The Jays batting philosophy has taken such a different (horrid) approach this season as past years
In the past there was a lot of swing and miss and a lot of power . This year there is a lot of weak contact and putting the ball in play
But you know what else there is ? A lot of weak contact at balls out of the strike zone .
This is an issue for two reasons - One it is almost always an out . Two sometimes it is better to miss a pitch that’s not a strike completely (especially if not strike 3)
How many times have we seen weak contact in a 2-0 or 3-1 count ? It is better to take an aggressive extra bases swing in these situations and completely miss the ball then put it in play weakly.
Now my theory on the Jays hitting “well” with no runners on and so poorly with RISP - The other teams know what their approach is . They will allow them to get weak contact and put the ball in play early in an inning . A single ? Oh we’ll no damage . Next batter can also put it in play weakly. Can get quick double plays or quick outs . They know relatively speaking the Jays aren’t hitting for power or stealing. You can allow some weak single , opposite field singles . They don’t hurt you .
Roy Halliday strategy . Force a team to string 3 singles in a row (or 4 if Kirk starts it off)
Then when runners get into scoring position the pitchers bare down and exploit our hitters weaknesses.
I have never seen a team miss so many good hittable pitches in my life . And my only explanation is the hitters are being too defensive to put the ball in play Vs attacking to do damage
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