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Gerald Laird might have been the best catcher in baseball in 2009—defensively. But Detroit's catcher forgot to pack his bat when he left Spring Training. His seventh campaign was his most disappointing at the plate. In 413 at-bats, Laird limped to a .225 batting average, four homers, and 33 runs batted in, all while providing top-notch defense. With an on-base percentage well-below .300 (.278), he was a major blockage in Detroit's light-hitting bottom of the order. So the Tigers' backstop worked endlessly in the offseason to improve the weak point in his game. Addressing Laird's mechanics, Tigers' hitting coach Lloyd McClendon said, "We're trying to get him to a consistent launching position on every swing. We need to get him off his back side on swings. He was a spinner and needs a ...

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Article written by Johnny Lawrence