Baseball Moms

The link below will take you to a blog that I ran into the other day.  The post is quite funny.  I wish I had thought of it.  The descriptions of the “13 Types of Baseball Moms” is pretty much spot-on in my view.  If you spend a lot of time around baseball fields then I’m sure you have seen numerous […]

A player’s Check Engine light

Stats are often overrated and never tell the full story.  However, if you are at the lower levels – anything below pro ball – and you are hitting around .250 or your ERA is over 5 or you are averaging an error a game, your “check engine” light is blinking.   A player might say […]

Video – Tips for an underhand toss

About three years ago I did a written post listing the fundamentals of an underhand toss.  For those visual learners, here is a video that covers what I think are the most important aspects of this basic play. Next post: A player’s Check Engine light

Do you always succeed in practice?

If you typically succeed most of the time in practice then you are probably not practicing correctly.  Practice is a time to challenge yourself to push beyond what you think you are capable of doing.  It can be uncomfortable but that’s how growth occurs.  An analogy would be building muscle.  If you workout using comfortable […]

Draftability

This time of year (Fall and into Winter) scouts begin to check in with many of the 2015 top prospects and their families.  What they are trying to gauge is a player’s “draftability.”  Draftability includes a number of things but the basic concept is that the organizations are trying to figure out how much time […]

Awareness pays off for one MLB player

The MLB regular season is fast coming to a close and several teams are battling it out for the last playoff spots.  One such fight is between the Detroit Tigers and the Kansas City Royals.  As I write this, the Tigers have a 1.5 game lead over the Royals in the American League Central Division.  […]

Awareness Game #3

My past two posts have been about two games that players and coaches can play during games to improve field awareness.  Today is Part 3 of a three part series and involves another game that players can play in their minds while watching a game.  I guess it could be called the announcer game. Being […]

Awareness Game #2

Yesterday, in Part 1 of this three part series, I talked about the importance of being aware of your surroundings both on and off the field.  I also addressed the difficulty of teaching our players how to be more aware.  At the end of the post I offered an Awareness Game that could be played […]

Awareness Game #1

I live in Pennsylvania but a growing number of people are moving to our country’s 51st state – the State of Oblivion.  For a variety of reasons, people seem to be less aware of what is going on around them.  I think the cell phone is the biggest culprit.  Everyday in school, hundreds of teenagers […]

Angles for pitchers when covering first base

When pitchers practice covering first base during PFP (Pitchers Fielding Practice) drills, they often are instructed to take an ideal path and angle to first as shown in this photo … The reason for this is that going to an imaginary spot about 6-8 feet from first base, making a slight left turn, and moving […]

Pitchout tips for catchers

Today’s video tips are for catchers who want/need to improve on pitchouts from the pitcher.  I don’t get into everything a catcher needs to be concerned about because that would have taken too much time.  In this segment I chose just a few things catchers should be aware of when performing the play. Tomorrow’s post: […]

The louder it gets the softer you throw

The title of today’s post is a phrase I heard Jamie Moyer say during a Phillies broadcast.  It was a big moment late in the game and the hometown fans (the Phillies were away) were quite loud.  His co-announcer asked him how pitchers deal with these situations where they can hardly hear themselves think.  Moyer […]

The cross-over myth of base running

Virtually every player and coach I know (this includes me) was taught that the first movement on a steal attempt is to throw your entire left side towards second base and cross the left foot over the right one.  Any half-step or backwards step by the lead foot was considered a waste of time that […]

Old school is becoming New School

I’m told it was Bobby Knight who said “I’m so old school that I’m new school.”  Although the Bobby Knights of the coaching world may never come back completely, there does seem to be more and more research coming out that discredits much of what we would consider “New School.”  And that’s a good thing. […]

Tips and drills for getting the most out of your throwing arm

I’ve done many years of instructing and in my opinion, reteaching a young player how to throw properly is by far the hardest thing to change.  Today’s video passes on some tips and drills that hopefully can result in more players learning the proper throwing motion.  Obviously, the sooner they address these throwing issues the better.  […]

Baseball and the OODA Loop

September 1st of last week was the anniversary of the start of World War II.  After the war officially ended, a young man by the name of John Boyd enlisted into the Army out of high school and later entered the Air Force after college.  Little did people know that Boyd would go on to […]

Correction

Welcome to another week everyone!   I need to make a correction on a video I posted a little while ago.  The post was called Footwork for holding runners at first base.  In the video I mentioned that according to the rules, the only player who is allowed to be in foul territory is the catcher. […]

Upset at your grounds crew?

This was not supposed to be the post for today but I thought I’d pass on an article a good friend sent me.  It will give you a pretty good laugh heading into the weekend. This is for the coaches out there who get frustrated at the lack of concern on the part of many […]

Young players and their eyes

I regularly get questions from first time coaches at the younger levels asking basic questions about the game.  This leads me to wonder if my tips and techniques that I write about and show in my videos are too advanced for these beginners.  If you fall into that category of a novice baseball parent or coach then […]

Improve your practices with “Contextual Interference”

Psychologists have long wondered how people learn and remember things.  Teachers as well as coaches also have an incentive to find those answers.  Often what we do in the classroom and on the field is geared towards teaching new information with the goal of long-term retention.  Unfortunately, lots of psychological studies seem to indicate that […]

The first-move steal play for first basemen

Today’s video tip is again for first basemen.  It involves the play where a runner on first base breaks to steal on the first movement of the pitcher – usually a left hander.  Getting the ball quickly and creating the best angle possible in the goal. Tomorrow’s post:  Improve your practices with “Contextual Interference”

Footwork for holding runners at first base

Happy Labor Day!  On that note … why don’t we have a “Capital Day” to commemorate all the entrepreneurs and business owners who risked their own capital to start businesses that turned into those jobs?  I’m just sayin’. Anyway … when you watch first basemen at the major league level, you are bound to see a […]

Square up to the thrower on double plays

Today’s video tip is for younger middle infielders who are just starting to learn how to turn a double play.  Older, more experienced middle infielders will need to make the play faster.  As a result, their fundamentals necessary to make the play are a little different and more advanced. The video makes it as basic […]

The double peek

There aren’t many non-negotiables in baseball.  Always hustling is one of them.  Respecting the game is another.  There is also one for middle infielders.  Here is the non-negotiable rule whenever there is a runner on first base… One every single pitch no matter how many outs there are, what the score is, or what inning […]

Teach the wall how to play baseball

If you ever took a psychology class you probably did a unit on learning and maybe another on memory.  I cover both in my AP Psych classes.   There are many concepts within both units that could help baseball players learn the game quicker but I’ll focus on just one – use as many senses […]

