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I find this new ABS system interesting on its potential impact on the game of baseball from the pitching perspective.  The ABS system is projecting a 2D plane at the middle of the plate, instead of having the strike zone be a 3D box (really the dimension of the plate, but no pitcher is nicking that back triangle of the plate).  MLB to test automated ball-strike challenge system during spring games Umpires first began calling both balls and strikes way back in 1864, and baseballers have been arguing about those calls ever since. Strike-zone judgment has been the subject of some untold number of verbal (and, yes... I was thinking, this should have a big impact on pitchers who throw breaking balls. The breaking ball now has to be thrown higher up in the strike zone to catch the bottom of the new 2D zone. If the 2D zone is about the correct dimension of the previous strike zone, that 2D zone would be at the front of the plate. Now it is 8.5" back. So, the same breaking ball has to be thrown much higher to hit the new position of that low part of the plate. If the ball curves dramatically towards the end of the pitch, where the hitter has to hit the curveball (typically 8 inches in front of the plate), then the curve ball is maybe like 6 inches higher than normal? Just throwing out a number. I think that turns what use to be an at the knee strike into a something a hitter would crush.  Maybe the opposite is true, that breaking balls at the top of the zone might be more in play. It might look more that the ball is at the shoulders and hit the top of the plate. Maybe pitches who can delay the vertical break of the ball till much later might still see the same success since that delay allows them to keep the ball lower. I still think it will elevate any breaking ball pitch thrown low to clip that bottom of the strike zone.   

Update from last lesson up in Erie, PA with Erik.  Backswing Hinge wrist early. Slight wrist rotation and hinging about 60 degrees away from the club at set up. So, 30 degrees from the toe line. It is going to feel like the entire hinge is done by A2.  As I hinge sooner and more, just turn to the top of the swing. The tricepshould come off the chest.  Feel a ton of width in right arm at top of swing. Downswing Keeping the width in the right arm. Bring the hands down to my right hip with a little right wrist extensions and left wrist flexion. Club head should feel like it is behind my right hip. This is done with the arms, not with the chest. Keep the chest high. It should feel like I am going to hit the ground 1-FT at about a 45-degree angle from the ball behind me.  ^This is in conjunction with the hands down. Get the left side back and around me. Feel very little to no weight shift. I shift like 6-7", I need to keep it about 3".  That feels like I pretty much don't slide at all.  Part of the turn is also pushing off with my left foot. Pushing my butt back behind me. This needs to happen almost immediately when my hands start to come down. It may need to feel like I do it before my hands go down. I am thinking that the feel of me shifting left onto my lead foot to push off is going to be part of the pushing off feel. If I am feeling that pressure at A4 or later, then it isn't soon enough.  Minor Injury notice: My back decided to spasm and lock up a bit when I was bent over tying my shoes. 😭. It's starting to feel better but still warning me to be careful. So, I will be taking a few days here to recuperate. I am then going to get back into the gym for some weightlifting. I think I need to strengthen up my core more to protect myself here. 

Good for Gary Woodland, I like him. He's got that BDE and he carries himself like an athlete. Seems like a cool dude

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