Guardians' Bo Naylor starting to feel confident after making offensive adjustment
Cleveland Guardians' slugger Bo Naylor has struggled at the plate this season. Through 96 games, he is hitting .179/.276/.357 with 15 doubles, 11 home runs, and 29 runs batted in.
Naylor has made adjustment after adjustment this season, with not a lot of success. However, his most recent change at the plate resulted in a four-hit game on Sunday against the Atlanta Braves, giving him some of his confidence back.
According to Cleveland.com's Paul Hoynes, Naylor has shied away from a traditional leg kick and has replaced that with a toe tap at the plate. This allows him to get his foot on the ground earlier and time up baseballs better.
"Our hitting group, looking at video from a different angle, they figured my loading pattern was better suited for a toe tap - foot on the ground - as opposed to a leg kick," said Naylor. "I was a little inconsistent in getting to the same position with the kick, so they felt the toe tap would allow me to get to the ground earlier and let my body sequence the way it's meant to."
Bo Naylor is not the only Guardians slugger struggling offensively
While Naylor blasted four hits in Sunday's game, he knows he is still not out of the hole. He understands there is still work that needs to be done, but he is happy to see the progress he is making.
"It's been a good progression. There are some things to clean up and work on, but it's been going well so far."
An improved Naylor at the plate could be exactly what this club needs to get things going as the regular season continues to dwindle. The Guardians currently sit with a .227 team batting average, the worst in all of MLB.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Chicago Sky beat New York Liberty 91-85, end five-game losing streak
NEW YORK (AP) — Kamilla Cardoso had 22 points and a career-high 16 rebounds, Angel Reese scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, and the Chicago Sky beat the New York Liberty 91-85 on Thursday night to end a five-game losing streak. Chicago (9-26), which had lost 13 of 14 overall, also snapped a five-game skid against New York. Ariel Atkins scored 19 points, nine in the fourth quarter, and Michaela Onyenwere added 13 for the Sky in a game that featured 21 lead changes and 11 ties. Jonquel Jones made a career-high tying five 3-pointers and scored 25 points for the Liberty. Sabrina Ionescu added 16 points and Natasha Cloud 14. Ionescu made two free throws that gave the Liberty an 85-83 lead with 2:23 left in the game. Atkins answered with a runner in the lane, drew a foul fighting through a screen by Emma Meesseman, and then made one from the free-throw line to give Chicago the lead for good with 1:35 remaining. New York, the defending WNBA champion, went 0 for 4 from the field with a turnover as the Sky closed the game on an 8-0 run. SUN 67, MYSTICS 56 UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) — Tina Charles scored 21 points, Aaliyah Edwards added 10 points against her former team, and Connecticut beat Washington to secure back-to-back wins for the first time this season. Connecticut (8-27) won at home for just the sixth time in 18 games this season, while Washington (16-20) dropped to 6-12 on the road. The Sun have won nine of the last 11 regular-season meetings with the Mystics in Connecticut dating to the 2019 season. Rookie Leila Lacan, in her eighth straight start, had five of Connecticut's season-high 14 steals. Charles moved ahead of Katie Smith (1,440) for eighth on the WNBA's career list for made free throws. Sonia Citron scored 15 points for Washington. Rookie Kiki Iriafen had 13 points and 10 rebounds for her 13th double-double of the season. DREAM 75, LYNX 73 COLLEGE Park, Ga. (AP) — Allisha Gray scored 27 points, Rhyne Howard added 16 and Atlanta held on for a victory to hand Minnesota consecutive losses for the first time this season. Bridget Carleton scored 16 points for Minnesota (28-7) and Jessica Shepard had 15 points and 16 rebounds. Gray completed a four-point play to begin Atlanta's 12-0 run that ended in a 66-60 lead with 6:05 remaining in the fourth quarter. Minnesota missed its first six shots of the frame. Minnesota got within 73-71 with 48.9 seconds left on a 3-pointer by Alanna Smith and Atlanta was called for a backcourt violation following a coach's challenge. Smith's shot in the lane rolled off and Maya Caldwell made two free throws at the other end to give Atlanta a four-point lead. The Dream were called for another eight-second violation with 12.6 seconds left. Minnesota guard Courtney Williams missed a layup and she turned it over on an inbounds play as time expired. Gray had her 15th 20-point game this season for Atlanta (23-13), which tied its 2018 franchise record with 23 victories. Kayla McBride also scored 15 points and Smith added 10 for Minnesota. Napheesa Collier missed her sixth straight game due to a right ankle injury. ACES 83, MERCURY 61 LAS VEGAS (AP) — A'ja Wilson had 19 points and 13 rebounds, Dana Evans scored 17 points and Las Vegas beat Phoenix to win its ninth straight. Las Vegas (23-14) hasn't lost since a 111-58 home defeat to Minnesota on Aug. 2, and has won 11 of its last 12. The Aces have won seven straight at home. Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray and NaLyssa Smith scored 12 points apiece for Las Vegas. Wilson, who had her 18th double-double this season, had her string of 30-point games snapped at three. Alyssa Thomas had 17 points, 11 rebounds and six assists for Phoenix (21-14). Satou Sabally scored 15 points. Sabally scored in the post to make it a nine-point game but Evans answered with a running floater and Gray followed with a fadeaway that made it 59-46 at the end of the third quarter, and the Aces led by double figures the rest of the way. The Mercury were limited to season lows for points (61) and field-goal percentage (31%). Kierstan Bell hit a 3-pointer that gave the Aces the lead for good and sparked a 7-0 run that made it 23-17 at the end of the first quarter.
