Posted by: Major Dan (markj89@charter.net) on Tue Mar 4 06:04:48 2003

maybe im wrong but is the big hurt linear?
>
> Thomas is a Walt Hriniak student. If you want to call it linear, so be it. I don't feel that linear is a hitting technique. There are rotational hitters and there are Lau Sr. and Hriniak hitters.

Interesting way to phrase that. There really aren't any pure linear hitters at the MLB level as that technique won't work at the top levels. The White Sox and Phillies organizations seem to be into the Hriniak style - pop the hips and throw the hands. They are only connected briefly. Back scap loads as front scap unloads, then front scap loads as back scap unloads. Shoulder turn is minimal.
While not linear in the 'push the knob of the bat to the ball' sense, it has many of the deficiencies. Hence Frank Thomas, a huge strong athletic man has barely cleared 40 hrs in a season and usually hits less. If he were an ordinary physical specimen he'd be nothing. As it is he's Mark McGuire's size but a line drive singles and doubles hitter. Hriniak is teaching private lessons somewhere...