Bobby Dalbec and Jarren Duran's patience at the plate is playing off
WooSox manager Chad Tracy saw his lineup walk nine times against the Syracuse Mets in the series finale from Polar Park. The WooSox skipper was excited to see his lineup take a lot of pitches on Sunday.
“I think a lot of us saw a lot of pitches today, which is awesome,” said Tracy to reporters post game, including Beyond the Monster.
The patient approach by the WooSox lineup paid dividends for Bobby Dalbec and Jarren Duran.
Dalbec had been looking for his first hit of the 2023 season entering Sunday’s game. After working two walks in the game, he finally got that first hit, a triple to center field in the bottom of the eight inning off Mets reliever Lorenzo Cedrola.
Tracy was encouraged with Dalbec’s approach and the versatile infielder’s patience was rewarded.
“I told Bobby that before he ended up getting a triple, he was still looking for that first hit, I told him, just keep make them throw it over. He had walked four or fives times already between the last three games.
“Our at-bats throughout the game were outstanding. We drug at-bats out, got deep into counts, took the walks when they gave them to us. They gave us traffic and we were finally able to cash in the later in the game. Great at-bats through the game,” said Tracy postgame told reporters.
Dalbec snapped an 0-for-8 skid at the plate, seeing a lot of pitches and being selective has helped him get on-base and contribute.
'“I feel like I’m having good at-bats to get on base. Just finally got on the board with an knock there, and I’m just trying to get some rhythm. You lose your rhythm a little bit when it’s cold because you’re a little tighter. And the last two at-bats, I just really tried to focus on having a rhythm at the plate and I feel like it worked out,” Dalbec said to Katie Morrison-O’Day of MassLive.
Duran has taken a patient approach while at the plate to begin the new season. The 26-year-old worked four-out-five at-bats to full counts, walking three times, in the 8-1 win over Syracuse.
“His hands are higher, so I know he feels really good. I know he feels like he has more coverage at the top of the zone. I also think it helps him decide what to swing at up there and what not too. He laid off a number of pitches that we’re up kind of top of the zone of above and he just laid off of them, I think it’s a product of the position he’s in,” said Tracy.
Duran has show patience and has made opposing pitchers work to try and get him out.
“The left on left at-bat late, I think it was 1-2, he worked the count, fouled one off and then ended up walking. It helped set up the inning for us, that was awesome. Just make them throw it over and if they don’t go ahead and walk to first base. He took good at-bats too,” added Tracy.
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