The Tribune’s Mark Gonzales answers readers’ questions about hitters’ tendencies, the future of two prospects and Pedro Strop.
It appears all the young Cubs players -- Starlin Castro, Jorge Soler, Addison Russell, Javier Baez -- keep their front (right) foot "in the bucket" and many times hit weak grounders, often for double plays. Is this Manny Ramirez's doing? I have noticed this starting with Castro last year -- sometimes he manages to straighten his front foot, but too many times he doesn't and either hits a weak grounder or lunges and misses the off the plate slider.