May 11th, 2017 at 6:40 am 
by Ron Cervenka If someone were to ask you who the hottest Dodger at the plate is right now, chances are you wouldn’t hesitate to say Dodgers rookie phenom first baseman / outfielder Cody Bellinger. But for as hot as the 21-year-old Scottsdale, Arizona native and former 2013 fourth-round draft pick is right now, he is not swinging the hottest bat for the Dodgers.
Don’t get me wrong, Belly is smoking hot right now. In fact, over his last five games he is 7-for-21 (.333) with four home runs (including a grand slam), has scored seven runs and has driven in 12. Like I said, smoking hot.
But a little further down in the Dodgers’ lineup is a guy who is 10-for-22 (.454) in his last five games, which includes two three-hit games and another two-hit game. He has also hit two doubles, one home run, scored four runs and driven in six.
I am, of course, speaking of Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal who, after a painfully slow sub-Mendoza-line start to the season is heating up significantly and just in time for a crucial four-game series with the first-place Colorado Rockies at Coors Field beginning on Thursday evening and running through the weekend. In fact, if the Dodgers can take three of four from the Rockies, they will depart Denver International Airport on Sunday afternoon in sole possession of first place. Crucial indeed.
While many hitters prefer bat flips when they hit a no-doubter, Yasmani Grandal prefers his now-signature bat drop. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)
But why the sudden turnaround for the 28-year-old La Habana, Cuba Dodgers backstop? What caused the former 2010 first-round draft pick (by the Cincinnati Reds) to suddenly heat up? For as crazy as it may sound, it may have been a simple but effective conversation between Grandal and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.
“He’s too aggressive,” Roberts told reporters late last week. “Speaking against right-handed pitching, he’s one of the best at conducting at-bats … taking balls and swinging at strikes. I think when he goes outside of that and expands, he’s overly aggressive early in the count – putting the ball on the ground on the pull side – that’s not a good combo.
“It’s not necessarily that you’re looking for a walk, but when you’re swinging at strikes, what he has a tendency to do is scare pitchers out of the strike zone,” Roberts added. “Right now he’s overly aggressive and they’re not throwing strikes and he’s swinging at them.”
Although exactly what the defending 2016 NL Manager of the Year said to Grandal hasn’t been made public (nor should it), whatever it was it’s working. We are now seeing a much more confident Grandal stepping into the batters box – especially when the 6′-1” / 235-pound switch-hitting catcher bats left-handed.
May the Yasmani Grandal bat drops be plentiful.
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I noticed that both Grandal and Puig have been more disciplined at the plate. Although Puig goes back to his old ways, once in a while and that really aggravates him.
These are 4 very big games coming up, I think it could make or break this season, although I could be wrong.
The important thing with Puig is he now knows when he falls back to old habits and, as you pointed out, is aggravated by it. He’s working at it and I think we’ll see more and more success as time goes by.
I wouldn’t call this series “make or break” but it’s very important. Loosing 4 would be devastating. I think they need to get a split at least. A series win would put them in first place, which is where they belong. A Dodgers’ sweep would be bliss. Probably wouldn’t set so well with my neighbors though.
Smok’n Hot! Last 3 games, 8 for 15. Thing about Grandal is that a hot streak can last for a couple of weeks, if not longer, when he can put the team on his shoulders and carry it to a ton of wins.