Posted by: Jeff M (arhmobile@yahoo.com) on Thu Oct 18 12:37:03 2001

I've been noticing that Derek Jeter and Chuck Knoblauch of the Yankees both hold the bat back. You would say it was pointing the opposite way of the pitcher. I took a couple swings like that and the bat seemed quicker and it got through the strike zone quicker. I have yet to try this in batting practice or in a game but is it better to do.

At this years Babe Ruth 15 world series, a few teams instructed their hitters to lay the bat back when facing a certain "very fast" pitcher. Not sure how well it worked overall, but some of the kids did get some decent "wood" on the ball. I tell my guys to focus on a different release point of the pitcher. That also seems to help.