Be on time in fastball counts!

If you have coached for any length of time, there are probably a couple of things that really annoy you.  Enough to drive you nuts.  Usually they are things you say to your players over and over yet still see players do. Albert Pujols, right on time!Never be late on a fastball in a fastball […]

Which one of "The Five" are you going to pin your name to?

In 1991, while sitting on a minor league bus bored completely out of my scull, I realized I had better find something to do before I go insane.  I decided to start reading for pleasure.  I haven’t stopped since.  I mostly read non-fiction that has nothing to do with baseball.  However, I’m always thinking of […]

Vance Worley, Phillies Rookie

9-1, 2.65 ERA (As of 8-29-11)  “I was confident in my stuff,” he said. “That’s the only way to pitch in this game. If you’re not confident on the mound, you’re going to get shelled. You have to look like you’re not going to get beat.”– Vance Worley, Phillies rookie starterThat about covers it.

Don’t speed up the hitter’s bat

As pitchers get older, it becomes more important to develop off-speed pitches.  Coaches can respectfully disagree with which off-speed pitch should be developed first (I believe a change-up should always come before a curve ball) but it is clear that the overwhelming amount of pitchers will no longer be able to simply throw a fast […]

Everyone can hit a fast ball

One of the many rewarding things about coaching a high school team is watching your players move on to the college level to continue playing.  My baseball experiences above high school were very memorable and to help players also get an opportunity to experience them is one reason I coach.When those players return to visit […]

AJ Burnett needs to "trust his stuff"

It’s safe to say that Yankees starter AJ Burnett is having a rough season and more specifically, a rough month.  His stats for the month of August are as follows: STATS IP H R ER BB SO WHIP ERA August                                […]

The flaw in 1st pitch hitting stats

The other night I’m watching a game on TV and a stat appeared on the screen regarding the batter.  It indicated that he had a higher than normal batting average on the first pitch of his at-bats.  The announcers discussed it for a little bit and, not surprisingly, warned that opposing pitchers better be very […]

The Suicide Squeeze – Part 5: Defending the squeeze play

As I have stated numerous times in this series on the suicide squeeze, if the offensive team hides it well, uses the proper timing, and executes the fundamentals of the bunt, there is virtually nothing a defense can do to stop the suicide squeeze.  Therefore, defending the squeeze play basically involves taking advantage of any […]

The suicide squeeze – Part 4: The mechanics

Squaring your feet up to the pitcher isan option for a normal sacrifice bunt … Although the squeeze play is hard to defend against once it has been properly put into motion, the batter still has to get the bunt down and the runner still has to travel 90 feet to score.  Easier said than […]

The Suicide Squeeze – Part 3: The timing

I mentioned in Part 1 that I believe the suicide squeeze to be a great weapon for an offense because it is almost impossible to defend against once the play is in motion.  The biggest reason for this is the timing involved.  If both the runner and the batter time their actions properly, all the […]

The Suicide Squeeze – Part 2: Giving & receiving the sign

In Part 2 of the suicide squeeze, I begin to present many of the “how’s” so that players and coaches can execute the play more successfully.  Initially, I had planned on a two part post on the squeeze play but to be completely thorough I decided to divide it up into several separate posts.  Today, […]

The suicide squeeze – Part 1: The why’s and when’s

At the college and professional levels, you don’t see many squeeze plays.  However, I have noticed more of them on MLB highlight shows so maybe it’s returning to fashion.  Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Madden recently put on two squeeze plays on back-to-back batters!  I love it!  I have found the squeeze play to be […]

There’s more to pro ball then just playing baseball

Over the past few years there have been some very high level baseball talent to come out of the high schools in my area (Philadelphia).  Jesse Biddle and Sean Coyle were two high round picks that are currently playing in the minor league systems of the Phillies and Red Sox respectively.  When you add Mike […]

Book Review: Catching 101

You may have noticed something new on my blog in recent days.  In the upper right side of the page there is a picture/link to a book called Catching 101: The complete guide for baseball catchers. Some time ago I interviewed University of Louisville Assistant Baseball Coach Xan Barksdale and turned it into a blog […]

If you’re good, they will find you.

I just got back from a family vacation that took us into the Mount Vernon area of Ohio to visit relatives.  My wife is a high school guidance counselor who takes every chance she can to visit colleges and universities so that her students can be more informed about their college choices.  We went to […]