Mechanics

Today’s Tribune had a big story on Jose Abreu’s all-but-perfect mechanics.  My, my.  Last fall, the “experts” were all saying he might have a slow bat, and now he’s got a perfect swing.  That’s what 27 homers by early July will do for your reputation, I guess.

There is no such thing as a “perfect” swing without allowing for one-of-a-kind approaches.  Craig Counsell stood straight up in the batter’s box, with the bat lifted up and back of his head.  You would never teach that to a young player, yet Counsell played for 16 seasons.  Tony Batista looked like he was leaning over to smell the roses when he batted; that netted him 221 career homeruns.  And who can forget the helicopter whir of the bat while Kevin Youkilis waited for a pitch.  “Perfect” is as “perfect” does.

What it all comes down to is you can’t teach perfection or natural ability; Abreu has plenty of latter and probably the former.  But since most players don’t, they’re constantly subjected to the “cookie cutter” approach of various hitting coaches.  Give me Bill Robinson any day.

Robinson was a “can’t miss” prospect who did.  He was pretty much a 27-year old has-been during spring training with the White Sox in 1971.  Then something happened, a light went on, and Robinson went on to hit 166 homeruns, most of them after the age of 30.  He won World Series rings playing for the 1979 Pirates and coaching for the 1986 Mets.  Robinson believed, “A good hitting instructor is able to mold his teachings to the individual.  If a guy stands on his head, you perfect that.”

Amen.