A Look at the MLB's Batting Stances: Milwaukee Brewers

Curt  Hogg by Correspondent Written on April 15, 2009

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SAN FRANCISCO - APRIL 07:  Ryan Braun #8 of the Milwaukee Brewers bats against the San Francisco Giants during Opening Day of the Major League Baseball season on April 7, 2009 at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California.  (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Image
(Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

Major League Baseball has many different and unique batting stances. This series will take a look at each team's different batting stances.
The Milwaukee Brewers open up the series with an interesting lineup of stances to look at. The lineup goes as follows: Rickie Weeks, J.J. Hardy, Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, Mike Cameron, Bill Hall, Jason Kendall, and Craig Counsell.
Grab a bat and get each player's batting stance down. Before you know it, you may have the whole league memorized.

Rickie Weeks

SAN FRANCISCO - APRIL 07:  Rickie Weeks #23 of the Milwaukee Brewers bats against the San Francisco Giants during Opening Day of the Major League Baseball season on April 7, 2009 at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California.  (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Im

Rickie Weeks leads off in the Brewers lineup and brings his unique batting stance with him.

Weeks steps in and waits for the pitcher to get set. When this happens, Rickie twitches his bat back and forth until the pitcher throws the ball. He then balances his weight and swings away.

J.J. Hardy

SAN FRANCISCO - APRIL 07:  J.J. Hardy #7 of the Milwaukee Brewers bats against the San Francisco Giants during Opening Day of the Major League Baseball season on April 7, 2009 at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California.  (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Image

Hardy is the Brewers' shortstop and heartthrob of the lady fan base in Milwaukee.

Hardy begins his stance by digging in his back spike and taking a breath. Then does whatever he feels like with the bat before becoming slightly open. Finally, he then sticks his arms out at about a 135 degree angle at slowly churns them before bringing his left foot in and unwinding a sweet swing.

Ryan Braun

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Ryan Braun

MILWAUKEE - MAY 29:  Ryan Braun #8 of the Milwaukee Brewers stands ready at bat during the game against the Atlanta Braves on May 29, 2008 at Miller Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Braves defeated the Brewers 8-1. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Braun, the other heartthrob, has a stance that critics said "wouldn't get the job done at the Major League level." Looks like somebody was wrong.

Ryan Braun has a long and complex routine that begins by grabbing some dirt and taking a swing.

He then steps in, toys around with his jersey and holds his pant leg up until the pitcher sets. Next, Braun puts the bat tilted above his head and rocks it up and down. Then BANG!

Prince Fielder

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Prince Fielder has one of the most violent and aggresive swings in the Majors. Fielder steps into the left-handed batter's box and stares away at the pitcher.

His large figure patiently waits for the pitch, bat slowly moving slightly above his left shoulder.

He then puts his feet close together, steps with his right foot, and unwinds a violent swing that can send any pitch out of the park.

Mike Cameron

SAN FRANCISCO - APRIL 07: Mike Cameron #25 of the Milwaukee Brewers bats against the San Francisco Giants during Opening Day of the Major League Baseball season on April 7, 2009 at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California.  (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Ima

Cameron's stance doesn't require much study to figure out.

The Brew Crew's center fielder enters the right-handed batter's box and waggles the bat below his waist. He then raises it above his shoulder and moves it up and down before swinging.

Bill Hall

MILWAUKEE - APRIL 04: Bill Hall #2 of the Milwaukee Brewers hits his second home run of the game, a three-run shot in the 5th inning, against the San Francisco Giants during the Opening Day game on April 4, 2008 at Miller Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Ph

Hall doesn't do much before the pitch, but his stance is unmistakable. He crouches and stands wide open with his bat rested on his shoulders. Billy steps toward the pitcher and swings to finish off his swing.

Jason Kendall

MILWAUKEE - JULY 29:  Jason Kendall #18 of the Milwaukee Brewers bats during the game against the Chicago Cubs on July 29, 2008 at Miller Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Kendall is the only regular for Milwaukee that doesn't use batting gloves at bat.

He bats open and crouches over the plate, waving the bat over his helmet. Kendall has been well known for this next part; the twitches his fingers on the bat until the pitcher throws the ball.

Craig Counsell

GOODYEAR , AZ - MARCH 06:  Craig Counsell #30 of the Milwaukee Brewers bats against the Cleveland Indians during the spring training game at Goodyear Ballpark on March 6, 2009 in Goodyear, Arizona. The Brewers defeated the Indians 17-7.  (Photo by Christi

In case you haven't heard, Counsell DOESN'T DO ALL OF THE QUIRKY BAT-WAVING, ANYMORE!

Craig Counsell was best known for his flaring of the bat above his head, appearing as if he was attempting to reach the sky. Now, Counsell dropped the bat down to his shoulder, fairly common for hitters. This allows him to have greater bat speed and hit for more power.

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written on April 15, 2009 Sports

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