After Alex Speier’s superb analysis of the Red Sox’ lineup, it was the hitting coach’s turn to describe what the team’s hitters are looking like heading into the 2009 regular season. Prior to diving head-first into his third season as the hitting coach for the Red Sox, Dave Magadan took a few moments to offer updates as to where his pupils are at when it comes to being ready for the real games:

Jason Varitek: “He’s kept that adjustment with the front foot the whole spring training. Basically what he was doing in the past was either tapping back and stopping and then re-striding, and sometimes striding twice and even striding three times. We’ve just tried to make him more consistent with his stride and getting ready to hit. He was really consistent with it in the spring. He looked good from the get-go. He took some good swings early on and didn’t have anything to show for it, but I’ve been very happy with the way he’s been swinging the bat.”

Kevin Youkilis: ”I think he was hampered a little bit by the rhythm of the WBC and not being in that spring training grind. I think when he came back over he was a little discombobulated and it took him a while to get in that slot with his hands. He kind of felt like he was around everything, and he was. About five days ago he stayed back and I stayed back with him and we got him to the point where his hands have been consistently in a better place to launch.”

Dustin Pedroia: “He kind of starts the year where he’s not sure where he’s at. This year is the first year since I’ve been here that he feels good coming out of spring training. It’s not just about getting hits, but he feels good about his swing. He’s not really searching for something that feels good, but he’s right where he wants to be.”

Jed Lowrie: “He came into spring training and right away he looked like he was more direct to the ball, he wasn’t losing the bat head and hitting lazy fly balls. He was using a split-grip and we kind of talked him into getting his hands together. He only did it left-handed. He got away from that and he really swung the bat well all spring. I’m really happy where he’s at. I expect big things out of him.”

Mike Lowell: “I think he’s been pretty happy. He had to battle all the rehab stuff, and then when he came and hit in the cage he didn’t have the stamina to do what he wanted to do. Once he started playing games and getting away from the stuff he had to do with his hip he felt pretty good. I don’t think up until recently he really felt that he was ready for the season. He went for a period where he was in between stances and set-ups, but he found a happy medium with his set-up and ever since that he’s been good. Mikey changes a lot. He’s a feel guy and whatever feels good to him he goes with. I think something was feeling good for him but wasn’t getting him a good position to swing the bat. But through talking and tinkering we found something and I think he’s right back to where he was a couple of years ago.”

Jason Bay: “Jason is very simple. One thing we worked on in spring training is trying to get him to get a routine because he’s always felt like he’s always gone in 10 different directions when he comes in the cage to work. Now we’ve settled on, ‘This is what you need to do. If you need to do less, or need to do more, that’s fine.’ But at least this is our base for an everyday basis that is going to get him ready for the games. I think his mind is a little more at ease because of it. When you have a routine and you feel good about it it puts you in a good frame of mind every day. It’s kind of nice to always come back to. You don’t feel like you’re grasping at things.”

Jacoby Ellsbury: “Ells is a guy I’m kind of happy where he is right now. You see a lot of the early stride, but I am such a non-proponent of that. Just because you’ve got your foot down doesn’t mean you’re ready to hit because you swing the bat with your hands. Just because your foot is down doesn’t mean you’re ready to swing the bat. That’s kind of what Ells was doing and he kind of falls into it still where he strides early but his hands don’t move, and then he strides again and his hands move. It’s evolved for him and I think he realizes the foot and the hands have to go together and when he does that he’s dangerous.”

J.D. Drew: ”J.D. has been a little bit in and  out where he wants to be. He’s again trying to get that feeling of separation and letting the ball travel. With J.D. a lot of it is like with Mikey Lowell, it’s a feel thing. He can be hitting the ball over the fence, but if he doesn’t feel right he’s not happy. But I’m happy where he’s at.”

Rocco Baldelli: “Rocco is very athletic at the plate. He’s not a guy who takes a whole lot of extra swings and does his thing during BP. He’s looking to back-swing the ball and hit the ball where it’s pitched. The best way I can describe Rocco is athletic.”

Nick Green: “Nicky is pretty strong. He can hit the ball a long way. He’s trying to do that little tap-back with the front foot. He moves that foot and that signals he’s back and ready to hit. He’s been very easy. He’s swung the bat good all spring.”

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