Posted by: Goody (egoodson@ls.net) on Thu Dec 13 11:47:54 2001

I believe the most important aspect of hitting is having a genuine passion for it. Kids need to be taught how to play fantasy games using a broomstick and gravel, or a broomstick and kernels of corn if they live in the city. When they can hit a kernel of corn out of sight 10 out of 10 times with a broomstick, they are not making a lot of mechanical errors. Mantle and Maris hit thousands of home runs over the river and into the trees in my home state of Virginia, while letting me swing for them when I was a kid. Funny thing though, the Yankees always beat the Dodgers.