ANAHEIM, Calif. — No matter what the numbers suggest or the spray charts indicate, Seattle Mariners outfielder Seth Smith, long viewed as a dead-pull hitter, has not changed his approach in an attempt to beat defensive overshifts by opposing teams.
“No, not really,” Smith said. “There are times when they’re working you the other way. It’s not trying to beat the shift. You’re just trying to take what the pitcher gives you.
“Sometimes, you need to hit the ball that way. Sometimes, you need to pull it.”
Opposing clubs typically shift their shortstop to the right side of second base against Smith in an effort to counter his perceived tendency to pull the ball.
But only three of Smith’s 12 hits this season have been to right field in compiling a .308 average that is 45 points above his career norm. Further, he’s only made eight outs in 49 plate appearances on balls hit to the right side of the field.
“He seems like our shift-beater,” manager Scott Servais said. “From early in spring, Seth was taking the ball the other way, taking his hits by using the whole field. … I hope they keep playing him that way.”
Smith said his approach this season is not new.
“Early in my career,” he said “I was dead pull. The last few years, I’ve been going that way a little more. But it’s early. I’m just trying to figure things out. So it’s not worth getting into it too much.”
Even so, if Smith’s current trends continue, opposing defenses figure to adjust.
“Well, we’ll see,” he said. “There’s going to be eight guys over there regardless of where they decide to put them. And one behind me.
“Ultimately, it’s too hard to manipulate what you’re trying to do up there. It’s just you versus the pitcher, and you’re trying to see what happens after that.”
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