Dodgers News: Max Muncy’s Resurgence is Coming Through Cliches
Sports cliches are fun. And baseball has plenty of them. “See the ball, hit the ball.” “Staying within myself.” “Just trying to not do too much.” Cliches are both a mindset and a way to get reporters off your back after a less than exciting question. For Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy, it’s certainly both often.
Muncy is in the midst of a much needed hot streak at the plate, catching on fire particularly while the team has been in Texas. He had 5 hits, 2 home runs, and 7 RBIs against the Rangers in the three game series. But the hot streak started one game prior when he felt something click in the series finale in Baltimore.
What changed then? Cueue up the cliches!
“Just trying to get myself to relax. If I can get myself to relax and just trust in myself usually I can have pretty good results,” Muncy said. “Just swinging at strikes and taking balls and trying not to do too much at the plate.”
Via Dodger Insider
Truthfully, Max does seem much more relaxed at the plate. He’s taken some of his best swings in weeks over these last few games and seems to be using the entire field a bit more. As the Dodgers were leaving Baltimore, Muncy told SportsNet LA’s Kirsten Watson that he had absolutely been pressing at the plate while trying to force results. A big home run against the Orioles seems to have been the trigger to the mental reset.
The numbers on the season still aren’t the prettiest for Muncy, but he remains one of the more productive hitters in the Dodger lineup when it comes to peripheral numbers. His OPS and wRC+ is sixth best on the team and his 24 home runs and 63 runs batted in are fourth most in the lineup.
Record Max
Muncy hit a grand slam in the first inning of Sunday’s game against the Rangers, his third of the season. That tied a Dodger record.
With 64 games remaining this season, he has a chance to establish a new high water mark for the franchise.
Photo Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
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