I was a lousy hitter

by Walter Guest on Oct 27, 2009 7:36 PM PDT

I had bad eyesight so couldn’t hit the fastball. But I always played in leagues over my head because I could field. When I was 12 I played with 16-year-olds because I was willing to catch, had a good arm, and could hang onto foul tips. Later I went to centerfield and then shortstop.

They always hit me leadoff. I crowded the plate and hit out of a crouch. Until there were two strikes on me my swing zone was the size of a saucer and the pitch speed had to be under 70. I struck out a lot but got on base a lot too. If a pitch came inside I’d let it hit me and run down to first muttering “thankyou, thankyou.” Anything to get on base and avoid making an out.

The surprising thing was I led most of my teams in home runs. Pitchers who got exasperated with me would either throw at my head or groove a fat one. I could duck one and cream the other.

That’s one way to make up for being a lousy hitter.

This FanPost is reader-generated, and it does not necessarily reflect the views of McCovey Chronicles. If the author uses filler to achieve the minimum word requirement, a moderator may edit the FanPost for his or her own amusement.

Tweet Comment 64 comments | 1 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

U R VELEZ

Mischievously implosive purple pitching staff.

by SloIsLonelyForTheOrange on Oct 27, 2009 7:40 PM PDT reply actions

*TORRES

Mischievously implosive purple pitching staff.

by SloIsLonelyForTheOrange on Oct 27, 2009 7:40 PM PDT up reply actions

So, if you hit home runs and get on base a lot, where does the lousy hitter part come in?

by Missing Barry on Oct 27, 2009 7:41 PM PDT reply actions

12 year old led his team of 16 year olds in home runs, hit leadoff, got on base a lot, great fielder – why didn’t this guy go pro?

Adopted Giant: Henry Sosa

by raisingcain on Oct 27, 2009 9:01 PM PDT up reply actions

You need work in reading comprehension.

Where does it say I led that team in homers? I was lucky to get dribbler and bloop singles there. Back in the day of sandlot, maybe still today, no one wanted to catch. It was the only way for a borderline player to get on a team. Especially since we had a hard throwing lefty. But it turned out he was easy to catch. He had great control and went on to pitch pro until he got hurt.

by Walter Guest on Oct 28, 2009 9:12 PM PDT up reply actions

fine

The surprising thing was I led most of my teams in home runs.

So maybe not that one specifically, but the point still applies – if you get on base a lot and lead “most” of your teams in homers, you’re not really a lousy hitter.

Adopted Giant: Henry Sosa

by raisingcain on Oct 28, 2009 10:14 PM PDT up reply actions

Exactly. I think you were a lot better than you realized, Walter. ;)

by Missing Barry on Oct 29, 2009 7:25 AM PDT up reply actions

I think he kind of means it in the pure ‘talent’ sense.

Like if two guys have the same wOBA, but one has the Lewis approach and the other has the Sandoval approach, I’d assume that the Sandoval guy has better true hitting “talent”, because his approach is counterproductive.

You wish you were named Frederick Deshaun...

by dregarx on Oct 29, 2009 12:53 PM PDT up reply actions

But

I don’t think approach is completely independent of talent. Depending on lots of different things (such as the many different aspects of eyesight), some players will be able to have better strike zone judgement than others. You can improve it, sure, but only to a certain extent.

Adopted Giant: Henry Sosa

by raisingcain on Oct 29, 2009 3:29 PM PDT up reply actions

Believe me, I agree with you.

I was trying to rationalize it from his point of view.

You wish you were named Frederick Deshaun...

by dregarx on Oct 30, 2009 4:15 PM PDT up reply actions

Yes I was

I hit below .200. I walked about 20% and with HBP my on-base pct. was over 400. I was a lousy hitter and knew it so all I could do was work for the walk. I compensated.

by Walter Guest on Oct 29, 2009 7:51 PM PDT up reply actions

Walter Guest for Giants hitting coach!

by Missing Barry on Oct 29, 2009 8:31 PM PDT up reply actions

that was my first thought too

Thing A

by sam23 on Oct 28, 2009 1:16 AM PDT up reply actions

I actually love these posts…

YOU EAT YOUR DAMN EGGROLL

by heimy25 on Oct 27, 2009 7:45 PM PDT reply actions

It’s like a plot from the Riddler.

I know you nerds know NOTHING about the real game of baseball, or any other athletic endeavor requiring teamwork under physical stress.
Mr. F! | comics | art | New Nattowear | Unofficial McImage Directory

by Natto on Oct 27, 2009 7:56 PM PDT up reply actions

Mystery… enigma… it’s a mystery and an enigma… mysteryenigma… Myster Enigma… Mister Enigma… Mr. E. Nigma… Mr. Edward Nigma! My god!

Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.

by howtheyscored on Oct 27, 2009 7:59 PM PDT up reply actions

Finkle … is … Einhorn!?!

by grape on Oct 28, 2009 9:44 PM PDT up reply actions

Good to know

by dogdays on Oct 27, 2009 7:54 PM PDT via mobile reply actions

is this like a game where you’re somebody famous and we have to guess who you are from these clues?

No Edgar, it's not your fault, it's the fault of the idiot that plays you

by rxmeister on Oct 27, 2009 7:54 PM PDT reply actions

Burriss?

Giant Dirtbags: John Bowker, Steve Hammond. MIA List: Todd Jennings, Brian Anderson
Jeremy Affeldt induces DP's

by Giant among Angels on Oct 27, 2009 7:55 PM PDT reply actions

oh, nevermind

Giant Dirtbags: John Bowker, Steve Hammond. MIA List: Todd Jennings, Brian Anderson
Jeremy Affeldt induces DP's

by Giant among Angels on Oct 27, 2009 7:56 PM PDT up reply actions

What kind of a league would allow a 12 y-o play with 16 y-o?

I call bullshit. But thanks for trying!

Giant Dirtbags: John Bowker, Steve Hammond. MIA List: Todd Jennings, Brian Anderson
Jeremy Affeldt induces DP's

by Giant among Angels on Oct 27, 2009 7:58 PM PDT reply actions

Little League WS!

"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry

by victor frankenstein on Oct 28, 2009 5:01 AM PDT up reply actions

the Giants?

If he bats .300 in tee ball he might get called straight up to the big team!

Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti. "I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."

Nobody puts Bengie in a corner!

by natteringnabob on Oct 28, 2009 6:24 AM PDT up reply actions

WalrusMan League?

You can't solve your problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems - Albert Einstein to Brian Sabean

by bgunn on Oct 28, 2009 9:47 AM PDT up reply actions

I played in a 16 yo fall ball league as a 14 yo b/c thats all they had close to me.

I R 5

by say hey nation on Oct 29, 2009 8:23 AM PDT up reply actions

This seems completely reasonable.

Giant Dirtbags: John Bowker, Steve Hammond. MIA List: Todd Jennings, Brian Anderson
Jeremy Affeldt induces DP's

by Giant among Angels on Oct 29, 2009 9:00 PM PDT up reply actions

I still don’t understand what your lice have to do with this.

Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.

by howtheyscored on Oct 27, 2009 8:00 PM PDT reply actions

Sooo...

What’s your favorite rap album?

Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.

by howtheyscored on Oct 27, 2009 8:02 PM PDT reply actions

by Natto on Oct 27, 2009 8:12 PM PDT up reply actions

Solid choice.

Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.

by howtheyscored on Oct 27, 2009 9:34 PM PDT up reply actions

That’s how I beat Shaq.

by DesertFox on Oct 27, 2009 9:37 PM PDT up reply actions

If they were just playing horse

that song all the sudden becomes much more believable.

The very bad man traded my son...So now I'd like you all to meet my new son, Ryan "Aaron" Garko...Dammit it's just not the same!

by boonitez on Oct 27, 2009 9:42 PM PDT up reply actions

“What kind of a league would allow a 12 y-o play with 16 y-o?”

