Fielding: Turn in or spin?

(Click “YouTube” on the bottom right to expand the view)

Quality at-bats = better stats

In the game of baseball, pitchers will always have the advantage over hitters.  It can be frustrating but that’s how the game works.  When I played, what frustrated me the most was when I got myself out.  By that I mean there was an error in my approach to the at-bat that had a greater […]

Off-season hitting: Using lighter bats

In yesterday’s post, I mentioned the benefits of using a heavier bat when training to better integrate both halves of the body when swinging.  Although I think it is a good idea to train occasionally with a heavier bat, there is a danger in doing it too much.  When a player frequently swings a heavier […]

Off-season hitting: Using heavy bats

One day when I was at spring training in the Twins organization, Chili Davis, the Twins DH at the time, came down to the minor league complex to get some additional at-bats.  I batted after him one inning and noticed his bat.  It was gigantic.  When he wasn’t looking, I picked it up and took […]

Practicing to hit the low pitch

As this video post will explain, practicing the low pitch is not easy based on the equipment that exists today.  However, as kids get older, the ability to handle the low pitch becomes greater which makes practicing it more important as well.   Click on “YouTube” in the bottom right of the screen to expand […]

Psychological warfare

Most people have heard of the saying, “All is fair in love and war.”  In some peoples’ minds, it applies to baseball as well.  I have to admit that I succumbed to that opinion every once in awhile during my playing days.  As players get older, the mental side of the game gets more important […]

The Chuck-It hitting drill

With 4 inches of snow arriving this past weekend, I guess it’s time to mention some good indoor drills!   (Click “YouTube” in the bottom right to expand the view as needed)

Video: How to throw a four seamer

A while back I wrote a post on this but I’ve received a question or two since on the topic. (Click on “YouTube” in the bottom, right corner to widen the view as needed)

Outfielders: knowing the pitch

One of the advantages infielders have is the fact that they usually can know or find out what pitch is about to be thrown to the batter.  Attentive infielders look at every sign from the catcher to the pitcher in order to get a better idea where the batter may be more likely to hit […]

How to approach a ground ball

Some of my more popular posts in terms of readership have been those involving the footwork of infielders on ground balls.  Today’s video post provides a visual of the basic procedures involved with approaching a ground ball correctly and efficiently. (Click on “YouTube” at the bottom right of the screen to widen the view as […]

Concentration grids

Many players suffer from a poor ability to concentrate.  Concentration is quite a broad term.  It is obviously tied to the concept of focus.  I’ve done a number of posts about focus and what causes players to be distracted away from the thoughts and activities that truly matter on the field.  The point of this […]

Finding the seams as an infielder

This little trick seems to amaze young kids whenever I do camps and clinics.  It seems impossible but with practice, you’ll do it every time.  It’s still such a habit with me that anytime someone tosses me ball, even a tennis ball, I automatically feel for the seams.  Old habits don’t die! Click on “YouTube” […]

Another option from the stretch position

One reason why the stretch position can be tough for pitchers is that most only use two types of deliveries to home plate:  the full leg kick and the slide step.  Today’s video post shows pitchers a third option that incorporates the positive aspects of both of those deliveries without the drawbacks. Click on “YouTube” […]

Third baseman’s bunt positioning

The idea for this post came during the first game of the World Series the other night between the Cardinals and the Rangers.  Chris Carpenter was batting and was attempting to bunt a runner to second base.  The situation was captured in a quick shot from a camera that must have been located at the […]

How to film hitters

I recently did a video post on How to film pitchers.  Here is the version for those of you who film hitters. (Click “YouTube” in the bottom, right corner and expand the view as needed)

Staying on top of the ball – Pitching

This is part 2 of “Staying on top of the ball.” This one deals with the concept as it relates to pitching. To watch it in a larger view, click “YouTube” at the bottom right on the screen.  You can then expand the view from there.  

Stay on top of the ball – Hitting

Today’s video post answers a question I received from a reader.  The question was what does it mean for a hitter to “stay on top of the ball?”  Staying on top on the ball, in my opinion, is one of the most important concepts of hitting.  I hope I explain it well enough.  Tomorrow will […]

Stealing signs – Part 3: How to prevent your signs from being stolen

  In the major leagues, every time a team gets caught or is even suspected of stealing signs from a catcher, there is always debate as to the ethics and morality of doing so.  For these posts, I will avoid the pros and cons of the controversy and simply stick to the ways teams typically […]

Stealing signs – Part 2: How to know if your signs are being stolen.

