Thread by @SteveEnglishbey

A phrase that I have seen about hitting over the yrs. is along the lines of things like: The hitter needs to be more athletic, or, you are taking the athleticism out of the hitter.
One operative principle I have utilized over the yrs. for many such assertions is that of ......

...questioning the premise. In the case of the phrase "you're taking away the hitter's athleticism" it amounts to asking: "Define athleticism."
Here's one dictionary version: "the physical qualities that are characteristic of athletes, such as strength, fitness, and agility."

But this definition, similar to the above "taking away athleticism" is equally vague in that ALL athletes have SOME degree of, "strength, fitness, agility."

But ok let's put that aside and use this definition and apply it to the "you're taking away the hitter's athleticism." How does one exactly go about "taking away" a hitter's strength, or fitness, or agility?

Well, I do not think an instructor can actually do this. How can I as an instructor make an athlete lose strength or fitness or agility at whatever level they are currently exhibiting these qualities?

Now, what I CAN possibly do is to create training protocols that possibly enhance or deter those existing capabilities.

And it is those protocols which are being, in effect, judged by those looking at those protocols, that are in question.

Now we come to the crux of the matter as regards the phrase...."you are taking away the hitter's athleticism."

I think what they are REALLY trying to say is that they disagree with your training methods. Their presumption is that other methods--usually THEIR methods-- will NOT inhibit the hitter's ...."athleticism."

But. From my vantage point that simply begs the question of: What make you think YOUR methods better enhance this vague assertion of ...you are taking away athleticism?

My argument on this is that of: Show me your evidence as to how YOUR methods actually enhance the hitter's EFFICIENCY of movement?

I phrase it like this to suggest that the vague phrase of "athleticism" is actually pretty useless. It's very subjective, vague, thus lacks, "explanatory power [my phrase].

From my vantage point, a MUCH more relevant idea is that of understanding training methods based on their ability to help a hitter ACTUALLY address the kinds of movement flaws that are inhibiting their potential.

And this kind of construct is a MUCH different construct relative to the vague notions surrounding that of ...."athleticism."

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