Organize a college night

A great idea for high school coaches this time of year is to organize a
 college baseball night at your school for players and parents.  Tap into
 your college contacts and get some coaches (D1, D2, D3, and junior/community colleges) to come and speak about their level of 
ball, how they recruit, scholarship info, and […]

Own the recruiting process

Last week, I wrote three posts (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3) that centered on the theme of how to
 choose a college.  In one, I mentioned that very few high school players 
are fortunate enough to have college recruiters come to them.  For some
 lucky studs, the recruiting process is as simple as sitting […]

Choosing a college – Part 3

No matter how good of a player you are and no matter how many colleges
 come knocking on your door, you still have the difficult job of
 selecting the right school for you.  This is usually not an easy
 decision to make.  However, with the right priorities in order, the 
process can become a little […]

Choosing a college – Part 2

Where in the world is Kutztown? Actually Kutztown is a small D2 state school about an hour and a half northwest of Philadelphia.  It’s also where Giants pitcher Ryan Vogelsong attended.  Based on his performance the other night (as well as the last two seasons for that matter) you’d probably think he turned pro directly […]

Choosing a college – Part 1

** NOTE:  I found out late yesterday that the links I provided in yesterday’s post were not working.  Sorry for the mistake on my end.  They are now working.  You can access yesterday’s post again by clicking HERE.   Many senior high school baseball players in the country are winding down 
their college selections for […]

Master of the slow roller

During the Yankees/Tigers playoff game the other night, two versions of a
 shortstop throwing on the run was seen.  Derek Jeter successfully
 executed the play on a slow, choppy grounder but the Tigers shortstop (Jhonny Peralta) was not able to on a similar grounder the following inning.  Jeter was
 able to complete the play because […]

The Space Shuttle and off-season habits

I saw the Space Shuttle the other day being towed down a street in Los Angeles on the way to its new home in a museum.  It reminded me of a statistic I read somewhere.   Did you know that Space Shuttles lose 80% of their fuel on takeoff?  It’s a neat bit of trivia but […]

Optimism of baseball

In the last couple days, we’ve seen some remarkable playoff games that
 have come down to the wire.  Specifically, the A’s and the Yankees, just 
the other night, both won in walk-off fashion to the delight of their 
hometown fans and, I’m sure, to the executives of Major League Baseball.
  The Nationals won with a […]

We just want to get the call right

There aren’t many statements that get me more worked up then the title of this post.  It’s a common one that umpires love to use as a cure-all way of getting a coach off their back.  Here’s an example you often see.  A play at first where the throw takes the first baseman off the […]

High & Hard, Slow & Low

This is another post in the area of “Pitching is not rocket science” category.  In a recent MLB playoff game, announcer Jim Kaat used the title of this post numerous times to explain how to pitch Miguel Cabrera.  He advocated hard stuff up and on the inner half of the plate and slow stuff low […]

Lights won’t always be green

I’m sure there are players and coaches who are doing some soul searching these days after their long seasons of baseball.  Players who hit .210 and pitchers with an ERA over 6.00 are probably wondering if this sport is really for them.  Coaches who spent a tough year with entitled athletes, critical parents, and maybe […]

The business of private instruction

Private instruction in baseball has exploded over the past 20 years. In a ten mile radius of my home, around 10 different sites have popped up that cater in some way to private baseball instruction. When you add various AAU teams and fall-ball programs, the amount of instruction available to players who want to improve […]

You’ve got to be kidding me

Click HERE for an unbelievable video clip (about 10 seconds long) It’s a little tough to see but the video clip shows a Brewers runner on third base who took his eyes off the ball.  Phillies pitcher Cliff Lee just lobs it over and picks him off. I’m not sure when this play occurred but […]

Avoid a line drive to the mouth

Here’s the situation … bases loaded, two outs, full count.  Runners are all off at the start of the pitch.  The runner on third base is charging home on the pitch which, of course, could very well be hit directly at him.  Nothing would ruin your day more quickly than being that guy coming down […]

Help! My best player is seeing a private instructor!

Recently, I received an email from a friend who is facing the ever more common challenge of their players participating in private lessons during the off-season.  I used the word “challenge” instead of “problem” because I believe off-season programs have done wonders for some players.  I wish they existed when I was a kid!  However, […]

A story about athleticism

In yesterday’s post, I mentioned how scouts like the idea of athletes playing multiple sports.  Although this is a baseball site, I have an example of what I’m talking about from the sport of football.  If you are a football fan, you probably know the name Howie Long.  The Hall of Fame player for the […]

Advantages of other sports

Some challenging questions arise this time of year for baseball players.  Some are as follows: Should I continue/start playing other sports in the off-season? Should I play baseball year-round? Will I make the team in the spring if I’m not playing fall ball with the high school players. Should I get private lessons to improve […]

Hey Jared Weaver, it will never work

Time: 1992.   Place: Little League field, Simi Valley, CA Probable Conversation: Youth coach and a 10 year old Jared Weaver “Look Jared, I see your pitching mechanics and we’ve got to change some things.  You’ve got a great arm but you lean back on your delivery which is going to throw everything out of […]

Get out of their ears

A few days ago I took my daughter (7 yrs old) to her soccer practice at an area elementary school.  Next to the school is a nice Little League complex that has about five fields.  I took a walk over to see the action since the lights were on and it appeared players were practicing.  […]

About you v concern you

Every person in this world is going to hear criticism.  In the world of baseball, players and coaches often get it from all directions.  Other players, other coaches, fans, parents, reporters, etc. all are quick to criticize others.  Like it or not, it is the nature of sports. Some people are not affected at all […]

Seasons of Strength

This time of year, baseball players should start planning out their off-season workout programs.  Of course, every player is going to differ in terms of experience with all this as well as differ in their overall needs.  I came across a podcast in which a fitness expert was interviewed.  His name is Shawn Phillips.  In […]

Pleasing the masses

On every sports team in the world, you will probably find the following dynamic:  a couple players will worship the ground the coach walks on, a couple will hate the coach’s guts no matter what he does, and the majority won’t really care either way.  I think it was Davey Johnson who said something like […]

Rounding bases

There is a saying in baseball that goes “never round a base with the ball in the infield.”  It’s a general rule that good base runners live by so that the ball cannot be thrown behind them as they round a bag.  I believe runners should take that rule a step farther.  “Don’t round the […]

Track the ball all the way

Here is the video form of a post I first wrote about and explained HERE.

