quote:Originally posted by CPLZ:
According to the Domincans... You can't walk off the island.
......
!! If a player is on a showcase team or playing at a showcase event its in his best interest to show he can swing the lumber. 1st and formost the showcase is for the player and scouts! Players need to give a scout a reason to come back and watch him play again. Swinging at "fringe pitches" or the first pitch/strike doesn't automatically make a hitter an easy/easier out. I certainly wouldn't advocate swinging at pitches a hitter can't do anything positive with.
If you are a 3,4 or 5 hitter I think the coach would rather see you swing at the slightly high/marginal pitch that might result in a sac fly etc rather then taking it for a ball.
Too many kids have been preconditioned from playing little league and reading "money ball", to take the first strike etc.
You can't become a better hitter with your bat on your shoulder!