Posted by: tolson () on Thu May 2 11:41:35 2002

I don't think the fact it's unusual disqualifies it in any way.

A big problem with youth hitters involves what to do with the hands/arms. Hands too far back and you can have trouble staying inside. Hitches keep the hands from getting into a power position soon enough.

While there are no pros using it--there are pros that start from a low hand position and are very close to that position--like Bonds....

It certainly could be a stopgap to teach rotational mechanics--doesn't Mike Epstein have a drill like this?

And if you can hit well in games with it what's the problem? I was watching this game last night (Mets vs Arizona) and this rookie had a really strange stance (hands as high as I've ever seen. Other strange ones like Bagwell, Ripken, Sheffield, Oh .. Many really open stances that used to be considered weird.