Posted by: BHL (Knight1285@aol.com) on Mon Apr 12 14:16:35 2004

Thanks SBK
> > > >
> > > > You are certainly right I am not bashing anyone in this post. In fact I acutally use rotational mechanics in my own swing and the swing that I teach others. I am just pointing out that teaching a nine year old to imitate the "exact" movements of a big leaguer is unrealistic and sometimes even counter productive for the child. Now do not get me wrong, using many of the movements are very productive but I challenge BHL to swing that 5 pound sledge hammer perform perfect mechanics.
> > > >
> > > > I was mearly pointing out to many of the people reading these posts that not all ideas should be applied to every player from little league to the major leagues.
> > > >
> > > > Dave
> > >
> > > Hi Dave,
> > >
> > > I "accept" the challange. It seems as if you use physiological development to decide which "habits" befit the bodies of age pool.
> > >
> > > Yet who "decides?" Coaches.
> > >
> > > So there will be not doubt where my intention lies, I wish, at this time, to applaud all instructors encouraging children to play in Little League.
> > >
> > > What I am concerned about, though, is a coach trying to correct a child in a recreational league who wishes to emulate major league hitters. Some of these coaches even play children according who accepts or rejects their hitting philosophy.
> > >
> > > Seen in this light, the entire youth league organization began with the purest of intentions, but turned tyrannical far too rapidly to give any youth a chance to adjust.
> > >
> > > If I remember correctly, Ted Williams played sandlot baseball, where there were no coaches, just enthusiastic dreamers. According to Ted's memoirs in "The Science of Hitting," he was always emulating the precise movements of "Foxx," "Greenberg," and others. Seen in this light, we can argue children learned better when they emulated the sluggers than when some loquacious theoritician told the child to cease copying the nuances of professional hitters, and threatened them with benching if they defied orders.
> > >
> > > Here is some simple advice--do not try to force philosophies on a youngster. Instead, designate areas where they can play the game, free from adult interferrence!
> > >
> > > After all, Williams listened to the pros, not some adult. It's about time that the children followed suit, and their game returns to innocence.
> > >
> > > Sincerely,
> > > BHL
> > > Knight1285@aol.com
> >
> > Speaking of loquacious theoreticians, did you see Barry Bonds hit a double down the left field line by not trying to pull the outside pitch after he had popped up to left field trying to pull it earlier.
>
> What about Delgado pulling the outside pitch into the rightfield seats? You might as well admit it, BHL has made some good points. You know what they say, if you can't beat them join them! Time for you to get on board.

Hi Marv,

I bestow upon you the title of Thane of Pull Orientee instructors!

I hope that my posts the last month and a half, though, have an even bigger impact on rising stars, who question objectionable hitting theories through the question-and-answer approach.

This varies from instructional dictation, where mechanics are the by-product of the rote digestion of information. This system quases inquisitive thinking, which is de regueur for the development of self-cognition.

Rhetorical thinking encourages more questioning, but only to the point where the hitter understands what not to do. It is really masked dictation, since, when one asks: "You mean I do not do 1/X?" he or she is really asking "You mean I do X?" When examined carefully, it is logical to assume that the truth, represent by X, can be found by flipping over its inverse--the fallacy--represented by 1/X. Seen in this light, this brand of free-thinking uses guile to control a hitter's movements.

The last option, the Socratic method, encourages the hitters to seek questions, and receive answers. This way the hitter can shape his swing due to feedback, rather than to be forced into a mold into which he or she does not fit.

You all know that the last alternative is the best alternative, since it produces Hall-of-Famers.

Thanks again Merv (and Teacherman)

Sincerely,
BHL
Knight1285@aol.com

Without the Socratic method, my Pull Field Orientation could never survive on this site!



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