How to hit vs How to swing

With organized baseball the way it is today – AAU, baseball academies, private instructors, showcases, etc. – there are now tons of kids who can provide a thorough explanation of how to swing a bat.  Unfortunately, knowing how to swing is not the same as knowing how to hit. Knowing how to swing basically means […]

Assume the lead runner on a bunt play

Today’s video tip is for pitchers who would like to do a better job fielding bunts.  There are a bunch of little things that go into each type of bunt situation but if pitchers do the tip described in the video they will start with the proper mindset right from the beginning. Tomorrow’s post:  How to […]

Drop your shoulder at each base

My hometown Phillies have some players who can really run.  Ben Revere, Jimmy Rollins, and Domonic Brown all have “plus speed.”  But if you ask a scout who the best base runner is on the Phillies, every single one of them will say Chase Utley.  How can this be? Chase Utley has average speed for […]

Ankle weight drill for batters

Every hitter in baseball struggles with at least one mechanical thing during their career.  For some it may be consistently keeping their hands inside the ball.  For others it may be consistently staying on top of the ball.  For me it was lunging.  Over my entire career I struggled with keeping my body back and […]

Should a catcher angle his body when receiving?

The title of this post is a question I have received a couple times concerning catchers.  Today’s video tip is my answer. Tomorrow’s post:  Ankle weight drill for batters

Letting the ball get deep vs Hitting the ball out front

A friend and former teammate of mine is doing pretty well for himself in the instructional world of baseball.  His coaching experience (including USA baseball), his hitting clients (several major leaguers), his website, and now online radio show has grown more popular and I couldn’t be happier for him.  Kevin Wilson knows hitting and high […]

Glove on the hip for safety and control

There is no one way to play the game of baseball.  Every hitter is going to be unique in some way with regards to stance, hand position, etc.  The same thing goes for pitching.  Arm angles, grips, and overall deliveries will vary a bit from pitcher to pitcher. That being said, there are some “non-negotiables” […]

Angle for third basemen on bunts

Probably the toughest thing about being a third baseman is dealing with bunt plays.  When there is a runner on first and the batter bunts, it’s pretty simple.  You and the pitcher go for the ball if it is bunted to the third base side and whoever doesn’t field it runs to cover third base. […]

Load and stride to the inside of your feet

One of the basic principles of baseball is that it is played “from the ground up.”  By that I mean that if your feet are not in the right position at the right time, your chances of success in the game are pretty slim. Many hitters think (or at least their swings indicate that) hitting […]

Grab your shirt to check your hands

When working with hitters of all ages, one of the little problems that I end up tweaking a lot is where their hands are in their stance, especially after the stride.  When hitters stride, their hands need to be fairly close to their back shoulder in order to keep the hands inside the baseball during […]

A warning from Dr. Andrews

Throughout my coaching career I have strongly encouraged my players to NOT play baseball year-round.  Playing other sports makes a player a more well-rounded athlete, often makes them more well-rounded socially as well because they are interacting with other people, and it also gives their baseball muscles (especially arms!) and chance to recover. Repetitive motion […]

What does “palm up” mean when hitting?

There are so many cliches and slogans in the game of baseball that someone new to the sport, either as a fan or a coach, can often be overwhelmed and confused at what they hear.  I’ve written before that baseball coaches, instructors, and speakers often make the mistake of assuming their audience is on their […]

Video – Another option for catchers on throws to third base

The throw to third base for catchers is not an easy one when there is a right handed batter standing in the batter’s box.  To deal with this problem, catchers should NOT … Step in front of the the batter towards the mound and then make the throw to third base. Throw over the head […]

Rethinking ice therapy

My father was a public school health/PE teacher for 42 years.  Because of that, since I was little I can remember hearing about RICE.  RICE is an acronym for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation.  If you twist an ankle you use RICE to help get you back on the playing field faster. Or so we […]

Video – Agility rings for baseball

I’ve always said that if you want to become a better baseball player then you have to focus on improving your footwork.  It doesn’t matter what part of the game you are talking about – hitting, pitching, fielding, base running, etc. – if your feet are not in the right place at the right time, […]

Tony Gwynn’s basics of hitting

I was very sad to hear of the passing of Tony Gwynn not too long ago.  Growing up in the game, he was one of my idols.  I watched him every chance I could get and tried to read everything he wrote and said about hitting.  I must have read George Will’s chapter on him […]

The importance of framing

Anyone who says a good receiver behind the plate is overrated has probably never had a good one.  I personally have thrown to many catchers in my day and believe me, a good receiver is worth his weight in gold.  That’s why a good receiver can hit under .250 and spend many years in the […]

Games with no coaches

A couple weeks ago I was listening to John Kruk talk during one of the ESPN games.  He mentioned he had a conversation with the head coach of Princeton University who told him that he frequently has Fall games where coaches do nothing but watch.  I’ve done that several times myself with my high school […]

Derek Jeter says he wasn’t great. So what was he?

This year’s lead-up to the MLB All-Star Game had several tribute stories about Derek Jeter.  One was an interview where the interviewer described Jeter as “great.”  Jeter responded by saying, “I am not great.  I’ve had confidence in myself and I was consistent.  I also worked very, very hard”   A simple description that says […]

Staying home for college

Quick … tell me what all of the following players have in common. Matt Adams Todd Frazier Craig Biggio Mo Vaughn Ryan Vogelsong Tommy Herr Dave Winfield Bobby Higginson Charles Nagy George Springer Jamie Moyer Doug Glanville Mark DeRosa Joe Nathan Jeff Bagwell John Franco Answer:  They all were players who stayed up North to attend […]

High energy players

We are approaching the dog days of summer when the heat and humidity tends to peak.  Most players’ bodies are screaming for a vacation right about now.  Most players’ bodies desperately want a few days off.  Maybe a solid three days of rainouts to let the body rest. I took my son to a local […]

Swing until my eyes tell me NO

Aggressiveness at the plate is a tough thing to teach.  It seems like some hitters are just not very interested in swinging the bat.  “I’m swinging if it’s a strike” is a common phrase that I am not too fond of.  I believe it can lead to this kind of tentativeness.  An alternate, more aggressive, saying is “swing […]

Good news for players with great make-up

There seems to be a change happening in baseball.  At least for one team anyway and I couldn’t be happier. We’ve all seen players with incredible make-up (character, work ethic, intensity, energy, optimism, etc.) who were not blessed with incredible physical ability.  Scouts may not drool over these kids but those in the coaching world […]

Cliff Notes and watching baseball

Be honest … how many of you used Cliff Notes instead of reading the entire book in high school English class?  I did.  In my eyes, being forced to read about a big whale or some old guy and the sea were clearly examples of cruel and unusual punishment.  I’d rather take some swings outside. […]

Five foot what?

