Approach

[Work=wins]

You don't know much about bike racing - LOL. Definitely different physical disciplines, with different demands. The approach of doing everything in your physical and mental capability, in the demands of the moment, to succeed ahead of everyone else who is trying to do the same thing, applies to both.

I wasn't sure what "work hard" meant in relation to hitting. As I said, I found it vague. If it was clear, I wouldn't have asked for more info. Now I understand your intent a little better. No worries.

yeah most wouldn’t know that didn’t play ball. If you’ve been in the box, w people watching, teammates depending on you, the weight of the world on your shoulders.. you woulda known right away what I meant.

never could do the tight little shorts. Gotta breath. I’m sure biking is fun and competitive. Hardly comparable though. 2 totally different worlds.

 

[Eric F]

I agree that we want a swing that covers the entire zone. Of course. The mental shift of expanding the hitting zone with 2K is about not letting pitches go by that are borderline strikes that you can get away with taking for a strike with a 0K or 1K count. With 2K, looking to do damage any way you can is a "compete" mindset I like. Building a swing that makes it more likely to be productive on less-than-favorite pitches is valuable work.

 

[Eric F]

yeah most wouldn’t know that didn’t play ball. If you’ve been in the box, w people watching, teammates depending on you, the weight of the world on your shoulders.. you woulda known right away what I meant.

never could do the tight little shorts. Gotta breath. I’m sure biking is fun and competitive. Hardly comparable though. 2 totally different worlds.

Cycling hasn't been my only sport, only my most recent. That said, your lack of knowledge about it limits your ability to see the comparisons. It doesn't really matter. That wasn't ever the point.

You're awfully sensitive today about someone asking for a clarification. Everything okay, bro?

 

[_MIA_]

we’re talking about a 2 strike approach right? Don’t know how 0 strikes came into play.

You said to not expand your zone with 2 strikes..what does that imply about what you would do with 0 strikes. Unless you meant don’t swing at pitches out of the strike zone..

 

[Work=wins]

Cycling hasn't been my only sport, only my most recent. That said, your lack of knowledge about it limits your ability to see the comparisons. It doesn't really matter. That wasn't ever the point.

You're awfully sensitive today about someone asking for a clarification. Everything okay, bro?

haha. It’s ok. You don’t understand the game you watch every weekend, bc you’ve never played. THATS OK. Just don’t turn it around like you know something you don’t. Ever played in front of a crowd as a kid? Young man? Ever tasted defeat from your rival down the block? Rival school? Have to look at your teachers/ classmates the next day? After they hyped your team and you all week?

as far as expanding the zone as a mature player, good luck. Flailing wildly at everything close isn’t an approach it’s an out. Shortening your stroke and working the count to your favor would be a better approach. That takes ‘hard MENTAL work’ or focus. Working a walk isn’t a bad outcome. It’s a ‘single’ in my book. Working to a full count is great as well especially w a man on first and less than 2 outs. You’re gonna get a pitch or your teammate behind you will. Ever think how the pitcher feels when you spit on their ‘best’ pitch just outta the zone? Bc you’ve been tracking her movement all game? It’s DEPLETING.

again blindly thinking expand the zone w 2 is EXACTLY what the pitcher wants.

edit: let the kids learn the strike zone. If my dd struck out looking or my player. I would ask ‘was it a strike?’ If your not a DICtator you’ll get the honest truth. You don’t need to instruct them from there, they know. They hate striking out. They just learn how to hide it better than us. Haha.

 

[Eric F]

haha. It’s ok. You don’t understand the game you watch every weekend, bc you’ve never played. THATS OK. Just don’t turn it around like you know something you don’t. Ever played in front of a crowd as a kid? Young man? Ever tasted defeat from your rival down the block? Rival school? Have to look at your teachers/ classmates the next day? After they hyped your team and you all week?

as far as expanding the zone as a mature player, good luck. Flailing wildly at everything close isn’t an approach it’s an out. Shortening your stroke and working the count to your favor would be a better approach. That takes ‘hard MENTAL work’ or focus. Working a walk isn’t a bad outcome. It’s a ‘single’ in my book. Working to a full count is great as well especially w a man on first and less than 2 outs. You’re gonna get a pitch or your teammate behind you will. Ever think how the pitcher feels when you spit on their ‘best’ pitch just outta the zone? Bc you’ve been tracking her movement all game? It’s DEPLETING.

again blindly thinking expand the zone w 2 is EXACTLY what the pitcher wants.

edit: let the kids learn the strike zone.

Who said anything about flailing wildly or blindly thinking? That isn’t at all what I have said.

I have shared my opinions and the approach my DD learned from softball coaches way smarter and more experienced than me. The reasons for that approach make sense to me, and continue to serve my DD well. If you have a different opinion, that’s fine. I’m not trying to change your mind.

 

[Work=wins]

You said to not expand your zone with 2 strikes..what does that imply about what you would do with 0 strikes. Unless you meant don’t swing at pitches out of the strike zone..

Yes P. Smart-aggressive is the cue I give a player. Aggressive w less than 2. But we’re still smart about it. Or as Ted so eloquently put it ‘get a good pitch to hit’ w less than 2. Then think middle of the field w 2. Or Shorten the stroke so to speak so you can see it longer. With that being said..

Each pitcher can only do so many things. They’re not magicians. Once you know where each pitch starts and ends. It’s not that hard to track a softball. The only thing that distorts that is big velocity. Which only 5-10 girls at the collegiate level have. At that point I think you cut the plate in half unless you have a good hunch of what you’re gonna get. Remember her commentary after this hit?

 

[clemenslee1]

’ If your not a DICtator you’ll get the honest truth. You don’t need to instruct them from there, they know. They hate striking out. They just learn how to hide it better than us. Haha.

Where is this coming from. This is simply a topic of approach. You hear pros talk about approach a ton. Whether that is how to approach the nerves, fear, pitch count, pitcher tendencies etc. Etc.

 

[_MIA_]

Or as Ted so eloquently put it ‘get a good pitch to hit’ w less than 2.

That is all I was saying and that means something different to every hitter. Bregman likes balls up, Trout not so much..I misinterpreted your statement I guess.

 

[_MIA_]

At that point I think you cut the plate in half unless you have a good hunch of what you’re gonna get. Remember her commentary after this hit?

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Don’t remember what she said but if it is the game I am thinking about they were not giving the low outside strike which took away the effectiveness of Plain’s drop as she was having to elevate it.