Sports and Recreation - Baseball

Enjoy Your New Ball Club

2008-07-28T08:04:00.001-07:00

Enjoy Your New Ball Club by Organizing Yourself
Coach John Peter

It's clean the slate time. Time to step back from the many of pieces that make up running, staffing, and coaching your teams.

So where do you start?

Try a clean slate . . . literally grab a blank legal pad (not that old coaching notebook with every old note, schedule and whatever else sticking out from two seasons ago).

List the Main Goal(s) that you want for your team. Do this in general terms & in your own words. Here's some common goals:
# Draft good hitting athletes.
# Really get team Dads involved to head specific practice and pregame activities.
# Scour the Internet to find the knowledge I need to field a better team.

Now add MAJOR Headings - 5 lines apart. If you exceed filling in your 5 lines . . . eliminate. Do not add more. Here are some typical headings:
# Have more team fun
# Develop my entire pitching staff (rely less on my ace)
# Develop real "favorite" drills (stuff you will use for years)
# Find and commit to those great tournaments that were forgotten about last year

Note that "Winning" never entered the above examples. Solid, stated goals + good habits + fun + organization will lead to winning.

Make a list of 5 items that you need your players and parents to know. Call all your players and parents as soon as you can. Ask for and speak to your players first (Mom & Dad don't play ball for you).

Depending on age, always try and get players to take some team responsibility. I tell them, "It's your team. Your Mom and Dad don't play for me, but I'm sure they'll be willing to help." Get your players to check and oil gloves, re-tape bats, etc. and start throwing with Dad or a neighbor. Too cold or snowy - swing a tee-ball or whiffle bat in the house, basement or garage (the mindset will lead the body).

Talk to the parents. Reiterate the same things with them. Find out how and if they can help - get their suggestions and make sure they will "volunteer" to follow through. You will find that everyone has great ideas, but it's the follow through that get things done.

Lastly, look at the calendar and add a final heading called Team Timeline (yep, 5 items). Fill it in, and modify it by priorities.

Do the above NOW and prepare to have more fun using less wasted time and become a better coach and baseball parent.

P.S. If you are looking for a "What should my players be doing first to prepare for a new season," here it is:

* Arm Accuracy - Get past the stiffness stage watching for "correct or corrected" mechanics. Start easy, increasing length of throw and length of session. Less done correctly beats sore and wrong.

* Hitting - They will want to hit right away. Start with dry cuts (no ball in or out of the house). Slow motion first, then speed. Small bats using each arm individually, then both arms.

Get to a batting tee using each arm individually, then both arms. Slow motion then speed up.

5 Soft toss (side toss - front toss) - same as above.

Cage Work - same as above - front arm, back arm, then both arms.

Graduate to the player's game bat with some drills.

Do this repeatedly and you can eliminate anything else to begin your hitting season. This will do the trick . . . easily.

Preventing the Big Inning

2008-07-28T08:01:00.000-07:00

Jim Mason

An oft-quoted baseball axiom is that in 65% of baseball games, the winning team scores more runs in one inning than the losing team does in the entire game.

Thus, the issue for coaches becomes how do you prevent those big innings that lose games? I believe the answer is through preparing your team to anticipate these situations that arise in the big innings as they begin to develop and to have your team prepared to do the little things that make the opponent truly earn big innings.

My philosophy about big innings is that while no coach likes to see big numbers against you on the scoreboard, they are easier to take when the offense earns them through a series of hits. As coaches, you cannot control whether your pitcher hits his spots or how the opposing team hits what is thrown.

What you must control is every other aspect of how big innings occur: from controlling the offense's running game and how aggressive you allow them to be on the base paths, to how your defense is prepared to react to every situation and their mental approach to these situations as they develop.

Defensively, while you are limited in your control of excellent hitting execution that is not how most big innings usually occur.

Ask yourself, how many six-run innings happened against you last season because of a pair of three-run home runs being hit against you? And how many happened because of failure on the part of your team to execute things like turning grounders into double plays, runners advancing against you needlessly, balls being thrown past your catcher, and relief pitchers not doing their job? My experiences have been that the latter examples outnumber the former 10-to-one.

Since they usually happen because of the small things in baseball, you have to prepare your team to execute the little things that will cut off all big innings that are built strictly on things other than the opponents hitting the baseball. Here are some ways to do it:

STOPPING IT FROM THE MOUND

Emphasizing pitching from the stretch
90% of the key pitches your team will make in the course of a season will be from the stretch, so I think the best pitching coaches spend the majority of their preparation time emphasizing this. I think throwing from the stretch should be a part of your pitcher's daily routine. When the big innings begin to take shape, this is how your pitchers will most likely be delivering the ball. He should be comfortable throwing from the stretch, prepared to make the pitches to end the inning.

Control the running game
If you can limit a baserunner's lead and how good a jump he gets when they run, you'll be taking away one of the offense's key weapons in creating a big inning. The best way to keep baserunners honest is to throw back to the base, vary the length of your set times, and create doubt in the mind of the runner whether you are going to throw home. Many baseball purists dislike the way Bobby Valentine had the Mets' first basemen hold runners on, but few can argue that when it is done correctly it does create some doubt in the mind of the baserunners.

Use the timed pick-off play to all bases
It is important for players not to think that their inability to pick off runners means throwing to the bases is pointless. If you can cut a baserunner's lead by a step, you have done something significant and something that will help prevent a big inning. Timed pick-off plays, where a runner is not being held on a base and the pitcher delivers the ball to the bag as the fielder breaks behind the runner to the base, are great ways to both cut down leads and get runners out. These are plays that require some practice, but teams that execute them well are frequently paid big dividends. A successful timed pick-off play is a great rally killer and a psychological boost for a team when it needs it.

Don't give into hitters when you get behind in the count
When pitchers face situations with runners on base and they start to get behind in the count, the impulse is to give in and throw one toward the middle of the plate so they can get a strike. This is the wrong instinct. Teach your pitchers that this should be only a last resort and to believe in their ability to throw strikes and pitch their game.

Mental toughness
The type of pitchers that coaches want on the mound are ones who know how to cope with challenges, can control their emotions and can collect themselves in times of pressure. Pitchers who consistently work themselves out of jams are ones that do so because they focus exclusively on making good pitches one pitch at a time. Pitchers who consistently give up big innings are ones that get preoccupied with what is happening around them. Those pitchers think things like: "what happens if this guy gets a hit?"; "if I walk one more hitter, will coach take me out?"; or "why is someone warming up already?" Teach your pitchers that baserunners are a part of the game and to elevate their focus, not panic or become selfish as the inning becomes challenging.

No letdowns
Coaches also want pitchers who are unaffected by misplays behind them. How many times have you seen an error on a routine play followed by a four-pitch walk? This is another area where pitchers need to elevate their focus and collect themselves to prevent the big inning. Promote a forward looking focus.

Use your open bases wisely
Of course, there are not strict rules for the use of open bases that fit every situation. One accepted rule is to only intentionally walk a skilled hitter, never just to set up a potential double play. I think to prevent the big inning, it is preferable to try and eliminate as many intentional walks you grant with less than two outs as possible. Putting runners on with either none or one out is playing with fire and can be a catalyst to a big inning. Do it only against the most dangerous hitters. Think about how many of those who are intentionally walked eventually score - it has to be nearly 40%. On the other side of the coin, it is wise that with two outs and runners on (but first base unoccupied) to pitch to the batter with the open base in mind, especially if the on-deck hitter is weaker than the one at bat.

Use your inside move to see if the offense will show their hand
This is an easy play that carries no risk for the defense, but can be an important tool. When the opposition is in a possible bunt situation and there is a runner on second, do an inside move to see if the batter will show you what the offensive strategy is. Then, you can adjust your defense accordingly or force the opposition to change their call. That extra step that the defense has when they expect a ball to be bunted can be the difference.

Be unpredictable with your pitch selection
Too many pitchers freeze up when the bases are occupied. They stop thinking like pitchers - always using their fastball to get ahead or when they are behind. Trust your stuff and think aggressively (not predictably) to stay out of the big inning.

Don't allow the baserunners to distract you from the hitter
There is no better way for an offensive team to create a big inning than to have a baserunner get inside a pitcher's head and take his concentration away from his first priority - getting the hitter out. When you throw to the plate, be focused and collected on making the right pitch.

Get ahead in the count
This is basic baseball. Studies show that there is about a .100 point difference in the batting averages on balls hit into play from advantage counts (0-1, 1-2, 0-2), than from when you are behind (1-0, 2-0, 3-0, 2-1, 3-1, 3-2). Pitchers getting behind in the count are ways offenses build big innings. Don't give hitters the chance to zone in on you.

Bring in relief pitchers who are truly ready
Warming up in the bullpen to relieve during an inning is one of the hardest skills for young pitchers to learn. This is a very underrated quality and one that in the college game your staff usually has almost no experience doing: very few high school pitchers have extensive experience pitching in relief. Yet, it is a vital part of forming a successful staff. Pitchers must be taught how to make good physical and mental preparation in the bullpen. The pitcher must learn to get loose quickly and know the difference between warm and truly ready to come into the game and get outs. Lastly, they must learn to use their warm-up pitches on the game mound, to make any last minute adjustments and acquaint them with the game mound (invariably different from the bullpen mound). Most big innings see at least one pitching change and the lack of preparedness by relievers is frequently a compounding factor.

STOPPING IT IN THE FIELD

Keep your concentration
Fielders' minds tend to wander as the innings get longer. With each long count and each pitching change, there is an opportunity for the fielders to lose their concentration on the game. How many times have you seen your three outfielders gather together in centerfield during a pitching change? Do you think they're talking about how to play a ball hit between them and the foul line or about something totally removed from the defensive situation? Do what you can to keep them in the flow of the game.

Have your catchers throw to bases after the pitch
While this can be a dangerous strategy, if you have the right personnel, it can be a great weapon to get outs and limit secondary leads. Again, this is another skill that requires some practice, but can pay big dividends.

Keep the double play in order
There are many situations where the defense's focus should be on the back runner rather than the lead runner. When the lead runner won't make the difference in the game, it is the back runner that is the signal of a big inning to come. For example, if you are ahead by four runs in the eighth and the opponents have runners at first and third with no outs, you should focus your energies on keeping the back runner close so you are a ground ball away from having the bases cleared. Don't be afraid to treat a back runner on first the same way you would if he were a lead runner. If you have a good catcher, don't be afraid to have him defend second base - be aggressive in shutting down the first and third steal, especially with less than two outs. The offensive team (especially if it is behind in the game) is going to want to limit its risk of making an out at home in this situation.

Have the catcher keep the ball from going to the screen
Big innings are almost invariably long innings and fatigue usually is a factor. Pitchers' arms and catchers' legs get tired as the innings drag on and this is frequently one of the causes of a big inning. Do everything you can to keep your catchers fresh and focused during the long inning and ready to prevent any ball from getting past them. Wild pitches or passed balls are almost always a contributing factor to big innings.

Convert the outs when they are given to you
Another frequent factor in big innings is a failure by the defense to convert outs when they are presented to them. How many times in your career has your team's failure to get an out on a sacrifice bunt opened the floodgates? Defenses sometimes get greedy in these situations: the opposition bunts with runners on first and second and they try to get the lead runner going to third and end up with nothing. Another good example is when a borderline double play ball is hit: the defense gets greedy and tries to turn two and ends up with none. Get your defense into the mind-set that if the defense gives you an out, take no chances on converting one out at a minimum (unless the game is on the line). Make them learn when to take chances and when to play it conservatively.

Don't let the runners move up on plays to the plate
This is another play that goes unpracticed by many teams and can be the root of a lot of big innings: after a hitter singles with a runner on second base, the defense tries to throw the runner out at the plate and in doing so the hitter moves up to second. Now, all the potential outs that may have been recorded as the offense tried to move that runner into scoring position (sacrifice, stolen base, hit and run, etc.) are gone. Teams need to adopt a defensive concept where they do everything they can to prevent that runner from moving up. There are three main ways to do this: don't let the catcher and the rest of the defense wait for the umpire's call at home, have him ready to react to the advancing runner immediately after the tag is applied; practice and master the art of the fake cut off by the deep cut off man; and, make sure the fielders are properly covering the occupied bases so that the baserunners aren't able to make too big a turn.

Use aggressive bunt defenses to keep the offense out of their game plans
There are certain circumstances where letting the offensive team sacrifice is acceptable to the defense, while there are other times when you ought to be aggressive and do what you can to take away that option. In obvious bunt situations with critical runners on base, don't be afraid to have your corner infielders take a very aggressive position. This puts the pressure on the offense to either make a perfect bunt or take their chances swinging the bat. If you can take them away from their game plan, it is the kind of mental victory that helps prevent big innings.

Have your outfielders make accurate throws
The ability of your outfielders to consistently hit the cut-off man and to make accurate throws to the bases are important factors in staying away from the big inning. Anytime that a ball thrown to the plate is more than a couple of steps off line is an opportunity for the baserunners to move up, a big contributing factor to big innings. The same is true for balls that miss the intended cut-off man: those few seconds when the ball is being retrieved is where the offense can pick up an extra base. The more that these plays are practiced on a regular basis, the less likely they are to occur in the game.

Use trailer plays (when possible) to cut down the big turns
When a defense allows a baserunner to take a big turn, you are opening the door that allows the offense to start thinking about taking an extra base. For example, on a "double-possible-triple" with no one on, have the first baseman trail the runner to second. Knowing there is someone on second base will limit his move toward third. It also will decrease his opportunity to take advantage of a dropped, missed or bobbled relay throw.

Practice knocking balls down in the infield when there are runners on base
What is the difference between a ground ball that gets through to the outfield and a ground ball that is knocked down by an infielder? It usually means one more base to the lead runner at a minimum, and these are the bases that are critical in big innings. There is a huge difference between balls that get through and those that do not. This is a skill that a team ought to practice, as it can be a big factor in stopping big innings from developing. If your team gets particularly good at this skill, it may even lead to turning these knocked down ground balls into outs.

Back up the bases properly
This again is a skill that at times can be taken for granted and not practiced. How many times have you seen a pitcher, feeling sorry for himself after a hit, be lazy in going to back up? How many times have you seen players who are backing up not get the proper depth and see the ball get past them, too? It happens too often and a factor in this is that it is a skill that is not practiced enough - work on your pitchers knocking the overthrown balls down and getting proper distance when backing up.

Select an Instructional Video

2008-07-28T08:00:00.000-07:00

How To Best View & Select an Instructional Video
Coach John Peter

Which Video Do You Choose?
I can only speak for the videos found at Baseball Tips, but if you simply examine the title and description, you will generally answer this question. Each of our videos has been screened and approved for its substance, content and quality. We guarantee that they are effective (and easy) teaching tools. Simply make sure of your needs before you choose.

Why Videos Are Great Teachers
If you think about it you probably know the answer. Videos cost about the same as a one hour baseball lesson. The difference is that you can replay the lesson over and over until you wring every piece of valuable information out of it. The downside is that if you are the dad or the coach, you have to sit there, watch it and learn it yourself (and that's not all bad).

Well here's one of my absolutes in how real players are made.
Unless a player who goes to a lesson or a camp can get the same good mechanics and knowledge drilled into him over and over and over.it tends not to sink in.
Why? .
Because human nature dictates that unless we haven't completely replaced an old, established, bad habit, with a newer better habit, we will go back to the way we always do things. So, you really have to throw a lot of money and time at a problem to ensure replacing that bad habit with the good habit.

So, if you continue to do things the way you always have.you should continue to expect the same results you have been getting.Both good and bad!

I have often thought that if I could take a player together with his dad to a camp, the benefit of that camp would be exponentially improved. It's not a great leap to see where a video tape could have that same effect and positive result.

I'll make an assumption that you are reading this because you have interest in improving some aspect of your or your player's game.some area where you are not pleased with the present results and where you might see a need for improvement (and yes, there are strong general teaching tapes as well).
With that said, let me get right to the point...

How Best to Get Your Money's Worth From an Instructional Video
Make some logical assumptions
First, assume that top flight videos "star" experienced coaches who know the topic. Next, don't assume that since you are not familiar with the coach, it might not be worth your money. (Video producers don't pay a lot for these "stars' so don't expect your favorite Major League managers to be getting into the business - they lose more money in their laundry than they might earn doing one of these videos).

Finally, don't expect Kevin Costner or a classically trained actor to glue you to your seat for the next 45 to 60 minutes. The guy is a baseball coach, so if and when you become focus-challenged, put it on pause or finish it later.

Maximize the Learning & Minimize the Time
The best way to get the most in the least amount of time is to simply plan when there is least activity in the house.

1. Set the VCR counter to zero.
2. Grab a clean notepad.
3. Get the remote control.
4. Press play and simply watch & absorb the tape until you find major points of interest.
5. Jot down the counter number in the left margin of your paper along with the topic just to the right of the counter number. Add any brief notes along with any instructions, drills or "building block" pointers that make sense to what you are trying to learn.
6. Repeat this process throughout the entire tape.
7. Leave your paper of important tips & drills inside the plastic sleeve that holds the video cover or inside the tape box itself. This develops a great system for use when you need to refer back to those nuggets, be it next week or even next season. It's an efficient way to find those 2 minute nuggets you really need without having to go through an entire 60 minute tape!

Summary
I believe in videos and urge you to begin a library covering the many aspects of the game when you as a player, a dad or a coach feel that you need new and added knowledge.

This library, with the corresponding note system that you will include while watching, will expand your knowledge and help you to improve your on-field playing or coaching.

How else can you gain knowledge, learn new drills and become a more well-rounded participant in your individual and team's improvement. uninterrupted, on your own time and at your own pace.all in the comfort of your own home?

How To Choose A Pitching Machine

2008-07-28T07:58:00.000-07:00

Coach John Peter

Before we start, let me just add one thought on how I believe ballplayers are made.
FIRST. you must learn the proper mechanics!
SECOND. you do it over and over and over again!

The player that has the privilege of being able to hit just by walking out his back door is at an unbelievable advantage when compared to the player who can't. He is as fortunate as a player can ever be for this is the absolute number one tool that a player can have to become the best ballplayer he possibly can become.

I once asked a coach if he ever had a player with a backyard pitching machine setup who didn't turn into a good hitter. He thought for a minute before he said, "No, I don't think I ever have."

If you can hit, a coach will always find a position for you!

So You Want To Buy a Pitching Machine?
For most people buying a pitching machine is a one-time purchase, so you sure want to make the right decision and not have to live with the wrong machine. If you will allow me to help, I may be able to assist you in whittling your selection down to the right choice.

Keep in mind that if you simply read the descriptions below, your gut feeling is most likely going to lead you to the right choice.

I say this because none of the pitching machines sold at Baseball Tips are junk. So if you are caught between two price levels and both are affordable, know that though I believe that there is quality built into all that we sell, more money does buy more machine. You can't overpay for quality!

The major considerations are.
TYPE OF MACHINES, PRICE, SPACE, PLAYER AGE

Type of Machines

"Real Ball" Throwing Machines:
The Real Ball category are those machines which throw real balls or machine pitch dimple balls (you've seen them in yellow or white at the commercial batting cages). Incidentally, both types of baseballs weigh 5 oz.

These machines come in two major categories plus a new category that we'll discuss shortly.

The categories are:
# Wheel Machines
# Arm Style Machines
# Compressed Air Machines

Generally, all require a batting cage (there are a few exceptions), most can be purchased with auto-feeders and remote controls for one player operation.

