Gerald Perry

[David]

Yep.

 

How many times did the Cubs give the opposing pitcher easy 1-2-3 innings by swinging early in the count? Baker openly encouraged that crap.

I think the big difference is that Perry wants guys to look for a pitch that they can make solid contact on, regardless of whether it's a strike or not. Baker wouldn't acknowledge that sometimes pitches can be strikes and also be more or less unhittable (unless you're looking for Juan Pierre quality contact), and wanted them swinging at anything that was close enough for blind Angel Hernandez to call a strike.

 

That, and he didn't' seem to acknowledge that there was any value, at times, to taking pitches for the sake of taking more pitches (i.e. getting a better look at a pitcher's stuff and how he's attacking you, tiring the pitcher out a little over the course of a game, etc.).

[CubColtPacer]

Yep.

 

How many times did the Cubs give the opposing pitcher easy 1-2-3 innings by swinging early in the count? Baker openly encouraged that crap.

I think the big difference is that Perry wants guys to look for a pitch that they can make solid contact on, regardless of whether it's a strike or not. Baker wouldn't acknowledge that sometimes pitches can be strikes and also be more or less unhittable (unless you're looking for Juan Pierre quality contact), and wanted them swinging at anything that was close enough for blind Angel Hernandez to call a strike.

 

That, and he didn't' seem to acknowledge that there was any value, at times, to taking pitches for the sake of taking more pitches (i.e. getting a better look at a pitcher's stuff and how he's attacking you, tiring the pitcher out a little over the course of a game, etc.).

 

True, but Perry doesn't acknowledge that either.

[goonys evil twin]

Yep.

 

How many times did the Cubs give the opposing pitcher easy 1-2-3 innings by swinging early in the count? Baker openly encouraged that crap.

I think the big difference is that Perry wants guys to look for a pitch that they can make solid contact on, regardless of whether it's a strike or not. Baker wouldn't acknowledge that sometimes pitches can be strikes and also be more or less unhittable (unless you're looking for Juan Pierre quality contact), and wanted them swinging at anything that was close enough for blind Angel Hernandez to call a strike.

 

That, and he didn't' seem to acknowledge that there was any value, at times, to taking pitches for the sake of taking more pitches (i.e. getting a better look at a pitcher's stuff and how he's attacking you, tiring the pitcher out a little over the course of a game, etc.).

 

True, but Perry doesn't acknowledge that either.

 

I could have sworn I've heard Perry talk about wearing down a pitcher with patience.

[CubColtPacer]

Yep.

 

How many times did the Cubs give the opposing pitcher easy 1-2-3 innings by swinging early in the count? Baker openly encouraged that crap.

I think the big difference is that Perry wants guys to look for a pitch that they can make solid contact on, regardless of whether it's a strike or not. Baker wouldn't acknowledge that sometimes pitches can be strikes and also be more or less unhittable (unless you're looking for Juan Pierre quality contact), and wanted them swinging at anything that was close enough for blind Angel Hernandez to call a strike.

 

That, and he didn't' seem to acknowledge that there was any value, at times, to taking pitches for the sake of taking more pitches (i.e. getting a better look at a pitcher's stuff and how he's attacking you, tiring the pitcher out a little over the course of a game, etc.).

 

True, but Perry doesn't acknowledge that either.

 

I could have sworn I've heard Perry talk about wearing down a pitcher with patience.

 

Hmm, I haven't seen anything about that (I doubt that Perry would consider that anything more than a side benefit of taking pitches that you cannot drive rather than a strategy-if the pitches were in the right spots, I think Perry would be fine with every hitter swinging at the first pitch), but just because I haven't seen it doesn't mean it's not there.

[CubColtPacer]

Oh, a little funny factoid from the article:

 

On Sept. 7, 1993, Mark Whiten tied a Major League record for RBIs in a game with 12 in St. Louis' 15-2 win over Cincinnati. Whiten hit a record-tying four home runs, including a first-inning grand slam. Gerald Perry was on base for each of the homers.

 

Pretty soon you'll hear Perry addressing the media: "When I played, and I was on base when Mark Whiten...." :D

[goonys evil twin]

Hmm, I haven't seen anything about that (I doubt that Perry would consider that anything more than a side benefit of taking pitches that you cannot drive rather than a strategy-if the pitches were in the right spots, I think Perry would be fine with every hitter swinging at the first pitch), but just because I haven't seen it doesn't mean it's not there.

 

I'm not suggesting he thinks of it as the primary goal. I'm just saying I'm pretty sure he's acknowledged that side benefit. I know Lou has.

 

Regardless, it's very different than Baker, and not just because of his ability to communicate effectively.

 

If you look at it from afar, everybody pretty much teaches the same thing. Hit the ball really hard some where. But just as the fact that every major league baseball player is a very good baseball player, but not when compared with each other, there are differences in offensive philosophies. These might not be complete opposites, but I think they are quite different.