Notes: Studying pays off for Holliday
Left fielder's homework puts him near top of the class at plate
By Thomas Harding / MLB.com

DENVER -- Video of opposing pitchers runs pretty much all the time in the home clubhouse at Coors Field. Second-year Rockies outfielder Matt Holliday watches it, to a point.
"I try to control it," Holliday says of the urge to stare for hours, hoping to glean something that'll help in the split-second he has to decide what the pitch is, where it is and whether to swing at it.

"I watch some, kind of know what they're pitching, what pitches they throw and what their velocity is. Then I try to go out and do it. You're not going to get any hits by studying more."

After a rough stretch in early May, Holliday has studied just enough to ace the test in the batter's box. Holliday, who did not start on Sunday after suffering a slight pinky sprain Saturday night, has hit safely in nine straight games and 15 of his last 16, and has brought his batting average from .255 on May 11 to .305.


Holliday has been great. Interesting to notice how different players try to improve.