Armed with advanced metrics from the front office and an open mind, Carpenter invited then hitting coach John Mabry to join him at The Broken Yolk Café, and over the courses of a 90-minute meal they discussed what the .147-hitting leadoff batter could do to revive his swing. They talked pitch selection, patience, positioning at the plate, and just about everything short of changing his bat model or wearing batting gloves. By the time they left the restaurant for the short walk back to the team hotel, they had reached a consensus that would launch Carpenter into the MVP discussion by August: He didn’t need to alter anything.
Goold: A year after a San Diego break led to a breakout, Carpenter's back searching for his swing
