GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Last year Mickey Brantley's point of emphasis to his son was on being more aggressive at the plate, especially the first pitch. The advice helped to lead to a breakout season for Michael Brantley.
En route to finishing third in the American League MVP voting and making the All-Star team for the first time, Brantley became the first player in franchise history to bat over .320 and have 200 hits, 45-plus doubles, 20-plus homers and 20-plus stolen bases in the same season. The big year has Brantley sharing one of the regional covers of Sports Illustrated's baseball preview with Corey Kluber and why the Indians are being picked by many to win the division.
With a week until the season opens, many are wondering what Brantley can do for an encore. No one has put up those types of numbers for two straight years but his dad's big tip for this year has to do more with using more of the entire field.
"He talked about driving the ball the other way, hitting it over the left-fielder's head and not always in front," Brantley said. "Catching the ball out front but still staying through it so we can stay behind it and drive it to left center.
"There were some times (the past couple seasons) when I would like to guide it and take a single. Now just stay on the ball and drive it through the shortstop and left fielder with good carry."
For his career, Brantley has hit the ball to left field 15 percent of the time and on the third base side 9 percent. Last year though the numbers were 12 percent and 8 percent respectively.
Brantley figures the more he can hit to left field the less they can use the shift. He already is one of the more difficult players on the Indians to try to shift against.
The one thing Brantley is going to continue is being aggressive. He had a .404 average on first pitches last season while his career average is .363. As Brantley noted, the pitching is getting too good that there is no other way but to be aggressive.
"If he keeps improving at the rate he is, he is going to be in the Hall of Fame," Indians hitting coach Ty Van Burkleo said. "Every year he comes in a little stronger. He has a real efficient swing. He hit .327 last year but when you look at how hard he hit the ball I thought he would be hitting .350.
"Mentally he's so strong that he could hit four balls on the nose and if he got only one hit he wouldn't let it effect him. He just tries to stay the course and have a consistent routine."
Despite missing close to a week due to lower back soreness, Brantley returned to the lineup on Sunday and went 1-for-3 in the Tribe's 4-1 loss to the White Sox. He has a hit in his last five games and has seven hits in his last 15 at-bats. Brantley's goal throughout spring training has been to be in the best shape possible going into the season.
Even with heightened expectations, Van Burkleo doesn't see Brantley about to change his approach because of the way he manages his at-bats.
Added Brantley about living up to expectations: "There's nothing to live up to. Our job is to go out there and win as many as we can. In this division it is going to be tough and close all the way through."