Wheel Style Pitching Machines - (One & Two Wheel Models)
These are the most popular types and are seen in backyards, machine-pitch leagues, high schools, colleges and in pro ball. They consist of a rubber wheel(s), a motor to propel the wheel(s), electronics with speed and direction adjustment knobs and a steel frame attached to a tripod. All run on 110v current, though many fields without power will use a generator. Most can be purchased for baseball only, softball only or in a combination package for multi-sport use.

Single Wheel Machines:
Just what the name implies, these entry-level machines generally throw a straight pitch between approximately 25-70 MPH.
Cost ranges from just over $900 and up.

Then there are a few single wheel curveball machines which have the added feature of the obvious, it can also throw a curveball. I personally prefer the curveball machines for their versatility in throwing the breaking ball from either "hand," but budget obviously needs to be added into your choice as well.
The price bumps up just beyond $1,200.

Single Wheel Machines
Distinct Advantages are the lower price for a real ball machine and the weight of only 60 lbs for relatively easy transport from car to ballpark etc.
Distinct Disadvantages are that they do not throw the high speeds or variety of pitches that two wheel machines do.

Two Wheel Machines:
These are the biggest sellers. These machines will throw and simulate almost every pitch from any angle, from left or right-handed pitchers at speeds from approximately 25 to well into the 90 plus MPH range. They carry price tags of over $1,500, plus options that are not necessary but do add to the function and enjoyment.

Distinct Advantages are their ability to throw all the different types of pitches and the added bonus of using them for ground balls (not so good with single wheel machines) as well as fly balls and catcher's pop-ups. They are somewhat portable. The two wheel machines range in weight from 60 lbs to 110 lbs. Some of the older technology machines weigh 150 lbs.
Distinct Disadvantages are that you won't see the motion of the "pitcher's arm," though you will get used to it after some practice. Additionally, as in all wheel type machines, they aren't consistent with wet, waterlogged balls or swollen balls (for this reason we suggest and also package many of our models with machine pitch dimple balls).

Click to see the Single & Two Wheel Pitching Machines featured at Baseball Tips

Arm Style Pitching Machines
These are the workhorses of many programs from High School and up through the pros.
You've seen them at the commercial batting cages....those big green hulks of steel with their red lights warning of the impending pitch. They've been around for over 50 years and are really quite civilized and simple, once you get to know them. They can be equipped and changed for baseball or softball. They throw a straight, accurate ball at varied speeds of 25 to 85+ MPH and there is even an entry-level machine that peaks out at 65 MPH and also works well for slow-pitch softball (though the arm throws in an overhand motion). You should consider covering them during the off-season but really, you never have to move them, they are built like Russian tanks.

Rack Fed or Hopper Fed:
There are two types, one which is rack-fed and will hold 38 baseballs or 28 softballs, the other is a hopper-fed model which holds 600 baseballs, obviously less softballs and is the ultimate backyard or Major League toy.I mean serious baseball training tool.

Distinct Advantages are that the player can see the pitcher wind up, so he "triggers" his swing which develops a more realistic timing mechanism. These machines are tough. You can go many years before you need replacement parts (which are cheap and easy to replace). Lubricating a few places is about all the maintenance there is. No auto feed needed as rack version holds plenty and hopper version holds 600 baseballs. The softball hopper machine holds 400.
Distinct Disadvantages are simply that they throw only fastballs and are not really mobile, though the rack-fed models do come equipped with built in wheels & a dolly system.

Click here to see the Arm Style Pitching Machines featured at Baseball Tips

"Lightweight" Throwing Machines:
These machines use baseball sized 2 oz. balls thrown at various speeds (25 to 70 MPH depending on which model). Some throw various pitches from various angles as well. Cages are still advised and portable cages are perfectly matched for the lighter balls. There is a great poly-ball (hollow wiffleball) machine, called the Hit Streak, that will get up to the 55 to 60 MPH range and is absolutely perfect for entry-level players (optional auto feeder package is a must).

Distinct Advantages are low price and the ability to use them with inexpensive portable cages, many of which occupy only 30, 40 or 50 feet, perfect for small backyards.
Auto feeders are available too. Some can optionally operate on auto-type batteries. There is even a rechargeable "power station" that will allow you to take a lightweight pitching machine to parks where no electrical power is available.
Distinct Disadvantages are that they do not throw real baseballs and to some that is not what they are looking for in a pitching machine. They also aren't built as tough as "real ball" machines.

Options. and Other Considerations:
The final piece of the puzzle is the extras that some want and some don't.

Auto Feeders are great when a player works out alone a lot of the time. They are simple mechanisms that will allow a ball to enter the pitching machine every 7 or so seconds. The smaller feeders will hold 20 baseballs or 16 softballs and are priced around $300 for real ball machines.
The lightweight machines hold between 24 and 28 balls.
The larger real ball feeders will hold 80 baseballs (no softball version as yet) with a price tag of over $500. Cordless remote controls are also available.
Some lightweight machines have auto feeder options that range from $69 to $99.

Batting Cages - Full sized cages generally are 60 or 70 feet in length, 12 feet in height and 14 feet wide (smaller sizes are available but these cover 85% of the market). Count on $1,500 to $1,900 and please don't buy junk!
Click here to see the full-size cages featured at Baseball Tips.

Portable cages range from $250 to $350 for lightweight applications and $595 for real baseball machines, depending on size and weight of the required netting.
Click here to see the portable cages found at Baseball Tips.

So How Do You Ultimately Pick?
I think common sense concerning the amount of room you have, your budget and the age of the players will generally whittle it down for you between a real baseball machine or one of the lightweight machines. Young players will use it for more years, though older players may tend to be more serious about trying to get to the next level, so age in and of itself is NOT the determining factor.
Extremely young children, however, need one of the poly-ball or lightweight machines for common sense reasons.

What Makes A Good Team Website?

2008-07-28T07:57:00.000-07:00

Bob Howdeshell, High School Baseball Web

Right now is the time of year to start a high school baseball team website.

Have you been considering putting together a team site? Do you feel like you don't have enough computer or Internet savvy? It's really not a problem. There are many easy to use FREE sports web site hosting sources on the 'net.

Trust me on this one. Yours truly had never even been near a website before I made my first high school team site. I made mistakes, I got confused and I asked a lot of questions.

Most of all I had fun! I was able to give something to the players and coaches, and even the high school and it only involved my time. Of course you will not have the completed team rosters, the schedules or various other bits of information yet. But you can have all of the parts set-up and ready to go for the spring.

I have looked at over 1,000 high school team websites and wanted to offer some comments and opinions on what things seem to work and what to avoid.

What Every Site Should Include

* Site Name - I can not tell you how many team sites that I have looked at and could find no reference to where the school was located or what the name of the school was for that matter. Naming your site "Bronco Baseball" is nice but doesn't give the name of the high school or the location. Keep in mind that you are placing a site on the World Wide Web (www), you never know who might be looking in. Naming your site "Broncos Baseball" is fine, just don't forget to add a brief description on the front page that goes something like this......John Adams High School is located in eastern Maryland and competes in Region 7, District 1-3A.

* The School Address - Preferably on the front page. If not on the front page have a link to a page called "Contact Us" or something similar and obvious. Why is the school address important? It makes it easy for college coaches to send correspondence to the high school coach or directly to the player. If a parent is unfamiliar with the location of your school they can use the address and a resource like Yahoo Maps to get directions. Remember we all were freshman parents once and finding each new school was an adventure. If your team does not play their home games at the high school - add the address for the home ballpark to the site (along with the school mailing address) Some web host formats (like Eteamz) allow you to create Yahoo Maps links to addresses right on your site.

* Telephone Number - To contact the coach, even if it is the school's main switchboard number Why? What if Coach Smith or professional scout Ed Powers was going to watch one of your players, but it was raining? What if they needed directions to the school? How would they find you?

* E-mail Address - An e-mail address (to the website administrator) is always another good inclusion to the site. This can be either on the front page or on the "Contact Us" page.

* Loads Quickly - Be sure your main web site page displays fully within 20 seconds over a dial-up line.

* Back To Home - Include a "hyperlink" to your home page on every page of your web site.

* Roster - I know this sounds simple but I have seen high school team sites that did not have a player roster.

* Schedule - Again I know this sounds simple but I have looked at sites without a schedule on them. Make sure that you keep the schedule updated - as it rains in the spring and games get rescheduled - make the changes to your site.

* Keep the Front Page Simple - A "busy" front page will make it difficult to find information. Add simple to understand and read links, keep the clutter to a minimum. I know every bit of information on your site will seem important - but don't try to put it all on the first page!

* Page Consistency - Make each page appear the same as all the others. By this I mean the same navigation bars, backgrounds, borders, etc. Place the link back to the home page in the same place on every page. Make it easy on your visitors to navigate your site.

* Pictures - A website full of nothing but text gets boring pretty fast. Find out if another parent on the team has a digital camera. It is the easiest way to get pictures and place them on your site. Trust me on this one - it's easier to start digital than it is to scan photos. If you use a conventional camera go for the photo CD option that Walmart and others have. Links to a player's photo (face) from the roster is always a nice feature. Action game shots are fun for both the players and the parents. Make sure that you spread it around - get as many different players as possible. Don't forget the guys on the J.V. team.

* Game Summaries - These are always a nice feature for the players, coaches, fans and parents AND also for Grandma and Grandpa, Aunts and Uncles, or just friends out of state. An easy way to keep up with their favorite player or team's season.

* Links - If you find a great resource for your readers add a link to that site from yours. Links to the local newspapers (if they provide coverage of your team) are always nice. Some others might be the NCAA website, your state's athletic association site, the state high school baseball coaches association site (if your state has one), and of course it is mandatory that a link to the High School Baseball Web be included on your site!

* Guest Book - Maybe adding a guest book is not one of the first things to add but they are nice. It allows site visitors to add comments and support. They make for fun reading as the season goes along.
NOTE: Make sure that any guest book that you add to your site has an edit feature. Unfortunately inappropriate posts do occur.

