Before you answer “No!” consider the following:
- His batted ball exit velocity of 88.2 mph matches his career average exactly.
- His batting average on balls in play (BAbip) is .400.
- Since May 17, when the Giants played the Rockies for the first time this season, he’s hit .282 / .333 / .359 in 42 plate appearances*.’
- He’s switched leagues.
That last point is perhaps the most important one. The idea of switching leagues certainly sounds silly — a major league hitter is supposed to be good enough to hit major league pitching — but you have to admit that in the First Date between a pitcher and hitter, the pitcher has the advantage.