My previous comparison of Giles took a swing from '05 versus an '06 version.  While '05 was a better year for Giles, he put up some SERIOUS numbers in '03.  Again, check the stats.  49 2B, 21 HR and .916 OPS is impressive for a "little" second baseman!

I did a little more searching and found a handful of clips from 2003.  Luckily, I had a clip that was similar pitch location and result to the clips I used before, so the comparions continue........



On the left is a swing from 2003 and a recent swing from 2006 on the right.  Both HR's to left-center

If you remember from my last post, I explained how I created the angles on the video.  Instead of redrawing the
angles and filling in the values in another program, I printed out the actual image and scanned it back into my computer.

*Some differences in the angle drawn:
1.  It is taken at a point earlier in the swing (at contact) - the last one was done a couple of frames after.  This is relative because Giles' body hasn't fully "straightened out" (extension of posterior chain) yet.  Meaning the way he is set up on the right will end up in a DECREASED value for the angle since when he fully straightens out, he will be leaning further back.  Not a big deal, but worth noting.

2.  I didn't use the heel as a reference point since his front leg is more hyperflexed on the left than it is straight on the right.  Instead, I took the line down from the center of the helmet along the inside of his front leg.

Observations

The side shot again shows Giles is further "back" at contact.  Nevermind the fact that he has rotated much more (can see "Braves" lettering on chest) at this point, check out the blue line.  On the left, the blue line comes down through his back pocket, whereas he has cleared the blue line with the middle of his body on the right.

What seems to be MORE important than the actual angle that is created, is the balance that is (or isn't there).  I would not call Giles' '06 swing balanced.  At least not compared to his swings from '03 and 05.  Go back to the side comparison of the '05 and '06 swings and I dropped a line down from his helmet that shows the same thing as this blue line here.  They both show the same thing - Giles' upper body is a bit too far back.

Implication
This balance is a result of setup, as shown in the first comparison clip.  I think if he starts with his upper body forward more (ie more directly over his hips) then he has a chance to get back on track.

Clarification point on why the blue line is important:  Giles' hips have moved forward into footplant (stide) but his upper body has been "left behind".  This is the "root" of all the changes observed as the swing progresses (balance, lean back, rotation - you name it).


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Speaking of setup...



This side by side (by side) shows Giles from the CF camera in 2003-2005-2006.  The '05 and '06 are the same clips I used in my first comparison post.  I took each clip and counted backwards the same number of frames from contact to show the same point in each swing.  The '03 shot is....guess what....a HR to left center.  Notice anything different?

The thing that jumped out to me when I went back to his '03 clips was that he started with a little more tilt over the plate.  He was more "compact".  This may be partially responsible for the balance issues I mentioned above.  As Giles is standing more vertical/erect now, the muscles in the middle of his body are more spread out, making it more difficult to move the upper body along with the lower body as he moves into footplant (stride).  I'm not saying he can't START more vertical in his stance, but he'll have to do some more work to "re-compact" himself before he really starts shifting his weight forward (strides).  If I look at this picture alone, I say the one on the far left hits for the most power - he is simply starting in a stonger, more athletic position.  I would also make the arguement that the far left picture provides more opportunity to retain consistency, since he'd have to do less work to get into a good position at footplant (because he is already there!!)

How would I fix it?
While I do think these observations are significant, I definately wouldn't do anything too crazy to try to "fix" it.  Giles' in an established MLB hitter and he knows what he is doing.  He didn't forget how to swing the bat overnight.  He's the major leaguer, and I'm not, but if I'm going to do an analysis, it's only fair for me to offer a suggestion (and a simple one at that).

What I would do is just changes a couple of things in setup.  In one word - tilt.  Tilt with the upper body both forward towards the pitcher AND over the plate. 



This is all I mean by the tilt foward.  This is a picture from way back, maybe from spring training in '02 or '03.  The line shows his head just slightly in front of his center line (line going up through belt buckle).  This way when he picks up his front foot to stide, he can keep his weight back against his back leg, but he won't be as likely to leave his upper body behind as he starts moving out.

With a little more tilt over the plate, as shown in the front shot of Giles version 'o3, he'll be more "compacted".  Putting the large muscles more "together" will also allow him to move his body (stide) as one unit as he goes into footplant.

All he has to do is get to footplant with more balance and he'll be able to rotate aggressively and more efficicently, delivering his bat to the ball with more power and consistency.

Two small adjustments at the beginning that make quite an impact at the end!

Almost done....

A Full Front View
I showed the front shot of Giles' setup in '03-'05'-'06.  Here is the full front video of the '03 swing on the left versus the '06 swing on the right:

First mention is the pitch location is a little different.  That's not the point, but pitch location is not MUCH different, anyways - both middle in and about belt high.  They are close enough to compare, especially when we're mostly looking at setup.

Just look at frame 1 and you can see the difference in setup.  Giles is much more upright/vertical on the right.  This should be plainly obvious, but in keeping with the angles, I found a nearly 20 degree difference.

Frame 9: solid footplant. 
What is interesting here is that Giles is still more upright in '06 (right side) and the pitch location for that swing is actually lower.....which leads to frame 12 (contact).  It is significant to me that Giles' lead arm on the left is covering the "Braves" lettering on his jersey, whereas the front arm is lower on the right.  Since Giles is more upright on the right side, it makes sense that he has to send his lead arm in a more downward direction in order to reach the pitch.  Power is lost when this happens, as the arms are working more independently of the body, decreasing the ability to transfer rotational energy from the body into the bat.  No wonder Giles hit for all that power in '03!!!

Also of note, although minor in the beginning, is that Giles' hips start opening a little sooner on the right (frame 6 vs. frame 7 on the left).  This is again related to the upright setup.  '03 Giles is more "together" and can carry his upper and lower body together longer.  In doing this, he promotes more power because if the hips start opening up too soon, it is difficult for the hip rotation to forcefully bring around the rest of the upper body.  This shows up at the end of the swing.  Contact is made in frame 12, but when we get to the finish at frame 18, '03 Giles bat has moved further in his follow through (ie it is now back closer to the catcher).  Does this mean he just followed through more aggressively on the right?  I don't think so.  It makes more sense, especially based on the rest of this analysis, that he rotated more efficiently and aggressively on the left ('03).  Moving more quickly, the bat takes more time to slow down and there you have the difference in follow through.  Throw in the actual difference in average, hr's and slugging %, and this is all starting to make some sense.

And I want to point out one more time, this all goes back to setup.  Even the arm across the chest thing - if is upper body is tilted over a bit more like it used to be, no need for the arm to work downward separately from the body.  This is a lot of analysis that leads first to one simple suggestion: Tilt/sit over the plate a little more.

Giles is fully capable of "reviving" his swing.  He had it before - all he has to do is get back to doing the things that made him into an All-Star.
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Back to Part 1