In response to M's Fans comments, you are absolutely right about the fundamentals and I believe it is for the following reason.
In the old days kids would play actual baseball games all day long and have thousands and thousands of game situation moments logged under their belts before playing at any level of professional baseball.
Now, (especially in Latin American Countries) players are drilled for hours and hours a day on skills that impress scouts and many of them get drafted to play professional baseball with only a few actual innings of real baseball "games" where they can learn situational instincts. Americans also play far fewer games of baseball than they used to as they divide their time between other sports. I am a coach and other than the 15-20 games the kids play in organized ball a year, they dont get together and play baseball with their friends ever so that is it, 15 games a year!
If you do the math, some of these Professional Baseball player in the Minor Leagues have played less than 100 actual games of baseball at any level before becoming professional.
You can teach all the skills in the world but if the instincts are not there, you cant make up for it when the kid is 19 and in the minor leagues. It will never be natural to the player. I am not a Derek Jeter fan but instrincts like he has are a throwback, always in the right place at the right time. Back in the day, most players had that.
I would take a smart .280 hitter over a dumb .320 hitter any day!
Rhys
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