A lot of his 2011 performance can be attributed to improved plate discipline numbers.
He's making more contact than usual...
And he's been more selective at the plate than usual...
This, in part, has led to a ridiculously good walk rate (14.9%), as Fontenot has drawn ten walks (one intentional) in 67 plate appearances.
In terms of batted-ball types, Fontenot has transformed himself (momentarily) into a slugger. Of the 45 balls he's put in play thus far, 51.1% of them have been flyballs.
The increased flyball rate has led to better power numbers (as Fontenot's .268 ISO has demonstrated) and a lower batting average; but the trade-off's most certainly worth it -- or it has been for Fontenot, whose .382 wOBA is roughly 50 points above his career norm.
While we shouldn't expect Fontenot to continue this -- virtually any player can hit like Prince Fielder over the course of 67 plate appearances -- it's been fun to watch.
Pablo Sandoval, one of the only players in this lineup that was actually hitting, just had surgery to remove a portion of his broken hamate bone, and Miguel Tejada has been the worst hitter in the majors in 2011 (his wRC+ of 26 ranks dead last).
In these desperate times, number-three-hitter Mike Fontenot has given us something to smile about.
Follow SP on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook
