Posted by: Bart () on Fri Nov 29 08:47:19 2002

I don't have many clips of hitters in HR Derbys or taking batting practice, because, fracnkly I had never seen much value in non-game swings. However, I am now glad that I have tthe clips that I do have.

Recently, Teacherman's primary (only?) defense of Paul's statement (about maximum batspeed being achieved at full XT)is that supposedly the "elite" hitters have enough time to achieve full XT but non-elite hitters do not have enough time. Therefore, these non-elite hitters sacrifice achieving full XT the "proper" way so as to have enough time to hit the ball.

This argument is full of holes and I will point out two of these holes.

(1) 90 per cent of the major league hitters do NOT achieve full XT on an inside pitch. Teacherman and paul would argue that none of these are "elite" hitters. This group of "non-elite" hitters who do not/did not achieve full XT includes (but obviously not limited to) Bonds, Ruth, A-rod, Camaniti, Mitchell, Canseco, Edgar, Ramirez, Delgado, Williams, Luzinski, Jackson, Brady, Tejada, Sosa, etc, etc, etc.

(2) If you argue that not achieving full XT is a matter of not having TIME in a game situation, then it follows that a hitter will achieve/attempt to achieve full XT if only that hitter had more TIME. This is where the clips come in. In home run derby swings and batting practice swings, I think most people would agree the hitter has more "time". But guess what? Even in these non-game situations where the hitters have more "time" , the hitters are STILL not achieving full XT!!!!! They STILL have the "L" in that top arm!!!!

Teacherman, may I respectfully suggest that you go back and read the posts (and not just the parts you want to read, but read ALL parts)and re-think your position. Or, if you refuse to re-think your position, then at the very least you should come up with something that backs up your position.