Yahoo
4 minutes ago
- Yahoo
A'ja Wilson has 19 points and 13 rebounds, Aces beat Mercury 83-61 for 9th straight win
LAS VEGAS (AP) — A'ja Wilson had 19 points and 13 rebounds, Dana Evans scored 17 points and the Las Vegas Aces beat the Phoenix Mercury 83-61 on Thursday night to win their ninth straight. Las Vegas (23-14) hasn't lost since a 111-58 home defeat to Minnesota on Aug. 2, and has won 11 of its last 12. The Aces have won seven straight at home. Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray and NaLyssa Smith scored 12 points apiece for Las Vegas. Wilson, who had her 18th double-double this season, had her string of 30-point games snapped at three. Alyssa Thomas had 17 points, 11 rebounds and six assists for Phoenix (21-14). Satou Sabally scored 15 points. Sabally scored in the post to make it a nine-point game but Evans answered with a running floater and Gray followed with a fadeaway that made it 59-46 at the end of the third quarter, and the Aces led by double figures the rest of the way. The Mercury were limited to season lows for points (61) and field-goal percentage (31%). Kierstan Bell hit a 3-pointer that gave the Aces the lead for good and sparked a 7-0 run that made it 23-17 at the end of the first quarter. Sabally converted a three-point play that trimmed the Mercury's deficit to 37-29 with 1:41 left in the second quarter but Gray made a step-back jumper, Young tipped in her own miss and Gray hit another jumper to give the Aces a 14-point lead at halftime. Kahleah Copper (rib) left the game after a collision with Wilson in the third quarter and did not return. Up next Mercury host Golden State on Friday, and Aces play at Washington on Saturday. ___ AP WNBA:
Yahoo
4 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Cowboys-Packers trade idea moves massive haul for Micah Parsons
Cowboys-Packers trade idea moves massive haul for Micah Parsons originally appeared on The Sporting News Two of the marquee franchises in the NFL have a chance to make an incredible deal. If the Dallas Cowboys end up trading Micah Parsons, maybe his destination should be the Green Bay Packers. That's what Bleacher Report's Alex Kay pitches in a new article. The proposed deal sends Parsons to Green Bay forLB Rashan Gary, 2026 first- and third-round picks, 2027 second- and fourth-round Micah Parsons says peace out to Dallas with a fitting Bible verse That's a great haul for Dallas if it indeed decides to trade Parsons. "With the Micah Parsons contract drama close to spilling into the regular season, it's time for the Cowboys to make a move," Kay writes. "While Dallas owner Jerry Jones isn't willing to give Parsons the record-breaking extension he desires, there should be no shortage of interested suitors. One squad that could meet the superstar's price and may be willing to give up a hefty amount of assets in the process is Green Bay. The Packers have been on the cusp of contending for several years but lack a generational talent like Parsons to anchor their defensive front. If they are willing to give up a package that includes multiple Day 1 and 2 picks—as well as a quality talent such as Rashan Gary—it could be enough to get Dallas to move on from Parsons this offseason." MORE: Anthony Richardson decision is Colts' latest failure to recover from Andrew Luck The Packers certainly could use Parsons' pass rush to try and impact the impressive NFC North in general. Maybe he could get after Jared Goff, J.J. McCarthy and Caleb Williams. The Cowboys won't really want to give Parsons up, but if they do, getting a pseudo-replacement in Gary and a bunch of high picks works just fine. Somewhere down the road, this saga will be over. It's just a waiting game to see how far the road has gone and changed before then. MORE NFL NEWS: Buccaneers reveal new plans for 464-pound rookie Desmond Watson Andrew Luck explains his shock retirement in 5 words Caleb Williams did something vs. Bills that he never did as a rookie Bears' Tyson Bagent cries heartfelt tears after $10 million contract Titans' Elic Ayomanor, Gunnar Helm have potential to shine as rookies Meet "Bill," the Commanders' rookie running back gaining acclaim out of nowhere