Just a few players among the MLB stat leaders as of today …  Troy Tulowitzki, 6-3, 215 lbs., currently batting .352 Miguel Cabrera, 6-4, 240 lbs, .325, 64 RBI’s Matt Adams, 6-3, 230 lbs., .328 Mike Trout, 6-2, 230 lbs, 58 RBI’s Adam Wainwright, 6-7, 228 lbs, 2.01 ERA Giancarlo Stanton, 6-6, 240 lbs., 21 […]

Little kids SHOULD imitate major leaguers

When you were growing up, how many times did you play Wiffle ball or stick ball and pretend to be major leaguers?  It was a daily occurrence for me and my friends.  If I was the Phillies I would try to bat exactly like Mike Schmidt, Pete Rose, Gary Maddox, Larry Bowa, and Manny Trillo. […]

Random tips for summer ball

To me, there was nothing better than summer ball.  I woke up and other than some chores around the house, the day was just about baseball.  No school and no homework.  Just baseball. Although every level of summer ball was fun for me, it wasn’t always easy.  The heat and humidity along with multiple games […]

Underhand and backhand flips to second base

You would think a ten foot underhand or backhand toss would be a gimmie but of course, anytime a throw is made you never know what will happen. The success of a double play largely depends on how fast and how accurate the feed to the guy at second base is made.  There are certainly […]

Hey base stealers, steal early in the count

When I played in college and pro ball I was a stereotypical two hitter in the line-up.  I switched hit, had descent speed, used the whole field, and could sac bunt, base hit bunt, and hit and run pretty well.  I also didn’t mind taking a pitch or two.  And as you get to the […]

Ways that pitchers can stop wasting time

The length of major league games has gotten out of hand.  And it’s not just the players’ fault.  TV commercials play a huge role in lengthening the games because innings are not allowed to start until the time for commercials is finished.  That’s why it takes forever for MLB players to get out of the […]

Things pitchers do that drive their teammates nuts

Pitchers are a different breed.  Lefties are a whole different species but that’s for another post. You wouldn’t be able to tell below the college level because most pitchers at those younger levels play other positions besides just pitch and therefore still have a little bit of “normal” in the ole noggin.  But something clearly […]

Keep your hands strong

Up until about the 1980’s, weight training was considered to be not very productive for baseball players.  Old time players felt lifting weights tightened up their bodies too much and didn’t prepare them for the functional flexibility required for running the bases and throwing a baseball.  When you look at all of today’s arm injuries […]

Baseball Hardware vs Baseball Software

The 2014 MLB Amateur Draft has ended and hundreds of young men are probably thrilled beyond belief.  I know I was back in 1989.  When I got the call from the Twins organization that they had selected me, I hung up the phone after the conversation and just stood there in silence for a few […]

Recognize abnormal

When a coach or player is said to have good instincts, there are many things one can point to as proof.  In my opinion, most of it involves good “situational awareness.”  In other words, a good sense of what is happening around them.  A mother “with eyes on the back of her head” is an […]

The 20 yard dash

The 60 yard dash has been a pretty standard event at virtually every showcase and tryout for many years now.  How fast a player can run for that distance is not a bad indicator of overall athleticism but in my opinion it has some functional problems.  A player can go his entire career and not […]

What is your “fast average” ?

If a batter with no speed bats .300 and a batter who can fly hits the same .300, who is the better hitter?  My answer would be the batter with no speed.  That’s because virtually none of his hits are going to be a result of running speed.  He must hit his way on base.  A fast […]

Should I basehit bunt to 1st or 3rd?

When deciding whether or not to try a base hit bunt, hitters have to take a number of variables into account.  The score, the number of outs, the inning, where you are in the line-up, how many runners are on base, who is pitching, and where the first and third basemen are playing all play […]

Bump your glove if you are a beginning pitcher

My son recently finished his first year of kid-pitch baseball.  Actually, it was a mixture of coach and kid pitch depending on how many kids pitched and how many strikes they threw.  The two most common tips I gave our pitchers (and the other teams’ as well) was to bring the leg kick up higher […]

You shouldn’t be getting thrown out of games

A few weeks ago I was chatting with a few higher-ups of a local little league organization.  They were lamenting about the intrusive role of some parents in the organization.  They felt something more needed to be done to temper their behavior during games.  The conversation eventually swung around to umpires and one of them […]

People don’t like to be pushed

If you ask someone in the older generation to describe their best teacher or coach you will often get a response something like this … “He pushed me farther than I thought I could go and never let me take the easy road.  He demanded 100% effort at all times and never accepted any excuses.  Honestly, I couldn’t […]

Running at a runner

We’ve all seen a situation where a runner gets caught off a base and proceeds to get into a rundown.  It could have been the result of a pickoff play or maybe just rounded a bag too far and got caught in between bases.  When runners make this kind of mistake, it is extrememly important […]

Why the less talented player starts over you

Go to any bar in America and you are bound to come across someone who played high school baseball.   If the guy was not a starter, the #1 reason given will be “because the coach hated me.”  Now go to any coaches convention and survey all the coaches to see what their reasons were for playing one kid over […]

Playing behind the runner at first base

Here are my situations when playing behind the runner at first base is either the right move or at least a possibility: A runner on second or second and third as well.  This is one of the few absolutes in baseball.  DO NOT have your first baseman hold the runner on when there is also […]

Assessing a rough season

As the high school/community season ends and the summer season starts, it’s important to assess how things have gone so far and decide how to precede the rest of the way.  Hopefully things have gone well up until now.  If that’s the case, keep doing what you are doing!  If not, you really should do […]

Coach of the Year

In my area (Philadelphia), high school playoffs have begun so for most teams, their seasons are either over or soon will be.  In my local and regional newspapers, all-league selections are starting to appear from the various public and private leagues.  Soon, various Coach of the Year awards will be handed out as well. During […]

Teach it to learn it

For you teachers out there, you know very well that the quickest way to learn something is to have to teach it.  That’s because to teach it effectively you have to know the material inside and out.  You also have to know different ways of explaining it in case you get the dreaded question “I […]

Give your teammates a breather

The other day I saw a high school pitcher make this mistake and I thought others could learn from it as well.  A batter hit a fly ball far down the right field line.  The right fielder busted his butt trying to get to the area and make the catch but the ball was too […]

Fake pickoffs to second base

As pitchers get older and runners are able to steal, the ability to hold runners becomes more important.  What a lot of young pitchers fail to realize is that holding runners does not have to mean picking runners off. I’m a big fan of pickoffs and think pitchers often overlook that possibility during games but […]

Don’t rely on teammates

The title of this post may seem a little strange on the surface since the essense of teamwork is working together and relying on your teammates.  However, relying too much on teammates can cause some problems and prevent players from efficiently making plays.  Here are three examples: 1. On a relay throw to the third […]

How to watch pitchers warm up

In yesterday’s post I mentioned how often I notice pitchers not throwing from the stretch until they are in the game.  Of course, you notice that by watching the pitchers warm-up.  A great habit to get into as a player is to pay very close attention to the guy you are about to face.  Unfortunately, […]

Throw from the stretch!

