What an "Aggressive" Hitter Should Look Like
The Royals claim to love "aggressive" hitters, but they don't really know what that word is supposed to mean.
We speak a lot on the podcast about our distain for the term “aggressive” because it’s often used to describe a hitter who swings at everything. Or, it’s used to describe a pitcher who … actually it’s used to describe all pitchers. I’ve never heard a pitcher described as “passive” or “patient” or any of the other words that might mean he doesn’t eat his steaks raw and carry a club that used to be a mastodon’s femur. In fact, the word is used so frequently in baseball, it’s lost practically all of its meaning.
What exactly does it mean to be “aggressive” at the plate? On the bases? While pitching? Is being aggressive inherently good? I don’t think it is, but as an exercise, I decided to create a conception of “aggressive” that could be universally good. I’m focused today on hitters, but I might provide some follow up posts about aggression on the bases and in pitching, as well.
If the Royals are determined to be aggressive at the plate, then what follows is a description of the form that aggression should take.
