Posted by: Donny (donnybstr@aol.com) on Fri Dec 26 05:21:22 2003

When evaluating a batter I tend to watch for three things when the ball is pitched. Most of these are criteria from the experts but I find them useful to note.

To keep it simple, I ask three questions and the answer is the same for all..... centered.

1. Where is the bat at toe touch?

Is it centered? Meaning are the hands back and the bat barrel in the slot( center of the spine) that is perfect to launch and get on plane.

2.Where is the weight at toe touch?.

Did he stride to a balanced point and back to #1 is that bat still centered

3. Where is the ball at toe touch?

Did he get his front foot down with the weight balanced, the bat still back , and does he still have time to pull the trigger relative to where the pitched ball is now. I call this centered too because many times the ball must be no closer to 1/2 the way from the mound to home on a fast ball to have time to swing.The ball must be(midway) center of the mound and home plate.

By looking at a player using these criteria, it is easier for me to explain success or failure at the plate and make the correct adjustment. If the player meets these criteria on each pitch then he rarely has a bad at bat. With a little practice you can actually see all these things at once. I know coaches that teach "see it and hit it". Once you meet these above crteria, thats all thats left to do. Without meeting them, the phrase has little meaning to your hitter.