Posted by: rql () on Fri Apr 9 16:59:11 2004

is a wider hand path needed to hit the outside pitch?
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> are your hands weaker the further they extend from torso?
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> at what contact point (with an outside pitch) is the top hand wrist at it’s weakest, - late (opposite field), even (center field), early (pull)?
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> ray porco <<<
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> Hi Ray
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> I would agree that a wider hand-path is required for outside pitches.
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> You ask, “are your hands weaker the further they extend from torso?” I think this could lead to an interesting discussion. But first you will need to clarify a couple of points for me. – When you ask, “are your hands weaker.” Weaker to do (or apply) what? What can the hands do (or apply) to the bat from the “stronger” position that it can not do from the “weaker” position. Please explain how this effects bat speed and give as much detail as possible. I will do the same.
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> P.S. I would like to focus this thread for Ray’s replies only. If someone wishes to comment on this subject, please do so with another thread.
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> Jack Mankin
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> Ray,I would say a wider handpath is needed to hit the outside pitch,rather than down the middle but not by much.The deeper the ball is the less extension is needed to get barrel on the ball.
At some point the hands can get far enough away from body to be in a weaker position,I believe when there is that disconnection from the shoulder turn that the hands get in a weaker state.I would also say that the hands are in a weaker state when they are trying to pull the ball that is outside,since they must cast and barrel must extend out front of hands to hook the ball.
There are many variables why we can say 1 person does 1 thing well and another does something else.Take Big Mac for example,many say he can pull the outside pitch well,probably so,at 6-5 and long arms and long bat he can comfortably hit the outside pitch out front with good wood.Take a 12 y.o. kid standing at a plate the which is the same size that Mac,stands at but everything else is much shorter and he can't do the same thing.Example,I saw Jose cruz for devilrays the other night pull an o.s. pitch between 1st and 2nd. for a line drive single and he looked like he was out of rhythm in a weak position to get to it ,alot of casting but perfect timing and swing plane allowed him to hit it as well as he could hit that pitch in that spot.His next time up he hit a ball on the outer 3rd of plate that short hopped the oppo gap wall for a double .Perfect timing rhythm,and line drive swing plane just blistered it,any lift and it would be out of there.
My point is that great hitters can do great things against the grain but it is tougher and not as consistent with it.I would rather be a little late than a little early on a o.s. pitch.