Posted by: Jimmy () on Thu Dec 20 21:26:12 2007

THG,

You state...""In the 2nd clip it Pujols is using more energy and has an overall more aggressive move toward the ball. His aggressiveness is seen as his back foot comes completely off the ground while coming forward significantly. His hip turn as well as his core turn are much more dramatic as well.""

This all occurs because he was a bit late, but he brought the barrel to the ball do to a slight lean back.

The violence in the body vs. the smoothness of the body in the two clips is due to not being on time vs. being on time. When you are on time the swing is much smoother and less rushed and ridged.

Had he been on time, his barrel would be on track to the ball without the need to clear his body out of the way with the lean.

When MLB hitters take batting practice, there is almost never a backward lean because it is easier to be on time. The game is sped up and adjustments are made on the fly...backward lean.

Jimmy