IT'S ALL IN THE WRIST
4-15-05
By: Greg Stephenson

To travel to a Virginia Commonwealth “home” baseball game this season, one must make the 40-minute journey to Petersburg, Va., which merely involves a short trip down I-95 to exit 48B.  Next, take a right at the first light, then a left at the Burger King, follow the windy road through a forest of trees until you come to a stop sign, take a right and you will finally see the sign for the Petersburg Sports Complex.  Although the trek may be long – 40 minutes give or take from the VCU campus – it is well worth it.  You see, this hidden gem of a ballpark has provided the backdrop to one of the most successful first-halves of the year by any individual in the country.

To say that Scott Sizemore has improved upon his freshman season could be considered an understatement.  To say that he is just simply a good ballplayer would also fall under that category.  The sophomore second baseman is leading a potent VCU offense that currently ranks sixth in the country in scoring.  Sizemore’s contribution to that effort just merely includes a .951 slugging percentage (tops in the country) and a .471 batting average (fourth in the country), numbers that led him to be named a first-team All-American in Baseball America’s College Midseason Report.

His second-year surge can be attributed to a number of factors, including an extra year of experience.  “This year, I’m more disciplined and I make the pitcher throw a really good pitch to get me out, and I think that’s been the key for me,” said Sizemore, who hit a solid .332 in 54 games last season.

But not all players add 140 points to their batting averages after getting a year of college baseball under their belt.  Head coach Paul Keyes adds that it may be due to the extra strength he has gained. “He’s been very consistent as far as mechanics,” said the 11th-year head coach.  “I think he’s stronger, number one, and number two he’s a year older.  He’s also a student of the game, so he can adjust during at-bats and during the games.”   

Sizemore’s power numbers are up dramatically this season.  After just 26 games, he’s recorded nine roundtrippers and 43 RBIs, which already has surpassed his totals from a year ago of one home run and 26 RBIs.  Combine his added strength and maturity at the plate with a short outfield perch in Petersburg, and it’s easy to see why Sizemore’s run production has significantly increased. 

“I think playing in a smaller park has helped him mentally,” said Keyes.  “I think he comes to the park every day planning to be a little more aggressive.  Some balls that may be outs at The Diamond are home runs in Petersburg (whose the dimensions are just 320 feet down the lines and 375 to straight-away center).”

“This year, I’m not really afraid to take a bigger swing in a smaller ballpark,” said Sizemore.  “In Petersburg, it’s definitely possible to get it out of the park, but at The Diamond, it was very rare for anyone to hit home runs.  I think it’s definitely made a difference playing in Petersburg.” 

Sizemore ranks amongst the nation’s leaders in eight different categories.  Out of those, however, the most telling of his capabilities at the plate is strikeouts.  He currently stands as the 15th toughest person to strikeout in all of Division I baseball averaging just one in every 20.4 at-bats.  Added strength and playing in a smaller ballpark have no effect on a hitter’s eye and this statistic stands out when evaluating Sizemore’s true worth inside the batter’s box.

“I think I have a better idea of what I want to do when I’m up at bat,” Sizemore says, comparing this season with lasts.  “I know what counts I want to hit in, and I think a big part of it is not being afraid to go to a two-strike count.  I have confidence when I have two strikes.   I don’t get myself out.”

Sizemore also comes from a baseball family so he has lived with the game the majority of his life.  His older brother played at the Division II level and his dad coached his AAU teams growing up in Chesapeake, Va. “I’ve always tried to be as good as him or better, so I think that’s been a big part in pushing me to do well,” said Sizemore of his brother.  “My parents have definitely been supportive of me playing baseball.  My dad was always my coach growing up until I got to high school.  He’s definitely pushed me to play the sport, and I’m glad he did because I really enjoy it.”

Sizemore has also had the luxury of other coaches to make him a better player.  “I’ve had a lot of hitting coaches through high school and growing up.  I’ve been pretty fortunate to have coaches that know what they’re talking about.  They’ve taught me to mold my swing into the way it’s supposed to be.”

So it’s easy to see why Sizemore is playing the way he has during the first half of the 2005 season.  He has an extra year of experience, added strength, a keen eye, support from his family, and has benefited from great instruction as a kid.  But is there anything else that may have contributed to his success.  Like maybe a superstition?

“I tape my left wrist before every game.  It actually started out because I had tendonitis there, but I think it’s gone now,” said Sizemore.  “But now I just do it because it’s kind of a habit and I’m used to it.”

Of course.  In a sport where pitchers jump over foul lines like they are hot ashes instead of chalk and where no-hitters are broken up because of their mention in the press box, it makes sense that we can add tape to the list of reasons for Scott Sizemore’s successes.  Just don’t be surprised if opposing pitchers are caught snooping around in VCU’s training room anytime soon.