With my kids’ activities and teaching all day I do not have a lot of time to head off to a field to watch a lot of high school games.  In fact, I only managed to see three so far and for each one I only was able to stay the first couple innings.  That’s […]

How to give a pitchout sign

In just about all levels of baseball, the catcher’s sign for the pitchout is the fist.  The catcher gets the sign from the coach, he puts the fist down, and the pitcher complies.  Pretty simple. When you get to the higher levels, however, this simplicity can make it easier for the other team (or base […]

How to throw into the wind

When you are playing the infield, another of the many challenges you may face is a stiff wind coming directly from first base.  That means every throw to first you make is going to be straight into the wind.  That can pose a problem with velocity and accuracy if you don’t handle it appropriately.  No […]

Defense for beginners – The Three B’s

My son asked me to help out again with his 7 year old team this season.  Another dad who is helping out threw a phrase at the kids the other day that I had never heard off before.  He told them of the “Three B’s of Defense.”  Before getting into what that means, let me […]

Don’t turn your back

This quick tip is for middle infielders. When there are runners on base, especially third base, it is common for one or both middle infielders to back up the throw coming back to the pitcher from the catcher after the pitch.  However, very often the middle infielder(s) will make a basic mistake when returning to their […]

Does your swing match your thinking?

There is a runner on third base with less than two outs.  The infield is back.  All your slap hitter needs to do is to put the ball in play on the ground and you get a run.  What does he do?  He drops his back shoulder, loops way under the ball, and pops it up […]

How to talk to reporters

About a week ago I was flipping through the sports channels and came across a story about a AA closer who throws it up there around 100mph.  During the course of the interview he basically said the following:  (paraphrased, but not much) “I don’t have to throw my hardest to put it past hitters.” “When […]

Infield drills eBook

I’m proud to announce another eBook I’ve created!  This one is for Infield Drills.  It has 40 drills that improve all areas of defensive fundamentals whether you are dealing with beginners or advanced players.  All for the price of $4.99.  I even throw in 10 more bonus drills for FREE.  That’s 50 drills for under […]

You may not need a breaking ball

I’d be rich if I got a nickel for every young pitcher who said they had 5 or more pitches.  I’ve even heard it from parents as well.  I don’t want to embarrass them with my response so usually I laugh in my head.  I laugh because in most cases the kid has 5 or […]

You better learn how to laugh

We’ve all been there.  Young players at all levels will drive you nuts.  How many of you CAN’T say that the following things happened in one of your games: You scratch and claw to get back into the game only to have your pitcher walk the next three batters he faces. With runners on 2nd and […]

Hit it far or hit it hard?

This year, my son once again asked if I could help coach his 7 year old team.  I’m one of the assistants.  When it comes to hitting, I’ve found myself recently saying, “hit the ball far, guys.”  I started the season using my standard phrase “hit it hard.”  I think I started to use “far” because […]

Middle infield mistake when breaking to second base

I had the pleasure of checking out a high school game last week.  It’s great to get outside and enjoy some warm weather for a change and it also gives me a long list of ideas for future posts!  Here’s one. When covering second base on a steal, both middle infielders should not be breaking […]

What does pitchability mean?

A lot of players and their parents ask how important velocity is to college coaches and pro scouts.  If you listen to the answers, you’ll probably hear something like this … “A pitcher needs to show that he has enough velocity to get college/pro hitters out.  Certainly, more velocity is better than less velocity since […]

Slow is smooth, smooth is fast

I’ve often told players that if they cannot perform a task (fielding, hitting, pitching, etc.) in slow motion then they will never be able to do it in regular speed.  Because of this, I’m a firm believer in players practicing (on their own) their mechanics in slow motion.  When they are performed in slow motion, […]

Tell them they need good vision

Did you know that studies have revealed that telling someone they need good vision to perform a particular task can actually improve their vision?  It’s true.  Here’s how one study worked.  The experimenters organized two randomly selected groups of Air Force ROTC students at a university. All members in both groups took a standard eye test.  […]

Young arms – overuse and specialization

There has been quite a debate raging in the game of baseball as to what is causing all the arm injuries. Before going any farther, look at the following photo and consider this scenario.  You are 16 years old and at a showcase.  Every coach you’ve ever had has tried to convince you that location is more […]

Balance and the brain in baseball

The human body is an incredible machine.  Take balance as an example.  When we perform a task such as walking, our body and brain are performing an amazing number of things to make sure we stay in balance.  Balance is so central to our functioning that our body and brain takes care of it all […]

No reflexive swings

I am very fortunate in that, for whatever reason, I throw a pretty mean batting practice.  Tons of strikes, same speed, same location, and easy to see and hit.  At least that’s what I’m told.  If you fall in that category, congratulations.  If you are not in that camp, don’t feel bad.  Some of the […]

Two out close plays at first base

Here’s the situation … runner on second base with two outs.  A ball is hit to an infielder who bobbles it and throws to first base.  The play at first will be a bang-bang play. If the runner is out, it’s inning over.  If the runner is safe, there is a very good chance the […]

Keep the batter off second base

In yesterday’s post I described a strategy geared towards outfielders to avoid giving up extra base hits late in the game when your team is ahead by just a run or two.  Today’s post is another common strategy also geared towards outfielders.  This strategy is to make sure the opposing team has a harder time […]

Pinch on passed balls at home plate

Today’s post is a tip for middle infielders and for coaches who are looking for another one of those little things to pass on to their players.  It involves a passed ball or wild pitch that goes to the backstop when there is a runner on third base and at least one other at 1st […]

You are working too hard

When I first started teaching about 20 years ago, a department chairperson who observed my teaching said she liked my style and methods but felt I was working too hard.  I didn’t quite know how to take that.  I thought working hard was the point.  When she said it again after another observation, I told […]

Addition by subtraction

In my neck of the woods (Philadelphia area) there has been a lot of talk recently about the Eagles outright releasing wide receiver Desean Jackson.  Critics of the move have focused on a number of things but the big one tends to be that they (the Eagles) got rid of a highly talented player and […]

Mr. and Mrs. Parent

Here’s a quick tip that can avoid some problems down the road – don’t call parents by their first names. Inevitably, when you coach a team, you will know some of the kids’ parents better than others.  You may know them outside of baseball.  You may have grown up with them.  You may have coached their other […]

Getting a ton of infield reps – Part 2

In Part 1 I explained how to get a bunch of reps pretty quickly for your infielders.  I usually did it at the start of practices but it could certainly be done anytime you see fit.  Today I’ll show how this basic concept can be expanded into a full-blown infield activity that works on a ton of […]

Getting a ton of infield reps – Part 1

When I ran outdoor high school practices, virtually every one started with defensive reps.  I felt our ability to hit largely depended who was pitching against us but if we worked hard at the footwork and fundamentals to fielding then that side of the ball would/should remain consistently good. The way I started involved rapid […]

Practice in uniform

At my high school, us teachers have to chaperone two events during the school year as per our contract.  This year I am chaperoning the senior prom again which counts as my two because of the amount of time involved.  To many, spending most of a Saturday night with about 1,000 teenagers seems like torture. […]

A lot can be seen in one play at first base

Take a look at the brief video clip I ran into online.  Click on the photo below and then keep clicking the refresh button to see it over again.  Then come back to the post to read further. It only takes a few seconds to watch the clip but there are several things in the […]

Pitchers – Are you a head-snap or glove guy?

