![\"Barry](\"http:\/\/www.johnpaciorek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Barry-Bonds-HR-150x150.jpg\")
![\"Ted](\"http:\/\/www.johnpaciorek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Ted-Williams-PowerSpeed-150x150.jpg\")
![\"00934860.JPG\"](\"http:\/\/www.johnpaciorek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Hank-Aaron-3-150x150.jpg\")
![\"Miguel](\"http:\/\/www.johnpaciorek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Miguel-Cabrera-2-150x150.jpg\")
![\"Albert](\"http:\/\/www.johnpaciorek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Albert-Pujols-14-150x150.jpg\")
<\/p>\nAccording to contemporary Baseball thinking, the \u201cgood hitter\u201d is a batter who waits patiently for a pitcher to make a mistake (puts the ball where he does not want to\u2014where he knows the batter is most capable of hitting it), and capitalizes on it, and effectively hits the ball with authority at least 2.72 times out of 10 at-bats. To me, there are many ways to be a \u201cgood\u201d hitter, but only one way to be a \u201cGreat\u201d hitter. The good hitter will wait and hopefully hit the pitcher\u2019s mistake. The “great” hitter will be able to hit the pitcher\u2019s best pitch.<\/p>\n
Since the standard for being a good hitter is so low, then it might be well to presume that the standard for \u201cperfection\u201d is not or cannot be what a dictionary definition of perfection might\u00a0imply. In Baseball, there is not an example of Ultimate Perfection. But under guidelines for\u00a0what is defined as Penultimate, we can estimate the ultimate potential of those who might be\u00a0the closest to perfection.<\/p>\n
When most Baseball people attempt to analyze the highest proficiency of bats-man-ship, they see the skillfulness of the hitter as being comprised within a two-dimensional realm, natural\u00a0phenom\u201d and the \u201csmart hitter.\u201d Phenomenal exhibition would be a basis of evaluation that\u00a0acknowledges the artistic, natural propensity of an athlete who, under his presently yet unrefined\u00a0circumstance, makes solid contact of bat to ball without his advocating any strict adherence to\u00a0disciplined principle.![\"Babe](\"http:\/\/www.johnpaciorek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Babe-Ruth-3.jpg\")
Most notable examples are those \u201cBlue-Chip\u201d prospects who are BIG,\u00a0STRONG, and FAST, whose physical attributes garner for themselves \u201cbig bonus bucks\u201d when\u00a0they sign their initial contracts and carry the fresh hopes of those organizations that intend to\u00a0weave this new and endearing material into a more durable fabric for team building. ![\"Matt](\"http:\/\/www.johnpaciorek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Matt-Kemp-9-133x150.jpg\")
(Thus\u00a0the recycling of \u201cteam-building\u201d continues until the futility of errant ways obviates, and heads\u00a0roll.)<\/p>\n
The \u201csmart-hitter\u201d![\"Joe](\"http:\/\/www.johnpaciorek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Joe-Morgan1-150x150.jpg\")
is a cunning adversary for any \u201cpitcher,\u201d with instincts and astute deductive processes that can successfully promote an effective hitting prowess. This type of batter combines his natural physical talents with a cursory understanding that certain indefinable mental qualities are essential to offset the sometimes-crippling dependency on physicality alone. He tries to incorporate a mental component into his prominent physical dimension because his instincts reveal some underlying mechanism to higher achievement. ![\"Rusty](\"http:\/\/www.johnpaciorek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Rusty-Staub4-150x150.jpg\")
But without a thorough investigation into the depths of mechanical understanding, the closest his trial and error tactics will get him to his highest proficiency is the range encircling the .300 mark. Not bad, but far from superlative achievement!<\/p>\n
The mentality of most professional batters, because of the overpowering \u201carms\u201d of most\u00a0professional pitchers, is one with two limited approaches to maintaining a relatively successful\u00a0attack on the respectable .300 average. \u201cSee every pitched ball and swing at strikes,\u201d and \u201clook\u00a0for a particular pitch, and make sure you hit it\u201d are two simplistic notions that rely primarily on\u00a0one\u2019s quick physical responses to the given stimuli. And the success of either is determined by the quickness of the batter\u2019s reflexes and the inability of the pitcher to put the ball where he wants it. The highest degree of consistent productivity is never attainable with either of these approaches because their sporadic and sometimes remarkable success is achieved while the batter\u2019s senses seem to be acutely within \u201cthe zone\u201d of feeling good, a state of being that is ephemeral at best. On any given day any such hitter could look like a potential \u201cHall-of-Famer.\u201d But, by the end of a regular season, his numbers some times add up to a compelling mediocrity. End of Part I.<\/strong><\/p>\n Coming Soon: “Good Hitter,” and the “Great Hitter” – Part ll<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" According to contemporary Baseball thinking, the \u201cgood hitter\u201d is a batter who waits patiently for a pitcher to make a mistake (puts the ball where he does not want to\u2014where he knows the batter is most capable of hitting it), and capitalizes on it, and effectively hits the ball with authority at least 2.72 times … Continue reading The “Good Hitter,” and the “GREAT HITTER” – Part l<\/span> ![\"josh_hamilton\"](\"http:\/\/www.johnpaciorek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/josh_hamilton-150x150.jpg\")
![\"Bryce](\"http:\/\/www.johnpaciorek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Bryce-harper2.jpg\")
<\/a>![\"john\"](\"http:\/\/www.johnpaciorek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/john.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n