Comments on: Hitting Trends: Lefties And Power Arms

By: Tim Malcolm

Tim Malcolm — Tue, 13 May 2008 18:54:43 +0000

Upon more thought, Howard’s batting stance has to be part of the problem. With him standing farther back, it likely takes another few milliseconds more for his bat to reach the middle of the plate and the quick fastball. And any millisecond will throw off the swing completely. Watch him foul off pitches to the left side â€” that shows he’s late, which shows that stance isn’t working. He needs to move in a bit more to shorten up the swing and drive balls into center field.

Now granted, not all pitches are the same velocity, but think – he times his swing the same no matter what speed the fastball. If he moves in, the timing remains, but the swing is shorter. It makes for a more compact, succint swing that hits the ball milliseconds faster. Meaning hits.

By: Gavin

Gavin — Tue, 13 May 2008 18:09:48 +0000

Those stats explain alot. Too bad Gillick isnt a numbers guy. I’d like to see what our team could do with a Beane prodigy as GM.

By: Lorenzo

Lorenzo — Tue, 13 May 2008 16:27:49 +0000

Great Posting!

By: Lewisauce

Lewisauce — Tue, 13 May 2008 09:08:13 +0000

Tim, this was nothing short of brilliant. As others have pointed out, however, Charlie will never consider such information — which is a shame.

By: Mike T.

Mike T. — Mon, 12 May 2008 23:45:00 +0000

Ssshhh, Tim – stop giving away the secret. Now I won’t seem so smart when I win arguments.

Nice point by the way, it’s fun to read and think about that stuff. But Uncle Charlie will never adapt his lineup to that information.

By: Sean

Sean — Mon, 12 May 2008 23:37:39 +0000

amazing article!

By: Tim Malcolm

Tim Malcolm — Mon, 12 May 2008 22:05:24 +0000

Baseball-reference. Saviors of the stat-keeping world.

By: chris m

chris m — Mon, 12 May 2008 21:55:05 +0000

good stats. whered you find those stats or who keeps finesse /power stats?

By: Tim Malcolm

Tim Malcolm — Mon, 12 May 2008 21:47:18 +0000

Charlie believes Howard needs to play to get better, which makes sense. The more pitches you see in real time, the better the chance to improve. But it’s better right now, for the team, to slide him lower in the order, maybe to 6th.

By: Geoff

Geoff — Mon, 12 May 2008 21:45:10 +0000

Charlie doenst change his lineup all that much when guys are all healthy. whats BS is last year he demoted burrell in the lineup when he struggles yet howards jsut as bad this year maybe worse and hes still 4th? thats stupid

By: Jeffrey

Jeffrey — Mon, 12 May 2008 21:41:52 +0000

It might indeed be worth considering those lineups. Charlie’s not going to, though.