I continue to marvel at the way Manny swings the bat---do you think you can teach kids to hit like Manny?
I do not think you can !!1
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TR;
yes you can and you should.
Bob Williams
yes you can and you should.
Bob Williams
Bob
I respectfully disagree---Manny has instincts and attitude that cannot be taught, at least to my way of thinking.
I truly believe you can put a blindfold on Manny and he will still get a hit
I respectfully disagree---Manny has instincts and attitude that cannot be taught, at least to my way of thinking.
I truly believe you can put a blindfold on Manny and he will still get a hit
Attitude and instincts I agree can not be taught, they can be aquired over time though.
As far as mechanics, I would think that they can be taught. Batspeed? That can be improved upon but I think much of that is a gift.
As far as mechanics, I would think that they can be taught. Batspeed? That can be improved upon but I think much of that is a gift.
His swing can most definitely be taught. Can you teach his positive energy at the plate? Can you TEACH confidence? NO!!!
Mechanically, yes. Work ethic, yes. Ability to be a great clutch hitter can't be taught. It's innate.quote:Originally posted by TRhit:
I continue to marvel at the way Manny swings the bat---do you think you can teach kids to hit like Manny?
I do not think you can !!1
Teaching kids to swing like Manny is quite easy.
He leads with his front elbow, he leans into contact and he does not power the bat in the followthrough.
As a kid, I called this the Dominican Swing.
Hitting like Manny is something else. One cannot teach seeing the ball as manny does. One cannot teach timing that Manny has. One cannot teach adaptability that Manny has to pitch location.
One can work on these things to become as good as Manny, but I have seen Manny doing these things since he was in high school.
In many cases, a batter has to either un-learn or never learn some of the things that are taught or promoted today.
He leads with his front elbow, he leans into contact and he does not power the bat in the followthrough.
As a kid, I called this the Dominican Swing.
Hitting like Manny is something else. One cannot teach seeing the ball as manny does. One cannot teach timing that Manny has. One cannot teach adaptability that Manny has to pitch location.
One can work on these things to become as good as Manny, but I have seen Manny doing these things since he was in high school.
In many cases, a batter has to either un-learn or never learn some of the things that are taught or promoted today.
I believe that you can teach adaptability to pitch location. This is also a mechanical thing combined with a mental approach that can be learned.
Instincts can not be taught, but mechanics and an understanding of the game such as adapting to pitch location or learning to "read" a pitch, these things can and should be taught, either self-taught or through an instructor.
Instincts can not be taught, but mechanics and an understanding of the game such as adapting to pitch location or learning to "read" a pitch, these things can and should be taught, either self-taught or through an instructor.
All the above plus his obsession with hitting the ball to the opposite field. This is all he focuses on. This would serve HS'er well to learn this obsession.
You can teach the swing mechanics. You can attempt to teach understanding of the game, the pitcher, location, pitch, etc. Some will pick it up and run with it. Few will expand it into that zone of feel and reaction that is beyond most, in any sport. Gretzky on ice, Montana with the ball down by 4, Jordan with the game on the line, Tiger on the back 9 on Sunday, Manny at the plate, are at the highest levels. You don't teach those things. They see the game around them differently. It is slower, clearer. They have a calm confidence about them that belies the killer instinct inside of them. They have mastered the physical, mental, and pschological aspects of their sport.
I think we are talking about DIFFERENT things here.
Can you teach a good athlete to SWING the bat like Manny? YES and you should.
But it's not just Manny's SWING that makes him the hitter he is.
In my opinion it's a combination of reaction time, great eyesight, anticipation, and being relaxed in the box.
Manny lets the ball get deeper than probably any other hitter I've ever seen, BEFORE he commits himself to swing. That's why he hits some hard opposite field shots. He also pulls ball with authority. I think some of it CAN be taught, but some of it is either there or it isn't.
Here's the link
GREAT ARTICLE
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4018367
Can you teach a good athlete to SWING the bat like Manny? YES and you should.
But it's not just Manny's SWING that makes him the hitter he is.
In my opinion it's a combination of reaction time, great eyesight, anticipation, and being relaxed in the box.
Manny lets the ball get deeper than probably any other hitter I've ever seen, BEFORE he commits himself to swing. That's why he hits some hard opposite field shots. He also pulls ball with authority. I think some of it CAN be taught, but some of it is either there or it isn't.
Here's the link
GREAT ARTICLE
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4018367
