Posted by: Santana () on Tue Aug 7 15:49:12 2001

Here at batspeed mechanics is the main topic,but I would like to try to help young hitters by suggesting what else it takes to be a good hitter. 1st mechanics: I'll leave that to the sight here.2nd conditioning,look at the big leaguers of today,survival of the fittest,they are big and powerful on average,if not then very fast.Don't wish to give workout advice ,everyone has an opinion on when and how much.I did pushups and pullups and situps since I was 11 with no ill affects but you must decide what is right for you.Don't just think of warning track power becoming hr's but the strength helping you get to the inside pitch for a line drive instead of being jammed.3rd preparation: practice long hard and often with a purpose.Don't just practice make it perfect practice.every swing learn from.Know your strength and weakness and work more on weakness,build it up.Don't give up on not hitting a curveball train practice them over and over,there will be pitchers that only throw them all day.The workout will strengthen you to be able to practice moreuse gloves to stop blisters and hit more,practice situational hitting and learn what you can hit best in those situations and where.Strategy: know your opponent as best you can,I would send someone to the other bullpen to scout and listen to the other pitcher,what was working what did he work on most,did he have pop or movement.Also get near the circle but not in it between innings and time his pitches you will be ahead of the game when you step in the box for real.I would be up there before the leadoff guy at the beginning of a game getting all the info and timing I could and daring him to get mad and throw one at me .Be the aggressor ,intimidator but stay out of the clay.Knowing yourself and learning the opponent well help you make a plan if he is overpowering don't try to pull him and get jammed back off the plate 4 inches and think up the middle and away.Neal Heaton of Uni.miami was the top pitcher in the country in 81 throwing 94-96.I conceded his power and took one up the middle to the center field wall for a double that I would normally pulled against other guys,with him he'd have been in my kitchen.Know when to pull and when to hit behind the runner but also know which pitch nd location you can do that with best.Be selective and the better the count the more aggressive you get in a smaller area.Focus:be aware that the eyes have limitations on time that they can completely focus 100%.3-5 seconds on micro focus so stay relaxed with the eyes and a general area like the chest or head before he starts to wind up then focus on the box.Vision games my friend Wade Boggs said he focuses on that nights pitcher and his delivery that he has seen efore on the way to the ballpark playing it over in his mind visioning his release and pitch and movement.Don't forget the cureballs 1st movement out of the hand is up unlike other pitches.Finally after all has been thought through and the plan is derived step in and see the ball hit the ball in your plan.It boils down to the pitch but much goes into your plan.Those who try to hit any strike any time well be on the outside looking in.Feel free to add to the list here and maybe we can all learn something new for this is only the top of the iceberg.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>RQL,My coach says don't swing at curveballs until you get 2 strikes,what do you mean stay out of the clay,If you know Wade Boggs what high school did he go to.How can I hit like him.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>iT'S YOUR CAREER NOT YOUR COACHES, PROVE TO YOURSELF YOU CAN HIT THEM 1ST THEN TO HIM AND MAYBE HE WILL CHANGE HIS MIND,THE CLAY CIRCLE AT HOME PLATE,STAY OUT OF IT WHEN PITCHER IS WARMING UP BUT THE GRASS IS YOURS.wADE WENT TO PLANT HIGH IN TAMPA FL. //It sounds like knowing what's coming is important how do you know or are you just guessing.What are you saying about the release of the curveball.My coach tells me to hit a grounder up the middle with no outs and a runner on 3rd and infield in is this always true.