Fastballs needn’t be blazing: location, movement, and deception are far more important than pure speed (think Jamie Moyers). As legendary Western sheriff Wyatt Earp said, “Fast is fine, but accuracy is final.”
The median batting average among the top 80 or so Major League hitters is around .275 season after season (or roughly three hits every eleven at-bats). And only 40 or so big league batters hit .300 or higher each year. About 500 position players average around .260, which means that approximately 250 Major Leaguers hit under .260.
Most great hitters stand closed or straightaway. There have been very few top hitters who stand open: Raphael Palmeiro and Rod Carew come to mind. Can you name more? Do you know why a closed batting stance produces higher batting averages?
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