Let's talk about Jordan Walker's reworked swing

And thus let's avoid talking too much about the current standings

I come to discuss the newly sub-.500 Cardinals. Given the team’s current state of drain-circling and increasing long postseason odds, I’ll focus on a forward-looking matter for this episode of Birdy Work. 

This is baseball, and our delightfully weird sport is such that the Cardinals could go on a heater at any moment, win seven of nine or so, and reassert themselves in what’s now a quite respectable NL wild-card chase. Unless and until such a thing comes to pass, however, I’m under the assumption that 2024 is a lost cause. At the level of the run differential, they’ve played like a team on pace for 90 losses (you’ll easily recall they lost 91 games last year), and they’re just about that bad per Clay Davenport’s third-order standings. After the sweep in Cincy, in which the Cardinals scored four runs in three games, they’re closer to last place in the division than they are to the third wild-card spot. Throw in a brutal stretch of upcoming schedule, and I’d frankly be stunned if this season culminates in a playoff berth. That means an eye toward 2025 and beyond, and specifically that means a discussion of Jordan Walker. He’s got a new swing, you know.  

Matt Carpenter’s recent back strain created an opening on the active roster, and Walker was recalled. He’d been in Memphis since late April, and for much of that time back at Triple-A he produced inconsistently and inadequately. Recently, though, Walker undertook some mechanical changes at the plate that coincided with – and may have caused – better results. 

Here’s how Walker himself described the adjustments to reporters, including John Denton at the house organ: 

“I’ve been working with [Mike] Antico every day and we’ve been hitting off the tee with foam balls and working with Howie [Clark] and [Will] Hawks. They pointed out how my hands were inconsistent. I wasn’t getting into consistent firing positions every time. So, I’ve just started getting my hands back earlier, and I’ve been more consistent and things have started going my way. Those three guys have helped me get through a lot of stuff, and it’s happened to go my way.”

As well, Walker appears to be starting off in more of an open stance at the plate, which at least theoretically means better visuals on the pitch (both eyes instead of one-and-a-half) and more of a “forced coiling” of his core and hips. 

Over on Twitter, the very excellent Jacob Edelman posted a side view of Walker’s reworked swing. The differences are subtle but important. I’ll highlight some of these noteworthy particulars and discuss why they may have led to Walker possibly leveling up at the dish.

Here’s how Walker now looks at pre-pitch setup compared to the first month of the 2024 regular season: