The Ole Ball Game

Is it easier for a NL hitter to go to the AL or an AL hitter to go to the NL ?

Photo Bill Stanton:  Checkswing.com

Photo Bill Stanton: Checkswing.com

Anonymous asked: We saw Pujols struggle early on, some of that was the new league.

Rick answered: Thank you for your question.

I would say that it is equally tough to go from either league to the other.

No matter which way it goes, the unfamiliarity with pitchers they will have to face takes some time to work out.

Players have the same situation with umpires and their personal strike zones. Much to learn.

Stadiums and backgrounds are another area of adjustment, new manager, new philosophies, new living surroundings and team mates all play a part in the time it takes a player to adjust.

I worked a baseball camp with a Arizona Diamondbacks minor league pitching coach a couple of years ago.

He had been in the bigs with the Giants as a reliever at one point in his career. He was talking about Barry Bonds.

This pitcher had come into the game in relief, so he was in the dugout at this point in the game, rather than out in the bullpen.

He was sitting on the bench, next to Bonds. Bonds was talking about the pitcher currently on the mound for the other team.

He said, this guy will throw me two fastballs off the plate, try to get me to chase. Then he'll come back with a changeup on the outside, which I will hit in the left center bleachers.

The pitcher said he listened, then watched Bonds come to the plate and everything he said would occur happened, home run, location and all.

Those are the types of things it takes hitters some time to develop after a change. Pulhous is starting to solve many of those and it will just get better and better.

Yours in baseball,

Rick

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