What Every Site Should Avoid

* Animated Graphics - A few of these are fine but too many of them make the site appear as if it were designed by Mrs. Adams' third grade class.

* Large Photos - Photos that are large in size (bytes) will make a page load very slowly. Many times folks think their computer has "locked up" and will move on. Use a photo editor program to reduce the size of pictures. Microsoft Photo Editor (which is free) will work fine. I would suggest keeping pictures to "400" width at the most, smaller if possible. If you want a large picture on your site place it first on a page as the small version. Then if a visitor wants to see the larger version provide a link to the full size photo.

* Awards - Winning awards for your website is nice but don't torture your readers by making them wait for the award graphics to load on your front page. These awards take away from the valuable information on your site, and make resources hard to recognize. If you want to display awards won by your site place them on a separate page that is entered through a link on the navigation bar. Give your readers a choice.

* Taunts or Slurs - Believe it or not I have seen team websites that offered up negative comments about other schools and their players on the site. Guess who really looked bad in this instance?

* Nicknames - These may be well intended and even acceptable to the player but it is never a good idea to list a player on the roster with his nickname included. Rosters with nicknames for every player can look goofy and immature (Example: Thomas "Big Bird" Smith).

* Backgrounds - Busy, bright or cluttered backgrounds can take away from the appeal that your site may have. Allow your information to speak for itself. Try to have your page backgrounds passive and just as the word says ... in the background.

How Aggressive Should a Baseball Player Be?

2008-07-28T07:55:00.000-07:00

Dr. Herndon P. Harding, Jr

One of the established traits that indicates a person is likely to be a successful athlete is the degree to which he is aggressive.

There are paper and pencil tests that measure aggressivity that some professional clubs use as scouting tools. However, it is important to understand what being appropriately aggressive means, because "being too aggressive" is often a description indicating a problem player.

Some things are obviously too aggressive: throwing at a batter's head, charging the mound with a bat in hand. Yet brushing back is a necessary part of the game, and there needs to be some remedy when a pitcher oversteps the bounds when staking out his strike zone.

Several common sense perspectives can be used to help define what is too much aggression:

1) If direct physical harm was obviously the intent, and 2) The objective served by the action could have been accomplished by methods less likely to harm another.

Of course, acknowledging those simple standards is much easier than applying them day to day. Who is to say if there was "obvious" intent to harm?

The pitcher who beans someone shrugs his shoulders or looks surprised when the batter goes down. Well, maybe it was an accident, but why not have a severe penalty anyhow and let the pitcher's team pay for the "accident"; intent wouldn't even be the issue. This would only work if the penalty really mattered.

Getting one base obviously isn't always much of a deterrent: Why not make it two bases? I bet the number of hit batters would quickly drop if runners were automatically put into scoring positions. Indeed, has anyone looked at how often batters don't get accidentally hit when it would advance runners?

What does this have to do with whether or not a player is too aggressive? At every level a player's play is formed within the context of the game's rules as exercised by parents, coaches and umpires.

Even at youth levels of play, I've seen coaches encouraging a pitcher to retaliate. Less directly, through modeling - the unconscious learning of behaviors by observing them being practiced - children learn to act like the adults around them. If adults let their aggression get out of hand, so will their children. It's not what they're told is right that matters. Talk is cheap. It's by beholding that we become changed. This is particularly true when aggression is rewarded.

If inappropriate aggression is discouraged or punished, then that, too, is observed and decreases the modeling of aggression. When parents and coaches remain cool (if they are respected), then cool is cool. Modeling appropriate aggression helps individuals lead others to better behaviors.

But what about organized leadership? Baseball, and sport in general, is a way people try to improve themselves. Where parts of the game fail or contradict that development of virtue, those parts should be changed.

If baseball as an institution wants to clarify what is too much aggression, it can. Examine what has gone on in professional hockey over the past few years. Maybe it will take criminal charges for organized baseball to figure out that there is a difference between baseball and basebrawl.

Playing Well Under Pressure

2008-07-28T07:54:00.000-07:00

Jack Stallings

The ability to play well under pressure is one of the most desired qualities for any athlete in any sport, and a player who can perform extremely well in practice but cannot duplicate that performance in a game will not be successful and will, in fact, be a very frustrated athlete.

The first step in dealing with pressure is to recognize and accept the fact that pressure is being created. To deal effectively with pressure, we must acknowledge it exists and then learn how to handle it properly and effectively.

Pressure is created not by the game situation but by how we look at it and how we handle it. It is not the situation or someone else making us tense, it is us! We create pressure by how we think or act, not by the situation we are in at the moment.

The difference in playing a routine game in the middle of the season or the final game in the College World Series is not the game itself, because the game is always the same, but the mental attitude of the player. The difference in playing a game in the backyard, home park, or in Omaha at the College World Series is not in the playing field but in the mind of the player... this is why a consistent approach to every game is the key!

Every game should be important and should be approached by the coach and every player on the team as if this game is the only one the team has a chance to win because it is the only one it is playing! To place any more importance on one game is to get out of the consistent preparation and consistent performance so vitally needed to be a consistent athlete who can perform properly under pressure.

Perhaps the most harmful three words in baseball are: "This is it!" as in, "This is it, fellows. ..it is do or die for us, it is now or never, we have got to win this game or there is no tomorrow!" For a coach or a team to put more emphasis on any one game is to put added pressure on the players, and this usually hurts, rather than helps performance.

The objective under pressure should not be to play super because that is an unreasonable goal; the objective of an athlete should be to play normally under pressure.

A former coach used to say, "When the game is on the line, all I want is for each player to just do his job." If each player will do his job normally in a pressure situation, the team will perform well and will be successful a good percentage ot the time.

Coming through under pressure is a percentage action. If a hitter is averaging .333 and gets a hit one time in three clutch situations, he is performing well in the clutch...normal performance under pressure is the goal, not super performance.

All too often an athlete gets the reputation as a "great clutch player" because of one or two performances that got a lot of media attention, but the truth of the matter is most of the time a "great clutch performer" is one who performs normally under pressure.

Normal performance is possible in pressure situations because of proper concentration. In a pressure situation, the athlete must train himself to concentrate on the task at hand rather than allow his concentration to center on the situation, the time left in the game, the score, the people in the stands, or "what will happen if I fail?"

An athlete who cannot control his emotions in a pressure situation is the one who cannot control his concentration! An athlete who is busy concentrating properly on the task at hand will be so busy concentrating on doing his job that he does not think of the situation!

By proper concentration you control the situation rather than the situation controlling you, so the player should focus on performance, not outcome! CONCENTRATION IS THE PROPER SOLUTION.

Gimmicks used in pressure situations, in order not to be nervous, realistically do not get to the root of the problem. Like a coat of paint over rust, it may cover up the problem for a while, but it does not solve it.

However, gimmicks can be useful to help an athlete relax and "free the mind" from the pressure of the moment. A former great relief pitcher used to back off the mound for a moment and think of fishing in a lake high in the mountains of Colorado.. .the peace and tranquility of the area would help his mind and body relax, and he could hear the buzz of insects and the soft calling of a bird overhead....he would take a few deep breaths to further relax, and go back up on the mound ready to pitch normally.

POISE IS A SKILL AND CAN BE LEARNED, just like any other athletic skill can be learned. Coaches can teach athletes how to play well in pressure situations, and athletes can practice it just like they practice throwing a curve ball or tagging a base.

Proper performance under pressure is a HABIT and can be learned by being put into pressure situations and habitually concentrating on the proper task....it takes practice and effort, but it can be learned!

Discipline and poise in practice become discipline and poise in the final moments of a game!!

Offseason Strength Training

2008-07-28T07:52:00.000-07:00

Preparing for Offseason Strength Training

Paul Reddick, Pittsburgh Pirates scout

This month we are going to continue our discussion about how to prepare for off season strength training.

As the fall season closes, as I am writing this on the 1st of November, most people tend to set their focus on preparing for the coming season. Last month I talked about getting mentally tough. Getting yourself in a strong mental frame of mind to begin training is very important. Now that we have done that and the season is concluded, the first thing everybody should do is take some active rest.

The body does need time to repair, especially after a long season. Some of the players that I work with have been playing consistently since March. This is a good time to give your body two weeks of active rest.

What is active rest?

Does it mean you sit on the couch, watch TV, and eat ice cream? No, that is not rest. Active rest means that you are just not playing baseball. You might be playing basketball, doing some light jogging, or maybe just have a light catch. Nothing too serious, just keep your body moving so that you are not stagnant.

After the two week period of rest, the first thing you want to start to do with your body is restore balance. Any hitting coach or pitching coach in the country will agree that at some point in the pitching or hitting delivery they teach balance. Balance is probably the most widely referred to position or point in any pitching motion or swing, but here is what happens with the baseball body. The baseball body is constantly put out of balance.

Let me show you...

Here is a test. Lay on your back with your arms out to your side and lock out each leg. Locking out means straightening out to no bend at all. You will need a partner. Have them pick up your non-dominant leg. In other words, if you are a righty, have them pick up your left leg and do a traditional hamstring stretch lifting your leg, lifting your foot up and over your belly button. Most people will be able to stretch probably at least to the belly button and some maybe 20 degrees beyond.

Now take your dominant side and see how far you can stretch it. Most people will be between 70 and 90 degrees. Either way, there will be at least a 10 degree difference between your dominant and non-dominant side. Most players have a greater than 10 degrees difference.

Now, here's a very simple question: if our body is out of balance, how do we achieve balance?

It is very difficult. The first thing we need to do in our first phase of training is restore some balance. That can be done with non-dominant side exercise or balancing your numbers with your exercise.

For instance, if you were going to do a simple leg extension exercise, 100 pounds on each leg would do nothing but keep the imbalance in place, but if you were to do say 9 reps of 100 pounds with the right leg and then 12 reps of 100 pounds with the left leg that would start to shift the imbalance.