“Ball to the ear” myth

Part 2: Pitching tip to get the ball out

Part 1: Pitching tip to get the ball out

Video: The best bunting drill

This drill for bunting was another one done in written form previously.  I received some requests for a video so here it is.

Outfielders: Step in to catch

This video post was also explained in written form a while back.

Hands inside the baseball

I believe the concept of “keeping your hands inside the ball” is one of the most important aspects of successful hitting.  In this video I explain what it means and provide four reasons why it’s so important.

Finding the seams (Part 2)

In a previous video post linked HERE, I promised to do another video on what specifically each finger on the throwing hand does in order to get the proper grip on the ball as an infielder.  Today’s post shows how it is done.

Curse of the little things

When you are obsessed with the finer points of baseball, it sometimes makes it difficult to watch a game.  The other night I took my five year old son on a “guy’s night out” to watch an American Legion state tournament game.  My son was wide eyed and attentive.  He watched the game like any […]

“Calm”

The last relaxation technique of this series involves what some people would consider a little bit of meditation.  To look at the previous three posts on helping players relax in the moment are HERE, HERE, and HERE.  Like the other techniques mentioned in this series, this one can be adjusted for lengthy sessions on down […]

A good sigh

This is the second post in a series dedicated to helping players relax in the moment.  The previous posts on the subject are HERE and HERE. Another breathing technique that can help a player relax in the moment is a good “sigh” on the exhale.  To do this one, a player breathes in normally through […]

Three part breathing

In yesterday’s post, I explained how athletes need to develop the ability to relax and withdraw either temporarily or completely depending on the situation.  Today’s post starts a series of posts dedicated to techniques that can help athletes accomplish all this. In stressful situations, whether they know it or not, most people’s breathing undergoes some […]

Relax and withdraw

For an athlete to be at his best, he will need to develop the ability to relax and withdraw from his environment completely as well as temporarily.      Although John Kruk once said “I’m not an athlete, I’m a ballplayer”, baseball players certainly need it too.  The ability to withdraw from all the distractions […]

Should you swing at the first pitch?

In yesterday’s post, I gave some statistics that, in my mind at least, add to the importance of throwing a first pitch strike even more.  Today’s post concerns a question that is still debated at every level today.  Should a batter swing at the first pitch?  Apparently, Ted Williams believed that there were a lot […]

More reasons to throw strike one

For over a century now, coaches have been telling their pitchers that “the best pitch in baseball is strike one.”  Still, many pitchers struggle to lay that first one over the plate.  Connected to all this is the debate that still surrounds baseball about whether or not a hitter should swing at the first pitch. […]

Starting slow and early

This title comes from the mouth of Jose Bautista of the Blue Jays.  In his own words, the video explains what “start slow and early” means and how that concept transformed his career.

To hug the line or not?

    Most Old School coaches will have their third baseman and first baseman hug the line late in the game if they are winning by a run or, as might be the case in the photo,  the runner on first is the tying or winning run. “Hugging the line” means moving the position player […]

Josh Hamilton is human after all

The story of Josh Hamilton and his rise to stardom is a remarkable story that still inspires me whenever I see him play.  But Josh is struggling at the plate these days.  After receiving Player of the Month honors for May and June, his production has dropped considerably.  Nobody is as frustrated as he is […]

Bunting and Managing the front shoulder

Pacing your energy

In the past, I’ve written other posts about the importance of getting to the starting pitcher as early as possible.  I stated that pitchers are often at their most vulnerable in the first inning.  One reason for this is the fact that the adrenaline at the start of the competition can cause a pitcher to […]

Music and the mind

Last night I took my kids to a local American Legion playoff game.  Prior to the game starting, the National Anthem was played.   It’s been a long time since I’ve played in a game where the National Anthem was played/sung (15 years?).  However, my body still has the same reaction.  I start to sway back […]

The realities of being traded

Over the past few years, there have been multiple changes in my teaching profession.  Being a public school teacher today is very different than it was when I started almost 20 years ago.  Curriculum changes, teaching methods, accountability measures, work load, special education, and many other things have radically changed the teaching profession.  That being […]

Developing one swing

How many of you as a kid pretended you were your favorite major leaguer by copying his stance and signature swing?  All of us have.  The reason we were able to copy their swing was because we saw the same swing every time they walked up to the plate.  The point is, they had one […]

Good advice from Ivan Rodriguez

I had the pleasure of playing against Ivan Rodriguez in the minor leagues.  Even though it was only a couple spring training games, it was clear to everyone who saw him as a 19 year old that he was going to be a star.  During pre-game infield/outfield, the entire field just stopped to watch him […]

Video: Run with your glove down

Hitting to the three hole

Hang with ’em

John Papelbon had a tough blown save last night that if you didn’t watch the game, you’d think he just pitched poorly.  The Phillies closer entered the game to pitch the ninth with the Phillies winning 3-1.  He gave up 4 hits that led to the Dodgers tying the game, sending it to extra innings. […]

A tip for off-speed pitches

Base-hit bunting for left handers

Base-hit bunting can be a great weapon for any hitter in a line-up.  This is especially true for left handed hitters because they have the built in advantage of being a few feet closer to first base.  The video below shows the three basic footwork methods left handers can use during a base-hit bunt.

When you bat after the pitcher

At the levels below pro ball, you may find the pitcher batting anywhere in the line-up.  On many high school teams and evensome college teams, the pitcher may be one of the best hitters on the team and often is located in the center of the batting line-up.  Of course, at the pro level, pitchers […]

Uphill and downhill throwing

This video explains one of the most common problems I see in young pitchers.

Infield – Outfield Communication

Catching around the ball

Today’s video is for middle infielders who want to speed up their transition for catching to throwing.

Throws from LF at second base

Today’s video clip answers a question from a reader.  Send your questions to baseballbytheyard@gmail.com and maybe you’ll get a video made just for you too!

The danger of superstition

As you probably already know, baseball players are some of the most superstitious people on earth.  I read a sociological study one time that discussed cultures and their likelihood of being superstitious as a people.  It basically comes down to how much “luck” or “chance” the people believe is involved in their success.  In light […]

Same swing, very different result

There are some things in baseball I can’t explain.  Here are a few: Two pitchers have the same body type and mechanics.  One guy throws 82 and the other 94mph. One pitcher throws the ball straight as an arrow and another can’t throw the ball straight even if he tried. The concept of throwing a […]

Feeling for the ball

There are times when you are at bat and it seems like there are 15 defenders behind the pitcher.  Everything you hit gets caught.  Other times, it feels like it’s just you and the pitcher and no matter what he throws, you know the ball will fall in for a hit.  The latter example is […]

How to add some fun to a line-up

My hometown Phillies are currently in last place and 14 games back in their division.  It has been a tough summer for Phillies fans who have not seen a last place team in some time now.  By the looks of the players in the dugout, it’s been a tougher summer for them. Play the game […]

Create your own “good luck”

The Phillies had a tough, 9th inning loss the other day to the Mets.  It’s been a tough year for the Phightin’ Phils and many have used the phrase “bad luck” when describing the Phillies woes.  When it comes to the injury bug, sometimes bad luck does come into play.  Being hit by a pitch, […]

Bad body language

When I watch games on TV, it is not unusual for the volume to be off.  Often my wife will be reading close by or the kids will be playing in the room making it hard to hear anyway.  It’s actually a good way to watch the game because it forces you to pay attention […]

How to use a scuffed ball

Happy 4th of July everyone!  As a high school social studies teacher, I’m more than a little partial to this holiday and not just because it’s in the middle of baseball season. Many 4th of July parties will include a good game of Whiffle Ball.  Did you know that throwing a scuffed baseball and throwing […]

Video: Run to the spot

Today’s clip involves a more advanced way that better fielders can track down fly balls.  As the clip will explain, there are risks involved so it’s not something you can always do.  As always, it takes some practice as well. To check out all my video clips, go to the Baseball By The Yard YouTube […]

Want to pitch? Play golf.

I’ve always been a big fan of Cliff Lee.  I still am even though he is currently winless in 2012.  The current buzz around Philly is centering around the question “Why is Cliff Lee still winless?”   In the beginning of the season, his lack of wins was clearly a case of no run support. […]

Uphill vs downhill

One of the more consistent problems I see with young pitchers is the inability to throw on a downward plane.  The reason why they have trouble doing this is simple.  They all play other positions on the field and do most of their throwing away from the mound.   In the eight other positions on […]

The 99 percent

In the Philadelphia area where I am located, temperatures are reaching 100 degrees.  It’s that time of year.   99% of baseball players: It’s too hot to play baseball. I’m too tired to take the extra base. I wish I were at the pool. I wish I was at the beach with my friends. Why […]

Curve Ball Drill

In yesterday’s post, I diagrammed and explained a drill that hitters can utilize to practice a slider from left handed and right handed pitchers.  Today’s drill is for hitters who would like to become better at hitting the curve ball. The photo above shows the typical soft-toss drill most older hitters have experience with.  This […]

Slider Drill

One of the problems older players run into is that more pitchers they face will throw better breaking pitches.  But how does a hitter practice hitting a breaking pitch?  If your father, brother, mom, teammate, or coach has an ok curve or slider, he/she could always throw some.  However, that is unlikely to be the […]

The ball won’t go by itself

One of my father’s most popular lines to me growing up was “The ball won’t jump off your bat by itself.” The meaning of that is simple.  If you want the ball to be hit hard and go far, you have to make it be hit hard and go far by swinging the bat with aggression. […]

The hit-and-run and concentration

A big decision for all coaches is deciding which batters to hit-and-run with.  Most often, coaches will pick a batter with good bat control who generally hits the ball on the ground.  Other coaches would rather pick a guy who drives the ball well hoping that the runner can score on a ball hit in […]

The high pitch and cheap home runs

There are a lot of coaches who want their hitters to lay off the high pitch.  For the purpose of this post, a “high pitch” is a pitch that is just above the strike zone (belt to letters).  Generally speaking, the more velocity a pitcher has the tougher it is for the hitter to hit […]

It should hit you in the head

I heard a good line on TV the other night.  Apparently, a new Los Angeles Angels outfielder had coasted after a ball instead of hustling to get underneath it.  After the inning, Tori Hunter went up to the teammate and said, 1) “we don’t do that here” and, 2) “if you miss a pop-up, it […]

Minor league survival kit (Part 2)

My parents said “You will not be ‘friends’ with everyone but you should be ‘friendly’ to everyone.”  That being said, we all know that some friends have a little more value than others.  Below are people every minor league player needs to befriend and why.  I don’t mean to befriend them in a manipulative way […]

Catchers: Don’t ever make this mistake

At the major league level, catchers get no discretion when it comes to whether balls thrown in the dirt can be tossed back to the pitcher.  There is no shortage of baseballs at that level so every time a pitch hits the dirt, the ball is immediately removed from the game and replaced with a […]

Give your 3rd base coach a chance

Often a base runner will make the mistake of assuming the 3rd base coach is going to stop him at 3rd base.  This happens a lot with a runner on 1st and the batter hits one down the left field line.  Even fast runners sometimes assume right from the crack of the bat that the […]

Minor league survival kit

Every year, the Major League Amateur Draft brings me back to June, 1989.  It was the year I was drafted into pro ball.  A couple days later a scout from the organization arrived at my house and officially signed me.  He told me I was going to Sarasota, FL, for a mini-camp with other signees.  The organization […]

Watching runners – Old habits never die

My family took my dad and me to a minor league baseball game yesterday for Father’s Day.  It was at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, PA, to watch the AAA Lehigh Valley IronPigs play the Durham Bulls.  Watching players warm-up prior to the game, play catch, and interact with the fans brought back many memories of […]

Infielders: Stay on your feet

Nothing screams “BAD FOOTWORK” more than an infielder who falls to the ground on a normal play.  I’m not talking about diving for a ball hit/thrown or even slipping on wet/poor turf.  I’m talking about plays like the one shown in the photo of Chase Utley.  If a middle infielder’s footwork is sound around the […]

One step up and two steps back

There is a player on the Phillies that just drives me insane.  I won’t name him because I’m not into bashing players from afar.  It’s a very hard game and anyone who makes it to the major league level is more talented than I ever was.  That being said, he still drives me nuts.  I […]

Are you in a motivation slump?

