Posted by: dougdinger () on Mon Oct 25 15:55:46 2004

Hi All,
> > > > > >
> > > > > > After analyzing the proclivities of "average hitters" in frame-by-frame notion, I noticed that most of the great hitters have a predisposition towards pull hitting.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Damon, though not a execptinal hitter, pulled an outside pitch for a grand slam, and finished the Red Sox's improbable comebacks.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > We can learn something from his approach by attempting to be "pull field orientees."
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Sincerely,
> > > > > > BHL
> > > > > > Knight1285@aol.com
> > > > >
> > > > > I guess we should ignore the base hits to left.
> > > > One grand slam doesn't mean much. What about David Ortiz's home runs over the green monster?
> > >
> > > Hi Dougdinger,
> > >
> > > What about Bellhorn's two home runs off the Pesky Pole?
> > >
> > > BHL
> >
> > What about the near homerun he had to deadcenter? I still don't think you have to pull everything and try to jack one every pitch up at bat. There's lots of green between the two foul poles, and like Williams' shows in his Science of Hitting, the angle of the bat on inside and outside pitches decreases the chance of hitting the sweet spot by 1/3. And like Tim McCarver said "produce but don't direct". It's very very difficult to direct your hits. I hear more than any other cue by Major League hitters is that they try to hit the ball back up the middle.
>
> Hi Dougdiner,
>
> You offered the following observation: "What about the near homerun he [Bellhorn] had to deadcenter?"
>
> The ball he hit to deadcenter was not a home run. And, if I read "The Science of Hitting Correctly," it teaches individuals to strive for perfection. I believe that he that ball to the pull field, it would have cleared the fence, which, when put in altruistic terms, means more runs for the team.
>
> As for the bat angle being cut by a third, that is compensated for by the batter creating great batspeed.
>
> If the batter is slightly to moderately late, he will hit the ball to the the straightaway field, or even the opposite field; yet this is not, as Steve Ferroli articulates in his "Hit Your Potential," the batter's "intention."
>
> Overall, your reasoning is very sound; however, I believe that pulling the ball will give the batter better results.
>
> Cheers,
> BHL!

Hmmm, yes it would have been a homerun had he pulled it, and probably would be if he sprayed it over the green monster too. But, he didn't, we proves how hard it is to aim and direct your hits.I like your theory, but it doesn't work for every pitch.
How would you pull an outside pitch? And hoow would you time your swings to pull each pitch when you're getting a mix of curves,sliders, and splitters, both inside and outside?
Me, I prefer a low pitch, more toward the inside corner (but not on the corner) it's what I hit for the most power-and to the pull field. I look for that pitch with less than 2 strikes. But if I get one outside, left up too high, I can hit that for a nice rope to the opposite field, I can't pull that pitch. And with less than 2 strikes, you gotta protect and go with the pitch.