Giants Batting Stances

by tobias on May 27, 2008 12:03 PM PDT Comment 28 comments

They say that everyone has a gift. Well, I have a friend whose gift is mimicking major leaguers' batting stances. Over the past couple years, he's been posting short videos of his interpretations of different major leaguers' batting stances and swings, up on YouTube. I'll admit to maybe being a little biased, but I think the guy...well, I already said it. He's gifted. The impressions are pretty much dead-on, and many of them are hilarious.

Most of the videos feature maybe15-20 different hitters (past and present) from one Major League team. Each video is about three minutes in length, although there's one that features players of the 1980's that runs about four minutes. That one has both Jack Clark and Will Clark (check out the Nuschler Face on Will!). The Red Sox and Braves videos are also favorites of mine.

He's got ten teams up so far, and plans on doing all 30 teams. Yes, even the Rays. There's one thing that bugs me though: No Giants team video yet! This is an especially egregious oversight, for two reasons:

1) He's a Giants fan.

2) He's already done the D@#&?$!!!!111!?

So I'd like to ask a favor of everyone. First, check out a video or two on his YouTube link. Second, send him an email asking him to do a Giants video before he does one for any of the other meaningless, inconsequential teams that are rumored to be in the Major Leagues. Please be nice when you email. Don't swear at him for his already having done the Dodgers. I've forgiven him and you can too. But do request any Giants hitters that you'd like to see him mimic, past or present. He asked me for my Top 20, so here's my list of faves I sent him (along with a few extras):

1. Barry Bonds
2. Bobby Bonds
3. Willie Mays
4. Willie McCovey
5. Johnnie LeMaster
6. Aaron Rowand
7. Rich Aurilia
8. Dave Kingman
9. Tito Fuentes (Not sure if you remember this one. Definitely an all-time classic, complete with the bat-handle-bounce-flip-and-catch-off-home-plate)
10. Jack Clark
11. Will Clark
12. Matt Williams
13. Jeff Kent
14. Robby Thompson
15. Andres Galarraga
16. Darrell Evans
17. Randy Winn (left-handed)
18. Marvin Benard
19. Jeffrey Leonard
20. Jose Uribe

Others... Tsuyoshi Shinjo, Benito Santiago, J.T. Snow, Chili Davis, Chris Speier, Orlando Cepeda, Jesus Alou, Felipe Alou, Bengie Molina, Juan Marichal (batting against Roseboro?... sorry, my bad taste knows almost no bounds).

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Thats awesome! I love that guy and was showing my dad some of his videos this weekend when I went home. His David Ortiz is spot on, especially when he runs out of the box.

I like your list, I can’t wait to see him doing the bowlegged Aaron Rowand I’m about to crap stance.

If he does Aurilia HE HAS TO FAKE A BUNT to start the at-bat. HAS TO.

Bay City Ball

by xanthan on May 27, 2008 12:08 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Also, he’s gotta do Kevin Mitchell. Just gotta.

Bay City Ball

by xanthan on May 27, 2008 12:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

One more, maybe a Glenallen Hill? I remember him being super rigid when he hit but when he did make contact, the ball would fly.

Bay City Ball

by xanthan on May 27, 2008 12:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think you're right

I love the idea of Aurilia bunting. Most people wouldn’t get that, but every Giants fan would fall on the floor.

Please do email him with these suggestions. I think the more emails he gets from different people, the more he’ll be inclined to get the Giants up there.

That's all I can stands, I can't stands no more!

by tobias on May 27, 2008 12:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

omg

if he does Aurilia w/ fake bunt, I will love him foreverrrrr

Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.

by jponry on May 28, 2008 1:08 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Damon Minor

Still makes me laugh to this day

by ACgiant97 on May 27, 2008 12:09 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Weirdest ever.

The wide open stance. The maniacal grin. My goodness, but that was disturbing.

That's all I can stands, I can't stands no more!

by tobias on May 27, 2008 12:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Email address

I thought I linked it. I was wrong.

battingstances@hotmail.com

That's all I can stands, I can't stands no more!

by tobias on May 27, 2008 12:18 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

holy shit

that guy is an idiot. savant.

awesome.