Slumps are not just for hitters.  There are slumps on defense, slumps in baserunning, slumps on the mound, and slumps in the coaching box.  Slumps aflict everyone in the game at some point.  Motivation is a target for slumps as well.  It would be nice if our motivation levels remained at a high level all […]

How to deal with an old school coach

As a high school teacher, I am forced to attend numerous in-service days geared towards teaching the latest trends and techniques in education.  It’s no secret that improving self-esteem has been a big trend in education (and society) for some time now.  This year the new buzz word was “differentiated instruction.”  It basically means that different students […]

I belong at this level (an update)

Last season I wrote a post on the importance of a player believing that he belongs at a particular level.  The entire post is reprinted here … Close your eyes and think back to the month of July when you were 19 years old.  What were you doing?  For many people, much of what they […]

Errors are part of the game (and life)

There are many things that are great about baseball.  The list could go on forever.  High on that list for me would be that after every inning, the mistakes that the team made are announced for all to hear.  “Three runs on two hits and one error and after four full innings of play, the […]

Reflections of a first time little league coach

My daughter and son just completed their first taste of organized baseball.  They both played on the same coach-pitch Pony league.  At my kids’ request, I helped out as an assistant coach.  Here are some basic thoughts as I reflect on the season: God bless the teachers who deal with 5-7 year olds every day.  I’ve taught […]

Pitching without your best stuff

The more you play the game, the more you begin to realize that rarely will you be at full strength.  The long season, the heat, the physical nature of the game, and the stressful mental side all conspire against baseball players.  The first step in dealing with all this is to accept it and realize […]

Tag up like a sprinter

People often ask how I come up with ideas for all my posts.  Most of them come from watching   games.  Sometimes they originate from seeing photographs.  This post is one of those that came from seeing the photo at right. The runner tagging up in the photo is making two mistakes: His shoulders are […]

Sell your tags

I attended a local summer college league game recently (Quakertown – ACBL).  In the short time I was there, there were two close plays at second base on steal attempts.  On both occasions the runner was called out.  Granted, I was about 200 feet away but from where I saw it, both calls looked like […]

Don’t look for a walk

Hall of Famer Wade Boggs once was asked if he felt he had a chance to ever bat .400.  His answer was that he could but he would have to get a lot more walks to do it.  The question then becomes, should a batter try to get more walks.  The answer is NO. Looking […]

Great draft story

The start of this year’s draft reminded me of a great draft / scout story I heard this year.  This past winter I spoke at a coaches clinic and the guest speaker to kick off the event was Howie Bedell, a former major league player who spent time with the Milwaukee Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies.  […]

Proper timing on the squeeze

I’m watching highlights last night on the MLB Channel and they get to the San Diego Padres game.  With a runner on third and the pitcher up, the Padres manager calls for a suicide squeeze.  The hitter was left handed and the pitcher just threw one up and away, almost like a pitchout.  No bunt […]

Congrats to all the coaches

In my area (Philadelphia), high school and college teams are pretty much done except for the select few that have proceeded far into the playoffs.  Players are (hopefully) moving on to their summer league schedules and coaches are contemplating how their seasons went.  For some, the year was a great one with many wins, good […]

2B double plays: It starts with the left foot

If you are a second baseman, you are probably aware that there are multiple ways to turn a double play.  Some second baseman come across the bag on the turn.  Some step back off the bag towards right field.  Some position themselves behind the bag towards centerfield as I described in this post.  Some may […]

Hitch vs Trigger

It’s amazing how good statistics can alter the perspective of announcers and other baseball people.  Barry Bonds, although controversial, is one of the all-time greats in the history of the game.  However, his swing had a very noticable “trigger” where he dropped his hands and then brought them up before taking a swing.  Current Mets first […]

“Get me over” breaking pitches

When pitchers get to the high school and college levels, they often will have more than one breaking pitch.  Usually one stands out as the better pitch.  For example, a pitcher may throw a good slider but also have a fairly ineffective curve ball.  It not surprising that this pitcher uses his slider most of […]

Build in some focus breaks

Ever stare at something long enough that what you are looking at begins to blur?   Ever think/read/study something over a long period of time and just kind of blank out?  You’ve probably had both happen to you.  At some point the brain fades out and performance (comprehension, analysis, critical thinking, etc.)  suffers.  When this happens, […]

Chair drill for hitters

Here’s another drill you may have done before.  It has a number of variations depending on the size of the chair you use.  It can help with the following: Prevents drifting or lunging at the ball. Gets the head/eyes used to being closer to the ball Prevents too much “straight up and down” hitting. Helps […]

The fad that needs to end

Bryce Harper is an incredibly talented young baseball player who has won me over with his intensity, passion, and energy.  However, I will never forgive him for promoting the fad of “eye black disgrace.”  That’s my term. He’s certainly not the first to wear eye black that way but he certainly made it famous.  Few […]

Playoff baseball: Part 3 – The mental side

“Don’t ever bet on kids.” That quote comes from an Old School baseball friend of mine.  I believe it to be good advice.  On any given day, there is no telling which team is going to show up.  Will it be the team that is focused, energetic, driven to win, and united or will it […]

Playoff baseball: Part 2 – Preparation

This post is part 2 of three posts dedicated to playoff baseball.  Part 1 dealt with scouting opponents.  This post will deal with a couple points related to preparing for the playoffs. Many high school players have been engaged in baseball workouts since around January.  Some never really stopped their workouts at all.  They just […]

