Cage hitting...

What is your opinion Bluedog? Is there a difference between a Home Run Derby swing and a game swing?

Scout, I will say what I believe later....I would like to hear what others believe, first.....

I didn't post this to argue...I posted it so we all can learn, including myself....

Bonds game swing

Barry Bonds Home Run Derby swing

Here are two clips of Bonds. The first is a game swing, and the second is from the Home Run Derby in Vegas. If you look at his lead leg, you will see a big difference.

Bluedog, I did not post to argue either. I posted to ask your opinion. I then posted again to show a difference in swings that Bonds takes.

Scout, we can look at clips and have different opinions of what we see.....As, you well know....

Care to tell us what you see as the difference?

As I said in the last post, look at the lead leg......what do you see?

I can only open one clip....The derby swing clip doesn't work for me....

If you have Quicktime, they should both open without any problem.

I can only tell you what is happening....What should happen is another thing....

Well, since I posted clips of Bonds, it would be cool if you gave your opinion of what you think Bonds is doing in BP and in the game with his swing. Specifically the lead leg if you would be so kind.Barry in BP

The derby swing appears to be a bad link as I am also unable to open.

NYDad, try the link in the last post.

quote:

I can only tell you what is happening....What should happen is another thing....

I was referring to you saying the clip should open....It doesn't open....Neither BP clip opens....

My site is temporarily down. When this happens, it is usually back up in a half hour or so.

Sorry guys

It is back up now.

Still won't open....

Barry Bonds BP

Trying one more time.

Nope..

Well, what can I say???? it works well on both my computers.

Any comment on what the front leg is doing?

I dont understand what a HR derby swing has to do with game play.

I would venture to say that in the last HR derby my son participated in - he got about 95% grooved pitches.

In a typical league game - he is lucky if he gets 1 good (grooved) pitch per at bat. And in many cases - doesnt see a fastball at all during an at bat.

I assume the argument would be that you will have the same repeatable swing - regardless of pitch. That just doesnt seem to match up with the reality of actually playing in the game IMO.

ITS

About David Wright in the AllStar HR Derby--- his swing was "grooved" for HRs as were the pitches by his catcher

The original questions in order with my thoughts, for what it is worth.

1. What is a HR derby swing? It probably differs for each hitter and for different eras. When I grew up watching the black and white show Home Run Derby on TV the hitter had to swing at a strike or lose a turn. However, he still had a pitche trying to groove the pitch so it might be the saem as today. Anyway, I would think it would be the hitter swinging as hard as he could swing without losing mechanics entirely at only those pitches grooved to his liking.

2. Is it the swing we teach in a cage? It is the swing I teach in the cage. It is not the approach I always teach in the cage.

3. If so, should we be teaching it? Yes.

4. How do the drills we teach fit in with a HR derby swing? Do they aply? I would hope that every drill everyone teaches is an attempt to make a hitter swing harder, quicker and with solid contact on the ball, which, if all done properly, will result in a home run swing [not necessariy a home run].

5. Is the HR derby swing a different swing than a game swing? Yes and No. Generally speaking, in hitter's counts with less than 2 strikes I would answer NO. With two strikes, I would answer Yes. Otherwise, I would answer maybe, depending on the particular game situation.

TW344

Hello-

I played alongside Bonds and other greats like Griffey and there is no difference from their Game swing and their BP swing. These guys are paid to hit homeruns. So, what do you think they work on in practice? Homeruns!

Don't analyze these guys too much, they are not your normal athlete and a lot of the stuff they do can not be copied or taught.

What you guys should be doing is teaching your kids to be good hitters first and the power will come. I say this out of experience, because when I was in the lower minors I spent a lot time striking out because I was trying to hit homers instead of hitting the ball hard.

Good Luck,

Jalal Leach
CEO Baseball Mentoring Program Inc.
www.bmp18.com

I know most of you didn't see it since you don't get the St. Louis coverage but Albert Pujos was asked, after hitting a walk off homerun recently, if he tried to hit the ball out. Talk about getting instantly upset! It is one of the rare times that I've ever seen him get that way. Essentially, he said, I hit line drives and if they go out then that's what they do. (That's the nice version of what he said.)

Blue Dog and I don't agree on cage work but do, I think, agree on seeing spin... Cage work is a necessary evil. Yes, if we could, we all hit on the field several times a night. The facts are that there simply isn't enough time. We have to get reps and the cage is where we get it. We throw as much as we can. Note, not lob and not soft toss and not kid pitch. However, cage work can also be harmful. The top of the net needs to be regarded as an out unless that ball is driven exceedingly deep in the cage. Also, cage work demands a goal. For instance, we like to spin curveballs and have the hitters work on letting the ball get over the plate and drive it to the opposite field. (OK so I miss sometimes and hang one and it gets ripped but that's another story.)

Without cage work, where would many programs be in the spring?

Regarding the "home run swing," if our players aren't practicing with a goal they aren't in that cage to take those "home run swings." JMHO!

quote:

Blue Dog and I don't agree on cage work.....

Coach, not so sure we disagree......I really don't advise to stay out of the cage.....I do advise to be aware of what is being taught, though.....And, how it is being taught.....

You refer to this as a plan....I just say some things can't and shouldn't be attempted to be taught in a cage.....

Blue Dog, I think where we really agree on cage work are those times when kids are told to "go hit" and aren't supervised at all and so, they do that home run swing, ... Saying that you "got your work in" and having "that work" simply be getting in 50 swings is harmful at best.

The goal in hitting, IMO, is to hit the ball with a consistent and efficient swing.....Providing this is done, how close to the sweet spot the ball is hit will determine if it goes out, or not.....

So, are you trying to hit a homerun?....I would say either yes, or no, could be a correct answer....I could answer yes with no problem.....

Honestly, when I am working with a youngster, or any hitter, I like to see a homerun swing every time....And, I tell them so.....