Posted by: Jack Mankin (mrbatspeed@aol.com) on Wed Nov 19 23:15:50 2003

>>> I was just interested in how much success this player is having. I really like the things I see in his swing although I have trouble getting adequate frame by frame viewing. Anyway, his upper half reminds me of a left handed version of Bagwell. His load is intriguing and I've been mulling that Bagwell style load over in my head. You see it in Bonds from time to time as well...the hitter loads by swaying the bat back and forth towards the opposing batters box and back towards his shoulders (not loading the hands back as much as out and in). I think, in my humble opinion, that it creates some connection between the bat and the lower half. Anyway, I like his swing but would love to see a few more. <<<

Hi Andy

Although this batter may have some of the pre-launch movements similar to a Bagwell or Bonds, there is a defining difference that makes this just another average swing. Bagwell and Bonds keep accelerating the bat-head as they bring their hands up toward the back shoulder and keep it accelerating right through the normal launch position. But instead of keeping the bat-head sweeping into the swing plane, this batter brings the bat to a complete stop behind his head before initiating the swing.

This difference would be similar to him racing Bonds in a 20 yard dash – but allowing Bonds to come flying by before he took off.

Jack Mankin