Posted by: Teacherman () on Fri Dec 6 22:43:32 2002

> All, regardless of size should use rotational mechanics, IMO. It is THE way to not only generate the best batspeeds but it is the way to generate the best bat quickness.
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> Amen; you're right; I agree, BUT
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> >... catching up to fast pitching is not a big issue.
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> I do not agree. What makes a closer (the flame throwers, Percival for instance of the Angels vs. let's say a Trevor Hoffman who relies on the change) in the majors so effective. Percival comes in and throws 100 mph fastball after fastball after fastball and maybe they "catch up" but they surely do not hit him very effectively. Or Randy Johnson - throwing heat and nothing but the heat and - - can you say CY YOUNG again or Roger Clemens in his prime - here is my gas and and oh by the way I am the strike out king.
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> In softball (at the best level o.k. -- just like everybody here talks about the majors not little league or high school)it's like facing nothing but closers - - they throw HARD, mid 60s from 40 feet away, and catching up is "THE ISSUE". Not many female athletes can do it; just like not too many male athletes can do it vs. the Big Unit or Rocket or Perci.
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> If you know the secret for catching up please share it. It's more than rotation IMO; but I do not know the answer.
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> Does anybody (with the exception of Bonds)?

The statement was, with proper rotational mechanics, catching up to fast pitching is not the issue. If batspeed was all that was necessary to hit then many many males and females could hit. At whatever level of competition you are talking about, if a good athlete uses rotational mechanics properly he/she will not have a problem catching up to fast pitching. Major leaguers don't have trouble catching up to Percival, Johnson, et al. if that was all they throw all the time in the same location. However, the ball doesn't come in the same location all the time. And, there is always the threat of a change up or breaking ball. Therefore, other decisions have to be made in a fraction of a second and it takes years of experience to make these adjustments properly. Yes, the 100mph fastball is a tremendous advantage for the pitcher. But not without good location, some movement on the ball, or complementary pitches. The number of stories about minor league pitchers throwing in the high 90's and up to 100mph who didn't make it to the big time are numerous. Why? Maybe no control, no movement, no breaking ball, etc. etc. What the rotational mechanics do is provide the best mechanics available to generate the best batspeed in the quickest amount of time to catch up to good fastballs. It slows the game down so you have some time for decisions. The "issue" then becomes making the best decisions in a very short amount of time. Some can and many can't.

Teacherman