Billy Hayes: Nine more big-league plate appearances than you.

by delorean on May 27, 2008 1:30 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Does your friend have a propensity for flailing at slop that’s a good 18 inches off the plate? My vote is for one Mr. Pedro Feliz….the most hacktastic of them all !

Adoptive papa to Omar...so basically I'm screwed.

by PacBellBoozer on May 27, 2008 1:33 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

if he's gonna do feliz...

the the pitcher needs to throw at the first base coach and he still swings at it

my adoptive son is pat misch... because he goes exactly six innings and gives up exactly 4 runs in every start. as joe morgan says, "thats consistecy"

by Headhunter Rollins on May 27, 2008 1:54 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Semi-on topic, but my personal batting stance actually owes a distinctive bat waggle to Barry Bonds. I used to hate leg-mover/bat-waggle/wide-leg-STEPINNOWOMGTHEPITCHISCOMING types, but since I started using the waggle myself and seeing how awesome it is for rhythm, I’m fine with fellow wagglers. The other two kinds can still suck it, though.

Barry’s waggle was the most awesome. It sort of had this whip action when it came down over his head. Like “slow slow slow slow slow WHIP, repeat). That’s how I do it now.

My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.

by howtheyscored on May 27, 2008 2:35 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Hey, I had an FULUISGONZALES in there after the rest of the all caps, but I guess it got eaten.

My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.

by howtheyscored on May 27, 2008 2:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Spent Sunday with some friends that have a 7 year old Giants fanatic. He showed me all the Giants’ stances all day. Gotta love a 7 year that stands outside the house when the game is tied and pops his head in during commercials to ask if it’s a pitching change or is the inning over. He hates to see them lose.

I bought him a pack of cards...  little bugger pulled a TIm Lincecum card and a Richie card in the same pack. Also a Roger Clemens, Jeff Kent and Vlad. I told him I was letting him pick out all card purchases from now on.

by robbgin on May 27, 2008 3:15 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

hey what happened

by robbgin on May 27, 2008 3:15 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

that’s what she said

Billy Hayes: Nine more big-league plate appearances than you.

by delorean on May 27, 2008 3:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

¿Julio is tourist in San Francisco? Harper's Bizarre!

by hairball on May 27, 2008 3:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I GOT A REAL RED WAGON!

Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.

by jponry on May 27, 2008 3:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wanna see some Tom Lampkin.

Billy Ripken is not a fuck face

by Karlifornia on May 27, 2008 3:49 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Nice

If you like things that are funny, perhaps you will enjoy ChatterBalks Dot Com?

by groug on May 27, 2008 5:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh yeah…Tom Lampkin!

...Wait, does he really want to see Tom Lampkin or is this yet another joke reference that is sailing over my head?

That's all I can stands, I can't stands no more!

by tobias on May 27, 2008 5:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I just like how he skipped right over the “Favorite backup catcher” thread and saved Tom Lampkin for “What batting stance do you want to see?”

That’s class right there.

If you like things that are funny, perhaps you will enjoy ChatterBalks Dot Com?

by groug on May 27, 2008 6:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

And killing two birds with one stone

Or maybe it’s multi-tasking.

That's all I can stands, I can't stands no more!

by tobias on May 27, 2008 6:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for listing Tito Fuentes; that’s who I was going to suggest.

Your 2011 SF Giants: the 2008 Augusta Greenjackets!

by Lyle on May 27, 2008 4:32 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Terry Whitfield

Not a Giant icon, but a flash in the pan with a couple of good years and a unique stance: from the left side, with front (right) foot on tiptoe with the bottom of his foot facing slightly toward the pitcher. I remember a bunch of us in Little League giving it a try in batting practice. I think he also ended up operating a batting cage on the peninsula somewhere after he retired.

Kevin Correia: MLB's best fifth starter on a last place team

by VidaWantsYourCar on May 27, 2008 5:06 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs