MLB Off-Topic

[Jr.]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Yeah that's just his load. His load starts his swing instead of what people typically think of as loading early before the ball is delivered then going from there.

It's all about momentum and timing. Instead of starting your load, stopping, then starting your swing, you load as you start your swing to maintain momentum and bat speed.

To relate it to a golf swing, it would be like starting your backswing, stopping at the top, then swinging at the ball. That's what is traditionally taught with the baseball swing. It's fine for making contact, but you lose a LOT of power by stopping your momentum.

[Money99]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I won't copy paste the whole thing. But here are excerpts:

https://cdn.theathletic.com/app/uploads/2018/05/27150010/JudgeLaunch.gif

https://cdn.theathletic.com/app/uplo...4205/Bonds.gif

JUST finished reading this. What a tremendous article. Loved it!

I'm on a trial-run of The Athletic, but I may choose to pay for a years worth.
I wish they had a boxing writer, but there is a lot of great content on that site for all sports fans.

[Money99]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I honesty don't see much difference in Judge's swing than others.
But that's why I'm here and they're in the Bigs.

Trout:


Judge Swing:


Cabrera Swing:


Altuve:


I think it has more to do with his 'bat snap' as described in the article.
But his hands move so fast, you can't see it.
But all of them move the bat back, then swing once their front foot touches down.

[CMH]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

That's the thing that confused me. I appreciate Jr.'s response as well.

But doesn't every good Major Leaguer load up during their swing?

Why would the Yankees be fearful of this? Why is this instructor so special? I still feel like I'm missing something.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

[Money99]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

That's the thing that confused me. I appreciate Jr.'s response as well.

But doesn't every good Major Leaguer load up during their swing?

Why would the Yankees be fearful of this? Why is this instructor so special? I still feel like I'm missing something.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

I'm guessing that these guys are so scientific with their knowledge that doing even the slightest thing can alter a swing entirely.
"Ooh, he has his middle knuckle of his bottom hand facing sideways. That'll never work".

I wish they would have displayed a gif comparing his 2016 swing to the one today.
Even then, I doubt I'd be able to see the difference.

Even when the hitting guru was comparing his swing to an osculating fan or fidget spinner, I was still confused, lol.

[Blzer]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I'll say this much:

I used to think forever that a batting stance was nothing more than a personal preference and comfortability thing.

I later realized, given my rhythm in my stance, that it could help me do certain things with my load that other stances couldn't.

Bonds' stance does that for me. When I fool around off a pitching machine I will go into "Bonds stance mode," even though I don't really have it down perfect. Though my timing sucks, when I time it right I have hit balls much harder and farther than I ever have before. It can't just be a fluke thing.

[Speedy]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Perhaps NYY is fearful that it will mess up his timing and in turn his swing?

Looking at Trout's swing, that's an incredible amount of weight shift from his back leg toward the ball.

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[Speedy]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

@Jr

I recall Thome on MLBTonight saying that pointing the knob at the catcher (versus an elbow) before the swing produces a really good bat snap and in turn, better exit velo.

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[Money99]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Perhaps NYY is fearful that it will mess up his timing and in turn his swing?

Looking at Trout's swing, that's an incredible amount of weight shift from his back leg toward the ball.

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It sure looks like it. But then again his leg kick is far more pronounced than the other three in comparison.
Makes you wonder if there's equal amount of torque, but Trout's looks more powerful due to the extremity of the kick.

I heard Donaldson discuss his kick and he said it had less to do with load and more to do with timing.
He found by raising his leg, he could then either hold that pose or rush through it depending on the pitch.
On a curveball, he'd hang his leg up there for a fraction of a second to time it better. On fastballs, he'd drop it sooner. Made a lot of sense.

[Money99]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

@Jr

I recall Thome on MLBTonight saying that pointing the knob at the catcher (versus an elbow) before the swing produces a really good bat snap and in turn, better exit velo.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Operation Sports mobile app

LOL, love Thome. He is always pimping pointing the knob at the catcher in every demonstration he's apart of. Love it.

MLB Network is the best. I love MLB Tonight when they roll thru the games and put on demo's of hitting, fielding or throwing mechanics. It's a baseball fans dream.
Especially if you're a kid (or adult) trying to work on their game.
I have to believe the MLB network is the best of the four major sports.
The NHL Network in Canada used to suck hard. I've heard good things about the U.S. version though.

[SPTO]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Speaking of swings Carlos Pena and Eric Byrnes (sp) did a GREAT demo/breakdown of Trout's adjustment with his load. Unfortunately I can't find a video for it but I did find Thome's demo about Trout and keeping his swing level.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PTDSlcFuyto" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Blzer]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Leave it to Blzer to follow-up.

I'll say this much:

I used to think forever that a batting stance was nothing more than a personal preference and comfortability thing.

I later realized, given my rhythm in my stance, that it could help me do certain things with my load that other stances couldn't.

Bonds' stance does that for me. When I fool around off a pitching machine I will go into "Bonds stance mode," even though I don't really have it down perfect. Though my timing sucks, when I time it right I have hit balls much harder and farther than I ever have before. It can't just be a fluke thing.

