"You really want to know what makes me sad, Carlos??? ..."
The causes of bad hitting are not hard to identify. They’re just sometimes hard to pin down and correct in a given situation.
In a general nutshell, the causes of bad hitting are these: (1) good pitching; (2) poor natural hitting ability; (3) bad hitting mechanics; (4) terrible coaching; (5) reflex failure due to injury or aging; (6) eye problems; (7) bad habits off the field that deplete performance ability; and (8) bad mental attitudes at bat that include lack of confidence and everything that falls between trying too hard and not giving a flying-flip what happens at the plate.
Although I like Astros icon Jeff Bagwell, I personally don’t think that the current Mendoza Land Doze of the 2010 Astros has anything to do with the absence of good coaching from Sean Berry. If we were going to fire Berry in the name of “changing something,” I have a guy in mind whom I like better than Baggy for this job. In fact, here’s a link to the fellow whom I think would have been the best new batting coach choice for the problems of the troubled hitters of the current Astros team:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEbzM2FUP9s
Good Luck, Sean Berry, and have a nice Monday, everybody!
Tags: Baseball, Houston Astros, opinion
The Pecan Park Eagle 
July 12, 2010 at 1:56 pm |
Bill, I was reading the batting averages for the Astros in the box score
the other day and thought it was the list of weight loss from he TV show
The Biggest Loser.
July 12, 2010 at 2:16 pm |
David:
Very good! I love it!
Bill
July 12, 2010 at 1:57 pm |
I’ve just read Pat Jordan’s minor leagus memoir, “A False Spring”. In addition to describing how terribly difficult it is for most ballplayers to reach the majors, he paints a very good picture of the young Joe Torre (a fellow Braves minor leaguer) and such prominent figures as Dixie Walker and Johnny Mize, both of whom were hired by the Braves to be batting coaches. Perhaps times were different then, but Dixie Walker’s most important job seems to have been to preside overt the grilling of big steaks for the asembled multitude of Braves minor league players at the minor league training camp (in the early 1960’s)
July 12, 2010 at 2:19 pm |
Tony:
Regarding the Dixie Walker duty, aren’t batting coaches always in charge of the hot dogs more often than they are the steaks?
Bill
July 12, 2010 at 2:36 pm |
What is incredible is the lack of fundamentals in the Astros hitting. What I’m talking about is Bunting both sacrifice and drag bunting.( With the exception of Michael Bourne). Hitting long fly balls to move runners instead of hitting into double plays. Hit and run executed like it was meant to be. When is the last time you saw the Astros execute a hit a run? I saw Rice do it to perfection in an 18 run first inning agaist U&H. Ability to hit to the opposite field. When is the last time you saw Carlos Lee hit one to right field? Berkman is pretty good at popping them in the Crawford boxes while hitting left and Hunter Pence but that is it and not often enough.. Things as sinple as watching the ball hit the bat. Put a hitting tee out there and make them hit a few off the tee. You would be surprised how well it helps you watch the ball hit the bat. I would start by having the hitters in batting practice bunt two first before hitting away. One sacrifice and one drag bunt and keep trying until you execute them correctly, then swing away. The pitching staff is horrible at this and it could help to win a few games. Make the battling practice pitcher throw about four on the outside corner and tell the batter so he can practice hitting the ball to the opposite field. Finally for the last three or four swings practice hitting the long ball which helps on the moving the runners. It is not the big things that win games but the fundamental little things. I hope Baggie reads this and gets them back in the hunt for the second half of what could be a repeat of the 2005 season all over again.
I had a great coach growing up, my dad ,that taught me these fundamentals at a very early age and while I was coaching the OFA Senior league in 2001 we went to the district championship eventually losing to Pearland that won 2nd in the country. We weren’t the best ball players but we executed the fundamentals of hitting to perfection. Good Luck Astros and hang onto Oswalt at least until he breaks the record for most wins.
July 13, 2010 at 5:43 pm |
Even if Bagwell was in his prime he couldn’t help this bunch. Not that I was ever a big Sean Berry fan.
Regarding Joe Niekro, then they should retire J.R.’s number too, if they can find him. I think they already have too many retired numbers
August 16, 2010 at 10:25 pm |
A month later and runs up from 3+ to 5+ a game. Team average about 30 points higher than before. Jeff’s got them back to basics, see the ball hit theball, running from 1st to 3rd. Maybe he’d make a good drill sergeant, too?