Derek Jeter put in some extra work with hitting coach Kevin Long and has some good results to show for it. Jeter has an 11-game hitting streak and is starting to drive the ball again. According to Ben Shpigel in the Times:
“Lately, what you’ve seen is a guy whose head is staying still,” Long said before Wednesday’s game against the Rays. “He’s much more direct to the baseball.”
The primary change involved shortening Jeter’s stride. Long noticed that Jeter’s left foot was moving toward the plate instead of toward the mound as he prepared to swing, a flaw that left him vulnerable to inside pitches and prevented him from making solid contact. “You’re going to see the ball a lot better, and your body’s more in control,” Long said. “Ultimately, everything’s going to be working in order.”
It's nice to see #2 make adjustments. If he can get the bat on the ball and go 1 for 4 with a walk every day the Yankees are tough to beat.
In those 11 games, Jeter is htiting .327/.404/.408. Its a small sample size, and his slugging is poor (12 singles, 4 doubles, nothing else), but I'll take the OBP anytime.
It would be nice to see him continue this trend through the rest of the regular season and on into the postseason.
So yeah, Kevin Long is good.
[2] On the first of those 11 games, he went 1 for 7.
Over the next ten, he hit .357/.440/.452
i never realized kevin long was left handed.
it's really hard to parse out what a coach does or doesn't contribute, but long seems great at finding a fairly straightforward fix to different hitters issues.
it would of course be great if jeter can keep this up. he does *look* more comfortable at the plate.