Posted by: Cardinal2B (jeff0649@optonline.net) on Wed Jun 26 06:10:16 2002

I was pretty delighted to find this site, since it is consistent with my observations. Jack has provided scientific evidence and refined this theory much further.
> > > > >
> > > > > When I was a kid (I'm 52) we were taught to "Attack the Ball" as it came over the plate. To me this is kind of the essence of the Linear approach... and the flaws it begets: overstepping, lunging, caving rear shoulder, etc.
> > > > > because when you attack you tend to be too aggressive, anxious, jumpy and tense.
> > > > >
> > > > > My observation has been that good hitters are relaxed, do not jump at the ball, but let it come to them, then swing around an axis formed by a line from the head to the back bended knee at the finish of the swing.
> > > > >
> > > > > But, the Linear guys have all these short neat phrases, y'know, and the stands and dugouts of the world keep repeating them! Let's face it ""Rotational Around a Stationary Axis," and "The Application of a Circular Hand Path." just aren't very catchy.
> > > > >
> > > > > I mean I just can't see people yelling encouragement to the batter, like "C'mon Charlie, Apply a Circular hand Path!"
> > > > >
> > > > > So..., let's get some thinking here!
> > > > >
> > > > > I have had some success telling players that instead of "Attacking the Ball" they should "Defend the Strike Zone."
> > > > >
> > > > > It seems to impart 2 things:
> > > > > 1. No point in defending against a pitch that is not going to be in the zone, right? (sort of a twist on get a good pitch to hit, but same idea), and
> > > > > 2. A controlled, relaxed, relatively effortless swing to make certain to hit the middle of the ball. (This is rotational since no "attack stride" is even needed.)
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > What Jack is saying is not really all that new. I believe it was Branch Rickey who observed that you cannot step and hit. What Jack offers is some serious evidence and a theoretical framework. What we need is some simple ways to communicate it.
> > > > >
> > > > > Jeff
> > > >
> > > > Epstein believes that the challenge of getting the timing right is severe enough that you should anticipate(be selective/zone hit) inside or out on a full swing with less than 2 strikes.It is also useful to think of each swing as a go until aborting if it then doesn't fit your plan.Have an appropriately aggressive plan for each pitch.
> > >
> > > Tom,
> > > Probably a matter of degree here, and I like what Mike E says for the most part (read him in Hardball magazine), I'm after trying to stop lunging & all the bad things it produces. Put another way, what every pitcher hopes to induce is bad timing - to get you out on your front foot, weight commited forward (linearly, of course). It isn't needed to hit the ball hard. My Defend the Zone is more for the hitter who is out on that front foot. Nobody's is saying don't swing - quite the opposite....
> > > As players mature, then you gotta have a bit more of a plan, and defend a certain piece of the zone (until 2 strikes...)
> > >
> > > Thanks for the response.
> > > Jeff
> > >
> > Jeff-
> > you have to be careful to avoid defensive hitting while saying what you are saying. I know its not what you mean, but it could be misinterpreted.
>
> Folks
>
> I like this "defend the strike zone" suggestion. He isn't saying defend it with a weak swing. He is saying defend it with a vengeance. Or pick your own aggressive image. I like it. This is fact is what Barry Bonds was talking about when he was describing the drill he does where he catches the ball. Lot of people got over-excited about what that drill does for mechanics. It does nothing. It is simply a way to work on the mental image of defending the strike zone against incoming pitches.
>
> Melvin

Hmmm, well Melvin seems to like this phrase, and Tom & Major Dan are uh, less enthused. My plea however, is not necessarily to adopt this particular phrase (Defend the Zone), but that the "rotational school" needs some phrases that have meaning, are short, memorable, etc.

There's a discussion thread going on above this one "...stop my 9 yr old from lunging" where Joe A describes a drill where the cap is connected overhead by a string, and the batter has to keep the cap on while hitting the ball (the head stays still, which pretty much means the hitter must rotate around the axis). If you were doing this drill in practice, you could use the phrase "Keep Your Hat On" as a reminder to a player overstriding at the plate... But, unless the whole rotational world agrees to do this drill (and with this contentious lot, THAT seems unlikely) the phrase only has meaning for those who do.

What I'm suggesting is we need some universal phrases that express the key tenets of hittting around the axis. I offered a suggestion - which Major Dan points out could be misconstrued as "defensive hitting" - but which has the virtue of being more accessible than "apply a circular hand path" (if not as precise).

So, does anyone have other ideas?