Posted by: Frank Jessup () on Sun Jul 28 06:26:40 2002

I went to the article at beabetter.com.In part the author said "a short swing must be a straight line from launch position (hit position) to contact point."
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> > > > > > This seems to conflict with a lot of the stuff at this site. The author is Rick down, hitting coach of the New York Yankees. How many times have they been World Champions the last several years?
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> > > > > Valid question. Which Yankee hitters would you point to as examples of this straight line (linear) hitting? Must be at least several if the hitting coach is teaching this wouldn't you think? I have lots of good clips of rotational hitters but I can't seem to find clips of linear hitters so I look forward to your examples.
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> > > > You miss the point.
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> > > Sorry. I'm getting older. Help me out. What did I miss?
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> > Maruy,
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> > Let me ask you a question. Do the Yankees "make" great hitters or do they "buy" great hitters.
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> > And if they them, why would they buy them if they have a guy who can create them?
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> > F. J.
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> Frank,the role of a professional hitting instructor is not to "make" a great hitter, it is to help the hitter maintain his skills, point out flaws, etc. The point of the original post was not that the Yankees are great because they have a hitting instructor. All clubs have a hitting instructor. The point was that a major league hitting instructor has CREDIBILITY,and it appears that the only thing many have on this site have to support their case is a VCR. Well, guess what? Pros have VCR's too and you can't fabricate science based on what you think you see.You need to have BEEN THERE, DONE THAT.

Maury,

"You can't fabricate science???" Are you joking??? First of all "mechanics" ARE science. All the action and re-actions that are studied are science.

Did you ever hear of "crush the bug?" "The fence drill?" "Whipping the bat?" "pulling your head out?" "Hold your back elbow up?" All of these are "science" sthat someone made up. And they are all wrong. Some of them make no sense but are common "science."

Look at the hitting videos on hitting fast pitch softball. They talking about hitting down on the "rise" ball. There is no rise ball!! Its impossible to throw a "rise ball." This is made up science.

You can read about Ted Williams "seeing" the ball hit the bat. Actually you can go to any softball or baseball game and hear coaches, mothers, fathers, sisters and aunties telling kids to "watch the ball hit the bat." It can't be done. Except in slow pitch- maybe.

All of these are made up science and some of the worst people at it are people who are associated with pro baseball who think they are some kind of "zen masters."

Maruy, I am going to tell you a little secreat. Don't tell anybody. "Look back at the history of the good hitters in the big leagues. shhhhhhhhh. they were always good hitters even in the little league. shhhhh.

The biggest hitting change that happens in the pros is that kids who were good hitters in LL, HS, college become average or poor hitters in the show. Almost everones batting average goes down. Also, average or poor hitters usually remain average or poor hitters through out their time in the big leagues. So, where are the big leauge hitting coaches? Why areen't they improving the hitters?

Come on. Use a little critical thinking. I mean, its ok to have an opinion but to hold an opinion in the face of the obvious evidence is not helpful.

F. J>


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