Posted by: Joe A. () on Tue Jul 3 21:19:39 2001

To Whom,

For a long time I have listened to people say that "hitting a baseball is the hardest thing to do in sports." This is an inaccurate statement and even with its simple mindedness I usually let it pass with out comment. I know that most people who don't look past the statement's obvious lack of logic will not want to hear why their time honored beleifs are WRONG!!!!!

As I said, I usually let the comment pass. But, recently someone on this site said that if you went to Ted Williams' site you could read his book about hitting. I thought "what the hell" let me take a peek. What did I find on the first page of the book? The same idiocy about hitting being the hardest thing is sports. Damn. Even the great Ted Williams can be wrong.

Well, too much is enough. Its time to set it straight and what better place to do it then where some of the most of the people who come here would beleive this stuff without question.

The "logic" is that a 300 hitter fails 7 out of ten times. And, that while 300+ hitters are the top hitters in their game, that this rate of failure would get players in other sports kicked out of the league. Therefore, hitting a baseball is the hardest thing to do in sports.

Now for reality. Try to keep up now. Batting average does not measure the success in hitting the ball. It measures the success of getting a hit. HELLO! There is a difference between getting a hit and hitting the ball.

There are many, many more hit balls than there are hits. Did you ever notice those 8 guys out there? Why do you think they are there? Huh? Why?

Some time the hardest hit balls are outs. And some of the weakest hit balls,like bunts, are hits. If you counted every time a ball is hit in fair territory as a hit, the combined batting average would be way over 700, probably 800. (One of you number geeks can figure that out) By this calculation hitting a baseball is one of the easiest thing in sports to do.

So, now you know the truth. Think about it. It will sink in after a while. Sorry I had to burst your little bubble but too much is enough.

If you have any questions I will answer them if they are not stupid.

Joe A.