Posted by: The Hitting Guru (hitman3527@aol.com) on Wed Mar 8 22:35:57 2006

> >>> I understand your disagreeing with my post, but I feel the process you present is not as black and white as you make it out to be. Otherwise many more major league players would take it as gospel. I just cannot see them as being that stupid as to not be aware of a process that supposedly all great hitters perform. <<<
>
> Hi Guru
>
> I read this post on another discussion board. It may give you an indication why “more major league players would take it as gospel. I just cannot see them as being that stupid as to not be aware of a process that supposedly all great hitters perform.”
>
> Jack Mankin
>
> ##
> Here is a story that I picked up from another site (I don't recall who posted it):
>
> "Always, when this conversation arises, I remember a story Don Slaught told me about talking w/ Barry Bonds about his swing. Bonds said he "was hitting all right, but didn't think he was swinging down sharply enough to contact." Slaught told him that in fact, like all MLB hitters, he swung UP to contact. Bonds vehemently denied the possibility of this. Slaught used RVP {Right View Pro} to convince Bonds, and later heard him walk up to ARod at the All Star Game batting practice and say, "Alex, you know you don't swing down to the ball, right?"
> ##


Jack. Thanks for the info though I find the above comments interesting coming from Don Slaught. I remember when Slaught played for the New York Yankees late in his career and he actually took downward swings during game play somewhat like the swings Derek Jeter takes when he takes practice swings just outside the batting circle. Slaught had a swing much like Rich Gedman who played under Walt Wriniak in Boston.

True enough many if not most hitters cannot explain exactly what they are doing. Even a supposed downward swing would most likely come up if the player were to make contact in front of home plate. Slaught actually appeared to swing down as he would slice pitches to the opposite field. But on a close up the results might be different than the perception.

Mike Schmidt felt he was swinging an axe as in chopping a tree which would explain his alluding to the downard action (which may come up on the strike) from a starting position that is up. Because Mike made a conscious effort to hit the bottom of the ball also may have contributed to his perception. Lastly Mike's wrist roll with regard to his swing at/during contact and finishing position also contributes to the fact that his top hand action had a profound effect on his beliefs.