THE HITTING COACH QUANDARY FOR ST. LOUIS (2 of 3) - The Position of Hitting Coach

A player reaches the Major League level, because he is the best at his trade and either has immense talent or has perfected his particular craft in the game of baseball; thus, once a player has made it to “The Show,” there is often little need to educate one in the basics of the game, but rather to preach and sustain the fundamentals while continuing to advance one’s skill at the highest possible level. It has been said that baseball is 10% physical and 90% mental, and the same is true for all aspects of the pastime, on and off the field. Sometimes a need arises to adjust a pitcher’s release point or to tweak a hitter’s load, but the main focus of a coach is to modify and regulate a player’s mental approach to the game.

Before each game, the hitting coach spends countless hours viewing and reviewing video tape, working with the players on soft toss and tee work, and last but certainly not least, preparing a hitter with a game plan. The physical work is important: you cannot expect to stay successful in the Majors if you do not build muscle and muscle memory, but the mental aspect of the game is dire. Also at the Major League level, you cannot expect to stay successful if you do not have a sound psychological method of facing the opposing pitcher when you step up to the plate. It is of the utmost importance to organize one’s thoughts before starting the game and entering the batter’s box: you must know what you will do with “x” number of runners on base, with a “y” count, with “z” outs, and if you are a lefty and Mariano Rivera offers up a cutter on the inside third of the plate. It is a large part of the hitting coach’s job to discuss with each player a pitcher’s key features and what a hitter must do to be successful against the opposition.

In the upcoming 2010 season, it will be Mark McGwire’s job to not only tweak aspects of his hitters’ swings, but more importantly to teach his army how to approach each impending battle, and prospectively win the war.