Milt Thompson, is perhaps the best batting coach in baseball. The dude has the Phillies operating as one of the most disciplined and best hitting teams so far in this young 2008 Major League Baseball season. And that is without the usually torrid hitting of superstar Ryan Howard.
Even with Howard’s line drives being swallowed up by opposing teams shifts. The slugging first baseman has walked 21 times in his first 114 times up this season.That is a BB/PA ratio of .18.
Howard’s batting average is an anemic not worth a cup of coffee .167, but the walks plus his six taters this year, still gives the Ryan- Man a respectable OPS of .645.
When he starts hitting (and he will) his OPS will approximate his outstanding career number of .980.
Thompson has the Phillies’ batsmen batting only .250, yet they are still productive with an OBP of .328 and an OPS of .768. The teams high OPS is due to the teams plate discipline as illustrated by its walk ratio of .11. I am predicting that the BA will come up to about .270 for the season with a OBP of .370 and will lead the NL in home runs with 250.Thompson one of the few DC natives in MLB could become a future MLB manager.
So Nats, if Manny leaves for the Mets next year give the man an interview.
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