Sluggers are the most beloved and reviled of baseball players. Watching a player with 30+ home run potential add to their annual counts can be a real dopamine hit. As fans we love those big numbers!
Yet when a slugger fails at his task, it’s painful to watch.
A few short games ago, when the Yankees were at the lowest of lows, I watched Joey Gallo flail at a ball that dropped well below the strike zone. I had to assume this was not a matter of random, poor judgement from the American League leader in walks.