Now, we are never going to get it totally balanced because the reason we got out of balance is because we are always moving to our dominant side. It becomes very difficult to keep balanced, but let’s say we are 10 percent out of balance. If we can reduce that to 5 or 4 or 3 percent, we are going to be more effective as a baseball player.

It is very simple, anything that you do for your dominant side, do a few more reps for your non-dominant side or just reduce the number of reps you do for your dominant side, kind of maintaining your strength on the right side while you build up your left. This can be used in any kind of traditional weight training or strength training program.

Are We Playing Too Much?

2008-07-28T07:49:00.000-07:00

Steve Zawrotny,MS,CSCS

Perhaps you have heard of a concept that leadership and management guru Stephen Covey calls "Sharpening the Saw." While he was aiming this idea to the business world, it has applicability to those who coach and play sports as well.

Basically, the concept goes like this:
Don't get so busy sawing that you forget to sharpen the saw.

What happens to the saw while you are sawing?

It gets dull.

What happens when your saw becomes dull?

You can still saw, but the process becomes much less effective. The work is harder and takes longer - you just don't saw as well.

To bring this back to baseball and softball, I've noticed a trend that is not new, but may well be developing into a problem. The situation is the growing proliferation of travel teams at all age levels at nearly all times of the year. While things do slow down a bit in areas of the country with cold winters, in many places baseball and softball are becoming nearly a year round activity.

First, there is the normal spring ball season. Practice for this may begin in January or February (in some places, even earlier), with games beginning in late March. The season continues until June, then summer league begins. This typically will run into August, and then school starts again.

In many areas of the country, this means Fall league ball. Practice for this often begins in August, and the Fall season can run into late October.

So, you have 10 or so months of 'sawing' with young ball players, leaving perhaps two months to 'sharpen the saw.' I wonder if this is enough time for players to work on new skills development, along with appropriate strength and conditioning.

No doubt that the best way to improve in baseball and softball is to play a lot. This is why many of the best (but not all!) players come from warm weather states - California, Texas, Florida and others. They simply have better weather allowing them to play and practice more.

But is there a point where the returns for all these games and travel diminish? Where it's time to stop and take some time to 'sharpen the saw?' I think there is. Consider the Major League season: April - September, then the playoffs. Two teams go all the way to the World Series in October.

Therefore, the vast majority of big leaguers are playing about 5 months (admittedly, a LOT of games), not counting Spring training (pre-season). And there are various winter leagues that certain players participate in for additional skill development.

But, while playing a lot of games in a relatively short period of time is physically demanding, the big boys have a LOT of down time with which to recover or 'Sharpen the Saw.'

I submit that coaches and parents need to consider this idea carefully. It is well known that acquiring a new skill takes time, and that there is usually a decrement in performance as one learns and implements a new skill. That's why it's usually best to not make any major mechanical adjustments during the regular season. And, with all the games and practices during the regular season, coaches know it's tougher to provide a lot of individual attention to their players.

This is becoming more apparent by the increasing number of questions I get about how to implement a good all around Strength & Conditioning (S & C) program during the season. Or how to fit in arm strength or bat speed workouts between games and practices. It can be done, but it's not easy.

Here are some key points to consider:

1. In what areas does your player(s) need to improve? Prioritize them.

2. Take the first priority (let's say it's running speed improvement) and make it the first thing to work on after any skill work for that day. Skill work requires more precision as it is performed. For this to be most effective, one should not be tired or the skill work can suffer.

3. If your player has multiple areas where they need to improve, consider taking some time off from all the playing and games. Will missing Summer or Fall ball really hurt you, considering you'll be working on new skill development, along with S & C?

4. This brings us to the idea of 'active rest.' The athlete remains physically active, but in some other sport or activity than baseball or softball. Sort of the 'cross training' concept, which allows the ballplayer to recover physically and mentally from their regular routine. As long as the ballplayer is staying active, most any activity will suffice.

Here's a basic format for a well rounded off-season S & C workout:

Monday - Strength, Flexibility work
Tuesday - Power work, Flexibility, Energy System conditioning
Wednesday - Strength, Flexibility
Thursday - Power work, Flexibility
Friday - Strength, Flexibility
Saturday - Energy System conditioning, Flexibility

Do any hitting or pitching mechanical work before these workouts, e.g., skill work in the AM, S & C work in the PM.

5. Let the energy level of your player(s) be your guide. If s/he is having fun, is full of energy and enthusiasm about their workouts, is not feeling unduly sore, etc., then let them go. On days they may be feeling tired and worn down, it's time for a day off. Just pick up at the next day's workout - don't worry about making up for the missed work.

Remember, everyone needs to stop and 'Sharpen the Saw' at some point. If it means not playing as many games in order to do so, so be it. The idea of taking one step back in order to more quickly take two steps forward is very legitimate and worth making a part of your player development program.

No Shortcut to Athletic Success

2008-07-28T07:43:00.000-07:00

Harry Lloyd

For the athlete, success is dependent upon winning, and winning is dependent upon motivation...and more aptly self-motivation.

The same can be said about success itself.

Success requires effort, and there are too few who are willing to pay the price of success.

Self-motivation arises from some inner cause, wish, drive, or need that requires no external reason. This is the type of motivation which is so vitally important to the champion athlete.

The athlete must always remember that the burdens of physical effort and internal motivation are his own responsibility. He alone is accountable for his actions, choices, and decisions.

More likely than not… all other factors being equal, the difference between successful and unsuccessful athletes boils down to internal motivation. This internal motivation is the ability of the individual athlete to develop strength, desire, willpower and determination to reach a chosen, worthy goal.

If he wants to achieve success, the motivation that will drive him toward that objective must come from within.

The internal motivation necessary for athletic success is based on the principle that human beings become the end products of their thoughts. In the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, "a man becomes what he thinks about all day long.” According to William James, “human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind.”

Simply put, a man becomes what his thoughts dwell upon. Therefore the basic law of athletic motivation is simply that an athlete becomes what he chooses to think about.

The establishment of specific goals is perhaps the most important personal decision an athlete can make for himself if he is to experience success. In order to become a better player, the athlete must have self-directed goals and devote all of his energies toward reaching them.

Andrew Carnegie, one of America’s first billionaires, once said “No one has been known to succeed without first applying the principle of definite purpose.”

David Schwartz, who wrote the best seller The Magic of Thinking Big, said: “Nothing happens, no forward steps are taken until a goal is established. Without goals, people just wander through life. They stumble along, never knowing where they are going.”

There are a few principles you should adhere to when establishing your goals:

For Pitchers
Forget about establishing a certain number of games to win individually.

For Hitters
Do not focus on a specific batting average for the season. This type of goal could be a failure trap or a limitation on your potential.

These types of goals do more harm than good and they can destroy attitudes.

Secondly
Whether you are a pitcher, hitter, or fielder, look upon yourself as not having weaknesses. Instead consider weaknesses as undeveloped skills. As you begin to develop the skills that you are working on, your attitude begins to say “I can” rather than “I can’t.” Remember, you only have undeveloped skills and great possibilities.

Thirdly
The best goals to establish for yourself should relate to the job at hand. These are present tense goals. For instance, “throw a good, low strike,” or “see the ball.” These are the goals within the player’s immediate control during the game.

How Can an Athlete Motivate Himself?

The following nine truths will help you to become self-motivated and successful as an athlete:

1. Set definite, realistic goals.
Put them in writing and work on them each and every day.

2. Develop a desire and a willingness to work toward the completion of your goals.
The earlier a player dedicates himself to peak performance, the more likely he is to achieve it.

3. Believe in your ability.
Acknowledge your talent. Confidence acknowledges your talent. Confidence always precedes success!

4. Pay strict attention to self-discipline.
There is a price on everything, including success. Pay the price!

5. Develop a positive mental attitude.
Say only positive things about others. Think only in positive terms. Winners think:
I can...I will...I’ll adjust...I’ll find a way.

6. Never be satisfied with your knowledge, performance or skill.
Always be thinking of ways to improve.

7. Learn from defeat or temporary failure.
Anyone who is undefeated has never met strong enough opponents. Never become satisfied with failure. You may get beat on the scoreboard, but never get beat in the Heart!

8. Never have an alibi.
The best excuse is one you never make!

9. Share with and help others instead of being selfish.

If you have a burning love and joy for the game, and work up to your maximum potential, there is an internal reward…the reward of doing the best possible job. Stand aside and let your potential shine through!

How Important Is Baseball Training?

2008-07-28T07:42:00.000-07:00

Coach John Peter

There are essentially four places where youth baseball players and their families can get the information needed to improving ball players beyond their current or recreational level:

* Dad and his baseball knowledge from his own youth

* The player's youth coach(es)

* Continuous home training & use of training aids

* Paid coaches & lessons

Possibility #1
I have no doubt that an average baseball dad/coach can learn enough from the free information, tips newsletter and instructional articles that we give away at Baseball Tips to offer help to most young players to improve. This takes interest and time of both dad and player and makes for potentially lifelong memories!

Possibility #2
Youth coaches tend to be a player’s dad, so the opportunity and limitations tend to be the same as option number one.

Possibility #3
Backyard training is typically a joint effort where Dad sees the player’s continued interest in this great game and sees benefit in owning a few pieces of reasonably-sized baseball training equipment. He then grants his blessing to using some of the family backyard or basement for this purpose. This is where a player can learn to get the most quality repetitions and become more skilled most quickly… assuming that proper mechanics are being learned to begin with (no use in engraining bad habits…right?)

Possibiltiy #4
Paid coaches & lessons are where the most knowledge can be gained most quickly....especially if a parent will attend at least some lessons to learn what to help the player with and to reinforce and maximize the money invested in these lessons! It does cost money and those dollars are best spent as lesson packages with a set schedule and with a set plan of goals and a realistic timeframe.

So what's the best way?
All and all at once is the absolute best answer.
However, the reality is that most families will be limited by time, money or the motivation to follow through. So now that you know where the sources of this powerful information lie…it is like any other family decision and is based on you and yours.

