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room. Then Brook Jacoby, hitting
coach for the Cincinnati Reds,
sat next to me and said, “Are you
ready?” It seems the other video
guy didn’t bring his assistant this
year, so I was the “other guy”
providing player swing video for
the MLB coaches to analyze.
The first player sat between
us and I pulled up his awful
52-
year-old swing next to Albert
Pujols and played them both a
couple times in slow- motion.
There was dead silence. I played
them again. More silence. So
I asked the guy if he sees any
differences. That broke the ice.
Together, Jacoby and I began
to analyze his swing. The Reds
coach and I fed off each other as
we both pointed out swing flaws
in the player’s swing.
We saw more player swings
and Jacoby became more and
more interested in my analysis
program and my knowledge of
swing mechanics. He wanted to
know more about the program
and how the Reds could utilize
it. He asked me what my goals
were. He even suggested I try
to intern as a video guy with a
major league club.
After 30 minutes we were
finished. Jacoby got up, shook my
hand and said, “Nice job. See you
tomorrow.” For just a moment…I
felt like I was in the club.
Day 2 in Arizona: The second
evening I was paired with new
Indians hitting coach Ty Van
Burkleo. We began to analyze
player swings and offered advice
together. We fed off each other
well and at one point Van Burkleo
told a player, “It’s just like Ken
said a few minutes ago…” And
he went on to explain an impor-
tant swing position.
When we were done, another
handshake with a major league
hitting coach. “This stuff is great,
Ken. Good job!”
Day 3 in Arizona: My big
moment. I was scheduled for a
“
chalk talk” at lunch – in front
of the 68 campers and 14 pro-
fessional coaches. The director
wanted me to show my (newly
created) PowerPoint presentation
called, “Unlocking the Secrets of
the Major League Swing Pattern.”
I was nervous.
At 12:48 p.m. I began my
presentation that showed off my
eight years of work studying the
major league swing pattern. I had
plenty of pictures and video of
major leaguers in identical posi-
tions throughout their swings.
I showed common flaws I had
found in minor league swings. I
even brought up some campers
and used them to demonstrate
some of my concepts.
As I talked, I scanned the
audience and noticed in the back
of the room, the coaches were
engaged. When it was over,
several of them came up to me
and told me the presentation was
very informative. One told me he
had never seen such detail about
swing mechanics. My only regret
was not videotaping myself and
the audience.
Day 4 in Arizona: On the last
day of camp I asked Jacoby and
Van Burkleo for a testimonial;
just a comment about how I work
with my video analysis system or
perhaps my knowledge of swing
mechanics. I knew they had
respect for my knowledge. Heck,
a few times I was teaching them
something. But both told me
they would do it later. When I ap-
proached them at the end of the
day, they were cordial, but each
had another excuse. I reminded
myself I was never a major league
player. Also, I didn’t pay my
dues coaching my way through
minor league baseball.
I simply wasn’t in their club
—
yet.
I left Arizona feeling good and
hoped I would be invited back
the following year. In the mean-
time, I am looking forward to the
2013
baseball season and knock-
ing on some more doors.
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