Posted by: Major Dan (markj89@charter.net) on Fri Aug 30 11:32:30 2002

Jack M.,
> >
> > S. Procito has injected into the discussion the idea that hitting the ball around the middle creates as much "power" as bat speed. I don't know about the percentage but I agree that a lot of power is a result of where the ball is struck. A fast bat hitting the bottom quarter of the ball
> > is just a higher pop-up then a slower bat.
> >
> > But, I never read anything on this, or other sites about the part of the swing that is designed to control the swing and hit the ball in the middle, or near the middle. It's never even mentioned. Why is that?
> >
> > S. Procito states that the swing is a "balance of speed and control." I do not think any one can disagree. So, what are the control elements of the swing?
> >
> > Frank Jessup
>
> A book was written by 2 scientists (one author was Bahill, I don't remember the name of the other) and they showed that the optimal point of contact is 1/4 inch below center. It never got much attention, with the obsession of THT and all.

Is THT or any other technique mutually exclusive of hitting the middle of the ball?

"the idea that hitting the ball around the middle creates as much "power" as bat speed"
Which would go farther - a ball hit around the middle with 70 mph batspeed or a ball hit around the middle with 90 mph batspeed?
Don't compare apples and oranges.

Stats to think about
Top 10 Lifetime Batting Averages
Player Lifetime BA Lifetime HR Lifetime Ks Comments
Ty Cobb .366 117 357 1905-1928 primarily deadball era, pure 'averages' hitter
Rogers Hornsby .358 301 679 1915-1937 partly deadball era, at retirement 2nd all time on HR list
Tris Speaker .344 107 220 1907-1928 mostly deadball era
Ted Williams .344 521 709 1939-1960
power and average
Babe Ruth .342 714 1330 1914-1935
power and average. all time strikeout leader at the time. worst year 91 K's
Harry Heilman .342 183 550 1914-1932, 'averages' hitter
Bill Terry .341 154 449 1923-1936 'averages' hitter
George Sisler .340 102 327 1915-1930 partly deadball era, 'averages' hitter
Lou Gehrig .340 493 790 1923-1939
power and average
Tony Gwynn .338 135 434 1982-2001
'averages' hitter

10 ten BA all-time. I left off 1800's players.
5 of 10 started careers in the deadball era where they established their style.
Gehrig, Ruth, Williams and Hornsby did it all - 40% of the top BA's were also top power hitters.

Top Ten Career OPS (on base % plus slugging %) (stronger measure of productive hitter than BA)
Babe Ruth
Ted Williams
Lou Gehrig
Jimmie Foxx .325 534 1311 1925-1945
Hank Greenberg .313 331 844 1930-1947
Frank Thomas .319 348 847 1990-present
Rogers Hornsby
Barry Bonds .292 567 1282 1986-present
Manny Ramirez .312 277 927 1993-present
Mark McGuire .263 583 1596 1986-2001
(numbers through end of 2001)

The same four guys show up! And you choose who you'd rather have of the other six from these lists.
Yes there is some correlation between high power more Ks, high average, fewer Ks but what's more important is those who hit for power and average. Any rotational hitters in that crew?

Most imortantly, how important are K's anyway?
Production, OPS, runs generated, etc mean much more than K's and batting average.
If you do not understand why OPS is an important measure, then educate yourself.
www.baseballprospectus.com
read Bill James, etc.