It all works…if you can and will do it. But it is worth nothing if there is a lack of consistency or honesty about your own situation.

My Summary
I have had a lifetime of hearing parents who tell me how talented and athletic their young players are but an equal number of players who never flourish because these interested players are not offered the tools or the time needed to develop both the passion or the positive results that result from gaining knowledge and the positive experience that tends to follow.

The old days are gone…sandlot baseball has given way to many different organized sports and choices, all demanding time and effort.

If we truly want our players to stay in the game longer, we will need to influence them with any or all of options 1-4 above.

Life happens quick…so don’t miss an opportunity!

And remember…you may never be closer to your own child than you are at 60 feet away tossing a ball and having a simple game of catch!

The Best Hitting Stations for Baseball Practice

2008-07-28T07:40:00.000-07:00

The Best Hitting Stations for Baseball Practice
Olan Suddeth

In any practice, you will do well to use stations - these "work centers" allow small groups of players to get many more skill repitions than they ever would standing in line waiting for their turn to bat. Ideally, you will run at least three stations at any given practice; if you can increase this number to four or five, so much the better. If you have a well-run practice, it shouldn't take much more than an hour for each batter to get at least two passes throguh each station. If you take much longer than this, you run the risk of losing your players' attention spans.

The rest of this article deals with recommended stations and how to run them. For the sake of variety, you may want to change which stations you use from practice to practice. In every station, always emphasize proper technique - have the batters dig in for every swing, have them load up properly, make them swing hard and follow through each time. The idea is to build muschle memory; if they don't practice swings the way they will use them in game situations, the benefitd of the drills are decreased or completely lost.

The Tee Drill
An absolute essential - you should use tee drills at almost every practice. Major league baseball players hit off of a batting tee every single day, and your players will reap similar benefits. All you need to run a tee drill is a batting tee and either a net of some sort or a nice section of chain link fence.

Make sure that your hitters do not contact the tee. If the ball pops up, the batter is likely hitching or dipping his swing. Adjust the tee every few swings to work the entire range of pitches the batter might see - inside and outside, high and low. The tee gives you a great opportunity to focus on particlar holes in your players' swings.

Soft Toss
This is another excellent drill that allows you to work o fine-tuning the batter's swing without the pressure of live pitching. For the simplest variation, all you need is a net or a small piece of chain link fence. Soft toss should be a regular part of your drills; as an added bonus, any mom or dad can work with their player at home with this drill.

Stand in front and to the side of the hitter, no more than six or eight feets away, and lob balls to him. For a variation especially useful for limited space, you can stand four or five feet away, directly at a ninety degree angle to the hitter. This also works for helping emphasize the need of watching the ball.

If you have a pithing screen, you can set up at about half live distance in front of the batter and toss from behind protection.

Live Pitching
All the drills in the world will only do such much good if the batter never sees live pitching. Of course, this station requires the most room of any; you'll need an actual batting cage or lots of open field space behind you. While this station will allow you to see the most in the way of results, it also offers the least amount of opportunity to analyze errors in a player's swing - if at all possible, designate a coach to concentrate on the player only, not the results of any hits.

You should be wary of letting a practice go by without hitting.

Practice Golf Balls
An absolutely outstanding hitting drill, worthy of its own article (http://www.youthbaseballinfo.com/view_article.php?articleid=11), plastic practice golf balls can develop a hitter's hand-eye coordination like nothing else. This drill does not require a net, since the balls can't go very far, and are non-dangerous. Set up six feet or so in front of the batter at a forty-five degree angle nd lob the pitches in. For a more challenging drill, substitute a length of broom handle instead of the normal baseball bat!

The Hitting Stick
This traditional baseball training aid can be found in pretty much any sporting goods store; they start at twenty dollars or so, and go up to around forty dollars. A hitting stick looks like a vinyl-covered ball on the end of, well, a stick.

You get similar benefits from a hitting stick as you do from a batting tee - you can ove the ball up or down, in or out, and can even apply some motion to things. Hitting sticks make great additional batting stations or nice changes or pace for practice; young kids seem to particularly enjoy them.

Mix and match, and keep things new and interesting. You can always duplicate stations - hve more than one batting tee, for instance - or put variations in them. Do chair drills, fence drills, or multiple tee drills. You might find other training aides, such as the "Hit Away" to be useful, as well. The main thing to remember is to emphasize proper technique on each and every swing. Practice makes perfect!

Article Copyright By Author. All Rights Reserved.
Article Source:http://www.youthbaseballinfo.com

Ready to Coach a College Sports Team?

2008-07-28T06:50:00.000-07:00

Are You Ready to Coach a College Sports Team?
By: David Horne

Coaching a college sports team can be a rewarding experience for a coach, it can also be quite stressful and challenging if you do not understand what you might be getting your self into.

When you make that career decision to coach at the college level you are about to take on a wide array of responsibilities.

You Will Be Responsible For:
Representing your school in an appropriate way while trying to succeed as a team, all of the players on your team, handling all of the extra requirements for your international players such as visa concerns, organising holiday accommodation, transport, language barriers and much more.

You will also have to monitor your athlete's academic status and maintain eligibility requirements, safely transport your team when on a road trip. This often requires you to drive a bus for long distances to unknown locations.

Other areas of responsibility include being in compliance with NCAA rules, organising and conducting team practices, administration issues, attending school events and meetings, co-operating with the media and providing results, attracting alumni support, scheduling matches and tournaments, recruiting athletes, scholarships, intra-team issues, facility management and maintenance and the list goes on and on.

Being a college coach can be very satisfying and rewarding from the other more traditional roles as a coach (eg. Club, High School or YMCA Coach)
You will develop a bond with your players but will also experience the pressure of being successful and having a winning record. College sports programs seek titles, whether they are Conference, regional or National Titles. These are often used by coaches and schools in helping to recruit the best players. Obviously a top athlete will want to go to a successful program rather than one that fails to win year in and year out.

A successful program can often be the deciding factor for a lot of students when deciding between schools. Many students have chosen schools primarily because of the success of their football or basketball teams ands want to be associated with a winning school for bragging rights. This pressure to succeed in the big sports often falls onto the coach and their staff. The life of a college coach is not a very secure one.

The Best Ways to Prepare For Being a College Coach Are:
Experience playing the sport you want to coach, playing on a college team when you were a student, spending several years working as an Assistant Coach under an experienced Head Coach in a successful program, find a mentor.

Many schools require coaches to have a Masters Degree or college degree at minimum.

You will also need to build a good resume, acquire leadership skills while going through school, study in advance and get a good understanding of the NCAA rules and regulations, have a plan to present to your employer, understand your style of coaching and the leadership style you will follow, do some research to see if coaching at the college level is viable for you from as financial perspective, know that many coaches work for minimum wage, be prepared with an extensive list of coaching drills to implement into your programs.

Some of the benefits of Being a College Coach Include:
Gaining valuable experience in leadership and coaching large numbers of athletes, it can be very rewarding when you succeed as a team, you can progress from a smaller school to a larger one that is more challenging a lucrative, you will develop a bond with your athletes, you will have a support system in place from the sports program, you can often negotiate accommodation into your contracts.

Other benefits include getting discounts on tuition for yourself or family members, some of your living costs are paid by the school, you can make a lot of money from running summer clinics and camps, you can find financially lucrative positions, you feel a sense of belonging, experience the fun of being involved with young motivated athletes with possible desires of being professional athletes once their college years are over, you have sponsors providing you with free equipment and clothing, you will gain respect from athletes and peers, you will develop other skills of recruiting, managing, administration and promoting.

When choosing a college you will want to research the following areas as they will help you decide if the position is right for you:
Salary and benefits
Job security
School location
Family issues
Accommodation availability
Scholarships available to you for recruiting the best players
The report amongst the other coaches
Training facilities (fitness centre, sporting fields)
What division are they in (Division 1, 2, 3)
Do you have to share the playing courts, field with other teams?
Will you have an assistant coach?
How much money is in the budget?
Can you afford to take the team on long trips over spring / fall break?
Does the school have a high standard of academics?
Is there room to progress or climb the coaching ladder?
What is the reputation of the Athletics Director? Is he / she easy to work with?
Do you have your own office or do you have to share?
What is the condition of the playing facilities?
Do you have to do your own maintenance on the facilities?

Coaching a college team is fun, rewarding, financially lucrative at the highest levels, challenging, can be stressful, requires working week-ends and odd hours, lots of organising, dealing with many issues and much more. It is a personal decision for each individual and the best advice is to gain experience as an assistant coach before plunging into the position as a head coach.

Remember - you have to love what you are doing, if you don't love coaching and your sport then it can end up being a miserable experience! It's is up to you to do your homework!

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Baseball Isn't Just Entertainment

2008-07-28T06:49:00.000-07:00

Baseball Isn't Just Entertainment, It's Also A Business
By: Michael Lee-Smith

George Steinbrenner, owner of the New York Yankees, is spot on by calling out his management team and players for their poor performance thus far this season. He's also correct in pointing out that the season is still relatively young. There is still a lot of playing left for the boys of summer.

Perhaps understandably, many New York fans have started to demand the firing of team manager Joe Torre.

Many others complain that the true responsibility for this baseball season's terrible play rest on General Manager Brian Cashman's shoulders, as he's the one who put together such a high-salaried and poor-performing team.

And then there are the fans who look to the field, and rightly or wrongly, declare that the Yankees simply don't have enough pitching.

Whatever the cause, the darkest sign is that online sportsbooks are starting to pitch the Yankees as the heavy underdogs, given their poor win-loss results to date.

Unfortunately, what so many people are missing is that, although sports is a highly emotional undertaking, it's also a business. And that means it is important to bring a high level of reason to the field.

It's amazing that, no matter how strategic or rational individual might be, when you shift to the sports arena, an immediate drop in IQ seems inevitable. Why? Because emotion inevitably intrudes on decision-making.

