Posted by: Graylon (g_dunc@hotmail.com) on Thu Sep 25 17:57:19 2008

> > > >
> > > > Five,
> > > >
> > > > I just wanted to say that I feel a slight change in timing. If I read the pitch well and pick up the angle and looking to hit anything thrown, say I have two strikes. It is a very minute change, and kids have a hard time making this minute change. It's something that comes with experience. This slight change allows the ball to get deeper on the outside pitch. And the only way to learn it is through practice, alternating between inside and outside pitches.
> > > >
> > > > Now if you are looking inside or outside only, the timing for each is much easier. And working on both, just inside and just outside, that helps to develop this slight change. The hitter should feel the difference. And in time they can learn the difference, but they have to learn how to read the angle of the pitch quickly.
> > > >
> > > > The problem I see is very few work on it.
> > > >
> > > > I'm not discussing the mechanical changes your asking about. Just asking how many times do you force the hitter to hit nothing but inside pitches and then nothing but outside pitches. Say their facing a pitching machine, do you make them move toward and away from the plate simulating inside and outside pitches. That just one example.
> > >
> > >
> > > Thank you Shawn.
> > >
> > > Your description of a "slight change in timing" was helpful.
> > >
> > > From the sound of it I'll need to get my students performing plenty of practice alternating between hitting 'inside' and 'outside' pitches.
> > >
> > > The link below (bottom diagram) shows two plates being used. The idea is to set the pitching machine so that it mainly pitches to a certain location, but to position two plates for the student to practice their 'inside' and 'outside' pitches.
> > >
> > > http://groundup.hittingillustrated.com/hitting/Plate_setup_for_practicing_inside_outside_locations.pdf
> > >
> > > Let me know if you have an alternative setup.
> > >
> > > Slaught & Candrea preach looking 'inside' and adjusting 'outside'. See the video clip below.
> > >
> > > http://groundup.hittingillustrated.com/hitting/RVP_IP300_SB/64_Adjusting__Inside_to_Outside__Mike.wmv
> > >
> > > On the other hand, Rql speaks of looking 'outside' and adjusting 'inside'. The logic, if I understand it correctly, is to look 'outside' while anticipating moving to a launch position with the hands moving back the furthest, but to interrupt this and not move the hands back as far when you detect an 'inside' pitch.
> > >
> > > What is your opinion on "looking in & adjust away" versus "look away & adjust in"?
> > >
> > > -- FFS
> >
> > I know you didn't ask me but I have always taught look for a pitch you can crush and adjust to the other ones. My thinking on this is if I am looking away and the pitch I hit best is middle in, then when I get it I'll be adjusting to it instead of crushing it. Also, learning the pitcher and what he throws and when will help you to look for a certain pitch in the given count. Against someone who is filthy, guessing is all you can do.
> >
> > Graylon
>
> ...Let me ask a question if you had to cover the strike zone top to bottom,would you look for a high pitch and adjust for the low one or would you look low and adjust up.Next Really good hitters hit the ball that is 3-4 inches inside the o.s. corner to 3-4 inches from the inside corner,the pitchers best pitches are those that cover the outer 3-4 inches of the plate on either side.My position is that really good hitters often look for balls on that outer 3rd not corner and look to hit it hard up the middle if they are slightly behind it will slice to the gap,depending on their style they may even drive balls down the middle to near dead center or slightly pull and pull the ball hard on inner 3rd.Bonds did this very well so does ortiz and pena of the Rays does it as well nightly,Looking down the middle only should be left for 3-1,2-0,3-0.The load is shorter for the inside pitch so if you set for this,, then you are disconnecting with extension for the away pitch [inside out swing]Picture the inside out swing and how it has been used does that sound like the power stroke.Lets take jeter for example great hitter imo just not alot of power,but he hits the other way alot but his bread and butter to not get beat often with 2 strikes is to look away but when he gets beat inside he at the last minute adjusts and draws his hands in and drags the barrel and texas leagues so often,this is not a swing that is looking inside then going to adjust away,with 2 strikes he looks fb away so he can more easily adjust to curveball speed by pulling it if possible,this is a good point that i can agree with slaught on,but jeter would be vulnerable to the heater inside as I was with 2 strikes and trying to cover the whole plate,this is jeters answer to the weakness and he has been very successful.
> Tino Martinez just moved into my neighborhood I saw him on a scooter yesterday,I am going to try to flag him down and discuss his opinion on this as well,and then I will post it if I meet him


rql,

My point is that in a plus count why would I not be looking for the pitch I can crush. If I am looking away and adjusting in then you will always be adjusting to the pitch you want. IMO MLB hitters know the pitchers so well that they are looking for a particular pitch, depending on the count. If you are trying to cover the whole strike zone on every pitch then you will beat yourself. I use to, when I played, look away and adjust in, but I would get beat on hard pitches in that I felt I should have crushed. That may be because of my mechanics or just my level of ability catching up to me but I felt that if I was looking for that pitch I would have hit it hard. With 2 strikes you will have to try to cover the whole zone but I still believe that you are looking for a certain pitch, based on what the pitcher has gotten you out with before or gotten others out with before. I would agree that if you don't know the pitcher that well, then I would look low and away and fight off the other locations.

Quick note on something I saw in last years playoffs. I saw Manny take a called 3rd strike down the middle of the plate and IMO if you were to ask him how he took that pitch he would tell you that he wasn't looking for it.

Graylon