A huge part of being a great base stealer is being able to quickly recognize opportunities that increase your chances to be safe.  Examples include a catcher with a weak arm, middle infielders that are positioned too far from the bag, and a slow delivery to home plate.  Another big example involves what the pitcher […]

10 strikes a game

Here is a quick tip/goal for catchers … Challenge yourself to get your pitcher 10 more strikes a game. To accomplish this, catchers need to be good in the following areas: Keeping movements behind the plate to a minimum. Beat the ball to its location so you can catch with the glove moving inward. Have […]

Breaking down Anatomy of a Pitch

In yesterday’s post I provided a link to a piece on the ESPN/MLB website called Anatomy of a Pitch.  If you have not been through the short videos of the Diamondback pitchers involved, I hope you do.  It’s tremendous. When I watched the videos and listened to the pitchers talk, a number of things jumped […]

Anatomy of a pitch

I saw this link yesterday on ESPN/MLB and just had to share it.  The link is below.  Click on a pitcher and run through all the video of the featured pitchers from the Diamonbacks and watch their deliveries.  Even more important, listen to their explanations as to what their own keys need to be for […]

Poor weather practices

I remember playing a AA game way back in 1992 in Huntsville, AL.  It was early April and it was very cold in Huntsville.  The temperature was in the mid-40’s around game time.  After spending a month in spring training in warm temperatures, that series in Huntsville was not a picnic. I remember seeing teammates […]

The Back Hip Tee Drill

Today’s video tip is a drill I did quite a bit to help keep me back and prevent me from jumping or lunging at the pitch.  It’s also good for opposite field hitting. Tomorrow’s post:  Poor weather practices

Give signs early and often

Last week I posted a video for coaches about the do’s and don’ts of giving signs at third base.  If you have not seen it, you can click HERE or go to the VIDEOS page and see it there. Another tip when giving signs is to give all your signs early and often.  By that […]

I’ll be there

“I’ll be there” is one of those phrases I loved to hear my pitchers and infielders say throughout the game.  Here are the situations when I wanted to hear it from them. Left handed hitter walks to the plate.  Pitcher turns to the first baseman and says “Ball hit to you, I’ll be there.“ Two […]

Some Do’s and Don’ts of giving signs at third base

All third base coaches are going to have their own methods for giving signs.  This post is not meant to tell anyone what their signs should and should not be.  That’s up to each and every coach.  This video post is meant to pass on some do’s and don’ts I either learned the hard way […]

Breaking games up into sets

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!! The other day I was watching a spring training game on TV.  Orel Hershiser and the other announcer were talking about how the pitcher in the game had a history of giving up runs early before settling down.  The other announcer asked Hershiser how he personally dealt with giving up a […]

Giving signs after pickoffs

Picture this … A coach gives a sign to a runner at first base to steal on the next pitch.  The pitcher comes set and goes to first with a pickoff attempt.  The runner flinches towards second initially but then gets back to the bag safely.  Of course, everyone now knows he was stealing.  What […]

The charging backhand play

There are some videos that I make that are geared for players and coaches at the lower levels.  This is not one of them. Today’s video tip is for more advanced levels and involves one of the more difficult plays in all of baseball, especially for shortstops since after the catch they will most often […]

Hey coaches, show some hustle

  I don’t think there is a baseball coach on the planet who would say they didn’t care if their players hustled.  But how many of those coaches show some hustle of their own?  Sadly, I don’t see much.  I get sick to my stomach when I see young players walk onto a baseball field. […]

Carry the ball with you

When I work with older infielders (middle schoolers on up), the very first thing I often address is the need to get to the right of the ball on the approach.  I’ve done a few written posts and some videos that deal with that very concept but today I wanted to provide another reason why […]

Let them know in advance

Today’s post is a tip for third base coaches.  I recently filmed a short video about the do’s and don’ts for third base coaches when giving signs to players (this should be posted within a week or so).  One thing I didn’t mention is that sometimes there will be no need to give a sign […]

Tag plays and collisions at home plate

You are probably aware of the new MLB rule that attempts to ban collisions at home plate.  There has been a lot of discussion about the pros and cons of the rule and whether it will actually work.  I see validity on both sides but all things considered, I like the rule. My worry, however, […]

Level of mastery

I’ve always felt that if a player will be expected to do something in a game then it’s up to me as a coach to make sure he does it in practice.  In reality though, that’s still not enough.  On top of that, I need to make sure he masters it in practice. During times […]

Short fungo drill

I have to admit that watching a coach who cannot hit with a fungo is pretty comical.  It’s something that takes some coordination and quite a bit of practice so I don’t mean to imply that it’s easy and should be mastered by everyone.   If you find yourself among the fungo-challenged then there is […]

Young hitters and loading up for safety

When coaching young newbies in the game, safety becomes a large part of your focus.  In the eyes of these coaches, if everyone goes home without blood on their uniform, it was a good day.  Coaching older players is a bit different.  Safety is not as much of a concern so you can afford to spend […]

Repost: Pre-season checklists

About this time last year I posted a set of checklists for coaches so that they can better plan their practices at the start of the season.  It was a very popular post in terms of readership so I thought I would re-post them for new readers who may not have seen them.  Each list […]

Drill tutorials

At the beginning of the season, coaches want to pack in as many drills as possible before games begin.   They have a ton to cover and not much time to work with.  Because of the rush, coaches often don’t take the time to teach and/or review how to specifically and correctly perform each drill. […]

The importance of learning to run the bases

Every year that I coached at the high school level I would start the season teaching my players how to correctly run the bases.  It literally was the very first thing we would do at the start of the very first practice after the teams are picked.  I’d take them around the bases stopping at […]

It’s time to train for speed!