Fortunately, and despite many of his past follies, Steinbrenner is absolutely correct in standing behind his management team and the New York Yankee baseball players under them. He's not betting on sports, he's investing in a sports franchise. That means being strategic, making his player picks and management picks carefully.

Steinbrenner didn't let the team off the hook; far from it. In a recent statement, he told the world he is demanding better results. Better results from his GM, from his team manager, and most certainly, better from his players.

And you can bet that a sports team owner understands the importance of performance.

Much as in the business world, Steinbrenner is saying his sports team is directly responsible for the results on the field. And I would wager that the odds are high that if performance doesn't improve substantially very soon, we are going to see a big change to the team's future.

As Steinbrenner points out: "It is time to see if people are ready to step up and accept their responsibilities. Let's get going."

Another similarity between sports and business is that that managers tend to get too much credit when things are good and too much blame when they aren't. They of course have a large roll to play; but they are not the only pieces of the puzzle.

Finally, my argument comes down to one point: it really is still a very young season. And that makes all the difference in the sports world.

So for all you New York Yankee fans out there, remember: it is much too early to panic. Although the Yankees are currently in last place, there is still more that 80 percent of the season left to be played. While the desire to pin the blame on someone is understandably quite high, keep in mind that decisions should be made on a rational, not emotional, basis. There's simply too much at risk to bet the whole season on a few misplayed games.

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Red Sox vs. Marlins March 6th Game Summary

2008-07-28T06:48:00.000-07:00

By: Scott Peters

The Boston Red Sox swept the Florida Marlins Tuesday March 6th in Jupiter, Florida. The score was tied in the ninth 6 to 6 making extra innings necessary. Boston did not let the Marlins score at all in the 10th bringing the final score 14 to 6, Boston. First baseman gloves had to be on fire with all of these outs against Florida!

Enough can not be said about Daisuke Matsuaka, throwing a fastball estimated at 91-93 MPH. He threw a total of 47 pitches, 31 strikes reaching a low speed of only 71 MPH. Matsuaka threw a curveball of 74-77 MPH, a change-up of 76-78 MPH and a slider of 81-82 MPH. He was replaced with Joel Pinero in the 4th who prevented Florida from scoring the entire inning. Manny Delcarmen was not as lucky as the two pitchers before him having Ramirez score a home run for the Marlins in the 5th bringing the score to 2-1. Competing for the 5th rotation spot, Yusmeiro Petit came to the mound for the Marlins. Petit pitched for 3 innings getting with no walks, 1 hit and 5 strikes. Next in the 4th pitching was Wes Obermueller. Wes got a 1 walk and 2 hits total with a run in the 4th. Felix Rodriguez came to the mound in the 7th, getting 2 runs.

The Red Sox came back in the extra inning of this game scoring 8 runs in the 10th. Joe McEwing, Jacoby Elisbury and Bobby Scales all hit RBI singles with McEwing scoring another RBI single in the 9th. Ed Rogers hit a single in the 7th but later on in the 8th was hit by a pitch with the bases full. Kerry Robinson scored a double in that inning and made the 1st hit of the night for the Sox in the 4th inning. Brandon Moss had an RBI double in the 8th and Jeff Bailey a 2 run double. Jason Varitek scored from the 2nd in the 4th with the help of Dustin Pedroia hitting an infield single. Chad Spann in the 9th with 2 outs hit an RBI single tying up the score to go into extra innings.

The Florida Marlins had trouble scoring at the plate in the 10th leading to their loss to the Red Sox. Dan Uggla was the first Major League batter to hit a single against Matsuaka in the 1st inning. John Gall also hit a double off of Daisuke, also known as the 'Japanese Sensation', with runners at 2nd and 3rd. Hanley Ramirez managed to get a 2 run homer in the 5th but was not able to get his hard liner past Matsuaka in the 3rd, stopping him from getting a single. Brett Carroll hit an RBI single in the 8th and Alejandro De Aza scored with a 2-out RBI double in the 9th. Robert Andino complimented that with a 2 run double in the ninth.

All in all, a solid outing by the Red Sox Matsuaka and some timely hitting propelled them to victory!

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Sports Trivia on the Black Sox

2008-07-28T06:46:00.000-07:00

By: Chad Henry

Before the 1919 World Series began, many people noticed the fact that major gamblers were putting down a tremendous amount of money on the Reds. This caused people to wonder if something was going on. So, before the first pitch was even thrown, some people were resolved to closely examine all the White Sox players and how the players performed in each game.

Back then the World Series was a best of nine series instead of a best of seven series as it is today. In the very first game, on the very first pitch, White Sox pitcher Eddie Cicotte hit Red's batter Morrie Rath in the back. This was a signal to the gamblers that the Black Sox would go ahead with the plan to fix the Series.

Arnold Chick Gandil, the White Sox first baseman, was the leader of the fix. It's said that the entire thing was his idea. Along with his friend, known gambler Joseph Sport Sullivan, they allegedly convinced 7 other White Sox players to take part in the fix as well. These players accepted money in exchange for allowing the Reds to win the necessary 5 games in the Series.

The players who agreed to throw the series for money most likely did so for 2 reasons: they wanted / needed more money than what they were making playing baseball and they didn't like White Sox owner Charles Comiskey.

The most interesting player involved in the Black Sox fix is Shoeless Joe Jackson. Jackson was one of the greatest ball players of his era. He confessed to fixing the games at first but then took back his confession. He maintained his innocence until the day he died.

Jackson batted .375 in the Series and made several spectacular defensive plays, including throwing out 5 base runners from his centerfield position. He also made 30 outs without committing any errors. However, in the games that the White Sox lost, Jackson's batting average was much lower and he failed to make a play on a ball hit his way. The play resulted in a triple and was not ruled an error.

Shoeless Joe did accept $5000 from the gamblers. He later tried to give back the money but to no avail. Though he was found innocent of taking part in the fixing of the games, Jackson was kicked-out of the Major Leagues and would never again be a big league player.

The story of the Chicago Black Sox continues to interest people to this day. The movie Eight Men Out tells the story of what happened. The fact that players accepted money to fix the biggest series in the most popular sport in America at the time will always be a black eye for America's most storied game.

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Buy a Baseball Glove

2008-07-28T06:45:00.000-07:00

Buy a Baseball Glove to Improve Your Game
By: Ben Franklin

Any die-hard baseball fan needs good baseball storage. Having good and adequate baseball equipment can mean the difference in the beloved game. All the component parts must be made out of high-quality equipment which you can trust will never let you down. Keeping that gear in the best possible condition is a wise step toward protecting your investment.

Now let's talk a little bit about your baseball glove. As already mentioned before, you need to make sure that your glove is made out of high-quality material. This can give a really important boost to the quality of your play, so don't overlook this.

One of the most important things you need to do is research, meaning you need to look for price ranges in different manufacturers, and check their quality/price ratio. After you've selected a few brands in your mind, head to the store.

At the store you will have to go through the very important process of trying baseball gloves on. Making sure they feel right is crucial. They need to be comfortable, as you don't want to feel any bit of unnecessary discomfort during the game.

In the buying decision-making, you need to ask yourself a simple question: are you (or do you want to become) a baseball professional, or you are just playing around for fun with your friends? The gloves which you could buy are different in the two cases, for obvious reasons.

A professional would need high-quality gloves, which cost considerably more. For example, a good catcher's glove may be up to a few hundred dollars. If you are not a professional, you might find this price curve a little bit too steep, as well as unnecessary.

Also, let's not forget that more and more women are taking up this all-time favorite sport. Although, for whatever reasons, finding good women baseball gloves may be a challenge, probably because baseball gloves manufacturers still have the man's version as a priority on their production lists.

And because having comfortable gloves will surely make your playing better, a woman needs to find smaller gloves that would fit a woman's smaller hand. A woman needs to look for smaller finger stalls, and an adjustable wrist strap is always the best option.

When it comes to first base gloves, any professional baseball player will tell you without any doubt that they are absolutely essential to high performance playing. The first baseman uses these gloves and they need to be made out of high quality material if one's playing is to be good.

When trying the glove on, you need to feel it and see how it reacts. It needs to be comfortable and you need to be able to take it off quickly, meaning you can open and close it in an instant.

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The Miracle of the 2004 Boston Red Sox

2008-07-28T06:44:00.000-07:00

By: Chad Henry

Two years later, in 1920, the RedSox sold Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees and the curse of The Bambino was born. Boston would not win another World Series until 2004.

The 2004 season was magical for BoSox players and fans. It featured star players such as David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, Johnny Damon, Curt Schilling, and Pedro Martinez. It was a run unlike any other in history.

In the years preceding 2004, the Boston Red Sox had come close to reaching the World Series. In fact, the previous season, in 2003, the Sox were nearly defeated by the eventual champion New York Yankees in the AL Championship Series.

It looked like they were going to fall again to the Yankees in the 2004 AL Championship Series. After sweeping the Anaheim Angels in the Divisional Playoff Series, the Sox found themselves down three games to none. The curse was alive and well and only a miracle would save the 2004 season.

The Yankees had a chance to sweep the Sox in Game Four that was played on Boston's Fenway Park. It looked like the Yankees were going to do just that when they carried a one run lead into the bottom of the ninth.

The Red Sox managed to tie the game and send it to extra innings. Three innings later, in the bottom of the twelfth, David Ortiz won the game when he hit a two run home run.

The next night David Ortiz would again play the hero. Boston had managed to tie the game again, this time in the bottom of the eighth. Then in the bottom of the fourteenth inning, Ortiz ended the longest game in American League Championship Series history with a walk-off single.

The next game, played in Yankee Stadium, seemed to be a must win for the Yankees. With their two extra innings wins, the Red Sox had begun to turn the tide of momentum in their favor.

The RedSox sent their ace pitcher, Curt Schilling, to the mound. The Sox took control of the game in the top of the fourth when they scored four runs. They held on and won the game four to two.

