- Jun 8, 2016
- 16,118
- 113
Why not model the most effective swings?
- Thread starter Rolling Hard
- Start date
Welcome to Discuss Fastpitch
Your FREE Account is waiting to the Best Softball Community on the Web.
Your Dad wasn't Ken Griffey Sr....that helps a bit
Yup. I blame my dad lol..."I would have made the bigs if not for you dad" lol
Everybody's just going to accept the premise that strike outs are entirely (or even mostly) the result of how good/bad a hitter's swing is? Really?
Also, we're just going to accept that not striking out = better hitter even though the best hitter in the entire world strikes out more than 20% of the time?
I do like the idea of modeling someone like Altuve because it's clear he's getting the most out of his size (whereas a big hulking monster can, theoretically, make up for mechanical flaws in the way a speedy outfielder can make up for poor routes/reads/angles), but focusing on low K guys makes a lot of assumptions that haven't been proven (and some that I think are pretty obviously incorrect).
Also, we're just going to accept that not striking out = better hitter even though the best hitter in the entire world strikes out more than 20% of the time?
I do like the idea of modeling someone like Altuve because it's clear he's getting the most out of his size (whereas a big hulking monster can, theoretically, make up for mechanical flaws in the way a speedy outfielder can make up for poor routes/reads/angles), but focusing on low K guys makes a lot of assumptions that haven't been proven (and some that I think are pretty obviously incorrect).
Nope it never works. Swing like you.
There's a ton of "I should've made the bigs" stories floating around.
Cannonball
Ex "Expert"
- Feb 25, 2009
- 4,881
- 113
I took Bond's career. He didn't strike out 20% of the time. In 1987, he had 51 ABs, and 88 ks. In 2007, he had 340 ABs and 54 ks. That is a huge span and the point is his consistency even with age. I somewhat understand your point but, imo, a HL hitter does not k 200 times a year nor does a HL hitter get close to that. There is a happy medium where a HL hitter can hit for power and average while putting the ball in play. I would not discount a hitter who puts the ball in play. There are several good things that can come of it. The k is representative of absolute failure. I have more to say but not the time to say it. Have a great day.
- Apr 16, 2013
- 1,113
- 83
I was going to say Altuve, but one person mentioned it already. That is one small (compared to most ML'ers) that can swing the hell out of a bat. I've always used Cabrera as my #1 example. One of the many gifs i have of him has him hitting a HR off a ball probably 3" from his crotch. Jeez, insane adjustability!
I am referring to low strikeout, high OPS guys that are under 5'10".
How about this guy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkDKsYsMKec
30/30 club too
That is a beautiful swing.
And a switch hitter too:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_Rqd2mDaIY
How about this guy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkDKsYsMKec
30/30 club too
That is a beautiful swing.
And a switch hitter too:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_Rqd2mDaIY
Bonds actually proves my point.
Barry Bonds didn't strike out as much as other hitters like him (OK, nobody is truly like him) not just because of his particular swing. He had impeccable plate discipline/pitch recognition. He also just didn't get a ton of pitches to hit because of his power (kind of a snowball effect where his greatness caused pitchers to not challenge him much which led to even greater production).
Similarly, I bet we can find some really beautiful swings from guys who never quite made it.
That was the point I was trying to make, but I don't think I did a great job of it the first time around.
Cannonball
Ex "Expert"
- Feb 25, 2009
- 4,881
- 113
I agree 100% with this post!
