Happy Thanksgiving

To everyone in the Baseball By The Yard community, I wish you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.  We all have much to be grateful for and I hope all of us spend some time focusing on those things over the holiday. Enjoy the break!  I’ll be back on Monday with my next post! […]

A coach’s practice is your minimum

One of the toughest things to do in a classroom or on a baseball field is to challenge every single student and player throughout the entire class or practice.  In baseball, every player has unique needs.   However, perfectly tailored instruction for each player during a team workout is virtually impossible.  That’s why it is […]

You’ve got to be kidding me (Part 4)

Well folks, I’m sorry to say I’ve had another “You’ve got to be kidding me!” baseball moment.  A good friend told me about this one and I didn’t fully believe it until I saw it for my own eyes.  Here it is …   Moms and Dads out there … please save your money.  Spending this […]

Look for this before snap throws to third

In May, 2011, I wrote a post titled Snap throws to third base.  I explained that the defensive team needs to look for runners who are not properly timing their plant foot landing (right foot ALWAYS!) as the pitch is crossing home plate.  Some runners will make the mistake of landing too late on that […]

The unconscious mind and fielding correctly

The human body has several features that work behind the scenes to help identify threats and keep us alive.  The unconscious side to our mind is one of them.  Our mind has both a conscious side and an unconscious side.  The conscious side is what we are aware of.  The unconscious side works in the […]

Jab Jab Hook – How to get good players to change

A former big leaguer once told me about an interaction between another major leaguer and a new hitting coach.  On the first day of spring training, the player was hitting off a batting tee and the brand new coach walked up to him and said something like “We are going to have to do a […]

The three opponents you face every game

Three years ago I wrote a very popular post called The game is your toughest opponent.  It’s worth reading if you haven’t already because it’s a good message to players about what they should be focussing on during games. But I have to confess that I think I was wrong.  The game is not your […]

95 Pitching, Outfield, and Base Running Drills

  “Thanks for the drills Coach! Perfect to keep on my clipboard during practice. Will save me lots of time with planning.” That’s an email I got from a reader a few days ago!   This past week subscribers received the latest offer of baseball drills.  The deal includes 40 Pitching Drills that range from basic to […]

The cornerstone of any pitching program

I don’t care if you are teaching a player in his first year of kid-pitch or if you are a pitching coach of a major league team, the cornerstone of your program that should guide all instruction and advice is command of the fastball.  There are certainly many other facets of pitching that are important […]

Talk to yourself but don’t listen

How many times have you heard that little voice in your head say things like “You suck!” or “How could you not throw a strike?” or “0 for 4… You’ll never be any good at this game.” or “How did you miss that pitch?”   I don’t know about you but that inner demon inside my […]

Video analysis of Aroldis Chapman

FYI to subscribers:  Check your email!  Yesterday, I sent out an offer that expires on Saturday at midnight!   I get asked all the time if I do private lessons.  Unfortunately, my schedule rarely allows me to get out to do them.  However, I have an idea that might be of interest to you or […]

How to better see the ball out of the pitcher’s hand

Happy Veterans’ Day to all those who have worn the uniform!  Thank you for your service! Last week I received a question from a high school player.  His dilemma was a common one.  He felt he was not seeing the ball well out of the pitcher’s hand and wasn’t sure what could be done.  He […]

Crow hop on the 1-6-3 play

HEADS UP!!  A special offer for subscribers of the site is coming this week!  Become a subscriber if you haven’t already!  Scroll under my photo on the right to subscribe!   A hard one-hopper is hit right back to the pitcher.  He knows it’s a sure double play.  He fields it, turns, and proceeds to throw […]

There is no top of the ladder

A lot of people out there would like to climb the “ladder of success.”  Here’s a little secret … There is no ladder. A ladder implies vertical movement.  Up or down.  That’s not how the game works.  Although the levels of the game do appear to be like a ladder, a player’s progress (and many […]

A baseball lesson from election day

HEADS UP!!  A special offer for subscribers of the site is coming within a week!  Become a subscriber if you haven’t already!  Scroll under my photo on the right to subscribe! Now, back to today’s post! As a social studies teacher I take a keen interest in the political process.  When I see the percentage […]

Why you pay attention to detail when covering first base

When I did PFP (Pitcher’s Fielding Practice) with my guys I made certain that they paid attention to detail and did everything right.  One such detail was making sure they ALWAYS touch the field-side edge of the base with their RIGHT foot to avoid the runner.  No exceptions. I could explain more but the following […]

Coaching great teams

Congratulations go out to the San Francisco Giants and their 2014 World Series Championship.  Bruce Bochy is sure making a name for himself as a manager having won three out of the last five championships.  Right now the accolades are flowing but pretty soon the criticism of “he’s overrated!  Anyone could manage a team with […]

You play for the other coach too

My coach doesn’t like me. My coach doesn’t promote me. My coach doesn’t know any college coaches. My coach doesn’t know the game. My coach never talks to scouts. Reason to be concerned?  Maybe and maybe not. Coaches talk.  Always have and always will.  If you feel your coach is not doing enough for you […]