Ask Tampa Bay Rays 1B Casey Kotchman about his sudden display of power at the plate and he'll tell you it's nothing more than trying to put a good swing on the ball, but there is more to it than that.

Casey Kotchman's hands have added some pop to his bat and he's thriving as a Tampa Bay Ray (Getty Images).

"For me to explain is really hard to do," he said.

Manager Joe Maddon had an easier time with the question. Basically, Kotchman is using his hands more, "popping" them, Maddon said, rather than just using them to push the bat through the hitting zone. The result, Maddon said, is a "more forceful, strong swing."

That swing produced three home runs in the six games prior to Tuesday night's against the Royals. Kotchman homered in Sunday's loss to the A's and hit the game-winning homer in the ninth inning Monday.

Hitting coach Derek Shelton said Kotchman is using his hands like he had earlier in his career. Shelton said he and Kotchman have talked about it since spring training, and Kotchman is now doing it consistently.

Kotchman entered Tuesday's game batting .341, the second-highest average in the majors. Maddon said there is no reason why the left-hander can't incorporate power into his game while maintaining a high average.

"There's no reason why he can't be a combination, because he can spray the whole field. He's not just a dead-pull hitter," Maddon said. "If you pitch him a certain way, he's going to take what you give him."

Kotchman, who signed a minor-league contract in January, is a free agent after this season. He's expressed a desire to resign with the Rays, and there is interest from the Rays in keeping Kotchman.

ORIGINAL STORY
http://www2.tbo.com/sports/rays/2011/aug/10/1/spnewso5-more-pop-in-hands-more-pop-at-plate-ar-249563/