Posted by: toti (tor@hotmail.com) on Wed Aug 20 01:50:55 2003

Is Todd Helton the Greatest hitter today statistically? Does he have the best mechanics? Could he be a better all around hitter than Bonds? If not, then who is better than Bonds today?
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> > > > i think it is important to point out that being the best hitter does not necessairily mean having the best mechanics...
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> > > hi bart
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> > > damn right!
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> > > you can put up great mechanics and still be late or early and you will suck..but with style. we have a few of those in my team.
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> > > wanna know why? because timing is the name of the game, not baseball. two factors that nobody ever talks about: mental side of hitting and in-depth perception. those two make up for 50 percent of hitting. the difference between winning and losing. Indepth improves slowly with time. and the mental side is learning the pitcher and anticipating the pitches and working the count. a great hitter is an intelligent hitter. however all they talk about is mechanics everywhere. why? i dont know. too many dont know this game.
> > > i played last saturday and i went 1 in 4. why? i dont know. my mechanics are rotational and solid now. what was missing? how the hell do i know? i couldnt adjust my moves to the pitches. however i hit a long drive to center field for a hit. why? because my timing was dead on. that ball left the bat in a hurry. man that´s it. i was prepared for a hard ball. I anticipated that pitch. so anticipation is a big part of timing. i knew the pitcher and i knew he threw down the middle so i waited for that ball and..got it. why do pitchers succeed in the majors in their first year and then dont do so well in the next two years? people see them and learned them...and anticipate them. ,, and still we consistantly take away the pitcher factor off the equation. Granted you will hit better with better mechanics but that´s only one side of the equation.
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> > > ..bye
> > > toti
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> > the reason mechanics are talked about on almost every hitting forum and place is simple: good solid mechanics ALLOW you to put yourself in a situation to succeed .. with bad mechanics .. even if you knew what pitch is coming you would probably be real crappy.
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> > learning the game, learning how to hit in different counts, learning the pitchers in your league .. and most importantly making adjustments is what keeps you in the game.
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> > scott
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> I agree with Scott.
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> Good mechanics lead to seeing the ball better, reacting quicker, and consistancy. Consistancy is key for developing good timing.


Hi

Dont get me wrong. I believe mechanics are important and will give you confidence and consistancy at the plate. ..all i am saying is that it is only may be 50 % of hitting. The other 50 % is a combination of intangibles or ellusive variables like working the count, pitch selection, knowing the pitcher, etc. Which i would go on record to say that they are a part of a whole called timing. You cant hit with mechanics only. If it was like that, anybody that worked on mechanics and become near perfect will be a successfull hitter. Basically everybody. This is not golf, thank god. A golfer has ball still and just applies his best mechanics to it. No intangibles there.

A big part of hitting is pitch selection, another word for in-depth perception. That means recognizing a strike early and putting your bat in the path of the ball.

Another big part is the count. In 2-0, 2-1, 3-1, you count on a fastball and you know you have to accelerate the bat which makes your timing the better. However, if for some reason, the pitcher is confident with his curve ball, he will throw it to you, in which case you will be a sure out, because your timing will be off, your bat head will be way too fast for off speed pitch, and you will either miss it or be way too early and hit a chopper. however When you are batting against the count you can expect pitches in the outside corner, fast balls, sliders, curve balls, so you have to slow down your swing and wait on the ball to get deep and bat to right field. I usually stride closed against the count to bat to right field. Now, if for some reason, the pitcher is confident with his fast ball and thinks he can jam you with inside heat, he probably will throw it to you right there, specially if you are batting 7, or 8 th in the line up. He knows you are not the best hitter in the team. If you stride closed and get that inside heat, there is no way in the world(rotational, non-rotational, linear, etc) you are going to hit that in-coming double deuce. Why? Becuase the pitcher off-set your timing. And it all comes down to timing. On the other hand if he gave you the junk pitch outside which you were counting on from the beginning, then you might have a chance. Like i have said here before, timing is where the money, the productivity and average is. Give me a great timer and i will show you a great hitter. A guy that can make the intuitive adjustments to pitches in and out in time to hit them well, no matter rotational or linear, he will hit well. Granted rotational will buy you time because you are hitting the ball deeper in the zone.

Thanks for all your responses.

toti