Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Wed Sep 12 10:30:54 2007

>>> All. Recently we have discussed in a sometimes heated debate Sammy Sosa's application of THT and its presence. But I for one do not wish to fight on this issue but would like to share the following opinion.

From the side view which is not the best, Sosa's bat does angle toward the pitcher (slightly). The question is is it a rearward dynamic or is it simply a collapse of his downward arm movement? Answer: It is hard to say 100% one way or the other. But I am willing to compromise that there is a rearward movement. But, this rearward movement has more to do with Sosa's entire body dropping/coming forward at an angle. Thus if the body angles down, the bat to must angle down as a result from his long stride.

But I also add, is Sosa's technique a desired way to hit because it takes time to have the bat out in front, drop the hands down, bring the bat up and be in a good hitting position?

It works for him. But I just do not see the real benefit of lumping his technique as a standard model (and alluding that it would increase batspeed let alone bat effectiveness.) Rather I see it more as an aberration. (Just my thoughts.) <<<

Hi George

You also made the following statement in an earlier post.

“There is an angled/drop collapse of both arms. This represents a hitch which is a swing fault.”

I think it is misleading to refer to a hitter’s pre-launch movements as a “hitch” or a “swing flaw.” In fact, the reason I refer to these movements as “pre-launch” is because they occur well before the swing the swing is launched. These are rhythmic movements that many good hitters use to sync their timing with the pitcher’s windup as they prepare their launch position.

Good hitters use a wide verity of styles to prepare a good launch position. Some, like Bonds, start with their hands low while others may have the hands high above the shoulder. However, regardless of the path the hands take during pre-launch, they will all have their hands at back-shoulder as they initiate the swing. -- How they arrived at the launch position should not be referred to as a “hitch.” And, since they have not even launched the ‘swing’, how can it be referred to as a “swing flaw?”

Jack Mankin