2. Understanding Game Conditions

In the final game of the World Series, the wind was blowing briskly out to right field. On several occasions, the television station would show what the centerfield flag looked like, blowing hard straight out to right. Two hitters took advantage of this and hit home runs to right field, Miguel Cabrera and Delmon Young. Granted it was in a losing cause, but never-the-less they were big hits at the time. Cabrera’s homer put the Tigers ahead and Young’s tied the game. By knowing which way the wind is blowing can affect how you approach your at-bat (see Baseball Zone’s Hitter’s Checklist [1]). 

 

You expect a hitter of Cabrera’s ability to understand this. I’m sure he did, taking an inside half of the plate pitch and inside-outing it, letting the ball get up in the jet stream and over the fence in right. And in Young’s case, not trying to do too much with a slider over the outer half of the plate and just putting a good swing on it and barreling it up (see point #1 above) and letting Mother Nature take care of the rest.

 

Did Buster Posey hit one out to left that night? Yes. But he was out in front of a change up. He did a great job of controlling his body and keeping his hands back (again, see point #1 above). Could hitters of Cabrera’s and Young’s caliber have hit them out to left? Yes. But you take what the pitcher gives you, adjust to each pitch and take into consideration what you are capable of, considering the conditions.