Posted by: Rich () on Fri Feb 20 19:07:13 2004

Hi Jack,
>
> I have no personal insight into your take of adapting a hitting style (i.e., becoming a table-setter, a dependable run producer, or a consistent triple-crown threat, but, to be earnest, the lexical term arouses my ire. I will now state my reason then propose a possible solution.
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> Every hitter wants to be seen in a heroic light, which just cannot be achieved linearly. Yes, Charley Lau warns against ?The Hero Complex,? but perhaps his slap hitting cannot produce the power necessary to immortalize hitters. Thus, the small, quick hitters are encouraged to slap the ball, and ?fly around the bases.? In my view, these hitters are no more than base specialists.
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> The line-drive hitters are also encouraged to use the down-stroke to slice the balls in the outside gaps. These hitters are usually bigger than the single hitters, and their size accounts for their power. Again, by using this stroke, success would be more or less predicated upon hit placement than solid contact.
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> Finally, home run hitters are encouraged to swing naturally, and hit the ball hard. Their Herculean physique is the prime determinant of ball distance. Yet, they are also warned to focus on hitting hard line drives and ground balls, and let home runs happen by accident.
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> However, when viewed through the lens of rationality, the Lau approach limits the potential of individuals severely! Let?s say that a fast shortstop ?goes on a tear,? and hits nine homers in a week. The Lau-Hriniak school would herald the accomplishment, but attempt to mold him back into the player that he should be?a table-setter. Yet, if he had a coach who toiled under the tutelage of Jack Mankin, the coach might ask: ?What did the hitter do differently that allowed him to hit nine pitches?in various locations in the strike zone?400+ feet? How did he acquire this bat speed? Is size, then, really a major factor?? The instructor would then compare his mechanics before and after his long ball binge to his biomechanical technique during the streak. He would notice that during ?the tear,? the small individual, rotating around a stationary axis, was able to amass enough CHP, BHT, and THT on an upswing to afford him enough bat speed to hit the ball that far, irrespective of his small stature. After the season, he would explain his findings to the hitter, and specify drills that would allow him to hit the way he did while on the streak on a more consistent basis. Next year, the player who only hit nine home runs in 500 at bats maybe bangs out 26 more long balls, and ends up hitting 35 home runs in 500 at bats, an average of 7 home runs every 100 at bats. Now, I bet Batspeed.com would be the first rotational school to commend that instructor for his work. Unfortunately, even if the batter?s size is not altered, a steroid witch-hunt is bound to occur.
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> If this player can achieve such seasonal excellence, who is to say that a ?35 homer a yea? guy cannot make adjustments in the off-season, and wind up hitting 50 homers in 500 at bats, or 10 home runs every 100 at bats?
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> If this dream can be conceived, it follows that the homerun hitter?the ?50 a year? guy, and the strongest of them all?can incorporate even more rotational mechanics into his swing, and slam 65 home runs in 500 at bats, or 13 home runs every 100 at bats.
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> As a result, our modern definition of ?hitting types? would need to be redefined statistically. This is because all sizes of hitters using rotational mechanics would answer the call?albeit in different degrees?to home run heroism. They will realize that the ultimate objective of hitting is neither scampering nor ?cue shots,? but hitting a fair ball over the fence! If this is to be accomplished, we need to throw Lau-based models of hitting in the trash!
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> Before I bid all of you adieu, and wait for a response Jack, I leave you all with the wisdom of a John Lennon refrain: ?You may say I?m a dreamer, / But I?m not the only one.?
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> Jack, please give me feedback, since it is possible that I?m on to something here!
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> Sincerely,
> BHL
> Knight1285
>
>Hey BHL

Nice post... but don't forget to improve their eye hand coordination and their timing.

Also i don't think there would be a witch hunt if the person didn't add 20-30 lbs of pure muscle in 12 months... a strength increase would definately help!!!

The game needs all types of hitters. that's what makes it fun to watch... but the HR is the KING!! be well, Rich