By Charm Plankovich March 15, 2021
If you’ve noticed that the Garveys bats have come alive lately, you are not the only one. In fact, the league is literally buzzing at the jaw-dropping numbers being generated across the Garveys lineup over the last two games during which they have pounded in 18 runs. These numbers are truly astounding during a season in which teams had been averaging fewer than 4 runs a game up to this point. “It’s as simple as putting wood to leather, that’s what I have been trying to stress this season. You put wood on leather and make the other team make the play” said manager Steve Garvey after the most recent game against the reigning champion Stank Hams. “We are patient and we make them (opposing team) work and sooner or later they are going to make a mistake and we score runs” finished Garvey as he left the room to take a call from a team prospect coach Gregg Smiley.
The story was a little different in the clubhouse among Garvey hitters regarding the recent offensive success “I was listening to Niedy (pitching coach Tom Niedenfuer) and he was saying ‘Swing at everything! … Swing at everything!’ and I told that to some of the guys and that’s what we did, we just started swinging at everything instead of waiting for the mistake pitch like we had been doing” said first basemen Yuri Gurriel. The data backs it up as Garvey hitters power numbers have accelerated at a blazing pace. “Yuri”, broke in the soft spoken Garveys catcher Mitch Garver “sorry to break it to you man, but actually Niedy was talking to the pitchers, I was in that meeting, it was a pitcher’s meeting and he was telling them that they need to get the opposing batters to swing at everything. I saw you walk by during that meeting.” finished Garver.
One of the Garveys who has taken the ‘Swing At Everything’ mantra to heart is right fielder Mitch Haniger, who is the current BatBreaker home run leader. “Hani has just looked… different lately” mused Steve Garvey as he continued our conversation after his phone call in which he called up second base prospect Joey Wendell to provide backup to the still ailing Dee Gordon. “I can’t put my finger on it” finished Garvey as he entered the front office closing the door behind him. “I’m swinging at almost every pitch” said Haniger “Yuri told me to”. It appears to be working for him.
Charm Plankovich has been a reporter for BatBreaker since 2018.