Okay, now don't hate because I don't play anymore. I'm not proud of the current state of my swing.

Two years ago I was setting up batting practice for my righty girls to hit pitches off the outside, and had a camera as well. I went up lefty to the machine and wanted to turn on some. A later date I did the same thing, but also equipped myself with cleats and went with the "Bonds stance."

These are the two best pieces per day that I got. According to Google Earth, all of them cleared 300 feet. Keep in mind these are dimple softballs coming in at only like 50 MPH, and that red bat was pure crap. Now also keep in mind that these are pitches off the inside and I'm getting them pretty much right down the line.


Regular stance/load:

Spoiler

Spoiler

Bonds stance/load:

Spoiler

Spoiler

Now to clear the air here, that very first funky Bonds swing where I fly out all over the place was my first time standing like that, and I didn't know what the hell I was doing after I loaded. I kind of bailed out backwards as my foot kept sliding.

I do know however that all four of these hits were in order of weakest to hardest, and the last one cleared 340 feet. I've never done that with any kind of softball before.

If I take a moment to recreate these in slow-mo style then I might be able to break down some things, but clearly my load on the top GIFs is much quieter than the ones on the bottom. I also get lower on the bottom one, and I feel like that hand whip back prior to swinging really does generate a lot more power and torque for me. My hands don't lead as quickly, and I'm really putting everything behind my swing that way.

You know what the worst part about the Bonds stance was? The timing. You don't see the ones where I flip out and don't get anything right. Part of it was because my assistant fires the ball through the machine so I can't get a gauge on when to prep and load myself. I clearly don't have the Bonds load perfect at all, but I'm a believer when I say that the rhythm in his stance preps him for an explosive swing. I know what that author is talking about when he mentions rearing that bat back in an instantaneous manner.

I can only imagine what he would be like now with the juiced ball (assuming he was still in his prime or whatever).

[Sportsforever]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Leave it to Blzer to follow-up.



Okay, now don't hate because I don't play anymore. I'm not proud of the current state of my swing.

Two years ago I was setting up batting practice for my righty girls to hit pitches off the outside, and had a camera as well. I went up lefty to the machine and wanted to turn on some. A later date I did the same thing, but also equipped myself with cleats and went with the "Bonds stance."

These are the two best pieces per day that I got. According to Google Earth, all of them cleared 300 feet. Keep in mind these are dimple softballs coming in at only like 50 MPH, and that red bat was pure crap. Now also keep in mind that these are pitches off the inside and I'm getting them pretty much right down the line.


Regular stance/load:

Spoiler

Spoiler

Bonds stance/load:

Spoiler

Spoiler

Now to clear the air here, that very first funky Bonds swing where I fly out all over the place was my first time standing like that, and I didn't know what the hell I was doing after I loaded. I kind of bailed out backwards as my foot kept sliding.

I do know however that all four of these hits were in order of weakest to hardest, and the last one cleared 340 feet. I've never done that with any kind of softball before.

If I take a moment to recreate these in slow-mo style then I might be able to break down some things, but clearly my load on the top GIFs is much quieter than the ones on the bottom. I also get lower on the bottom one, and I feel like that hand whip back prior to swinging really does generate a lot more power and torque for me. My hands don't lead as quickly, and I'm really putting everything behind my swing that way.

You know what the worst part about the Bonds stance was? The timing. You don't see the ones where I flip out and don't get anything right. Part of it was because my assistant fires the ball through the machine so I can't get a gauge on when to prep and load myself. I clearly don't have the Bonds load perfect at all, but I'm a believer when I say that the rhythm in his stance preps him for an explosive swing. I know what that author is talking about when he mentions rearing that bat back in an instantaneous manner.

I can only imagine what he would be like now with the juiced ball (assuming he was still in his prime or whatever).

This post makes me so happy...never change, Brandon! I still remember when you posted a video similar to this one when you were a sophomore in HS...I think it's awesome that you still look this great at the plate. Great stuff!

[Yari]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I have to admit, I'm actually enjoying the mound visit rule for this season. I still wish they'd dump replay if they (incorrectly) feel that game length is an issue or at the very least limit it only to plays at the plate or potential scoring plays because the constant replays make the game feel a lot longer, right or wrong.

[Jr.]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

@Jr

I recall Thome on MLBTonight saying that pointing the knob at the catcher (versus an elbow) before the swing produces a really good bat snap and in turn, better exit velo.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Operation Sports mobile app

Yeah that's another thing that used to be a no-no to teach, and now guys are trying to create more bat speed by getting that "flail" in their swing. Javy Baez is a really good example of that.

It's amazing how much video has changed how hitting it taught now versus 20 years ago. Barrel plane, launch angle, momentum, etc.. all of this stuff wasn't taught (even though so many hitters did it naturally) 15-20 years ago, and now it's ingrained in any coach under 40 years old.

This style of hitting is, in my mind, the main cause of the spike in HRs and strikeouts. It's all about hitting the ball with maximum exit velocity, but all of the moving parts needed to create that maximum force delivered to the ball creates other issues with timing. Like I said in my previous post: less movement makes it a lot easier to make consistent contact, but much more difficult to generate power.