So in an effort to answer my perennial question about why guys refuse to shorten up (with two strikes), I came upon the following. All kidding aside, it would seem it IS a moral failing:

"Terry Pendleton, a longtime hitting coach for Atlanta and a former M.V.P. with the Braves, also favors choking up. He suggests it to hitters, but he is usually ignored. “They still do what they want to do,” Pendleton said. “Pride has a lot to do it with it. I think it’s what they are most comfortable with. Let me put it that way: I didn’t have a problem when I had two strikes on me; I felt comfortable choking up. A lot of guys don’t feel comfortable doing it. A lot of guys, it’s out of their comfort zone.”"

"Like Gross and others, Pendleton says he does not understand why hitters do not try everything possible to improve their chances at the plate.

“It is a lost art,” he said. “It gives you better bat control, gives you an opportunity to wait longer for a pitch and gives you better opportunity to react to a pitch, but it doesn’t seem anybody wants to do it.”"

So it would seem that guys just think it's beneath them, because there's no longer any shame in whiffing (Pedroia reports: "I think guys don’t choke up because striking out has become acceptable since pitchers are so good now.”) and because, of course, chicks dig the long ball.

So yes, I am comfortable calling players' inability to shorten up and make contact a moral failing.

So there.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/15/sports/baseball/in-major-leagues-choking-up-has-become-a-lost-art.html?pagewanted=all

According to MLBN Gritner saw Dr. James Andrews today. Ugh.

1) I'm with you 100% on this. I grew up idolizing Carew, and was also taught by my dad to choke up a little with two strikes, or two outs. I was never a consistent power hitter, but could drive the ball very hard into the gaps by making good contact, even after choking up. The Carew was always my two strike/ two out approach, and it served me pretty well through high school ball.
But to your point, it's a minor adjustment that any smart hitter can make.

I dunno, guys [1] [4], I would want to see evidence. Terry Pendleton's opinion doesn't count as evidence for me. Show me what Rod Carew's OPS was when he choked up, and then we'll talk.

5) Carew choked up all the time. Mat tingly and Boggs also shortened their swings in defensive situations. Most of the high batting avg guys make adjustments in defensive counts.
I don't know if anybody's calculated their choking up avgs though.

Yay, a run.

Good job, Rob. None of that choking up crap for Rob. That's for losers.

[6] Right, of course that's right about Carew. So he's a bad test case. Boggs would be a good one.

If we don't know what the effects were, then all we know is that Boggs and Carew and Pendleton thought it was a good idea, and A-Rod and Cano and Ortiz don't. And sure, we also have Pendleton's opinion that it's pride on the new guys' part, but for all I know Papi thinks it was some kind of character flaw on Boggs' part to choke up, so that doesn't impress me.

This is an interesting study
http://www.thesportjournal.org/article/choke-grip-facilitates-faster-swing-and-stride-times-without-compromising-bat-velocity-and-b

Ibanez does not choke up!

No choking up for RaOOOOOOOOL!

Dino! Choke up on that.

Okay, I give up, I obviously can't provoke either Sliced or Weeping into getting irritated with me. :-)

(At least they aren't going to show their irritation.)

OK, Ivan Nova officially has more MLB hits than everyone-who's-ever-posted- on the sight COMBINED!

Risky, but I like it.

Rocket Robbie! And a 1st to 3rd to boot. Huzzah!

Crap, bases loaders

loaded evev

[14] hahahahah!

Just settling in, haven't decided whether to take the bait or not.

[8] What'd Rob do?

Yaaay!

Another run!

That's the only way they can score with the bases loaded. ; )

Hey, I'll take it.

Hey, not loaded anymore! And we didn't even have to get a hit!

Agggggghhhhhh!

Fucking worthless.

Sigh.

It seems like Swisher should get an rbi. When he came to bat, the bases were loaded, and he drew a walk, and the run scored... It's not his fault a WP intervened.

14) nah, I love this particular debate. I wouldnt advise sluggers in their prime to choke up, but since you mentioned Papi and Alex, they might want to swing less from their heels at this pernt in their careers.

Weeping would probably get irritated with you if you were to speak ill of Andy.

Hey another run. 3 zip!

WOW! DOUBLE WOW!

Nova!

Andrelton? Really? That's a name?

The neighborhood double play.

Nothing to see here, folks. Move along.

The ump assumed Teix was on the bag. Hard to blame him. (Why wasn't he on the bag???)

