Six weeks ago, Adrian Gonzalez sat down with Fangraphs to discuss the finer points of hitting, including topics such as plate coverage, pitch recognition and staying inside the baseball. Not all hitters think exactly alike, so in this week’s Q&A we’ll hear from a pair of Brewers teammates — and National League All-Stars — Ryan Braun and Rickie Weeks.
Editor’s Note: The duo answered the same questions, but in separate interviews, one day apart.
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David Laurila: Is hitting simple or is it complicated?
Ryan Braun: I think it can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be. We try to simplify the game, but ultimately it’s a complicated process. When we’re going good, everything is simple, but for us, as hitters, when we’re struggling it becomes more complicated.
Hitting is very technical. There are so many things that have to happen to put yourself in a correct position to consistently hit the ball hard. It’s not an easy thing to do.
Rickie Weeks: There’s a fine line, because you don’t want to make it too hard on yourself. At the same time, hitting isn’t simple. It’s one of those things where you can be in the league for 10-15 years and still be trying to figure out your swing and what makes you tick. It’s definitely not easy, and you try to perfect it each year.
The way you make hitting complicated is…the old adage is “see the ball, hit the ball,” If you just go off of that, a lot of times it makes it easier. Maybe. But at the same time, you know that a hitter is worrying about his hands, where his feet are positioned, what the pitcher is going to throw — things of that nature. A lot of times, it’s the hitter that makes hitting complicated.
DL: Is hitting an art or a science?
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