Playoff baseball: Part 1 – To scout or not to scout

Playoffs start today for the district in my part of the Philadelphia area.  Thus begins part 2 of the baseball season.  Many questions come up this time of year when preparing for playoffs.  This is Part 1 of 3 posts dedicated to playoff baseball.  In this part I’ll deal with my thoughts on scouting opponents.   […]

Basic footwork on the stride and swing

Often a lack of hitting can come down to something very simple.  I’ve always taken a “ground-up” approach to baseball meaning most of what I teach in terms of the mechanics of the sport begins with the feet.  Mess up some of the basic footwork and a player’s performance is going to spiral downward very […]

Listening to too many people

There was a very good article on ESPN’s website where David Ortiz was commenting about Albert Pujols’ current slump.  Ortiz was comparing Albert’s slump with those of Ortiz’ over the past couple years and how difficult they can be.  There are a lot of good tips in the article for young players when they hit that […]

Catchers: Knees down together

 

Catchers: Glove down first

Jim Abbott & pitching with confidence

My very first college at-bat was in Florida during our spring trip when we played the University of Michigan.  The starting pitcher for Michigan was Jim Abbott who was also in his first college game.  Aside from watching in amazement how he could use a glove with only one hand, it was clear he had […]

Infield: Eyes and glove connection

Reverse hitting drill

Umpires never owe you one

“You owe us one, Blue!” No they don’t. We’ve all heard this from a dugout at some point.  Hearing that phrase actually is one of my pet peeves.  It usually follows a questionable call on the bases or behind the plate on balls and strikes.  The theory goes that if a bad call is made […]

Catchers: Soft hands, strong hands

Today’s video clip shows catchers the importance of having soft, relaxed hands prior to receiving the ball and strong hands when actually catching the pitch.

The flaw in catcher pop-times

Block the routine ball

One of the many jobs of a catcher is to block pitches in the dirt.  There’s nothing worse than seeing a catcher constantly make that trip back to the backstop to retrieve a ball that should have been blocked.  Especially if it meant that runners moved up or batters got to first base as a […]

What does separation mean?

Don’t punish an honest player

A few years ago I read a very good book called The Carolina Way:  Leadership lessons from a life in coaching by legendary college basketball coach Dean Smith.  There are many great lessons for coaches of all sports in the book but I was reminded of one he talked about when I wrote a post […]

The science of pitching to contact

Below is a link to an article discussing the concept of “pitching to contact.”  I’ve always been a firm believer of the concept but of course, you need a solid defense behind you for it to work. http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/150112305.html

Tell starters why they are not playing

Every now and then, coaches will sit a starting player down for a game.  It could be  just to give them a rest.  It could be just to get another guy a few at-bats.  It could even be to protect a player’s stats against a good pitcher.  Whatever the reason, it happens.  However, sometimes the […]

The pressure of high school baseball

The American League East and the National League East are currently seen by most baseball people to be the best divisions in baseball.  Here are the teams: AL East NL East Baltimore Orioles Atlanta Braves Boston Red Sox Miami Marlins NY Yankees NY Mets Tampa Bay Rays Philadelphia Phillies Toronto Blue Jays Washington Nationals   […]

Ways to motivate a role-player

One of the many challenges that all coaches face is how to keep role players / non-starters motivated when their playing time is not high.  For young players, being a role player can be very tough on the ego.  The lack of regular playing time can lower a player’s overall confidence.  It can make a […]

How to know if a pitcher is hurting

A coach walks to the mound and asks “How do you feel?” The pitcher says “Fine coach.” Sound familiar?  It should because in high school and above, that’s pretty much all you are going to get from any pitcher.   Most pitchers are not forthcoming when it comes to hurt arms.  Reasons for doing so vary.  […]

Different pitchers = different bullpens

Probably the biggest problem I see that wrecks a pitcher’s ability to be effective is not warming up properly before the game.  I’ve written a couple posts on general and specific tips on how to warm up prior to games.  Click HERE and HERE to see them.  However, like everything else in the game, no […]

Importance of team leaders

I’m listening to the Rangers-Yankees game the other night and the announcers are just raving about the Rangers squad.  Over the past two seasons, I admit that I was a little skeptical of the Rangers and their ability to contend in the American League.  Probably not seeing them much on the East Coast didn’t help […]

Brain Dawkins: Time, place, and manner

Two days ago I posted the following post:  Killer instinct: Time, Place, and Manner.  After one hour after posting the article I heard recently retired NFL player Brian Dawkins explain why he loved football so much.  The timing could not have been better based on what he said. He told the interviewer that football gave […]

In-season lifting FAQ’s

Many players now understand the importance of off-season weight training to prepare their bodies for the rigors of a long season.  However, many struggle when it comes to in-season lifting.  Here are some FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) and my answers on the subject: Note:  I’m certainly not an expert in weight training.  My knowledge on […]

Killer instinct: Time, Place, and Manner

One of the benefits of living in America is the high standard of living we enjoy compared to the rest of the world.  Most Americans don’t know what it is truly like to scrape, claw, and fight for what you need to survive.  With this high standard of living comes a civility where aggressiveness towards […]

Up vs Down for effect

In yesterday’s post, I mentioned that one former MLB pitcher’s strategy for throwing to David Wright was to throw a pitch up and in to see how he recovers.  Although there is an obvious danger every time a pitcher does this, a pitchers must develop that pitch in order to continue to be effective at […]

MLB is not for the timid

My wife is a high school guidance counselor so some things we see and hear in sports conflict with her sympathies.  The initiation of a rookie at the major league level is “bullying” in her eyes.  An aggressive (legal) take out slide at second base is “unnecessary and should be banned” as well.  The other […]

Two out bunts

I attended a local college game the other day and I have to say that the game looks very easy when you are watching from afar.  I’m used to being in the dugout so having some distance from the field is a little weird. Anyway, during the game there was a situation where a batter […]

Achievers and Non-achievers

“Achievers” in the game of baseball know that there will be times when they will go backwards in terms of their success in a particular area of the game.  Tweaking a swing, learning new pitches, and moving up a level often bring about setbacks until adjustments are made.  However, “achievers” recognize all this as part […]

Success happens on the margins

Have you ever heard of the phrase “success happens on the margins” ?  If you have, it probably was in the context of making money and/or succeeding in the business world.  It means that success happens a little bit at a time and rarely just appears out of nowhere.  Even people or companies that are said […]

Middle Infielders – Holding your ground

For middle infielders, a problem develops as they get older.  As the game gets faster, it becomes harder to “hold your ground” when a guy steals so you’re not caught out of position when the ball is hit AND get to the bag in time.  This video shows how to accomplish both!