That was class B rec league in San Francisco. It was pre-little league. If you could sign up you could play.

by Walter Guest on Oct 27, 2009 8:03 PM PDT reply actions

I assume this was a loooong time ago

Giant Dirtbags: John Bowker, Steve Hammond. MIA List: Todd Jennings, Brian Anderson
Jeremy Affeldt induces DP's

by Giant among Angels on Oct 27, 2009 8:25 PM PDT up reply actions

there's a lesson in here somewhere

so, are you a scrappy white annoying middle infielder?

by sfoakbay on Oct 27, 2009 8:24 PM PDT reply actions

Or annoying crotch-grabbig middle outfielder?

by Missing Barry on Oct 27, 2009 8:33 PM PDT up reply actions

There’s a funny addendum to that story

One manager came up to me and told me to stop taking so many pitches and start hitting more home runs. The guy actually thought I was a power hitter. My only value to the team was my ability to draw the BB. The only reason I hit homers was pitchers hated to walk me. If I changed my approach, I’d be worthless.

Bill James tells the story of an Oakland coach telling the same thing to Ricky Henderson when Henderson played for them. It just proves there are dummies at all levels.

by Walter Guest on Oct 27, 2009 8:43 PM PDT reply actions

Walter, my friend, you are an inspiration. My only regret is that I was born 50 years too late to see you play.

NEVER CHANGE!!

Sometimes, there's a man...well, he's the man for his time and place.

by I'm_a_Man on Oct 27, 2009 8:48 PM PDT up reply actions

Shawon Dunston has no respect for you.

by Into the Void on Oct 27, 2009 9:00 PM PDT up reply actions

So you're saying that the Giants shouldn't have tried to change Fred's approach?

Thank you….

Aaron King is still my homeboy... iffy mechanics and all

McFAQ for all you newcomers out there.

GET THAT VORP AND WHIP SH!T OUTTA HERE!!!

by baetown415 on Oct 27, 2009 9:01 PM PDT up reply actions

Fred is a problem

He doesn’t hit enough to be an acceptable corner outfielder or field well enough to play center. The Giants want him to be something that he can never be which is a big run producer on the team. He’ll make a good 4th outfielder until someone takes that job away.

by Walter Guest on Oct 27, 2009 10:49 PM PDT up reply actions

Oh boy.

by Natto on Oct 27, 2009 10:53 PM PDT up reply actions

Here comes death to another thread

YOU EAT YOUR DAMN EGGROLL

by heimy25 on Oct 27, 2009 11:02 PM PDT up reply actions

Just to nip this in the bud

Yes, Fred Lewis would be a good 4th outfielder on a team with good hitters, but on the Giants, he was the best player not named Sandoval or Uribe this season. Other than Sandoval, Lewis had a higher OBP than anyone else on the Giants. Of anyone on the team, he’s one of the least deserving of the tag “problem”.

by Natto on Oct 27, 2009 11:10 PM PDT up reply actions

lol

Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster

by jponry on Oct 27, 2009 11:12 PM PDT up reply actions

Fixed

Fred is a THE problem

Giant Dirtbags: John Bowker, Steve Hammond. MIA List: Todd Jennings, Brian Anderson
Jeremy Affeldt induces DP's

by Giant among Angels on Oct 28, 2009 6:32 AM PDT up reply actions

Fine, I’ll bite. Fred Lewis hits enough to be a corner outfielder. He is, in fact, a run producer – in his only full year of PT he “produced” 8 more runs than the average hitter. Overall he’s an average starter – nothing special, but worth giving PT to, especially when he’s playing for league minimum, and especially on a team as miserable as the Giants.

Er, wait. My bad.

Fred is a THE problem

by Missing Barry on Oct 28, 2009 7:38 AM PDT up reply actions

I like these stories and wish they wouldn’t get ripped on. I really do like them. Maybe it’s the terse prose that’s bugging people.

Still backing Notgardo, wheresoever he may wander. (Don't forget to wriiiite!)

by tk on Oct 27, 2009 9:42 PM PDT reply actions

I like them too. I really respect the economical writing. Kinda sad the Hemmingways and Salters of the world lost out.

by grape on Oct 28, 2009 9:52 PM PDT up reply actions

I wish the Giants had more “lousy” hitters that got on base a lot and hit home runs.

