Jim Edmonds Update - I told you so

Back when I posted Why the Jim Edmonds signing DOES make sense Jimmy was in the midst of a horrendous slump to start the season. 

He was 16 of 90 at San Diego and a measley 2 for 15 at the time in a Cubs uniform.  I felt though that he would heat up and contribute and he has done that and more.  He has gone 23 for 67 or a .343 clip with 6 homers as a Cub since I made those comments

Kudos to Jim Hendry, Lou, and Gerald Perry who told Edmonds to revert to his swing from a few years ago when he spread out at the plate and this allows the ball to travel further in on you and you just poke it to the outfield - its kind of like the sweet spot golf swing where you hit it at 3/4 speed and nice extension and follow thru.  

Edmonds is supplying a nice left handed bat and he is fitting right in on the Cubs patience train of drawing base on balls.   As a pitcher , nothing makes me madder than to walk a guy. You have to pitch to contact and let your fielders play defense.  

There is an old saying that there is no defense for the base on balls and that is so true at Wrigley especially when the wind is blowing out.  The Orioles walked 10 tonight.  

 I  might walk 10 every 70-90 innings if I was lucky.  The most important pitch is strike 1-  it sets up the entire at bat.   I loved to throw first pitch curveballs and sliders because for me those were the two pitches I could throw for strikes consistently.   It was not uncommon for me to throw a 2-1 curveball either.   3-2 counts I loved the straight change or circle change.   If I threw the fastball to a RHB it was rarely a strike, to the LHB I used a 2 seamer that acted a lot like a sinker.   I do think the advent of the cutter might have dropped the RHB Batting avg against me by maybe 80 points or more to something semi-respectable.   .270 instead of .350 or so.  

Keep it up Jimmy!!!