The offensive deluge of the first two months of the baseball calendar has been replaced with a dribble in June. Through May, the Braves were second in home runs, third in batting average, slugging, wRC+ and xwOBA. And they were way out in front. In June, they are 27th in batting average, 28th in slugging, 29th in xwOBA, tied for last in home runs and last in wRC+. A team that was attacking pitches in the heart of the plate are taking many of those now.
On the other hand, the number of injuries is
more than you can count on one hand. Ronald Acuña Jr is away until the All-Star Break. Michael Harris II has fought back issues. Sean Murphy has played four games. Drake Baldwin hurt his oblique and hasn’t looked the same since. Eli White visited the concussion list. And Ha-Seong Kim’s season has yet to get off the ground after cutting his hand open during the offseason.
I’ve honestly heard worse ideas than adding a new hitting coach. I think it’s interesting that Mauricio Dubon has a 145 wRC+ in June before last night’s game. We know he spent time with Chipper Jones in the offseason. But I don’t know that you can ignore the injuries either. I’m not convinced that Ha-Seong Kim is fully healthy. He has no power right now and I don’t think it’s fully an approach issue.
Does Tim Hyers need to go? I’ve seen that suggested here and various places. Let’s talk about it then.
