Posted by: BHL (Knight1285@aol.com) on Mon Apr 26 00:00:16 2004

I've been watching Manny Ramirez swing this season and was wondering how you guys analyze it? ... tht? Anything informative?
> >
> > Hi Michael L.,
> >
> > The way I analyze Manny's swing is through the application of geometry.
> >
> > If Manny Ramirez rotated his bat-head only 90 degrees, he would attain 1/3 of his current power, since the bat is not given enough time to accelerate.
> >
> > Gyrating the bat an additional 90 degrees would add to his power; yet he would only accumulate 2/3 of the momentum he is capable of generate by contact.
> >
> > Allow him to swing the bat-head 270 degrees, though, and he will attain the most force by impact.
> >
> > This is because one can only achieve momentum by allowing an object to accelerate over time.
> >
> > Hope this helps.
> >
> > BHL
>
> Thank you, but I was getting more at the swing itself, or rather the movement and mechanics. What I mean is that he doesn't seem to bring his hands towards his shoulders and is still successful (unless I'm not seeing something)

Hi Anonymous (Michael L.?)

Perhaps the reason Manny Ramirez does not bring his hands towards his shoulders is that his hands above the shoulders so they can "helicopter" the bat into the strike zone. This back cock gives him extra force when propeling the bat. Yes, many times the swing begins at the shoulders, but, on accasion, we see individuals whose hands are far from the shoulder in order to generate a longer swing to pull outsdide pitches.

Note: Ramirez did this in last year's playoffs.

Sincerely,
BHL
Knight1285@aol.com

P.S. A good left-handed parallel to Manny Ramirez is Fred McGriff.

Citations: "Helicopter," used here, is actually a loan word from an article written in "Baseball Digest."