Posted by: Willy Boy (lineman4@sbcglobal.net) on Tue Feb 19 13:33:23 2008

Vic,
Would you agree that you have a different agenda as you change your batting style?
There are offensive and defensive hitters. An offensive hitter is more aggressive and has the intension of hitting the ball hard. He usually will be looking for a ball in a certain zone and may let a seemingly hittable pitch go by for a first or second strike.
Then with 2 strikes you may become a defensive hitter who's objective is not to get out. Now you shorten and punch as you have described.
I think a defensive hitter has a tendancy to chase more bad pitches because of his agenda. But on the other hand he will not go down looking often.
Let me ask you this... Who would you rather pitch to?


> I have played baseball for 48 years (since I was 5) and still play adult baseball. The one thing I have learned is that I have 2 basic swings, 1 for power using methods similiar in this site and the other for contact and a higher average. By shortening all my mechanics (which in my case produces the "weaker" hitting motions, less torque, pushing of the bat, no CHP, etc), I can hit more line drives, make more contact, and go to opposite field easier on low outside pitches. So my conclusion is when using the "proper" power techniques, you impact (slightly) your abilities to effectively react to various pitch locations and pitch speed. So whenever I get 2 strikes, I change my mechanics.
>
> It appears to be proven by those non-power contact hitters in the professional ranks that have high average, low power, and seem to "slap" or "throw the bat" at the baseball to just make contact.
>
> What are your thoughts?