Just watching some video of Austin Hedges on a Monday

by jbox on Jan 16, 2012 9:39 AM PST

I'm watching some YouTube videos of Austin Hedges hitting in a batter's cage. Is that what you call it? Batter's cage? That doesn't sound right. Batting cage. I think that's it.

Dex reminds me that Austin Hedges is the catcher the Padres picked in the second round. People thought he was unsignable because of his bonus demands. That's why he dropped to the second round. The Padres scoffed at the thought that anyone was unsignable. So what did they do? They signed him, they signed the hell out of him.

Now all they have to do is put him through years of regimented training, watch him blossom into a man, promote him as a player of the future with the All-Star potential and then trade him away before he has a chance to make an impact. Right Padres fans?

It feels so naughty when people film with their iPhone upright. It makes me feel like a voyeur. It's like I'm hiding, peeking out of a door and just seeing a sliver of what's going on. Perhaps touching myself all the while. I digress...

Professional baseball players swing so hard, but make it look effortless. I bet I could swing with all my might and still not even approach their bat speed. I think the better you are the more effortless it looks. Like if you could see me blogging right now you'd see me in my pajamas, smoking a Newport cigarette -- effortless.

One time we saw Adrian Gonzalez in the cage one time and that dude looked flat out lazy but the sound of the crack of the bat sounded like a small caliber gun shot.

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I'm excited about Hedges

Everyone is in love with his glove and I’ve read mixed thoughts on his bat. Although I heard that he had a very impressive batting practice at Petco and did alright in his rookie debut.

Even though Grandal is a few years ahead of Hedges, if Hedges progresses, it would be great to have some depth at catcher. At the point of Hedges being ready for the big boy club, I could see us shipping Grandal out as Hedges would be cheaper at that point. But now I’m just getting too far ahead.

GO Friars

by mrbarneydangles on Jan 16, 2012 12:25 PM PST reply actions

Also

Anyone know where he’s going to start next year? Hopefully they stick him at Ft Wayne.

GO Friars

by mrbarneydangles on Jan 16, 2012 12:25 PM PST reply actions

Long swing.

Fire Bud Black.
Show me a good loser, and I'll show you a loser. -- Vince Lombardi

by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 16, 2012 12:48 PM PST reply actions

beat me to it...

On the other hand, you have different fingers.

by Hormel on Jan 16, 2012 1:09 PM PST up reply actions

Brad ausmus II???

anyone else get that sense?

by iheartyourfart on Jan 16, 2012 1:33 PM PST via Android app reply actions

Brad had a calmer advance towards the ball when he'd swing.

Austin needs to wait a bit longer on his swing, let the ball get a bit deeper so he can shorten it up a little bit.

I do see the similarities though.

"There are two great tragedies in life: One is not getting what one wants; the other is getting it."

"I like to consider the padres' team as a microcosm, or symbolic representation of my daily endeavor towards inner salvation." — Mysterious Cloaked Padre Fan

by podpeople on Jan 16, 2012 1:54 PM PST up reply actions

I like what I see.

Look at the first few swings. He’s much quicker to the ball. He starts to extend when the ball slips out of the zone, which is okay. That’s what you have to do. The long swing hurts you when they start pitching up and in and you can’t catch up like Rizzo. Hedges automatically adjusts depending on pitch location. That’s a real good sign. It might be his talent to do so. If he stays quick to the fastballs and drops the bat head on breaking balls he’ll be fine.

"When you find your way. Then you see it disappear."

by padmadfan on Jan 16, 2012 6:46 PM PST reply actions 1 recs

Newport?

Seems like you’d be smoking these:

www.FriarsOnCardboard.blogspot.com
"jbox does not drink coffee, as it makes him clean house big time." ~Kev

by TheThinGwynn on Jan 16, 2012 9:04 PM PST reply actions

I'm just happy that we're drafting baseball players and not fielding used car salesmen.

I may have gone 0-4, but I’ve got a pretty good deal on a ’88 Cadillac that you might be interested in. Meet me behind the stadium after the game.