Posted by: JAC (totallyme1@msn.com) on Mon May 8 23:28:44 2006

If this discussion is not about rotational as opposed to linear what both methods are you referring to? You are aware that this discussion is about Lau Sr's book and has nothing to do with his son? Every respectable coach of hitting emphasizes line drives. What "rotational" hitter in the majors do you know of who rolls his hands over?

The cover on the "Art of Hitting .300" showed Brett hitting over a straight front side with his head jammed down into his front shoulder. This promoted a downward Vee swing instead of a "rotational" shallow U. The result was often a ground ball that often shot through the astro turfed infield.

Do you know of anyone today with the top hand release who hit the ball farther than Ruth, Mantle, Fox or Fielder? Ruth hit towering homeruns. Mantle almost hit a ball out of Yankee Stadium. And Fielder did hit a homerun over the old Detroit Stadium roof. I assure you that their homeruns did not have overspin on them that created line drives that dipped downward.

Comparing A-Rod or anyone in this era of juiced up players, juiced up balls, juiced up bats, juiced up ball parks, and watered down pitching, with the greats of the past will be frowned upon by many, to say the least.

Aaron played almost his entire career, which was considerably long, in homerun friendly ball parks. Balls hit in Atlanta traveled 6% farther than in New York. After his early days when he often released with the top hand he hit most of his homeruns with both hands on the bat. A strong hip rotation was very noticeable.

The back foot that you noted was off the ground was probably on a pitch that was up. This often happens with pitches that are up. There are pictures of Aaron hitting lower pitches where his back foot is down on the ground and there is a distinct L shape to his back leg to accomodate going down after these low pitches.