by Mark H » Thu Apr 28, 2016 8:02 am
Thanks for being responsive. That swing plane does have a slight upward tilt to it. But as with elite swings, the swing plane is parallel to the shoulder rotation plane (assuming the hitter wasn't fooled and the pitch wasn't so down and in as to be beyond the hitter's flexibility limits). Clip one is a four year all American. Gomez was all American though I don't recall how many times. Wouldn't be surprised if Evans was but in any case she was a great D1 hitter.
As to hitting, I believe in letting the high pitch be called a ball regardless of what spin it has on it. Lotief believes in hitting that pitch out regardless of what the ump might call it. And I certainly don't have the resume to question him.
In my opinion, Rivera's swing is as good a model for a middle of the order hitter as I've seen a fp player demonstrate. Having said that, the best high pitch hitter I ever saw was Gomez. You throw it chin high inside black to her and the pitcher was going to need another ball.