What to watch in Roman Anthony's next plate appearances

Roman Anthony homered over the Green Monster against Seattle on September 2. MLB report.

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An opposite-field swing gives fans something specific to watch the next time a pitcher tries the outer edge. Does Anthony stay with that pitch, or does he pull off it trying to create more power?

That is an observation to test, not a mechanical diagnosis from the stands. A television angle rarely reveals the complete swing, and one ball in play cannot explain a hitter's entire approach. Still, following location and contact direction can make an evening more interesting than checking the hit total afterward.

We would pay particular attention to how he handles a pitch he cannot drive. A take can preserve a favorable count. A foul ball can keep an at-bat alive. An attempt to do too much can give the pitcher the easy out he wanted.

Keep team results and individual evidence in separate columns. A hitter can make good decisions during a loss and poor decisions during a win. For a young player, that distinction helps avoid treating every result as a verdict.

The next useful question is simple: does the plate appearance give Anthony a reasonable pitch to hit, and what does he do with it? Follow several answers before drawing a sweeping conclusion.

The rehab reel is worth watching in full

MLB's August 18 rehab reel offers another set of plate appearances to study. It includes a walk, a single to the opposite field and a home run, followed by another walk. The variety is more useful for this discussion than a video containing only the home-run swing.

This is Portland rehab footage from August, not the September Fenway game. The opposing pitchers and competitive setting are different. The common thread is the decision at the plate: which pitches Anthony attacks and which ones he allows to pass.

The walks deserve their place in the reel. A hitter eager to show his power still needs to recognize when the pitcher has not supplied a good opportunity. For a viewer, an uneventful take can be an important part of understanding the approach, even when it is less entertaining than contact.

Try comparing the single and the homer without declaring that one swing should become the model for every pitch. Location changes what a hitter can reasonably do. The goal is to ask whether the response fits the opportunity.

That is also a useful way to keep expectations manageable. Fans can be excited by a strong swing while waiting for a broader sample. A collection of different plate appearances gives the conversation more substance than one spectacular ball in flight.