Ken Griffey Jr. has what many consider to be among the finest-looking swings of his generation. It's a swing synonymous with Mariner baseball, a swing smoother than an unfolded emergency survival blanket and a swing after which couples name their children. Through five months of the season, he's hitting .221/.329/.399 with a .322 wOBA.
Mike Sweeney swings like someone just blew an air horn. Through five months of the season, he's hitting .262/.316/.417 with a .315 wOBA.
Having pretty swing mechanics can be useful, but it's separated from actual production by so many levels as to be borderline irrelevant. Provided a guy surpasses a minimum level of acceptability in that regard, it seems to me the only real concern should be the speed with which the bat clears the zone.
1 recs | 19 comments
From a fan perspective I can certainly say that swing mechanics add appeal to certain players
The pretty swing may not help him hit the baseball but it can definitely make him more likable or easier to watch
Dewey N - August 31, 2009
I can't wait for when he doesn't retire Mariner
Poochie - August 31, 2009
"Having pretty swing mechanics can be useful, but it's separated from actual production "
[coughGregDobbscough]
msb - August 31, 2009
Greg Dobbs has been a bit better than league average in his ~750 PAs for Philadelphia.
marc w - August 31, 2009
Remeber the Dobber!!!!!
Geezzz! If Justin Leone’s swing had been half as pretty as Dobbs’, Leone would have qualified for a MLB pension in his old age.
Steve Nelson - August 31, 2009
I was trying to think of a way to mention Dobbs in this post
Jeff Sullivan - August 31, 2009
Glad to help
plus I got Justin in as well. Bonus round!
Steve Nelson - August 31, 2009
I'd think the minimum bar includes swing mechanics that don't increase risk of injury
Spoomeister - August 31, 2009
I don't think anyone's ever said:
“We should re-sign Griffey because of his swing”.
Nor do I think the swing factors into any sort of argument about his worth. I think people just like it, aesthetically.
Griffey doesn’t have the body type of a typical big power hitter, so unlike, say, Pujols, his power has to come from full-body leverage, which means, necessarily, every motion has to be fluid and inline and well-timed. So, it looks pretty.
A more interesting conversation might be “what would Griffey’s career look like if he COULDN’T swing like that?”
Andersean - August 31, 2009
This post isn't really about Griffey
Jeff Sullivan - August 31, 2009
Well, if it's about bat speed through the zone
I would say that overall swing mechanics have a major impact on bat-speed through the zone. Especially in the long term. If you rely purely on upper body strength to generate your bat speed, all things being equal you won’t be able to keep that speed up past your early 30s (for most folks).
Andersean - August 31, 2009
It's saying that pretty swings don't matter in comparison to results as evidenced with a comparison between Ken Griffey Junior and Mike Sweeney
Graham MacAree - August 31, 2009
So, again,
I don’t think anyone is saying that it does. I think people just find Griffey’s swing aesthetically pleasing.
Andersean - August 31, 2009
I thought most power hitters had gigantic asses
Poochie - August 31, 2009
The power comes from the ass.
brayden04 - August 31, 2009
Just ask Ken.
msb - August 31, 2009
Or Guti.
Slurvey - August 31, 2009
I'd like to see what'd happen if you did blow an air horn just as Sweeney was to swing ...
msb - August 31, 2009
An air horn!! An air horn!!! Ahahahahahahaha that could not be more perfect
royalcurve - August 31, 2009
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