Posted by: Shawn Bell (leebell) on Wed Mar 1 13:59:35 2000

Jack,

Looking at hitters using torque has really helped greatly in understanding how they create bat speed, by contact.

I was looking at what I guess you could call different hitting approaches between Griffey and former team mate Edgar Martinez.

Edgar has superior control over applying torque and swing timing (compact swing). Griffey could easily be viewed as "letting it all hang out".

Sosa shows the same abilities as Edgar in having better swing timing with using torque. Both, Edgar and Sosa can hit with "authority" to all fields (they can go with the outside pitch or pull it). They can handle a wider range of the strike, inside (and I mean inside), high in the strike zone, outside and high, outside and low. Their hands don't stay back, but drift forward with their bodies during the stride. This allows them to initiate torque with their hands closer to their back shoulder. Edgar and Sosa have a "shorter arc" (as I see it). Keeping the hands closer to their shoulder allows them to adjust when they apply torque and this includes adjusting torque for contact locations (and pitch speeds).

What do you think inhibits Griffey from being able to make adjusts to his swing timing and pitch locations?

Do you think he leaves the hands to far back (walks away from his hands)? Has to start applying torque sooner, because of a longer arc? Anyone who has looked or watched Griffey will see that most of his home runs are hit on outside pitch locations. Like Mac he pulls them. I watched him hit for many years since I live in Washington. He doesn't adjust well to inside pitches, contrary to what people might say about pitching him inside.

Griffey often reaches "full extension" (bad word) at contact. I would think it would be a combination of taking/leaving the hands back to far, a longer arc needed because of the distance the hands are behind him, resulting in starting to apply torque sooner. This combination would seem to cut down on ones ability to adjust swing timing while applying torque. But, if the "Timing" is right in Griffey's swing, "Good bye baseball.

Thanks,
Shawn Bell