"“I think it's a mindset thing... I would really try to minimize the goal per at-bat, because right now, he's trying too hard.”@MaddHalos joins @SNJeffBlair and Kevin Barker to discuss what the Blue Jays can do to get the most out of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. pic.twitter.com/1C9jfZqKjy- Sportsnet 590 The FAN (@FAN590) May 13, 2026"
"After confirming that Rizzo was a star player, Maddon went on to say, “Anthony really used to help us out by hitting leadoff once in a while, really got us going.” Joe Maddon dishes advice on how to get Guerrero going"
"He also mentioned that he slotted former Rays star Evan Longoria at the top of his lineup when he was in the midst of a big slump. “Not that he liked it, but I put him in the 1-hole, and all of a sudden line drives started happening up the middle, it's just arranging the chairs on the deck, and it just gives the guy a different perspective”."
"The celebrated ex-manager went on to explain what he told his players when moving them to the top of the lineup. “I want you to try to get on base, I want you to try to get singles up the middle, I want you to see pitches, work counts, but really play with the middle of the field first.”"
Guerrero Jr. can potentially break out through lineup changes that shift his approach and mindset. Moving a player up or down can work, with Anthony Rizzo used as an example from the mid-2010s. Rizzo sometimes hit leadoff and helped the Cubs get going. Maddon emphasized minimizing the goal per at-bat because Guerrero is trying too hard. He also described placing Evan Longoria in the leadoff spot during a slump, which led to more line drives up the middle. The guidance to players was to get on base, hit singles up the middle, see pitches, work counts, and play with the middle of the field first, creating relaxation as performance improves.
Read at Jays Journal
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