In my neck of the woods, players have about one or two more weeks before their school tryouts begin.  Hopefully, players have been training their bodies over the last several months to prepare.   During these months players usually train to improve their overall size and strength.  With a couple weeks left to go, players […]

A tip for infielders as the offseason winds down

High school baseball in my area will be starting within the next two weeks.  Individual players and teams have been working out to prepare but in the Northeast those workouts have overwhelmingly been indoors.  The problem with that is that no matter how you work out indoors, it just isn’t the same as being outdoors. […]

Take two aspirin and …

One of the many challenges of being a teacher is dealing with the common question “I don’t get it.”  The challenge involves quickly coming up with another explanation, another analogy, a different phrase or set of words, etc. that the student can relate to in order to get them to understand the content.  Saying “Sorry, […]

Dugout cards: Helping batters improve their approach

Here are a few situations that I guarantee will get your coaching blood pressure up: A hard thrower enters the game for the other team and proceeds to throw every warm-up pitch high and out of the strike zone.  Your first batter swings and misses at the first pitch that is at his shoulders. A […]

A college coach’s letter about showcases

About a year ago I wrote a post called the Showcase Dance.  I was somewhat critical of the ratings players get at these showcases and more importantly, how some players and parents interpret those numbers.  If you have not read that post, click HERE. The video below proves I’m not the only one who thinks […]

Tryouts: Know what an eight looks like

For most high school programs (all in Pennsylvania), tryouts are not too far away.  Programs all have their own way of evaluating players.  Having multiple coaches involved helps in terms of management but one challenge with using multiple coaches is that not every one of them evaluates players the same way.  Two coaches can see […]

The Belly Button hitting drill

A big thank you for all of you who have supported the site by purchasing my latest eBook “Time to hit!  50 drills to improve your hitting.“  You purchases go a long way in keeping the site ad free!  If you still would like to, you can access purchasing information HERE.  Info will always be […]

eBook: 50 Hitting Drills!

I am very pleased to announce my first paid product for the website!  It’s another eBook and this time it’s for Hitting!  It’s called Time to Hit!  Information about the eBook is below.  Thanks in advance to all who support the site by purchasing the eBook.  Your purchases will go a long way in making […]

Catchers – Learn from your pain

Although catching was never my primary position, I’ve done enough of it in games to know that it is tough on the body.  Foul tips off the shoulder and thighs, bouncing balls into your forearms, collisions at the plate, and many other painful events make catching a position many kids want to avoid. For those […]

Sweet 16: Warm-up drills for fielding

When you work with infielders indoors, you run into the problems of space and time.  You rarely have all the space you’d like and you never have enough time.  Below is a listing of fielding drills that I often do in progression to keep everyone moving and get them to focused on the core fundamentals […]

How to take a lead off second base

This video post is in response to a question sent to me by a reader who asked where his runners should be when they take leads off second base.  I may have done a written post on this a while back but I thought a video would help.  As you’ll see, where you take a […]

Catchers: Sway to the ball or reach?

The primary job for all catchers is to get more strikes for their pitchers.  As a result, the technique involved in receiving pitches is something catchers cannot practice enough. One debate among catching people is whether or not a catcher should reach for the pitch or sway to the pitch.  In today’s video post I […]

An easy split finger / change-up

One of the challenges that young pitchers have is how to get the ball to move.  When I say move, I don’t mean velocity.  I’m talking about getting the ball to “tail,” “run,” and/or “sink.”  A pitch with movement is almost always harder to hit than a straight pitch.  I know.  My fastball was basically […]

How to make a batting tee

To see plans and Part 2 of this post, click HERE. A reader recently sent me an idea for homemade batting tees that he uses quite successfully at the high school level.  With his permission I am posting his comments along with the photos he sent me.  It appears as if his tees are well […]

The backside connection to hitting

Good hitters have a lot in common.  They may have very different stances, hand positions, barrel path, and follow through but in some very key areas they are virtually all the same.  One of these areas (actually made up of four separate things) is the backside connection on the swing. When good hitters swing, pay […]

Signal options for catchers

Yesterday’s post was about catchers giving signals during throwing sessions.  I thought I’d give a few options for catchers when it comes to giving signs. The options below are generally done when there is a runner at second base.  You mix the signs up so that the runner will not know what the pitch will […]

Throwing with signals

 Here’s a quick suggestion for pitchers and catchers now that the throwing season is starting up: When pitchers start throwing from a mound, have them get a sign from the catcher first.  Even if all they are throwing is fastballs.  Here are three reasons: This is what they are going to have to do during […]

Cold weather gear for baseball

As I type this post, the low temperature for this evening is 2.  No, that’s not a misprint.  For those in the warm states, there is not supposed to be a 7 or an 8 before the 2.  Just 2 degrees.  Tomorrow is supposed to improve dramatically and be six times as hot.  12 degrees. […]

Adrenaline dumps

In stressful situations, the body dumps adrenaline and noradrenaline into the bloodstream.  Both are extremely powerful hormones that basically get our body ready to fight.  Our heart rate increases, our blood pressure goes up, our breathing becomes more rapid, our analytical mind is less effective, etc.   The problem is that the body does not […]

Do your players all make the same mistake?

If you are a teacher, put your teaching hat on for a moment.  If you are not, put yourself back in that high school desk.  A test is given and the scores are typical.  A couple students didn’t study and did horribly.  A few rock stars got close to 100% and everyone else fell somewhere […]

Developing a hitting rhythm

If you watch a Major League hitter bat and then wait another month before you see him hit again, you might notice something.  Both at-bats will look exactly the same.  I don’t mean the outcomes will be the same.  I mean the load up – stride – swing – follow through will look exactly the […]

When – Then

Take a look at the following questions and see which one gets your attention a bit quicker. If a fire should ever occur in your house then what are you going to do? When the fire starts tomorrow in your house then what are you going to do? I bet it’s the second one.  Why? […]

The four D’s of defense – Part 2

In yesterday’s post I briefly touched on the four D’s of defense – Deter, Detect, Delay, and Defend – as described by many people in the personal and home defense industry.  I then applied those concepts to baseball.  Today I’d like to focus more attention on the last D because it is something a lot […]

The four D’s of defense – Part 1

If you listen to personal or home defense experts, you will probably hear about the four D’s of defense.  They are Deter, Detect, Delay, and Defend.  In Part 1 of this post I will quickly address all four.  In Part 2 I will expand on the last one in more detail. As a baseball player […]

Training AND Practice

People often use the terms training and practice interchangeably.  They are not the same thing.   If you are involved in a training session, you are receiving new information and ideas, probably from an expert of some kind.  When you try out those new methods and/or mechanics, you are doing so under the watchful eyes […]

Free eBook: Stuck Inside – A coach’s guide to KILLER indoor practices

If you were a subscriber to the site as of about a month ago, you probably received this free eBook I wrote.  If you are not a subscriber, that is the benefit of becoming one.  When I create things like this, subscribers generally get them first. Here it is for everyone.  With the colder months […]

