Fifty Percent Half Mental

 Yogi Berra said that baseball is fifty percent half mental, and White Sox outfielder Avisail Garcia is proof of that.  When the Sox traded for the 22-year old Garcia in 2013, they thought they were getting a player who would live up to his nickname as Little Miggie, or another Miguel Cabrera.  In the 3-1/2 seasons since, the 6’4” 240-pound Garcia has been a disappointment wrapped in a 259 career batting average.  Except when he plays against his old team, that is.

Man, does Garcia love to face the Tigers.  This year, he’s hitting .327 (17/52) with 4 homers and 9 rbi’s.  For his career vs. Detroit, Garcia comes in at .278 with 8 homers and 35 rbi’s, those last two figures his best against any team.  The other night against Justin Verlander, he went 2 for 4 with a double; for the game Garcia went 3 for 5 with a run scored an rbi.  So, what gives?

Well, Yogi was right.  Left to his own devices, Garcia can psyche himself up for the Tigers, but the Royals (career .229 BA) not so much.  You either trade the player, or find the coaches who can reach him.  This has gone on so long now with Garcia that everyone would be better off if he were traded and new coaches were brought in.