Hot Stove Lunch: Jackie Bradley Jr. strives for consistency at the plate

Is this the year Jackie Bradley Jr. puts it all together?

For much of his big league career, Bradley has been wildly inconsistent as a hitter. For two months, he'll perform like an All-Star, launching extra-base hits and driving the ball all over the field. Then, Bradley will hit a cold spell that will last just as long and often look overmatched at the plate.

It's been a predictable pattern. For whatever reason, Bradley can't seem to sustain any success at the plate over the long term.

Now, Bradley believes those days are behind him.

Halfway through last season, Bradley made some significant changes to his approach and swing, with the help of J.D. Martinez's hitting guru. The results were plain to see -- Bradley posted an .827 OPS in the second half of last season, then had a monster postseason, too, earning MVP honors in the ALCS.

It was a complete change of philosophy, starting with the need to get the ball in the air in every at-bat and it helped Bradley avoid his tendency to roll over on pitches and hit groundballs to the right side of the infield.

Bradley took two trips during the winter to work with Craig Wallenbrock in California, eager to maintain his new swing.

Bradley told Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe Wednesday: "I'm looking forward to being more consistent and sticking with it. I know what I want to do and how I want to do it.''

If Bradley can be more consistent, it will help lengthen the Red Sox lineup and make them more formidable in the lower third of the batting order. And, it should help Bradley, too, since he can be a free agent after the 2020 season.

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