Question

I don't know the answer to that.  I doubt any but elite HS players could do it.

But in today's Giants v. Cubs game Crawford manufactured the winning run.  You can teach that.

Consultant posted:

several days ago at the Giants Cubs game, Kris Bryant with two strikes fouled a perfect outside corner pitch. The announcers mentioned that did this "intentionally". On the next pitch in his hitting zone, Bryant lined RBI single .during our Goodwill Series with Japan. the Japanese HS hitters constantly performed the same feat.

Question - can this skill be taught and can the HS hitter learn this skill?

Bob

What “feat” was it the Japanese hitter’s performed? Fouling off a pitch or fouling off “perfect outside corner” pitches?

Any skill can be taught and anyone with the physical ability to perform that skill can learn it, assuming they have the mental capacity to learn.

The ability to stay alive with two strikes is seen much more with hitters that lack power.  As great as Kris Bryant is, he is more of a power hitter who strikes out a lot. He might have fought off some two strike pitches at times, but that isn't his MO.  In fact, so far in his MLB career he strikes out once every three ABs.

That said I think all young hitters should learn and use a two strike approach.

Sometimes announcers just need something to say.  Most likely he was fooled, slowed his swing down and fouled it off.  No knock on Bryant, great young hitter.

GO44;

The announcers are professional and absolutely correct.  Bryant's reflex action is above average and yes he "spoiled" the pitch.

Ted Williams, Roberto, Henry and Willie all did the same. They "slowed the game down".

In a Japanese Pro game, I visited my friend Mike Diaz playing with Lotte against the Tokyo Giants in the Dome. The Japanese pitch all throw a hard "biting" slider on the black.

In this game the pitch was perfect 2" outside the far corner.

Mike stopped his swing which the umpire was ready to call "strike 3",however Mike threw the bat on the ground and the umpire could not call a 1/2 swing. Mike a 6'3 was nicknamed "Rambo" in Japan.

"Watch the game within the game"  Study the pitcher before and during the game.

Bob

Bryant's K rate for 2016 is 21.4% .  Much improved over rookie year. 

Consultant posted:

several days ago at the Giants Cubs game, Kris Bryant with two strikes fouled a perfect outside corner pitch. The announcers mentioned that did this "intentionally". On the next pitch in his hitting zone, Bryant lined RBI single .during our Goodwill Series with Japan. the Japanese HS hitters constantly performed the same feat.

Question - can this skill be taught and can the HS hitter learn this skill?

Bob

 

Hi Bob,

Simply . . . Yes.

I'm convinced of this due to watching so many talented people to so many amazing things over the years.  And I know that they didn't just do those amazing things on just talent alone.  They had to learn it and practice, practice and practice.  And I'm sure you'll agree that if you don't practice a skill, you're not likely to be good at it.

I remember watching the golfer Chi Chi Rodriguez do a little exhibition clinic many years ago where he'd put a couple of golf balls on the ground and quickly striking both, one was sliced and the other hooked to cross each other midair.  But he wasn't just having them cross, he was trying to get them to hit each other midair and on his second attempt, he did just that on camera.  I didn't even think it could be done.  How does one do that or even learn to do that?   Lots of practice on the skill set .  . . and I might add, if you know what his golf swing looked like (not at all the classic perfect golf swing that's taught these days) it just adds to the marvel of his skill.

Likewise, I marvel at what I see when I attend a Circus Olay event and having watched what those performers do in intense practice to achieve the skill to do what they do so well. 

So, I believe Stats4Gnats is correct in what he posted:

Stats4Gnats posted:

 

Any skill can be taught and anyone with the physical ability to perform that skill can learn it, assuming they have the mental capacity to learn.

 PS:  Oh, did I mention I think natural talent plays a big part in it too?      BTW, I really think Chi Chi's skill was great to control slices and hooks and that it was mostly just luck he could occasionally get two balls to hit each other that way midair.

PGStaff posted:

The ability to stay alive with two strikes is seen much more with hitters that lack power.  As great as Kris Bryant is, he is more of a power hitter who strikes out a lot. He might have fought off some two strike pitches at times, but that isn't his MO.  In fact, so far in his MLB career he strikes out once every three ABs.

That said I think all young hitters should learn and use a two strike approach.

Domingo doesn't agree

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3P6EhCJXOug

I'm not sure about this. for many hitters a two strike Approach probably is better, especially if they are getting in a lot of two strike Counts but wouldn't some power hitters not be better off to take that third Chance at an extra base hit than increasing contact but sacrificing power?

BTW I do think bryant is using a Little bit of a two strike Approach this year. he still is one of the worst contact hitters in Baseball (just 73% contact which is in the bottom quarter of all qualified hitters and even worse inside the Zone contact percentage) but his K percentage is just a Little below average. that tells me that he likely is cutting it down a Little with two strikes. obviously works for him this year.