Control Your Approach
In 1998, while playing for the Gigantes of Nordeste in the Dominican Winter League, I stayed at the Ambassador Hotel in Santo Domingo. Therewas a not a hotel suitable for American players in San Francisco de Macoris, so we stayed two hours from our home stadium. Home games were long days. However, there were two teams in Santo Domingo, Licey, and Escogido. So, for road games, the days were much better. Anyway, that year the Escogido players were staying at my hotel and David and I were on the same floor and became friends. The next year we
Big Papi and I, Spring Training 1999, Ft. Myers, FL
were teammates when I joined his Escogido club for the round robin playoffs, which we lost. The next year we were teammates on the 2001 Caribbean World Series Champion Dominican Team, in Culican, Mexico. Dominican, AAA, Spring Training, TV, I have seen this guy hit for a long time. I have taken BP with him, many times. Hit behind in games, watched him take soft toss in a HR derby in Dominican that we competed in. This guy’s approach to the ball has not changed in all the time I have seen him! He has made adjustments in his stance, and swing path, here and there. However, his APPROACH TO THE BALL is the same all the time. It is as it is now as it was in Dominican in 1998 or in AAA in 1999. Now, you add on the fact that he is strong as a bull, and has unbelievable hands, and that his eyes see the ball a long time, and you have one the best hitters in the modern era. Yes, I am biased. But this man does it in the clutch, big time. To me he is the ultimate package in a hitter. He has very few holes. He has a game plan, and sticks to it. And, when he gets his pitch, he doesn’t miss it. That is where your approach the ball is so critical. When trained correctly, it can slow game for you allow hitting to be a little easier. It is a balancing act between body control and swing. The more you body is in the same place in its approach to the ball. The accustomed it will be in doing it. So, your “A Swing” has the best chance it can to repeat itself. Keep working hard!
