Posted by: tom.guerry (tom.guerry@kp.org) on Fri Dec 8 08:35:11 2000

On another board, de novo Williams advocate Mike Epstein has been responding to posts, calling some posters by name, generally getting to know folks, just gabbing and contributing. Now, a lot of his contributions are anecedotes and terms burgled from Steve Ferroli, but forget that for now.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > In one thread he regales us with a story about how 1920's Detroit Tigers great Harry Heilmann gave him a personal hitting lesson. Epstein even wrote that Harry called him "Mike."
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I got a problem with this. Harry Heilmann died in 1952. Mike Epstein was born in 1943.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > You can look it up on Setpro under the baseball vs. fastpitch thread; it is Epstein's most recent post, way near the bottom.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Mike is very credible.He has real stats over a real career and is a thoughtfulstudent of the game with a proven coaching record as well.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > What's your agenda?
> > > > >
> > > > > Tom
> > > > >
> > > > > My agenda is honesty and credibility and nothing more. Why lie about this? People who lie in their professions are suspect in my opinion. Who is he trying to impress. Forget my agenda. Ask Mike what is his agenda in making up stories about himself that place him in the company of well-known authorities, when it appears highly doubtful that he in fact was.
> > > >
> > > > Hello again...late correction
> > > >
> > > > Harry died in 1951 in Detroit; Mike, who was born in the Bronx, was 8, not 9.
> > > >
> > > > Laser_Fast_Eyes .....>>Maybe Harry visited his L.L. or knew a friend of the family and it happened very young.
> >
> > RQL
> >
> > Be a hell of a coincidence. I'll tell you why. Because Harry told Ted the same thing....I knew I had read this somewhere else, this "right field with two strikes" thing. Get out your copy of The Science of Hitting. Go to Gallery of Great Hitters. There, under a photo of Harry, is Ted telling us that he heard the exact same thing from Harry as Mike claims HE heard from Harry.
> >
> > So now we are quite possible talking about plagiarism as well.
> >
> > But, hey maybe a 9 year old Mike got a chance to visit the cancer-stricken, hospitalized Harry in 1952. Maybe they even talked hitting, and maybe even Mike quizzed the old guy hard on the fine points of rotational technique.
> >
> > Only Mike can tell us for sure.
> >
> > Laser_Fast_Eyes
>
> >
> >after what some charley lau jr imposter did at hitting.com i too am concerned about the true identity of anyone claiming to be a prominent hitting instructor or ex-major leaguer....having said that, if mike epstein is good enough for tom.guerry, then he's good enough for me....my only concern is if epstein reguritates what ferolli says, because in my view, ferolli has ZERO credibility....he may have williams' "blessing " but some of the bizarre things that ferolli has said undermines his credibility.....i say epstein, yes, ferolli, no, paul, jack & tom yes, lau jr (or imposter), no......respectfully, grc....

Mike has had a very distinguished major league hitting and hitting coaching career.He has simplified teaching of the swing as well as anyone.One of my favorite players,Jeff Kent,another Cal grad like Mike(and great supporter of women's athletics),gives Mike a large share of credit for improving his hitting.