Posted by: Major Dan (markj89@charter.net) on Mon Oct 22 17:17:46 2001

you use manny as an example of awesome rotational mechanics but during the second half of the season he didnt hit nearly as well. Was there a change in his mechanics?
>
> Hey
> I think that the teams found they could pitch him inside and get him out cuz he stands so close to the plat
> Jeff Hitman

I live outside Boston and watched Manny all year. He got a bad case of the flu and missed almost a week of playing time. When he returned, he was not the same hitter. THere was some confusion here about his playing the outfield vs. dh'ing but IMO the flu had a really negative effect on him.
I suspect he felt weak and a bit slow with the bat, so he tried to get his swing started a little earlier. Anyway, he stopped taking outside pitches to the opposite field for most of July and August. He was pulling everything and strking out a lot.
By the end of the year he was fed up with the circus in the clubhouse and didn't seem to be trying.
It would be interesting to compare his mechanics from May with his August mechanics. I suspect they were different. His approach certainly was and the results were as well.