team in strikeouts with 18 (one behind Brandon Wood) and is batting just .256, well below the team-leading .312 last season that led the Angels to believe he was ready to replace Chone Figgins at the top of the lineup.

At times, it has seemed as if Aybar has gone too far in trying to be the deep-count, patient-approach leadoff hitter and lost some of his own game in the process.

"I think he's growing into some things," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said before giving Aybar a day off on Sunday. "There's an evolution that goes on with a young player. You talk about them adjusting to the major leagues and establishing themselves at this level – that's one thing. When you're asking them to switch to a different role, I think there's another adjustment period that has to go on.

"He's getting on base and scoring some runs and that's what you want from a leadoff guy. ... I think he's learning a little about that (the balance between working counts and not losing your aggressiveness). It's translating into more walks and more strikeouts. At times, he's gotten a little too passive. I think you'd rather him understand the importance of working counts and add more balance moving forward."

Working counts means getting into deeper counts, and, inevitably, that means hitting in more two-strike counts.

Aybar is averaging a career-high 3.92 pitches per plate appearance so far this season. As a result, though, he found himself hitting with two strikes 40 times in his first 90 plate appearances. He has reached base just eight times in those situations (five hits, three walks) while striking out those 18 times.

"When you're working counts, you'd better have a comfort zone to hit with two strikes," Scioscia said, giving Aybar credit for making some progress on developing a two-strike approach.

"I think he is. He is understanding working counts. His history was he would expand (his strike zone) a lot. We're seeing less and less of that so we're seeing progress with that."

Aybar admits he is searching for that balance but doesn't believe he has sacrificed his game in the process.

"I don't take away my aggressiveness," he said. "I don't want to strike out too much but it's my responsibility to work the count, see some pitches for the guys behind him and that (striking out) happens some times.

"You strike out more because you take more pitches. That's part of the game."

Ultra-patient veteran Bobby Abreu has been Aybar's go-to mentor in this part of the game. He gave Aybar some feedback last weekend that sent the young hitter to the video room to watch tape of his 2009 at-bats.

"I was telling him this weekend that he needs to be more aggressive – not aggressive with the count, aggressive with his swing," Abreu said. "I thought he was just slapping at the ball, just trying to put it in play. I told him, 'Don't slap the ball. If you decide to swing, be aggressive.'

"He's going to work counts. He understands that's part of his job. But at the same time, he's got to be aggressive. Pitchers have to know, 'If you throw it right there, I'm going to hack and I'm going to make you pay.' "

Armed with that advice, Aybar hit a home run on the second pitch of the first inning after his day off.

"He's a good listening guy," Abreu said. "He wants to learn, he wants to get better.

"To me, the first month, he was trying to do too much. That set his approach a little off line. He just needs to make a little adjustment – keep working counts but at the same time, still be aggressive.

"He's going to get it. To me? May is going to be a good month for him. I feel it. You watch."
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http://www.ocregister.com/sports/aybar-246580-counts-aggressive.html

Mamba · Apr 30, 2010

I like Aybar in the lead off role, but it is going to take awhile to him to get used to taking pitches. He is an aggressive hitter who usually doesn't K much, which is nice. Having him take a lot of pithces is something that might take awhile for him to adjust to.

huevonkiller · May 1, 2010

Has a lot of runs at least.

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Aybar searching for balance in lead role

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