The importance of pre-game

The other day I mentioned in a post that I am coaching my son and daughter’s coach-pitch team with a guy who is an area scout for the Seattle Mariners.  His son plays on the team as well.  While at our practice the other day, I asked what game he was scouting this weekend.  He […]

When you know who is covering

In yesterday’s post, I explained the common method used by middle infielders to communicate to each other who is covering second base on a steal attempt. I mentioned that as you go up in levels, it becomes more important for the defense to not allow the offense to know who will be covering.  Today’s post […]

Infield communication: open and closed mouth

At the higher levels, we’ve probably all seen middle infielders give a signal to each other after the catcher gives the sign to the pitcher with a runner on first base.  The signal they give each other indicates who is going to cover second base on a steal attempt on that pitch.  At the lower […]

They don’t make them like they used to

I heard a great story about George Brett the other day.  Towards the end of his career, he apparently was asked by a reporter something along the lines of “What do you want your last at-bat to be?” His response was …   “In my last at bat, I would like to hit a ground ball […]

Same thing that makes you laugh makes you cry

Ozzie Guillen put his foot in his mouth once again.  It will be interesting to see how/if he gets out of this one.  If you have been vacationing on another planet, Ozzie recently did an interview with Time magazine.  The opening line of the piece starts with Guillen saying “I love Fidel Castro.”  Interesting choice […]

My Jamie Moyer story

The spring of 1986 was my first spring season at the college level.  We started the year like most northern programs by going south to Florida for spring training.  A new head coach, about 30 players, a trainer, and a few parents made the trip along with our brand new pitching coach … Jamie Moyer. […]

Pickoffs at third base

We’ve all seen a left handed pitcher with a great pickoff move to first base.  They can single handedly stop a team’s running game in its tracks.  Here’s my question.  Why don’t right handers do the same at third base? Lefties can “cheat” quite a bit on their way to first by stepping at a […]

Batting out of order

One of my biggest fears right before a game was that I screwed up the batting order somewhere.  When I made out a line-up, I would fill in my line-up on a special card that produced two carbon copies along with it.  I got one, the plate ump got one, and the other team got […]

Perfect or foul

In my opinion, one of the least worked on aspects of offense is base hit bunting.  I suppose with the introduction of aluminum bats and the emphasis on the home run, it was inevitable that small ball stratgies that included base hit bunting would fall by the wayside.  I mean, let’s face it.  Nobody is getting a […]

Everyday is opening day!

Today is the official start to the major league season.  Opening day.  There is nothing like it in baseball. If you listened to my podcast interview with Toronto Blue Jays Performance Coach Steve Springer, you heard him talk about the value of not focusing on stats.  In his words … “the batting average is Satan!”  […]

Keep a journal

Roy Halladay is a pleasure to watch on a regular basis.  Watch his preparations and his game day performance and there will be a lot of positive things to see and learn from.  But there is something that you won’t see that is a big part of his preparation and in-game performance.  His pitching journal.  […]

Intensity v Consistency

Everyone has probably heard of the story of the Tortoise and the Hare.  Even though the turtle is much slower, he beats the rabbit in the race because he keeps a consistent pace over the course of the race.  The rabbit, on the other hand, bursts into the lead but then tires quickly. The baseball […]

My All-Played With/Against Team

I wrote a post the other day about Chipper Jones and how he will be the last guy still playing that I played with or against.  It got me thinking about if I were to come up with a team of guys that I personally played with or against, who would be on that team? […]

Bill O’Reilly: Take me out to the ballgame

The following post was one of political commentator Bill O’Reilly’s latest columns.  The link to this column is here:  http://townhall.com/columnists/billoreilly/2012/03/31/take_me_out_to_the_ballgame/page/full/ It is also reprinted below.  Sad, but this is becoming more of a reality each day.   The urchins were startled. “Hey, let’s go outside and play some baseball,” I said. Outside? Are you kidding […]

A tip for gripping tough pitches

Not only are pitches like change-ups, split finger fastballs, and forkballs tough to throw, they can be tough to get your hand in the proper grip.  Here’s a tip for those who struggle with that.

The toughest job in pro baseball

It seems like more and more colleges and high school teams are moving towards quarterback style wristbands that have coded messages for signs and pitches.  I wrote a post a while back on what I thought about them.  The post is HERE if you haven’t read it.  Basically, the coach calls the sign or the […]

Secondary and Out Pitches

  Every pitcher needs to rank their pitches in terms of effectiveness.  By that I mean best pitch down to worst pitch.  On a normal day, here were my rankings: Fastball (4-seam or 2-seam) Change-up Slider Cutter Curveball  This is important to know because in a jam, a pitcher has to know what his “go-to” […]

Miss where you want to miss

Pitching isn’t just about having command of your strikes.  It also involves having control over your misses!

Where do you bunt the ball?

The mechanics of bunting are extremely important to successful bunts.  But so is where you bunt the ball.  This video clip explains the general rules for where to put sacrifice bunts.

How to handle negative self-talk

If there is a game that is more mental than baseball, I don’t know what it is.  What bothers me is that many people in the game approach the mental side of the game as something a player either has or doesn’t have as if it’s written in stone.  We all know that there are […]

Keep your old gloves

My son and daughter will be playing organized baseball for the first time this season.  My son already had a baseball glove but my daughter was in need of one for herself so we trekked down to the sporting goods store and picked one out.  While she tried on numerous gloves (as did I), I […]

Send or hold the runner at third

Third base coaching usually only get noticed when they get a runner thrown out at the plate.  Here is a tip for coaches at third base that can help them decide whether to hold the runner or keep sending him home.

