Posted by: Bart () on Sun Oct 13 16:21:10 2002

Too All,
> >
> > I often read about what hitting coaches with Major League teams have to say. I read alot about the New York Yankee's hitting coaches. Butf, I have some questions.
> >
> > If NYY hitting coaches know what they are talking about, why do they buy good hitters, like Giambi and others, when they could create them for a lot less money?
> >
> > If big league hitting coaches know what they are talking about, why so 80% of big league hitters have averages under 275?
> >
> > Why do most of the players who go from the minors to the pros find themselves hitting worse? I know that the pitching is better, but the coaching is too, isn't it?
> >
> > Let’s say you own a big league team and you had a hitting coach who knew what he is doing. Where you would you put him, with the major league team or the minor league team? Think about it.
> >
> > S. Procito
> >
> i'm not sure if your question is tongue-in-cheek or not, but i will respond anyways. you cant honestly say a hitting coach does or doesn't know what he is talking about just because he can't create a lineup of .330 hitters with. home run power. I believe a hitting coaches job at the major league level is to help you maximize the god-given talent you already possess, and to help you through slumps because of the fact they know your swing. There are very few athletes who ever preform better when stepping up to another level (college football to pro football, college or minor league baseball to the majors, etc.) no matter how good the coaches are. let's be realistic here. the difference in skill level and execution between AA or AAA in the majors can't be ignored. the reason why some hitters bat under 275 is because baseball is a tough sport. who's to say they would'nt be batting 250 without the coaches. pitchers have coaches also, but you dont see the majors full of 20 game winners with 300K's and a 2.20 era.

Mr.Procito:

First, for every team that has a hitting coach there are also 25 other teams who have one as well, so things tend to equalize.

Second, for every team who has a hitting coach, there are 25 other teams who have a PITCHING coach ,their job being to teach how to get the hitters out.

Third, every team wants to hire the best hitting coach available, just as in the NBA or NFL every team wants to hire the best head coach available. Not every NBA team can hire a Phil Jackson.

Fourth, for every winning team there are how many LOSING teams? Following your logic, all the losing teams must have poor coaches who don't know the game.

Sure, there are some who major league instructors who might have more knowkledge or communication skills than others, but I think it is safe to assume that collectively they know more than college or high school coaches know collectively.