04/24/24
May 17, 2011
Adrian Gonzalez tells manager he's going to swing like Ichiro, then hits a home run.:
(comparison of swing inside)
Ha! That's awesome...
It's also clear that Ichiro is sacrificing a lot of power with that falling-to-first thing. It helps him get there faster, but looking at how Adrian did it, Ichiro should really consider trying a "power month" where he swings for the fences. Chicks dig the long ball, after all.
posted by hincandenza at 01:21 PM on May 17, 2011
Gonzalez: When a pitcher's beating me in, it's something I do to create a little room inside and make sure I don't miss fastballs in. He was just pounding me in and I wasn't picking up the ball well, swinging at pitches I don't normally swing at. It would be dumb of me to go up there and try the same approach again, you know? ... I've got to try something different. What's the worst that can happen? I make another out again?
From a Red Sox forum: I saw a piece about AG on NESN during a rain delay, and he was saying that back in high school he used to mimic the stances of his favorite MLB players. At some point he realized that he was really comfortable while mimicking Chipper Jones and basically just adopted that style full-time. So you can safely conclude that Adrian is experienced, and comfortable, copying the swings of other great hitters.
posted by justgary at 02:17 PM on May 17, 2011
Oooh, ooh! Do Phil Plantier next. I always liked watching a guy swing as though he were straining on a toilet.
posted by yerfatma at 03:11 PM on May 17, 2011
Either Plantier was born too late or Bill Veeck was born too early.
posted by beaverboard at 06:18 PM on May 17, 2011
Side-by-side comparison.
Nailed it!