Piniella doesn’t want Cubs watching video of bad at-bats

“Mr. Danville has been singing the praises of his new motor car to all who will listen,”

“We’ve talked about closing down the video (room),” Piniella said. “But what happens invariably is the pitching coach will go down there from time to time, and so will the hitting coach.

“But if we have to, we’ll close it down for the players, at least during the game. Visualization is a great tool. But at the same time, boy, visualize good things. Don’t keep putting bad pictures in your mind.”

Piniella said that to his players during his closed-door meeting Sunday in San Diego, though he conceded videotapes are a good tool.

“(Bench coach) Alan Trammell and I were talking about ‘How did we ever play baseball?’ ” Piniella said. “We must’ve played in the Dark Ages, without looking at videos or anything. If I’m going to look at a video as a player, I want to see myself doing well so I can visualize a positive thought, a positive vision.

“If I see myself rolling over or swinging at a bad pitch, popping up a ball right down the middle, then that’s what I’ve got in my mind.”

Piniella said he prefers his players “visualize” the old-fashioned way-by sitting on the bench and watching the opposing pitcher.

“See how he’s pitching you, and it gives me an idea of how he’s going to pitch me,” he said. “See what he’s getting over (the plate). See what he’s getting people out with.

“If you’re watching tape of yourself pop up or ground out, you miss a lot of things that can help you.”