Like trying to push a rope

In yesterday’s post I wrote about the value of doing things at half-speed to teach your body and brain the basic fundamentals.  Related to that is a saying that I think is helpful in getting players to buy into the “half-speed” concept.  The saying is “trying to push a rope.” Of course, you cannot push […]

Training at half speed

After the winter holidays is when many players and teams start to train for the upcoming season.  Private lessons increase and indoor facilities start to pick up the pace a little with teams looking for some space. Most players and teams  want to jump right in and go at their workouts full speed.  It’s understandable […]

Navy Seals and personal instruction

Like many guys, I am a sucker for anything Special Forces.  If there is a show on about their training or actual missions then I am glued to the TV.  I recently surfed around the iTunes podcast section and came across a podcast where the host was talking about how Navy Seals train.  In short, […]

Peak at the right time

Happy New Year everyone!  I had a nice break and I hope you and your families did as well. At this point in the off-season, baseball players and coaches should be mapping out a game-plan for the next couple months so that they are at full strength when the season starts.  This starts with getting […]

No dimmer switches

In my house, like many houses, I have several dimmer switches that regulate how much light I want turned on.  These are great for homes but not so good for a player’s mentality on the field.  Unfortunately, many players play the game with a “dimmer switch” mentality.  In short, they are constantly stuck in between.  […]

Check for athleticism with a medicine ball

The other day I wrote a post about the importance of being athletic.  To read the post, click HERE. A reader asked in the comment section how a coach could drill for the things I mentioned in the post.  Below is my response.  I figured my response could be of benefit to everyone. Hi Coach […]

Baseball By Bruce Lee

“Advanced skills are the basics mastered.”  – Bruce Lee There are no gimmicks in baseball.  Everything we know about the game probably originated in the first 50 years of the sport.  I mean, how many ways can you really hold a curve ball? As the saying goes…  “If you want to learn something new, read […]

Never get picked off on a snap throw again

One of the Cardinal Sins of baseball is getting picked off after the pitch.  In today’s video tip you will learn the three things all runners should do so that they never get picked after a pitch.

Be athletic

If I had the ability to sprinkle pixie dust on any player and immediately change something, I think most times it would be to get the player to be more athletic in everything they do.  I’m not talking about improving their natural, God given athleticism. I’m talking about making sure every player becomes athletic before […]

Finish high and let it fly

The title of this post – “Finish high and let it fly” – is a popular phrase among hitters.  The thought is that why you finish with your hand(s) high after the swing, the batter will get more power.  I’m not so sure about that but if it works for someone, by all means do […]

Angry hips

When I see young players hit, the biggest problem with regards to not hitting the ball with authority is an inability to use their midsection.  The strongest muscles in our body are located from the top of our knees to our chest.  That’s why core training is so important to developing good hitters.  If you […]

Video: The Drop-Step Pitching Drill

Today’s video tip was a request from a reader who asked about a post a few weeks back.  In the post, I showed a video of Peyton Manning teaching quarterbacks how to drop back and throw a pass.  As I mentioned, the drill is also good for pitchers with regards to staying on their line. […]

Leads and snap throws to third base

When you see a major league catcher attempt a snap throw pickoff  to any base, you can assume somebody saw something that led to the play.  The third baseman may have noticed the type of lead the runner on third took during the pitch.  Someone on the bench may have noticed something else.  Whatever the […]

Checking the runner at third base

For some reason, I screwed up this tip more times than I can remember.  I drove one of my pitching coaches nuts because I always forgot to do it.   Today’s video tip is a small detail but it can big consequences if you do it wrong.  Trust me.  I know. Tomorrow’s post:  Go minimalist! 

Knowledge vs Judgement

Let’s face it.  Teenagers can be tough to work with.  Most parents of teenagers struggle to deal with one or maybe two.  Coaching 15-25 isn’t always a box of chocolates either.  On that note, try being a high school teacher who has to deal with over 100 per day.  Every school day.  I love it […]

Pitchers – Glide, don’t fall towards the plate

If I had to make a list of the most important aspects of pitching mechanics, this video tip would probably be among the top five.  Mastering this part of pitching allows so many other aspects to the pitching process to correctly fall into place.   Balance, body control, getting to the proper release point at […]

Footwork on cutoffs for middle infielders

In yesterday’s post, I showed in a video how to make the footwork of 1st and 3rd basemen more efficient on cutoff plays to home plate.  Today, it’s the two middle infielders that are going to get my focus. Like 1st and 3rd basemen, shortstops and second basemen need to develop efficient footwork.  However,  also […]

Footwork for 1st and 3rd cutoffs

A cutoff play is one of those little things that is a thing of beauty when it is done well.  When it’s not, it’s pretty much a train wreck.  Very painful to watch.  Unfortunately, it is not often practiced and even when it is, the footwork involved is often under addressed.  Like most everything else […]

The biggest mistake baseball coaches make

In the field of psychology there is a concept called the “curse of knowledge.”  The curse of knowledge is the mistaken assumption that others share our expertise and will behave as we would in the same situation.  In my opinion, the curse of knowledge and the assumptions that go with it result in the biggest […]

The slide step isn’t just for runners

In my opinion, the slide step is one of the most overused pitching strategies at the lower levels of baseball.  By lower levels I mean high school and below.  On top of that, when it is used at a proper time, the mechanics performed are often wrong and counterproductive. However, that does not mean the […]

What is your baseball IQ?

Last year I read a book called Intangibles by a guy named Geoff Miller.  He is a sports psychologist who has worked with a few major league teams including the Pittsburg Pirates and the Atlanta Braves.  His approach to working with players is very down to earth and his writing is along those same lines. […]

A big tip for helping pitchers stay on their line

One of the quickest and easiest ways to improve a pitcher’s accuracy is to get him to stay on his line.  The line I am referring to is the imaginary line that runs from the middle of the pitcher’s back foot (when it is up against the front side of the pitching rubber) to the […]

Post-game self evaluation sheet

One of the many challenges a coach faces is how to get players to focus on the statistics that really matter.  For a hitter, it is easy to put your attention on a batting average but “hits” can be deceiving.  Was the pitcher good?  Would a good infielder/outfielder have caught the ball instead?  Was it a […]

Lefty pickoffs Part 3: Never get picked off by a lefty again

In Part 3 of this lefty pickoff series I help out the base runners.  I wrote a post on this a while ago but thought a video would be helpful to go along with it.   Basically, if you are not stealing on the pitch then there is absolutely no excuse for getting picked off […]

Lefty pickoffs Part 2: Fake with the eyes

Probably the biggest mistake runners at first base make when lefties are on the mound is focusing on the pitcher’s eyes.  Even lefties with a sub-par move to first base can pickoff a lot of guys if they have good eye/head movement on the fake.  In today’s video tip I show how pitchers do it. […]

Lefty pickoffs Part 1: Walk out of your steps

This is Part 1 of a three part series on left-hander pickoffs.  Today and tomorrow will show two big tips for lefties to get more pickoffs.  The third part are tips for runners so that they never get picked off by a left handed pitcher.

