Rog--One of the things I have a hard time with is that while I think there are those here who know mechanics well, there is little discussion about when a player changes his. Little discussion of how a player is changing his mechanics and is about to go into a slump or a hot streak.
---boly says---
I think that, often, Rog, the changes a hitter makes are subtle, and that's why no one comments on them.
I remember Boagie mentioning "sling" in Cain's deliverly last year. No one else saw it. I saw something "funny" but couldn't identify it until Boagie pointed it out.
Someone also pointed out that all of a sudden, Belt had begun "lining up his knuckles." A fundamental to being able to get the bat to snap through a swing, and use your wrists.
Crawford opened his feet up a tad this year... but it was so subtle, unless you knew what you were looking for, you missed it.
I know I did.
I get hung up in where a hitter's hands are, because IMHO, THAT'S where their problems start.
Bottom line: fans tend to look at the results, and little more.
I would be one of the exceptions, and I think you would be too. We seem to 'see' things that others don't.
Don sees things with Posey that the rest of us don't. Doesn't make him wrong, just that his 'focus' is different than ours.
If I were asked to help Crawford, and a LOT OF HITTERS, I'd start with their hands. More specifically, that back elbow.
I've said this before. I'm from the Charlie Lau school of hitting. I do NOT want that back elbow WAY UP, as tends to be taught.
Upon initiation of the swing, it often, very often causes a subtel "loop" in the swing and thus you can't square the ball up.
You want the elbow up a tad, fine... but way up? Like Crawford and so many streaky hitters? No way.
boly