Mets' Manuel Brings New Hitting Drill To Camp

At most every camp, the early part of spring training is an endless series of drills. Manager Jerry Manuel is trying something new with the New York Mets -- albeit something he learned a long time ago.

Manuel is making players take 80 swings at breaking balls off a pitching machine, hitting them to the opposite field. Generally players hit in groups of three or four, taking anywhere from five to 15 swings before rotating.

"You want to be able to hit and handle the bat when you're tired," third baseman David Wright said Saturday. "He wants to mold and shape us into the team he wants us to be and this is a part of that."

Manuel said he got the drill while in the Detroit Tigers organization.

"In my upbringing with Detroit and Les Moss, I recollect us going out and doing this every morning," Manuel said. "I saw Kirk Gibson, who was a prospect I think at that time, on that curveball machine everyday."

In addition to the physical drill, Manuel has installed six flat-screen televisions in the locker room where he plays a continuous loop of Mets batters hitting the ball to the opposite field on 0-2 and 1-2 counts.

"There are a couple benefits," Manuel said. "One is hand-eye coordination. Two is to get the hands strong, and three is to take the body out of the swing. The majority of hitting instructors will say to be a good hitter you have to hit to the opposite field."

Manuel actually introduced the drill after taking over last season. Players from rookies to veterans seem pleased with the results.

"That's a great drill," first baseman Carlos Delgado said. "Jerry implemented it last year, at least on an individual basis. It's a great start going back to basics."

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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