Shortstop footwork on pickoffs at second base

Like virtually everything else in baseball, if you want to improve yourself as a shortstop, start improving your footwork.  I’ve said it at least a hundred times on my blog that as you get older the game gets faster.  If you cannot keep pace with the game, your career ends.  It’s as simple as that. […]

Hitters don’t stay on top of the ball

Stand near many hitting coaches and third base coaches at the upper levels and you will hear a common phrase.  The phrase is some variation of “get on top of the ball” or “Come-on Big Papi, get on top of one here.” Some may see a problem with this because batters never really do get […]

A tip for fielding a bunt near the foul line

In most cases, fielding a bunt to the first base side is pretty standard.  The pitcher jumps off the mound, fields the bunt, and steps towards first base to make the throw.  With slow to average runners, the same procedure works fine on bunts fielded near the first base foul line.  The pitcher hustles to […]

Leave him alone

Good coaching is a balance between hands-off and hands-on.  If you are too hands-on, players don’t develop the skills needed to recognize information in real-time and adapt on the fly.  They are so used to being told what to do that when they need to think on their own, they can’t.  If a coach is […]

Fielding the ground ball hit right at you

Ask any infielder and they will tell you that sometimes the hardest ball to field is the ball hit directly at you.  As I explain in this video, this phenomenon has a lot to do with the fielders vision.  I also provide two ways infielders can eleviate this problem if they don’t have enough time […]

Pickoff moves to first base: Part 2 – The proper footwork

In Part 1 of my tips for right handed pitchers when throwing to first base I talked about the negative aspects of the very popular spin-move pickoff to first base.  In Part 2, I show the footwork I teach pitchers and also explain why I feel it is an all-round better option for right handed […]

Pickoff moves to first base: Part 1 – The mistakes

Most right handed pitchers at the levels below pro ball use a pickoff move to first base that involves a variation of the spin-move.  Although some pitchers are quite good at it, there are several problems with doing that type of pickoff move to fist base.  Today’s video tip shows and explains the problems with […]

Other options for arm bands

In yesterday’s post I explained the importance of using an exercise band routine for baseball players, especially pitchers.  The video I added also gave some tips regarding exercises that are terrific for building and maintaining arm strength. Today’s post is meant to show players, coaches, and parents that the (somewhat) expensive option of buying baseball exercise […]

Exercise bands and routines

Exercise bands have become all the rage in baseball with regards to strengthening the shoulder.  Especially in the off-season.  And I couldn’t be happier.  When I played, the Twins organization made it a mandatory part of a pitcher’s daily routine (along with medicine balls – more on that another time). I can honestly say that […]

The double whammy of incompetence

This school year I am teaching a course I have never taught before.  It is AP Psychology.  It certainly is a lot of work but it has definitely been rewarding already.  I’ve always been fascinated by the field of sports/performance psychology so when another teacher was needed, I volunteered.   To brush up on my psychology […]

Using wood bats in the off-season

I’ve written a couple posts about the use of wood bats.  I few of them appear under this post in the “Related Posts” area.  All of them have been pretty supportive of the idea in order to improve a hitter’s ability to hit the ball more effectively.  However, there are some drawbacks.  For young kids […]

The Drop-Step Drill for pitchers

In my opinion, one of the more important aspects of good pitching is the ability to stay on that imaginary line that leads from the middle of the pivot foot on the pitching rubber to the location they want to throw to at home plate.  If their body weight can successfully travel down and finish […]

Improve your defense near a batting cage

The other night I was wondering around a park where my son’s soccer practice was and noticed a young player taking some swings in a batting cage with what appeared to be his father.  His father was throwing a pretty good BP and his son was hacking.  I noticed immediately that my brain was correctly […]

Coaching the modern player

St. Louis Cardinal manager Mike Matheny once said that when he was growing up, he was told that “the coach is right even when they are wrong.”  Although I was not told that quote, I learned the same principle growing up as well.  You respect authority because, well … just because.  The “modern day player” […]

Train for short bursts of speed

Players at a variety of levels are beginning to wind down their fall seasons and will soon begin to think about their off-season training.  Usually (at least for the older kids) there is a combination of strength training and running to get ready for the following season.  I’ve written a number of posts concerning Off-Season […]

What a pencil can teach a coach

Learning from a pencil has been around for quite a while.  Of course, the same principles would apply to coaches and baseball coaches alike.  Here they are if you have never seen them. Learning from a pencil 1. Everything you do leaves a mark.  As a coach, never forget that your interaction with your young […]

Joe Maddon’s stages of a ball player

I’m a huge fan of Joe Maddon, the current manager of the Tampa Bay Rays.  If you need to know how to manage the modern professional athlete, just study him. During a Rays game I was watching, the announcer listed the stages of a pro ball player as described by Joe Maddon.  Even though he […]

Score on a ground ball

When you watch a young team play there are many things that you can point to as examples of good coaching.  The common feature that all seem to share is that well coached behaviors don’t come about naturally.  For example, individuals tend to create a sense of fashion that is unique in some way to themselves.  […]

Find out if they are bunting – Part 2

In yesterday’s post I gave a quick tip for defensive teams to see if the other team was bunting.  Today’s post is a tip for the offensive team when their batter tips his hand on the bunt. The tip is simply to give another set of signs after the pickoff throw.  If the batter shows bunt […]

Find out if they are bunting

It’s the last inning and the score is tied.  The lead-off batter gets on first base.  If the following batter is not a good hitter, what will happen next is pretty clear cut – a sacrifice bunt.  But what if the next batter is a pretty good hitter.  Will he bunt or swing away?  Knowing […]

Arm strength vs Arm action

I believe the hardest thing to fix/change about a baseball player is the way he throws.  Young players who have poor arm action rarely are able to change that.  It can be done but it usually takes some extensive intervention. When I watch young teams play, there is almost always a player/pitcher who stands out […]

The Long Hop Drill

Most coaches and infielders have heard of and probably participated in a short hop drill.  In a short hop drill, two or more players stand in fielding position roughly 10-15 feet apart and toss short hops at other players.  It can be done bare-handed or with a glove, with baseballs or bouncy balls, and/or can involve […]

Saving baseballs

A while back I wrote a three part post about the various Cardinal Sins of Baseball.  The other day I identified another:  Throwing out baseballs.  I was walking around in a park during one of my son’s soccer practices and saw a couple baseballs in a trash can next to one of the baseball fields.  I shook […]

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