The series was all but over and so was the Curse of the Bambino. All that was left was for the Bo-Sox to actually play game seven.

Boston scored eight runs in the first four innings and rolled to a ten to three win. They were heading to the World Series to play the St. Louis Cardinals.

Boston rode their wave of success and swept the Cardinals in four games. Their winning streak of eight straight games set a record. The miracle was complete, the curse was broken, and the Boston RedSox of 2004 were World Series Champions.

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How To Choose A Great Baseball Bat

2008-07-28T06:43:00.000-07:00

By: Gregg Hall

Perhaps the most important aspect of baseball is to have a bat that suits your needs. A bat's weight, length, and material can all have a positive or negative affect on a batter's swing. Consider every option when choosing a baseball bat for yourself.

Bats come in all shapes and sizes. Wooden bats are often popular with major leaguers, but some feel you get a better crack using a metal baseball bat. There are restrictions, however, on which bats can be used.

Every league has rules on what material a bat can be made from and the circumference of the bat's barrel. Do not become ejected from a game because you failed to pay attention to the rules. Ask the appropriate commissioner, umpire, or coach to give you the rules on weight and height ratios. Remember that corked bats are not allowed for anything other than practice in many leagues.

When shopping for a bat, read the packaging. It is becoming increasingly common for a bat to have print directly on it that states, "Approved for such and such a league." This can help you select a bat that will meet your needs and any restrictions.

Baseball bats can be as low as $20 and as high as $500. A pricey bat is not necessarily an excellent bat, just as an inexpensive bat does not mean that bat is inferior quality. The key to making any bat work for you is by practicing regularly. Nonetheless, you should find a bat that is appropriate to your strengths and weaknesses.

Today's bats are advanced. The thin walls, wood choices, and formation can create the perfect environment for a ball to go flying. These same bats are also far more susceptible to dents and fractures; so increased technology is not necessarily the greatest option. Babe Ruth managed to hit numerous home runs without using today's streamlined bats.

Batting cages often have balls pitched harder and faster than in a normal baseball game. If you regularly practice in batting cages, consider a metal bat. They are able to withstand the test of time better than one of today's wooden bats.

Speaking of today's bats, some even have nitrogen or helium inside. A bat enhanced with these gasses allows more of a "trampoline effect", meaning the ball literally bounces off the bat at impact. This causes the ball to travel farther.

Visit stores and sample a variety of bats to find which baseball bat feels best to you. There is no tried or true formula for choosing a length. For this reason, it is far more beneficial to sample a number of bats until you find a bat that feels like an extension of your arm. The bat should allow you to swing freely without feeling like the weight of the baseball bat is knocking you off balance.

Never choose a bat that will last for a few years, especially for children. Any bat should fit for that immediate season, not be something a child grows into.

By following a few simple steps, you can find a bat that feels natural. As an extension of yourself, you are guaranteed to improve your swing!

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Pick A Baseball Or Softball Glove

2008-07-28T06:42:00.000-07:00

How To Pick A Baseball Or Softball Glove
By: Scott Peters

Choosing the right baseball or softball glove doesn't have to be difficult, but choosing the wrong glove can effect how well you field and enjoy the game.

Here are some factors to consider

Age

Is the glove going to be used by a youngster, a high schooler, an over 40 year old? The size and quality of the glove really matters and varies depending on how the glove will be used.

For youngsters just starting out there are plenty on very inexpensive gloves on the market. The problem with them is they tend to be made of polyurethane or nylon fabric and are very stiff. It's very difficult to catch a ball using a rock hard glove. You may want to consider going a step up and buying a real leather glove. This way the youngster doesn't get discouraged and will be more likely to enjoy learning to catch.

For advanced kids in Little League or Senior League you will definitely want a medium quality leather glove. It should be easy to break in and fairly durable. However, kids grow fast so don't go nuts and get a $100 glove. It's not necessary at this age.

High school, college and minor league players should get a very high quality glove. The high level of play requires the proper equipment to compete effectively. Also, a durable glove is required to take the rigors of a couple of seasons. You can expect to get a very high quality glove for under $150.

Older people playing in advanced age leagues don't need the best. There are gloves available made of soft leather that take very little time to break in. You should pay no more than about $80 for a nice one.

Position

Years ago there were not many choices of gloves besides, catcher, first baseman and 'fielders' gloves. Things have come a long way and there are specialized gloves for every position.

As a general rule, smaller gloves are meant for middle infield, slightly larger gloves for third base, and large gloves for outfield. There are special gloves for pitchers and a variety of designs for catchers and first baseman.

There are cool 'three finger' designs, gloves with adjustable wrist straps to get the fit right, extra padding for protection and liners for comfort.

Knowing what position(s) you play will dictate what type of gloves you look at. There are some general use gloves available if you play several positions. Pay attention to the recommended position a glove should be used for then narrow down based on your preference for design features.

Design Features

Open Back vs. closed back: This is simply whether the glove has a whole of your index finger to poke through (closed back) or there is a wide slot where you can see the back of your hand. There's really no advantage one way or another. The open back may be a littler cooler in the summer is about it.

Web Design: H-web, Bee hive web, T-web and on and on. You can narrow it down to open and closed, meaning can you see through it or not. There's not much performance difference. With the open web dirt scooped up while fielding a grounder will fall through easier. With a closed web blocking the sun on fly balls and pop ups is a little easier.

Pocket Depth: This is important. For middle infield you want a shallow to medium pocket depth so you can transfer the ball from glove to throwing hand as quickly as possible. Third and outfield a deep pocket is a little better. Again, gloves designed for specific positions should already have the right pocket depth.

Quality

Try to buy good quality without paying too much. Real well known brands like Rawlings, Wilson and Mizuno make a nice glove but you will pay top dollar. Akadema makes a very nice glove at a reasonable price.

Buy good quality not matter what the brand. You'll never regret buying too good a glove, but will always regret not buying good enough.

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The Power Of Professional Wood Bats

2008-07-28T06:41:00.000-07:00

By: William Smith

The fact of wood bats is that any one of them can be shattered. Nevertheless, with some awareness and the right bat, they have been known to last a long, long time. The first thing to do to cut down breakage is to appreciate that the placement of the trademark is not by accident. As no two trees are identically, no two bats are similar either. The trademark is placed on a space, which has the greatest chance of failing. The exact opposite side of the trademark is also a place where bats will more likely to fail too. Take a close look and you will see how the grain runs and why this is true. So the simple rule of prevention here is' Bat with LABEL UP OR LABEL DOWN.

The old time professional wood bats were the size of a red wood tree. They weighed as much as five men could handle and could knock down a block wall with one whack. Dominant men like Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb wielded these manly bats with a talent and exactness that no modern day baseball pro could ever dream to have.

Then again, Ruth and Cobb didn't have hurlers that registered triple-digit with their fastballs. They didn't face the advanced and near magical pitching approach of the Braves bullpen or the Yankees superstars. Today's batters want to fight fire with fire, and so the technology behind today's professional bats has to match the velocity and motion of today's professional pitchers.

Superstar hitters like Derek Jeter and Scott Rolen rely on the best professional wood bats out there to give them a shot. Compared to the mythic sluggers of baseball golden days, today's batters trust in lighter weight bats that also have thinner handles.

True current science comes into the way that many of today's bats are cup balance. This involves removing as much as three-quarters of an ounce of wood out of the end of the barrel to make the bat lighter. A lighter bat means a faster swing, and a faster swing means a farther drive. Experts estimate that as many as 30 percent of today's players use a cup balanced bat.

Today's professional wood bats mostly come from wood from the white ash tree. Some players, though, have been experimenting with wood from maple trees. No matter the tree or the amount of wood they spoon out, though, today's batters still have to be able to have the hand quickness, touch, know-how, and vision to make that contact. Bats can only help you out so much, even if they are as big as a red wood.

With wood, it usually takes a bit more to get the bat through the contact zone, so start your swing earlier (sooner). This is great training for numerous reasons; one being that you'll be even quicker with your aluminum bat!

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Choose and Break In A Baseball Glove

2008-07-28T06:40:00.000-07:00

How to Choose and Break In A Baseball Glove
By: Lee Dobbins

When it comes to choosing a baseball glove, you have many things to consider. The type of material is important as well as the type of glove and, of course your budget.

First of all you need to know what type of glove you want. G loves made for specific positions have certain features which are designed to specifically meet the needs of that position. One clear example for this is that a catchers mitt has extra padding needed to help absorb the shock from fast balls and curve balls. Obviously knowing what positions you will play is key in selecting the best glove for the job.

Another thing to consider when choosing a glove is the webbing. There are two types of webbing - open and closed. Open webbing works well for active fielders who want to able to get the ball out of the glove as fast as possible. Closed webbing is better for pitchers, who use it to help hide the ball from the batter.

Gloves are made from three main types of materials. First you have your basic leather glove that we all know and love. Secondly there are leather gloves that are treated with chemicals which cause it to be easier to break in and more durable keeping a better shape longer. Lastly, you can buy synthetic or plastic gloves but these are not of the same quality as leather gloves and are only good for beginners and youth players.

When picking a glove, make sure it is of a size that's easy to handle and control. You want it to snap open and closed quickly and your fingers should feel snug inside but not too tight.

Once you get your glove home, you won't be able to play well with it until it is properly broken in. This takes a combination of oils, creativity and elbow grease and there are many age old methods to breaking in a baseball glove.

If you don't have a secret family recipe for breaking in your glove, you can simply apply oil that's specifically designed for this purpose. Rub the oil onto every part of the glove including the laces and the inside. The oil will moisturize the glove to keep it from drying out and cracking. It will also keep the webbing from coming lose. When you buy oil made for gloves, you can be assured that this won't damage the glove as the concoction your uncle Bernie swears by might.

It's best to apply the oil in the fall and really work it in - let the glove sit until spring then take it out and play ball!

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