1st and 3rd plays on defense

In my part of the world (Pennsylvania, USA), high school teams are gearing up for their regular season schedules.  In beautiful weather I might add. Right now, practices consist of all the nuts and bolts of the program: rundowns, pick-off plays, PFP (Pitchers Fielding Practice), bunt plays, relays, etc.  Most of these plays are pretty […]

Errors can be deceiving

A ball is hit up the middle.  Second Baseman-A has great range and is able to, with difficulty, get somewhat in front of the ball.  He bobbles it and the runner is safe at first.  The official scorer gives him an error. Second Baseman-B has less range and cannot get in front of it so […]

Are you grooming “A” players?

We all want our programs to develop great players. We want them to learn the game and be able to apply what they’ve learned in game situations. We’d also love to have our players get an opportunity to play beyond the high school or even the college level. Knowing that … How well is your […]

Quick tip on sac bunting

Today’s video tip refers to the basic body positioning on a sac bunt to the 1st base side and the positioning on a bunt to the 3rd base side.  As usual, it all starts with the feet.  If you are not currently doing it this way, give it a shot.  It may help make sac […]

The four second rule

Fast runners can make it down to 1st base in about 4 seconds.  Occasionally a guy who can absolutely fly can get down there a little sooner but 4 seconds is usually a good number to play with.  If you are an infielder, you must develop a “4 second internal clock” that guides most everything […]

Which side of the pitching rubber is best?

The title of the post is a question I sometimes get from pitchers, parents, and coaches.  As you will see in the video, most pitchers naturally gravitate towards one side or the other.  Unfortunately, most pitchers probably will not be able to explain why they are pitching off that side of the rubber.  They just […]

Why pitchers should watch batting practice

In pro ball, you will rarely ever see the starting pitcher on the field or in the dugout while the other team takes batting practice.  They would rather relax in the clubhouse and go through their other preparations.  If the pitcher is a high school or college kid, there may not be any kind of […]

Catching and Throwing Seminar (Parts 3 & 4)

Yesterday’s post showed Parts 1 & 2 of the seminar.  Today, I give the second half of the seminar on Catching and Throwing.

Catching and Throwing Seminar (Parts 1 & 2)

Below is the first half of a four part seminar on Catching and Throwing that I presented at a coaching clinic at North Penn High School in Lansdale, PA.  If you’d like me to speak at one of your events, let me know! Contact me at baseballbytheyard@gmail.com Enjoy!    

5 things hitters want pitchers to forget

If the wishes of hitters came true, pitchers would forever fail to learn/remember the following:   1.       Hitting is hard.  As pitchers get older, the likelihood of them having to hit drops significantly especially if they move on to college.  Even minor league pitchers of National League organizations are usually not asked to hit until […]

The fox and the hedgehog

I heard a good story the other day and, of course, I saw a baseball angle.  I wrote about a similar concept in a previous post which is linked HERE. The fox and a hedgehog.  Here’s how it goes. (there are other variations as well) A fox is wandering around the forest looking for some […]

Do we need more discipline?

I think discipline is misunderstood. 
How many times have you heard someone say something like this:
   If I had more discipline, I would _______.
 What that kid/player needs is more discipline!
 To lose weight, you need discipline.
 You have to be disciplined at the plate.
   All these comments and the million others that use […]

Taking a lead off first base

 

Fielding with two triangles

No matter what age you are dealing with, fielding a baseball starts with learning how to form these two triangles.  Virtually every fielding drill should include this basic foundation.  

Reclaim your downtime

One of the biggest challenges for student-athletes at any level is managing their time.  Juggling the time commitments needed to be the best student and best athlete you can be is no easy task.  Ironically, when I was a student in high school and in college, my grades tended to go up during the baseball […]

Positioning a ball on a batting tee

Today’s video tip involves one of those little things that can go a long way towards improving your batting tee work. What other little things are good to do while working on a batting tee?  Leave a comment or shoot me an email!

Are your off-season baseball workouts clean?

Part of what makes a player successful in baseball is their ability to be very efficient with their skills.  Over time, they have been able, through training or just their natural abilities, to eliminate most of the unnecessary movements that prevent others from keeping up with the pace of the game as they get older.  […]

Batting tee drills: Using a stepper

Sorry to those who were missing the video posts.  I was waiting for the new banner and gear to arrive! Today’s tip involves using an aerobic stepper in a few ways to promote good mechanics and address some of the common problems hitters have.  Enjoy! Do you have any other tee drills that are a […]

Baseball books

Of course, being a school teacher by day, I always encourage reading.  If you are approaching the holiday season and not sure what to get that special baseball person, how about some books?  Below are some good choices.  All these books are linked in the upper right of my page.  Clicking on each takes you […]

Do you see yourself succeed?

The title may sound like a strange question to ask a player but the answer can be very revealing about why a player may not be reaching his full potential.  I’m probably not going out on a limb here when I say all baseball players lie in their bed and dream of being in the […]

Scouts look at coaches too

As a player, there will always be people watching you.  Your talent and how you conduct yourself in good times and bad will not go unnoticed.  This is nothing new.  Coaches have been telling their players this forever.  But do the coaches realize that they are being watched also?   Here is a true story. […]

The arrogance of organizations

Let me put my cards right out on the table.  I am not a football fan.  Especially not the NFL.  I could very easily go an entire football season and not watch a single game.  Even the Super Bowl.  I will admit that I have tried but usually I end up having to turn it […]

How to improve bat speed: A simple tip

To start,  let’s begin with a few questions.  When a bullet is shot out of a gun, does it gradually speed up as it exits the gun to reach its maximum velocity somewhere in the distance?  How about an arrow shot out of a bow?  Does the arrow travel faster as it moves farther away […]

Off-season hitting: Using wood bats

This time of year, more players at the high school and college levels use wooden bats as part of their off-season training.  This is a great thing to do for a number of reasons.  A few of them were listed as part of a previous post which dealt with using heavy bats.  Even though that […]

