A salute to the most prolific hitter of all time - Al Leiter
Posted: August 14, 2004, 9:44 pm
As a baseball fan, there is nothing quite like watching a pure hitter face off against the best pitchers in the game. Whether it is the seventh game of the World Series or the second week of the season, these juggarnauts of baseball are up there each at bat, prolonging the timeless battle of class athletes.
There have been many great hitters in baseball history; Rod Carew, Ted Williams, Babe Ruth, Darryl Strawberry—the list goes on—but one player, on pure hitter, that stands out as a man among boys is Al Leiter. Never in baseball history has one person dominated the plate like Al Leiter.
Even the most dominating of pitchers seem to shrink a few inches while squaring off against this fierce and fearsome foe. When Leiter steps into the batter’s box, a low moan drifts through the bleachers in anticipation. Many pitchers try to pitch around him, to get to the #1 spot in the order. This has not always been the best strategy of course due to the sheer reach and strength of Leiter—he can hit bad pitches to all fields, and for power.
Every player of this caliber has his secrets. Something that Al Leiter has done over the years to confuse pitchers and infielders alike, something that nobody in history has been able to do successfully, is successfully fake a bunt with 2 strikes, 2 outs and nobody on deck. Although he does this seemingly every single at bat, it holds fans and players alike in awe. At this moment, nothing else exists. Not one thing except for the pitcher, some guy with a glove and a mask, another guy with a glove and a mask—a bit behind and above the former—and Al Leiter.
And let us not forget Al Leiter, the man. A true leader on the field as well as off, Leiter is a constant source of inspiration to fellow hitters and even pitchers.
This is my salute to you, Al Leiter. Thank you for all that you have accomplished, as a hitter, to the game of baseball and its fans.
This is my salute to you.
There have been many great hitters in baseball history; Rod Carew, Ted Williams, Babe Ruth, Darryl Strawberry—the list goes on—but one player, on pure hitter, that stands out as a man among boys is Al Leiter. Never in baseball history has one person dominated the plate like Al Leiter.
Even the most dominating of pitchers seem to shrink a few inches while squaring off against this fierce and fearsome foe. When Leiter steps into the batter’s box, a low moan drifts through the bleachers in anticipation. Many pitchers try to pitch around him, to get to the #1 spot in the order. This has not always been the best strategy of course due to the sheer reach and strength of Leiter—he can hit bad pitches to all fields, and for power.
Every player of this caliber has his secrets. Something that Al Leiter has done over the years to confuse pitchers and infielders alike, something that nobody in history has been able to do successfully, is successfully fake a bunt with 2 strikes, 2 outs and nobody on deck. Although he does this seemingly every single at bat, it holds fans and players alike in awe. At this moment, nothing else exists. Not one thing except for the pitcher, some guy with a glove and a mask, another guy with a glove and a mask—a bit behind and above the former—and Al Leiter.
And let us not forget Al Leiter, the man. A true leader on the field as well as off, Leiter is a constant source of inspiration to fellow hitters and even pitchers.
This is my salute to you, Al Leiter. Thank you for all that you have accomplished, as a hitter, to the game of baseball and its fans.
This is my salute to you.
I even heighten that by watching every non-blackout game on MLB.TV. 
Buy hey, that is the way things go sometimes. I am actually quite impressed with David Wright and Feliciano. Really just hoping that Reyes can stay healthy....not such a great track record for injuries so far for the kid. Ah well, it will be a while before the Mets can compete for an entire season--they just don't look competitive on most nights.