Worth the price

by doolindalton on Nov 5, 2007 10:31 AM CST

This is a link to an interview with the Rangers' minor league hitting coordinator, Mike Boulanger. He discusses the hitting strengths and weaknesses of just about every Ranger AA prospect including Davis, Mayberry, Duran, Teagarden, Murphy and Boggs. I am not selling subscriptions, but it is a Ranger web site that is well worth the price. Reading Boulanger's detailed analysis of each hitter, one wonders why he is still a minor league instructor. Very good stuff.

http://rangers.scout.com/2/698172.html

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Penalty box.

Boo-yua-kasha.

by benmor78 on Nov 5, 2007 10:18 AM CST reply actions

I think Ben means

this was already posted by shroomer earlier:
http://www.lonestarball.com/comments/2007/11/4/224113/199/8#8

This winter's hot stove will resemble an Easy-Bake oven.

by t ball on Nov 5, 2007 10:22 AM CST up reply actions

PB

by Agreen07 on Nov 5, 2007 10:38 AM CST reply actions

Posted twice

My humblest of apologies for breaking (or bricking) the most fundamental rule of posting, but the link to this interview should be available more than once.

by doolindalton on Nov 5, 2007 10:59 AM CST reply actions

Worth the Price?

80 bucks a year for that?

no thanx

.500 or bust!

by Jayslick on Nov 5, 2007 12:33 PM CST reply actions

I think

Jason Cole's articles and interviews provide Rangers fans with the most comprehensive coverage of our farm system. It is worth every cent.

"On-base percentage is great if you can score runs and do something with that on-base percentage," Baker said. "Clogging up the bases isn't that great to me."

by jparks77 on Nov 5, 2007 1:19 PM CST up reply actions

I don't pay for any baseball content

my budget simply does not allow for that right now. But when it does, I'd rather spend $80 for Jason's stuff than much less for ESPN's crap. $80 is pretty steep, but his interviews and reports are better than 90% of the newspaper men out there in most cities.

This winter's hot stove will resemble an Easy-Bake oven.

by t ball on Nov 5, 2007 1:57 PM CST up reply actions

Boulanger Jargon

Anybody know what he meant by "separation?"

Shrooms - The Movie

by shroomer on Nov 5, 2007 1:51 PM CST reply actions

Or "uphill"?

by Adam J. Morris on Nov 5, 2007 5:26 PM CST up reply actions

uphill

Possibly an uppercut movement? Prompting HR's as well as explaining high K rates ...

"Separating" is really vague.

At first, I figured it meant having your upper and lower halves moving distinctly. I'm just not sure why that would make sense, seeing as it is basically all one motion in conjunction anyway. I guess, upon further thinking, the bat comes through the zone last after you've done the hip torque and rotational footwork to generate the force, then it's just hand speed and coordination? Either way, they have the video and the technology to scrutinize these details ...

Sideshow ... onto 800. You can do it!

by inactive lsb user on Nov 5, 2007 6:45 PM CST up reply actions

Agreed on uphill as for "separation"

I think you're right and reason it makes sense is because your body is working in conjunction and when you "separate" the 2 halves incorrectly it leads to bad results. For example if you're fooled by a breaking ball you might end up twisting your hips prematurely while leaving your upper body motionless thus throwing off your balance, probably rolling over the ball, and depleting your power. Keeping them all in sync is key to consistent hitting.

To explain exactly what he said in the article:

"The main thing right there is that he started separating better. When you start separating better, that's everything you're doing before your swing. That gives you a chance to see the ball better. Besides taking some length out of your swing by separating on top, that gets you to stay square as we put it. When you're square, you're seeing the release point with both eyes and not just your lead eye."

When he says "separating better"- the correct way to swing is to rotate your lower half along with your back pivot foot and then turning your shoulders parallel to the pitcher. That would be the separation. This is all done before you even begin to swing like he said.

What he means by "squaring up" is having your chest facing the pitcher thus keeping you balanced and allowing you to see with both eyes like he said. If you don't turn your shoulders and "separate", you probably will end up leaning over the plate for outside pitches and you will only be able to see with your lead eye.

Finally, the reason he says separating will shorten your swing is because if you don't turn your shoulders pre-swing, inevitably you will be swinging with your wrists back and it takes longer to get to the ball. When you rotate your shoulders before you swing, the bottom of your hand should start towards the direction of the ball cutting the swing down (because all you have to do to swing is then use your wrists to guide the bat), and improving your accuracy. Guys with long swings (Sexson) have trouble hitting for average because obviously they have a longer way to go to hit the ball and are truly kind of guessing more.

Basically watch Barry Bonds in slow motion- he does this all to perfection. Hope that clears it up.

by slimshadty12 on Nov 5, 2007 8:18 PM CST up reply actions

Respectfully,

that's close but way too complicated.

Interestingly, we've just come home from my 10 year olds' hitting lesson, and the term "separation" was used. His coach is former White Sox Norberto Martin and he specifically mentioned separation on a swing where my son didn't have his hands back in the hitting position and on the pitch he overcompensated, dropping his left shoulder and lunging with his right hip simultaneously.

The remedy was, 1. start with the shoulders square, and the hands back, (upper half) 2. stride, - creating weight transfer, then rotate the hips through, (lower half) 3. with head down and hands in the correct position, swing is made, contacting the ball squarely and with forceful impact, (upper half again).

Interesting stuff, to be sure.

by ncrangerman on Nov 5, 2007 9:45 PM CST up reply actions