Supernova.
Good game so far!

Well, those three outs got us to 4-1 (80%) favorites, from 3-1 (75%) favorites. Now let's add a run or two and make it lopsided.

Who the hell is this guy?

Omg, it's NOva!

Fuck, National League park.

Man, that was trippy, I thought we called up some gangly giant for inexplicable reasons.

I was worried.

[39] You know he singled in his first AB, right?

Hey, is Thelarmis at the park today?

Uh, no.
Kenny and Michael have been calling baseball how long?
They don't know the rules about foul balls????

[40] I think he said he would be there tonight and tomorrow.
Wonder why they never changed the name of the stadium down there..you'D think Ted Turner is not the ideal choice for the Braves home.

What a fucking catch!

Oh my god.

Lots of glove that inning.

Robbie is preternatural with the glove.

[40] Wow, really?

Remember when we had a bad defensive team?

Up to 6-1 favorites now.

Meanwhile, Mr.Charming (aka Josh Beckett) has given up 4 ER in 4 IP. Miani leads 4-0.

[1] And I 1000% agree. Not necessarily with choking up, but with simply taking a different approach in certain situations. Just swinging easier, or swatting the ball, in often good for 150' liners/soft flys which are often good for hits. Protect the plate at all costs and make contact. Save driving the ball for your first 2 strikes.

Jesus, 1) Chipper is Old; 2) I fucking HATE that tomahawk chop bullshit; 3) his naming his kid "Shea" is just so lame.

[51] Agreed on all three. Chipper is a douche..remember he called out Jason Heyward last year for not getting back from injury fast enough? Check out Chippers games played column on Baseball Reference!

I Like Ivan.

[53] Yes.

[52] Here's a question: which is more immature, naming your kid Shea or naming your kids Kirby, Koby, Kacy and Kwhatever-the-fuck their names are?

Finally.

More runs needed.

I am tired of complaining.

Yet another double play.

[58] It's draining, isn't it?

[1] [5] Bonds choked up. All the time. Even in his 73 homer season. Ty Cobb choked up. How's that for evidence?

Now, I'm getting all choked up...[sniff]....to see all those runners stranded.

What's Soriano doing up so early?

[61] Wait, that's evidence?
What was his OPS when he choked up? Bonds's? Did he do better, or worse?
See, that's evidence. Not Barry's feelings vs. Robinson's.

[55] But Shea is not an unusual first name. I've know Sheas before I heard about Chipper's. I like it.

[55] Clemens..what can you say?

Rob doesn't choke up.

GET IN FRONT OF THE BALL, YA WUSS!

No pulling a Swisher here, Raul!

Impressive.

Damn. Great jump. Great catch.

Bourne Supremacy?

[71] Bourne to Run?

[63] Barry's feelings? Good one, you had me thinking of Barry White.

Sorry, I don't have the evidence.

Curses. Bases loaded. Damn.

Jazz are you back in town? Didja bring me some Speed Stick? Alka Seltzer?

Yup.

Yeah, figures.

11 men left on by the Bombers.

Any Native Americans in the house? Nah, I didn't think so.

That 0-2 pitch was strike. And now a walk. grrrr.....

Very nice. Very, very nice.
That's one.

Clap clap clap clap clap!

Man, the starting pitching for the last couple of weeks has been beautiful.
Will 120 be new 100 again tonight? Nova for the 8th!

Nice work. The Braves announcer said,

"His last name is Nova, but he's pitching like a Corvette tonight."

When I was in H.S. Nova's were cool.

[84] Yikes..cruising in your Nova the mean streets of northern Jersey, listening to the Steve Miller Band while smoking a doobie?

My grandfather helped me learn to drive in his Nova. It must have been about an 1989 or 1990 version. Golf carts had about as much juice. It took about 15 minutes to get up to 55. Easy to parallel park, though. No fm. Hadn't thought about that in a while. : )

[85] Unfortunately, I had a Duster, but the rest spot on. Miller or The Boss, or Bob Seger.

4-1 Kings over Devils. Less than a minute to play.

[88] Shit.

[86] Wound up getting my grandfather's 71 Malibu. 17 y.o stock car could still hit 100 mph.
and check that end of second period.

Four relievers to get six out should really be called the Joe Girardi Special.

No Soriano? This is a save situation.

I just do not approve of this no Mo policy.

Four in a row. Good night folks.