Yuniesky Betancourt
After a two-game benching Yuniesky Betancourt returned to the lineup Friday with an encouraging yet equally disappointing performance.
He drew two walks, including one in which he took all six pitches, but also commited another error.
To continue...
Betancourt was benched Wednesday and Thursday in part for a lack of plate discipline that persisted despite much pleading and threatening from the team.
His at-bats had become terribly predictable. After continually swinging at the first pitch with no regard for the strike zone, it seemed as though Betancourt was under strict instruction to take the first pitch of every at-bat. He would do so, but then continue his free-swinging approach, often from an 0-1 count.
The message might have finally gotten through to Betancourt. He drew his fourth and fifth walks of the season in his first game since the benching. In his first at-bat he took three straight balls then two strikes before watching a pitch just off the plate for ball four. (He was 0-2 in his other two plate appearances).
Of course, taking six pitches doesn't mean he's figured it out. That won't happen until he starts working the count, getting pitches to hit and taking advantage.
He certainly hasn't figured out his poor defense, which was as much a reason for his benching as was his offense. He booted a routine ground ball in the fifth inning for his fifth error of the season.
But for now, it is encouraging to simply see that he's listening. It will be interesting to see if he continues to display the patience he showed Friday. That is if his defensive lapses don't keep him out of the lineup.
Reach Brady Henderson at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
