NY-PL NOTEBOOK

Moore keeping close eye on hitters

Guy Cipriano

WILLIAMSPORT — The State College Spikes received its version of an offensive ringer well before the summer started, and this one studies more swings than he takes.

Moore

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The work of veteran hitting coach Brandon Moore represents a major reason the team could be developing a formidable offense.

“He’s simply outstanding,” manager Gary Robinson said before Monday’s series finale at Williamsport.

With Moore watching swings, the team batting averaged jumped from .209 to .241 during a four-game stretch. Players often mention Moore, who they refer to as B-Mo, after victories.

“B-Mo has been working with us every day and we’re finally buying into it,” Justin Byler said after Sunday’s 11-3 victory at Williamsport.

The Spikes entered Monday ranked fifth in the 14-team New York-Penn League in batting average and third in runs with 79. The numbers are irrelevant to Moore.

“I think the better at-bats prove to me they are getting it a little bit,” Moore said. “As far as numbers, I never look at numbers. I couldn’t tell you what one guy in there is hitting. I do that for a reason. I do that to treat everybody the same on a daily basis.

“Sometimes it’s hard. But sometimes I don’t even look at the lineup. I treat all 16, 17 players I have the same. I don’t want to show any favoritism. As far as numbers go, if we do the right thing and what we are supposed to do, the numbers will be there.”

Moore joined the 2009 Spikes before any current players and he learned of his assignment to State College during the Pittsburgh Pirates’ instructional league last fall. Moore spent the past three years as the Double-A Altoona Curve’s hitting coach.

The Double-A stint helps Moore understand the Pirates’ long-term hitting objectives.

“I think that was one of the reasons they wanted me to get back to this level — to get a jump start into the future,” Moore said.

Moore holds frequent hitters meetings. But he said Double-A hitters spend more time developing game plans for specific pitchers than NY-PL hitters.

“Here, it’s basic grassroots baseball,” Moore said. “It’s getting from point A to point B and getting it there as quick as we can.”

Moore, 35, has worked as a minor-league instructor since his playing career ended at Triple-A Charlotte in 2000. He coached in the Chicago White Sox farm system from 2001-04. He spent his first year with the Pirates at High-A Lynchburg in 2005.

His current collection of hitters includes seven first-year professionals. Robinson said Moore can relate to any level of hitter.

“I have seen him with Double-A, Triple-A guys, and I have seen him with kids who just get off the plane in Bradenton,” Robinson said. “He’s very good. He can take a hitter and build a foundation, but at the same time build a mental approach that’s more important than the physical foundation.”

Holt stays at shortstop

Brock Holt started his fifth straight game at shortstop Monday, a position he didn’t play once during his junior season at Rice.

The previous four games helped Holt, who played shortstop during his two seasons at Navarro (Texas) College, reach a realization.

“I actually forgot how much fun it was,” he said.

Holt’s play at shortstop — he didn’t commit an error in his first four starts at the position — has dazzled everybody associated with the Spikes. His play evokes memories of former Spikes shortstops Brendan Ryan, Brian Friday, Jordy Mercer and Chase D’Arnaud.

Ryan is currently playing for the St. Louis Cardinals while Friday, Mercer and D’Arnaud were high draft picks.

The Pittsburgh Pirates drafted Holt as a second baseman in this year’s ninth round. He will likely split time between the middle infield positions this summer.

“I have played short and second my whole life,” he said. “Switching off is not too big of a deal.”

Muckdogs coming to town

The monotonous portion of the schedule will end when the Spikes begin a three-game series tonight against Batavia at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

The Spikes started the season by playing six games each against Williamsport, Auburn and Mahoning Valley. The Muckdogs are the defending NY-PL champ and they are managed by former Spikes skipper Mark DeJohn.

“I think it will be fun,” Robinson said. “It will be a different colored shirt. It’s always fun to learn their club as they try to learn us. It looks like they have a pretty good club. We ought to have some fun with that.”