anyone is asking for .386 from anyone, i was just referring to him hitting for the first time all season. I would love for him to put up the numbers you put up. .386 would be nice to tho

At the beginning of the year, probably during a spring training game or one of the Japan games, I commented how Barton waited back on a pitch longer than anybody I had seen. He wasn’t swinging late, but his hands were so quick he could let a ball get way, way deep on him and still make good contact (and even pull the ball). This explains his entire profile, I think. Lots of walks (more time to decide if a pitch is a strike), not as many Ks as typical high-walk players (because he was making lots of contact). Not a ton of home run power (he’s quick and strong, but you’re not going to hit 35 homers with his approach if you’re a human being).

That’s what I said about him at the very beginning of the season.

At various points during the year he was taking everything. Then he was swinging at every first pitch. Then he looked incapable of recognizing a breaking pitch. My guess is he struggled a little bit early, probably just typical rookie struggling once a scouting report is developed, and he tinkered too much. Instead of just making an adjustment here or there, he was trying to do too much and when one extreme wouldn’t work he’d try another. To say everything has been wrong this year is truly accurate, because he’s demonstrated every possible flaw and/or hitting style at some point. Long swing, short swing, trying to go the opposite way, trying to pull everything. For as frustrated as it was watching a clearly talented guy struggle, I’m sure he was going crazy trying to figure out what was wrong (when, really, I believe thinking something was “wrong” was the only real problem).

After all that, I think he’s finally back to Daric being Daric. He’s swinging the bat like the guy I saw hit last year. Tonight he walked 3 times, and though his walk rate has remained good all year, it’s not as good as I would’ve expected. He just seems to be back to his old self.

As for the wrist, here’s my speculation: I don’t think he’s been hurt, per se. This isn’t a typical Oakland issue like with Eric Chavez (where he abused his shoulder until he was pretty much useless). For those who haven’t ever suffered an injury, it’s hard to explain, but there’s a point post-injury where you’re not hurt. You feel physically fine. But something just isn’t right. I don’t think Barton was in pain all year, because that would’ve leaked by now. But I do think it just took a while for the wrist to feel like it should. It’s late and this paragraph is probably more convoluted than it should be, so I hope I got that point across.