Batting practice over-rated?

I think it can go either way. I felt like some was very useful, but too much was a negative. After a certain amount of cuts, it was hard not to get in my own head and want to start tweaking things based on how I was hitting a lobbed 40 foot pitch. At the same time, I really like to put the bat on the ball a few times before I see live pitching.

Certainly, it's an individual preference. On the whole, much more can be accomplished, in less time, in the cage. Once or twice a home series I'd use a high tech machine that replicates live "mixed" pitches. None of that needs to be done on the field. I wouldn't want my hitters walking up there cold. BP in the normal sense certainly doesn't replicate game conditions so is of little value other than a muscle, visual system warm-up.

This tells me plenty about Coach Valentine! He thinks its a waste of time? Come on Coach! Hitters need to hit - plain and simple!!!

Lefty

I think BP before a game is mainly to get loose and stretch some muscles. See how you feel that day. Similar to what golfers do before a round.
BP during practice is when you work on things and possibly make some changes.

quote:

Originally posted by Sdlefty:
This tells me plenty about Coach Valentine! He thinks its a waste of time? Come on Coach! Hitters need to hit - plain and simple!!!

Lefty

Who says they aren't hitting? I doubt a player having a problem is relying on BP to fix it. He's in the cage and out taking BP at 2pm by himself uninterrupted with someone throwing BP.

BP is about feeling loose and ready to play. By high school and college after a handful of swings I tried to jack everything else for fun. I actually got loose shagging flies in the outfield which is as much a social event as practice.

I heard an interview with George Brett on the radio this weekend. He was talking about working with Charlie Lau. George made the comment that he would come in early and Lau would look at his swing everyday. Some days a couple of cuts, some days 20-30 minutes. Brett said he never took BP on the field until he and Lau were comfortable with the mechanics of his swing that day.

quote:

Originally posted by RJM:

quote:

Originally posted by Sdlefty:
This tells me plenty about Coach Valentine! He thinks its a waste of time? Come on Coach! Hitters need to hit - plain and simple!!!

Lefty

Who says they aren't hitting? I doubt a player having a problem is relying on BP to fix it. He's in the cage and out taking BP at 2pm by himself uninterrupted with someone throwing BP.

BP is about feeling loose and ready to play. By high school and college after a handful of swings I tried to jack everything else for fun. I actually got loose shagging flies in the outfield which is as much a social event as practice.

RJM, agree 100% I guess my point is that they need to hit either on the field or in the cage prior to game time.

It should be left up to the hitter. Especially at that level of play. I have never met a HS player or coached one that didn't want to take some swings before a game. Either in the cage or on the field or both. Does it really matter what Bobby V likes when it comes to BP? If his hitters feel more comfortable taking BP before a game shouldn't that be what they do? Bobby is not the one playing so why should it matter to him?

Pre-game BP is exactly like a golfer's pre-round range balls: a way to loosen up, find rhythm and prepare for the game. It is NOT for working on the swing mechanics.

This does remind me, however, of a batting practice drill that we used to do with my son's youth baseball teams. We called it "The Game."

"The Game" was for the batter to refuse to swing at pitches outside of the strike zone, and to swing at all pitches in the zone. As long as the batter didn't swing at balls, he stayed at bat. If he swung at a strike, he stayed at bat, whether he hit it or not.

And of course if he swung at a ball, or took a strike, he left the cage.

Every single practice we played "The Game."

I watch Major League batters these days and many times think they could have benefited from playing "The Game."

It depends where you are in the season. Early on, you need it to build strength, your eye, confidence. Later in the season it may only be confidence...

Who wants to take their first swing of the day in the batters box during the game? I have never met a player that didn't want to get some swings in with live arm before a game. And when given the option they would all prefer to do it on the field. The Manager is not going to hit. So who cares what he likes or wants to do? The players are the ones in the line up. If they want BP then they should take BP.