Posted by: JAC (totallyme1@msn.com) on Wed May 18 00:50:19 2005

BHL
I waded through the March 2004 posts pertaining to your "Power Field Orientation" theory. (Have you read the Sports Illustrated I recommended?) I found your critics in numbers and content far exceeding your few supporters. I agreed, for the most part, with the arguments of the following: Derick Tues Mar 30 17:41, K. Stevens Tues Mar 30 08:46, Teacherman Tue Mar 30 08:34, Teacherman Mon 29 06:35, Doug Mon Mar 29 13:01, Doug Mar Tues Mar 30 20:45,
Dave A Fri Mar 26 18:20, K. Stevens Fri Mar 26 08:33.

I noted on your post BHL Fri Mar 26 07:12 you acknowledged that your theory did not apply to everyone. I also noted that you chose to ignore major points that cast serious doubts on your theory, including the fact that Bonds does some times hit to the opposite field. I would add that he hits to center field too.

I am not certain how important you want pulling outside pitches to be in your theory. I do know though that hitting outside pitches for home runs is relative, even if we knew the percentages hit by the 3 players you named. All 3 players are far from being shortarmed, 2 were juiced up, and all 3 released the bat with their top hand thus being able to extend their swing.

McGuire stood close enough to the plate, that whatever length bat he used he could easily generate his steroid added power into his outside hits. (What youngster could use a 6'5" 250 pound juiced up player who struck out 155 times in his dishonest pursuit of the home run record as a model?)

Bonds, who you have suggested players copy, doesn't fare any better in an evaluation. Yogi Berra on ESPN irreverently pointed out that Bonds stands on top of the plate and umpires won't allow pitchers to throw inside to move him back. (The statement by Don Drysdale, that he enforced, that a hitter can own the inside part of the plate or the outside but not both , does not exist for Bonds.) Choking up on a short maple bat presents no problem reaching outside pitches when Bonds feels the necessity to swing. One of his other allies is the tight strike zone that forces pitchers to walk him or chance pitching to a fat part of the strike zone. But what sets Bonds apart from almost everyone else is the well padded arm protector that greatly reduces the fear of paying the penality of crowding the plate. At the outset of the 2004 season Bonds issued a general warning for pitchers "not to mess with me". How many hitters do this before the season starts? All of these are factors that aid Bonds enormously in dominating home plate. Oh, did I mention that
Bonds, like McGuire did, juiced up? Other than where some universal mechanics are involved Bonds couldn't and shouldn't serve as a role model for anyone, expecially where character is involved.

Citing Griffey a role model for your theory is also a bad example. Like his father, Jr. is an acknowledged all fields hitter. He takes Lau Sr. and Mankin's approach of hitting up the middle one step further. He aims his swing at the shortstop. His terrific shoulder rotation and the pitch location, for the most part, determines where the ball goes. Home runs pulled, or otherwise, are accidents.

I don't know all the particulars of your theory but from what I've read I have a strong sense that it is somewhat adaptable, so I won't refer to it as others have as "absurd" and "ridiculous". So let's just say that I am totally uncovinced that it has any role merit, other than for some universal mechanics that allow the player to become what he will become, and that won't be what you envision.