Posted by: BHL (Knight1285@aol.com) on Fri Mar 26 23:22:46 2004

Hi all,
> >
> > I unearthed an integral concept that will allow individuals will poor power to center and to right to increase the amount of home runs that they will produce. At this point in time, this idea is simply in its hypothetical form; therefore, I cannot offer quantitative quotes as to how this method will increase a hitter's productivity. Nevertheless, I can explain the delineation behind the proposition.
> >
> > Let's assume that a right-handed batter has the capability to hit a ball 375 feet to left field, 360 to left center, 345 to center, 330 to right center, and 315 to right. Now, let's suppose the home run distance to right is 330; to left center, 365; to center, 400; to right center, 365, and to right, 330. If the player hits 25 fly balls--5 balls as hard as he can to each field--he clears left by 45 feet, but falls 5 feet short on his hits to left center; 55 feet short on his shots to center; 35 feet short on his shots to right center; and, finally, 15 feet shorts on his fly balls to right.
> >
> > Now suppose he pulls every ball...Obviously, every hit would wind up a home run, and he would wind up hitting 20 more home runs than he did the previous year. What this hitter discovered is that the placement of fly balls is just as significant as how hard they are hit. By attempting to pull every pitch--a hitting taboo--this individual has given himself an advantage over other hitters. As a member of my family once said, a 375 foot fly ball does no good when directed toward center field.
> >
> > For this reason, I disagree with Mankin's belief that balls should be directed towards center field. He should, instand, encourage batters to take advantage of a system that allows them to pull both inside and outside pitches.
> >
> > Eventually, once a hitter masters batspeed.com's theories, he should try to pull all his balls.
> >
> > Sincerely,
> > BHL
> > Knight1285@aol.com
> >
> > P.S. Mac's 62nd home run was an outside pitch pulled to left, into his power field (Ted Williams terminology).
>
> I suggest you write poetry.

Hi All,

The reactions to my hypothesis has been mixed thus far--some approving, some dissenting. Yet, if you think about it in mathematical terms, it makes much more sense.

We shall begin with the inside, since it is the pitcher's weapon of choice to break bats. Nevertheless, if you create a tight arc, and pull the ball (assuming the batter is right handed), you have a chance to deposit the ball into the left field seats.

When hitters discover that you are using a tight arc, they can choose to gear their pitches towards the middle of plate. Ironically, you can prolong their nightmares by doing what Mankin suggests--widening the arc--and hit the ball at the same contact point. The results will be the same, but because the bathead is traveling on in a wider arc on a pitch down the middle, instead of inside, the ball gets hit even deeper into the seats.

Ultimately, the pitcher may decide to pitch you away, but you can counter this tactical move by using the widest arc available to
hit the ball in the same contact point as the former pitch. Since Mankin has proved that the widest arc will generate the greatest amount of batspeed, the pitch may wind up beyond the seats.

Seen in this light, the mental approach is simple. The hitter looks for pitches inside all the time, and has ample time to adjust by widening the arc if the pitch is outside. This is what home run hitting is all about. Marvin is right--pulling the ball all the time is beneficial, so long as the person knows how to execute the task at hand.

Cheers!
BHL,
Knight1285

P.S. Marv, thanks for the kind words.