Dante Bichette

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Oct 13, 2014
5,471
113
South Cali
Do you think Tony Gwynn was thinking do damage every time? Is he one of your exceptions?

I have played a lot of ball. When I went up to do damage, I didn't do well, when I went up to hit a base hit, I often hit a HR.

Once again I love Josh Donaldson, but do damage Josh or Tony Gwynn and I would rather be Tony.

Hey this guy hits .230 but got 40 HRs. Or hey this guy hit 20 HRs but hits .305. Who would you choose? Or who would you choose if it was the playoffs?

I think Tony Gwynn wanted batting titles. His approach says so. He didn’t want to hit .280 w 30 bombs. JD swings w high intent for a few reasons. He’s a bit of a loose rubber band so he’s got to create bigger moves to get good force. And we both know that ‘you get paid for doubles and homers’ is his famous quote.

JDs video about his front hand tells the story that while he doesn’t plane w the hands (more his front arm), he didn’t want the bat to drop below his front hand. Why? Maybe stay on top of the ball? With a pull/damage approach? Barry Bonds spoke of the front arm as well. I just think JD is scared of his hands from previous instruction so he thinks about his from arm instead. Just a few things to think about...

I don’t care for JDs ‘catch it in a turn’ description, but I think it works for him since he’s so loose.

I also think getting on plane is done before swing launch and can be done w the hands or the arms or the torso.. the lag/release of the barrel is ‘down to’ and works up through during pelvic tilt, while maintaining forward bend into side bend keeps it on plane throughout.
 
Jul 29, 2013
1,199
63
Bobby,

One player planes "turns". the barrel real early in the launch with the hands. Then turns into the pitch. Their path is set early and once the turn starts they are committed to that path.

Second player doesn't plane the pitch until their hands have crossed the COM. The player still has the ability to actually use their hands to make adjustments. HOF Down to approach.

Donaldson has said it himself. "The hands are done". So if the hands are done are you going to adjust with posture, tilt, etc. Good luck with that. haha. However, this method does work. But it doesn't lead to real high BA and all other numbers. Once again I love some JD. But If I had to pick JD over Trout to teach me to hit... Well you chose.

You have got Cruz who has hit more homers than anyone over the last decade and the best player of this current generation (Trout) and both of those guys preach down to. Why is everybody so hell bent to prove (those HOFers) don't know what they are doing\talking about. I just don't get it. You would think they had the formula to Coke. And just to keep the Coke formula secret, they are giving out disinformation.

They are telling you exactly what they are doing. But is is still hard as hell to hit a round ball with a round bat. You can try the shortcuts, Tewks, TM and do them to your hearts content. They will give you success, but they are not and never will be what the best do.
Being able to commit later negates the need to adjust like the down to guys. "Down to" adjusts because he has to start his swing early while the TTB haven't launched yet.
Also, what time is there to adjust to a 95 or 98mph fastball? They guess where it's going and swing. The adjustment comes on an offspeed pitch and that's when having a longer TTB swing path makes the difference.
Finally, "feel isn't real" rears it's ugly head. The down to guys don't actually swing down to, it's a mental and a feel thing. And that was my original point...only one way to be successful: get the bat in the way of the ball, on the ball path, for as long as possible, as often as possible.
 
May 12, 2016
4,338
113
Do you think Tony Gwynn was thinking do damage every time? Is he one of your exceptions?

I have played a lot of ball. When I went up to do damage, I didn't do well, when I went up to hit a base hit, I often hit a HR.

Once again I love Josh Donaldson, but do damage Josh or Tony Gwynn and I would rather be Tony.

Hey this guy hits .230 but got 40 HRs. Or hey this guy hit 20 HRs but hits .305. Who would you choose? Or who would you choose if it was the playoffs?
Right there with you, and I've said the same thing many times. Hit the ball hard off the good part of the bat, thinking HR got me in trouble, a lot.
 
Jan 6, 2009
6,587
113
Chehalis, Wa
Do you think Tony Gwynn was thinking do damage every time? Is he one of your exceptions?

I have played a lot of ball. When I went up to do damage, I didn't do well, when I went up to hit a base hit, I often hit a HR.

Once again I love Josh Donaldson, but do damage Josh or Tony Gwynn and I would rather be Tony.

Hey this guy hits .230 but got 40 HRs. Or hey this guy hit 20 HRs but hits .305. Who would you choose? Or who would you choose if it was the playoffs?

You do see that often, the pandemic of hitters hitting between .220 to .240 and hitting 20 to 40 HRs.

Tony Gwynn, Pete Rose, and hitters like them, like Carew, had different approaches then our. .220 20 Hrs hitters.
 
Oct 26, 2019
1,375
113
You do see that often, the pandemic of hitters hitting between .220 to .240 and hitting 20 to 40 HRs.

Tony Gwynn, Pete Rose, and hitters like them, like Carew, had different approaches then our. .220 20 Hrs hitters.
Striking out was seen as “the ultimate failure” in that generation of hitters. That definitely has changed with today’s hitters. Not judging which is better, just a statement of observation.
 
May 12, 2016
4,338
113
I’m seeing it this year with my own eyes. Jays have a young team. It was HR or bust past couple of years. This year they have a new attitude at the plate, I would assume Bichette has something to do with this. They are getting runs on small ball. Of course they hit HRS as well, but they are using all the field and being tough outs. Generating runs of ground balls and sac flies.

I find this kind of game exciting to watch.Sure I love a good HR, but watching hitters whiff at every AB is frustrating. Seeing a hitter bring a good pitcher to 10 pitch count AB, that’s exciting IMO. If I just want to see HRs I’ll watch the derby.
 
Jul 29, 2013
1,199
63
Batting averages don't win games. Crossing home plate does.
Easiest way to cross home plate is to hit the ball over the fence.
I watched the 2018 LSU team lead the SEC in batting average but at the same time have one of the lowest run totals.... 2 all American pitchers, but they couldn't win against the better NCAA teams because they didn't have the ability to come back from a 2 run deficit late in a game.
At the higher levels, a pitcher/team might make 1 or 2 mistakes per inning. When those mistakes result in single bases, she gets out of it with 2 left on.
Imagine how disheartening it is for a pitcher to give up 2 runs late in a 1-0 ball game because she let one get on base and the next hits a dinger. 1-2 , no chicken dinner.
LSU couldn't do it then.
They changed their philosophy.
 
May 11, 2014
275
43
When did lsu, assuming softball, change their approach. I noticed Dobson started following the name that can't be named, but I don't think they made the final 8 since the change.
 

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