Posted by: Graylon (g_dunc@hotmail.com) on Mon Nov 26 10:22:41 2007

> Your quote...
>
> ""I don't know first hand as to how good the hitting coaches are in the MLB, but what I have heard from respectable people that most are not that good. But they're coaching MLB hitters and we're not so they either know someone or they're doing something right or thier players are doing good despite of them.""
>
> Graylon, Who are these respectable people that told you this? Are they involved with MLB? Would they like to be but can't?
>
> Did you know that probably the biggest reason that a MLB hitting coach has his job with a team is because the players of that team want him there. They want him there because he helps their season and career.
>
> If a hitting coach is not wanted...the players and front office will make that happen.
>
> Anyone that thinks a MLB hitting coach is in the Major Leagues for any reason other than the fact that he can help the team win is either misinformed or jealous.

Jimmy,

I don't need to mention names but they are people that I respect and yes they are involved in the MLB or have been.

I agree that if the players or front office doesn't want the coach they will get rid of him. But the players wanting him there doesn't neccessarily make him a good coach and as I stated before he is there and he must be doing something right.

I coached at a Baseball Academy that had Ex MLB players giving hitting lessons and minor league players would come there to hit during the off season. I was giving a lesson to a student while a minor league player was hitting and he told my student "don't worry about anything but your hands, take your hands to the ball and everything else will work properly". I then watched him hit off of a tee with his head down and taking his hands straight to the ball on a down angle. Yes, he was crushing every ball but the ball was sitting still and not moving at a down angle. In order to hit a pitched ball that way he would have to be perfect with his timing and location. That doesn't mean his hitting instructor is a bad instructor it just meant that he does it differently then what I teach. I also have met some who do apply the same mechanics that I do teach. There are different opinions about how to hit, not just between linear and rotational, but even within people who teach one or the other.

Let me say again that they have jobs in MLB and I don't so they must be doing something right.