Thing A

by sam23 on Oct 28, 2009 1:20 AM PDT reply actions

I love these things.

Bay City Ball

by xanthan on Oct 28, 2009 5:15 AM PDT reply actions

Is this Brian Sabean preparing us for a Mateo signing?

Wisconsin: Famous for dairy, Ryan Rohlinger and not much else.

by Scottsdale on Oct 28, 2009 6:26 AM PDT reply actions

I couldn’t hit a breaking ball. Unless they didn’t break.

I also couldn’t hit fastballs. Unless they weren’t that fast.

There’s a moral here.

/actually likes these posts

"It's too late now."

by ResDog on Oct 28, 2009 7:03 AM PDT reply actions

I was a decent hitter at 14 in Pony League. We played a team called the Gold Platers (our manager’s wife called them the gall bladders), and one of their pitchers named Kurt didn’t throw a curve. That is, until I tried out for Babe Ruth league the next year at 15.

You know those curve balls that roll off the table? Yeah, Kurt threw me 3 of those and it was grab some pine, meat, so I failed to make the cut. He went on to pitch briefly for the SJ Giants.

by boogalou on Oct 28, 2009 9:42 AM PDT up reply actions

I can’t figure out why, but I enjoy these posts too…

(Feels so much better when you finally just come clean)

by Missing Barry on Oct 28, 2009 7:40 AM PDT reply actions

Wait, how could you be a good fielder with bad eyesight?

I R 5

by say hey nation on Oct 28, 2009 9:35 AM PDT reply actions

I played in Little League and was the best fielder AND hitter on my team. By best, I mean I as the guy who got to come in during the 6th inning of a 6 inning game, bat once, typically strike out, occasionally draw a walk, and had a rockin’ good .000 batting average one year. Another year, I had two doubles, which were my only two hits of the year.

I was once drilled in the face by my team’s coach during batting practice. I didn’t really like that.

The moral of the story is, the Giants need better hitters. And I have no idea why I love baseball as much as I do, after my distinguished LL career!

I'm thinking but nothing's happening.

by JRPhillips on Oct 28, 2009 10:36 AM PDT reply actions

CHEATING THE GAME

These are my principles. If you don't like them, I have others. -Groucho Marx

by RDreamer on Oct 28, 2009 3:07 PM PDT reply actions

You sound Bocockian…except for the HR part

"We're in this thing!" My adopted Giant: "Raptor Jesus" Guzman, "Sweet Jesus" Guzman and Jesus H. Guzman.

by Goofus on Oct 28, 2009 3:32 PM PDT reply actions

The reaching base safely part doesn’t sound very Bocockian either…

by Missing Barry on Oct 28, 2009 4:55 PM PDT up reply actions

I was a lousy hitter

What are you doing next April – October?

You can't solve your problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems - Albert Einstein to Brian Sabean

by bgunn on Oct 28, 2009 4:56 PM PDT reply actions

I was too

and nobody cared

#1 threat to America: Pandas
Also, Tim Lincecum
Adopted Father: Tyler Graham
Official McPokeMaster
Registered Velezbian and supporter of Fredemption

by GrahamCrakalaka on Oct 29, 2009 4:29 PM PDT reply actions

Mark me down too

I have horrible hand-eye coordination and thus hurt my ability to hit, or maybe it’s because I never had good coaching but I knew my natural ability to hit wasn’t that good to begin with anyway.

Of course, those who can’t hit either pitch or field well so I was decent in the OF and IF on defense. Walter’s right about catching, no kids wanted to catch so if you can and is willing then you just increase your chance of making some teams. I can throw well though but not so much pitching. Boy, those LL days sure were fun and we actually won 2 trophies (not bought like some LL teams) in my 3 years of baseball.

Win the inning.

by Scooter Ellis on Oct 29, 2009 5:28 PM PDT reply actions