Change your focus by changing your clothes

When people come home from a rough day at work or school, what’s the first thing many of them do?  They change their clothes.  Why?  One reason is simply to put on clothes that are more comfortable.  Another reason actually can be informative for the baseball player.  When a person changes their clothes, their mind-set […]

ACTING v REACTING at the plate

A couple weeks ago I did a post called How to hit a 100mph fastball.  I had to laugh when Nelson Cruz of the Rangers that very same day pulled a 100mph Verlander fastball down the line for a homerun.  What timing!  Anyway, the broader concept of that post is what I wanted to focus […]

Off-season training: The two-day workout

The link at the bottom of this post will provide you with a pdf of a two-day lifting routine for baseball players.  A few days ago I provided a beginners’ routine for middle-school players or anyone else who is just starting to get involved in weight lifting.  That post can be accessed HERE.  The post […]

Off-season hitting: Mix in a take

Here’s a tip that you almost never see young players do during the off-season.  When a player is in a batting cage, he generally swings at whatever amount of balls the coach manning the pitching machine has.  But as we all know, that is not how things work in the game.  Batters of course, do […]

Be comfortable with being uncomfortable

This time of year provides a lot of freedom for players to experiment with some new things.  Whether it’s a couple tweaks in the batting stance, a slightly different grip on a change-up,  or a new hitting drill, the off-season provides a non-competitive environment to try new things without worrying about failing.  Tweaks during the […]

A common mistake on a change-up

Although the change-up, in my opinion, is the second best pitch in baseball – the first would be a good fastball, it can be a difficult pitch to learn for some players.  There are many different grips that can be used and each one can be altered slightly to match the pitcher’s comfort level and […]

Lifting routine for beginners

The link under this post will take you to a basic lifting routine for young players (middle school) or any high school player who is just beginning to enter the world of lifting weights.  As I described in yesterday’s post called Offseason Lifting Tips, the weight room can be an intimidating place, especially for those […]

Off-season lifting tips

For many players around the middle school/high school age, lifting weights can be somewhat of an intimidating process.  Many kids that age do not have a lot of experience in lifting and have a fear of looking bad or weak in front of others.  When I coached high school baseball, many of the incoming 10th […]

Don’t get lost in your statistics

Any player who says they have no idea what their statistics are is probably lying.  A player may not know to the decimal point what the numbers are but he certainly will be able to “ball-park it” if pressed for a number.  When a player says “I don’t know what my batting average is,” what […]

Would you do that in Yankee stadium?

When I watch guys practice and/or play games, I am constantly amazed at how many players appear to be going through the motions.  If you ask many of those players if they want to play in college and beyond, most would immediately say “Absolutely!”  The obvious comeback is “If you want to impress people enough […]

Constructive criticism and mixed messages

Giving criticism to someone can be a very delicate process.  You never know how the person is going to respond to what you say.  Some go to one extreme and completely dismiss or ignore the criticism altogether.  Others go to the opposite extreme and take every speck of criticism deeply personal and may even lash […]

Interview – Alan Jaeger of Jaeger Sports Part 3

Today’s post is Part 3 and the final segment of the interview with the founder of Jaeger Sports, Alan Jaeger.  If you missed Part 1 click HERE.  For Part 2, click HERE ! BaseballByTheYard (BBTY):  When I played, long-tossing and (surgical) band routines were seen as just for pitchers.  Does your program fit position players […]

Interview – Alan Jaeger of Jaeger Sports Part 2

Today is Part 2 of our interview with the founder of Jaeger Sports.  In Part 1, Alan and I discussed primarily the mental side of the game and the importance of training that side of baseball players.  Today is mostly the Jaeger Sports philosophy concerning the physical side to training. BaseballByTheYard (BBTY):  On the physical […]

Interview – Alan Jaeger of Jaeger Sports – Part 1

This post is the third interview I have done for Baseball By The Yard.  The first two have become two of my most popular posts in terms of overall readership and I’m confident this one will eventually be up there as well.  Because of the length of our conversation, the interview will be broken up […]

Take off like an airplane

A little while back, I was listening to former major league catcher, Brent Mayne, talk about catching.  He mentioned that a catcher should think of an airplane when he is coming out of a crouch to catch and make a throw to second or third base on a steal attempt.  Although he was referring to […]

Cast of characters

Probably the best thing about playing baseball is the relationships you build with other people.  When players retire from the game, they often say that what they miss the most is the camaraderie of being on a team.  As you move up in levels, that camaraderie tends to increase in many ways.  In pro ball, […]

Tip for leads off first base

When it comes to base running, where a runner takes his lead is just as important as how far off the bag he goes.  The base path is the three foot area between each base and different runners stand in different places on that path.  When runners take leads off first or second base, some […]

The effects of tension

Much of sports psychology is meant to calm players down during competition so that they are better able to focus on whatever task they need to perform.  Tension and anxiety can reek havoc for any player and should be carefully monitored and manipulated so that players can play to the best of their ability. To […]

How to handle a hole on the mound

Pitch long enough and you will have to deal with all kinds of holes on the mound.  This video post gives some tips for handling the dreaded hole right in front of the pitching rubber. Click “YouTube” on the bottom right of the screen to expand the view as needed.

Don’t assume they’ll know what to do.

The shocking events exposed this week at Penn State University have been forcing a lot of people to ask the question, “What would I have done?”  Many of the adults involved who either personally witnessed the atrocities or were told about them clearly made some decisions that, from the outside looking in, seem completely irrational […]

Footwork for 2nd basemen on the flip

Click “YouTube” in the lower right corner of the screen to expand the view.

Training the mental side

As we enter November and the leaves come down in my neck of the country, baseball players begin to come indoors to start their off-season training.  Getting stronger, quicker, and more flexible is usually the goal of most players heading into the gym.  But if you have been a reader of this blog for any […]

Every play is a rough draft

Remember in school when the teacher would require you to write a rough draft of an essay or research paper before handing in the final product?  Students generally hate that extra work but there is a lot of value in that process.  Sitting on what you’ve written and coming back to it occasionally gives a […]

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