Posted by: Major Dan (markj89@charter.net) on Fri Oct 26 09:38:48 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.
>
> Hi Guys,
>
> Manny and Edgar suffered through the same problems half the season. Both started 'red hot', Edgar hit at a .800 clip for approx. 3-4 weeks.
>
> One thing to consider is if one hitter is doing all the damage, teams will pitch around them until they feel comfortable pitching to them again.
>
> There is always a change in mechanics. Does the hitter know something is wrong? I'm sure they do, it's not always easy to make the corrections.
>
> Shawn
>
>
Hi Shawn:
Good point. Pitchers try to mess up hitting mechanics.

Manny never really recovered his mechanics, though he was a bit better by the end of the season.
Not that the RedSox management has a clue about what they are doing, but Manny never really came out of his slump and Rick Down, the hitting coach, was fired at the end of the year.
I can only assume they felt he wasn't getting the job done. Then they offered the job to Walt Hriniak (!@#@#%*@&#$^) who, fortunately for RedSox nation, turned it down.