In the major leagues, every time a team gets caught or is even suspected of stealing signs from a catcher, there is always debate as to the ethics and morality of doing so.  For these posts, I will avoid the pros and cons of the controversy and simply stick to the ways teams typically get […]

Stealing signs – Part 1: How teams get them and give them

Disclaimer:  In the major leagues, every time a team gets caught or is even suspected of stealing signs from a catcher, there is always debate as to the ethics and morality of doing so.  For these posts, I will avoid the controversy and simply stick to the ways teams typically get them and give them […]

Video post: How to tag

A while back I did a written post on tagging runners.  I received some questions since so I thought I would do a video post on the tagging portion.  Future video clips will deal with the footwork.  To read the post, click HERE.  If you want to make the view bigger, click “YouTube” in the […]

The importance of the shutdown inning

There is nothing more demoralizing then scoring a few runs in an inning and then giving up the same amount or more when the opposing team bats in their next turn.  Your team is riding high with an emotional lift and then seems to hand that “lift” right over to the other team.  Keeping or […]

The proper way to film pitchers

I produced another video post for today which hopefully will help parents and coaches get more out of their videotaping.  This one is for filming pitchers.  I’m in the process of doing a similar presentation for hitting.  In the near future, I will be doing some that will show some very basic things to look […]

Keeping the bat in the hitting zone

Where do outfielders’ hands go?

  Ask any little league infielder where their hands go before the pitch and he’ll very likely give the correct answer.  “Down near the ground and out front.”  If he can’t say it, he’ll at least show you.  But how about if you asked that same question to an outfielder?  Even a high school outfielder? […]

The one flaw of Roy Halladay

Roy Halladay had one flaw this season.  For some reason the first inning and more specifically the first batter in the first inning was a problem for him.  In his 34 starts in 2011, the first batter he faced reached base 17 times.  That’s 50%!  In most cases, Halladay responded with his usual toughness and […]

Force the home plate ump to commit

I never understood why a batter would complain to a home plate umpire in the first inning about balls and strikes.  How can you do that when you don’t even know what his strike zone is yet?  A former coach taught me to take a different approach.   Being smart about how you communicate with […]

How to hit a 100mph fastball

Justin Verlander is a no-brainer for this year’s AL Cy Young award.  His stats for the regular season were ridiculous.  He won 24 games, threw 251 innings, and had 250 strikeouts with only 57 walks.  Batters hit a measly .192 against him as well.  But did you know he gave up 24 homeruns this year? Verlander, along with a couple other major […]

The basics of a hitting stride

The season is a marathon …

… and the playoffs are a sprint.Going into the playoffs, the best teams in baseball were the Phillies and the Yankees.  Both were built to be successful over the course of 162 games and their records proved that they were.  But playoffs are different.  The 5 game playoff series is a sprint.  It’s just not […]

Feel = Experience + Information

Much of what a baseball manager does during the course of a game is based on “feel.”  Some people may interpret that as just guessing or acting on impulse.  They would be wrong.  As the title of the post says, feel is the combination of experience and information.  Here’s an example: A manager decides to […]

Sometimes all you have is yourself

AJ Burnett of the Yankees has had a tough year.  His stats for the month of August were horrendous.  His month of September, although a bit better, was no box of chocolates either.  Pretty much everyone associated with the Yankees – his manager, probably a good deal of teammates, certainly Yankee fans, and the New […]

Infielders and their elbows

One technique that infielders follow on just about every play they make is to keep their elbows fairly close and facing down.  Doing so allows the hands to extend farther out in front of them on ground balls.  It also does the same on double plays when the shortstop or second baseman is receiving the […]

Remind them to "Hit the cutoff man!"

Raise your hand if you are sick of watching major league outfielders miss the cutoff man on throws to home plate.  I know I am.  Hitting the cutoff man is one of those finer points that should be easy for major league outfielders to accomplish.  They certainly have the arm strength and accuracy to get […]

Watching Roy Halladay

If you are a fan of good baseball, you have to be in heaven every time Roy Halliday takes the mound.  If I had to point to one guy young pitchers should pay close attention to, it’s him.  There is so much to say about his competitiveness, the movement he gets on his pitches, and […]

Teaching little kids how to catch a baseball

Video post: How to break in and train your glove

Here is the first of (hopefully) many video posts.It’s comes from a coaching clinic I did last winter for area coaches from Tee-Ball up to about middle school age. Do you like the video post concept? Are there any posts I’ve written that you’d like to see in video form? As always, add comments below […]

Why do the best MLB teams lose so much?

A couple weeks ago I was on an online radio show and had a chance to talk about Baseball By The Yard along with many other things in and around baseball.  The show ended with the host bringing up an interesting statistic.  He said that major league baseball is unique in that the best teams […]

Dallas Green and scouting "Head and Heart"

Old school baseball people in the Philadelphia area certainly know the name Dallas Green.  The manager of the 1980 World Champion Phillies was a no nonsense, hard nose kind of manager that demanded a lot from his players.  I guarantee the phrase “players’ manager” was never used in connection with his name.  He also managed […]

Pitching is not rocket science

About a month ago, I listened to Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels give a post-game interview after a complete game shutout.  He was asked what the reasons behind his great outing were.  I immediately wrote down his response.  It was almost exactly as follows:   “Tonight I was able to get many batters out early in the […]

Flipping the switch

Nine days ago the Philadelphia Phillies clinched the National League East pennant for the fifth straight year.  In those nine days, they had eight straight loses before finally winning one.  Prior to that eight game losing streak, the Phils had not lost more than four in a row all season.  Baseball is a crazy game. […]

Fielding a bunt is all in the footwork (Part 2)

Part 1 of fielding bunts involved the importance of getting a player’s body/feet into the proper position before the bunt is fielded.  Part 2 involves a tip when practicing all this. It’s very important to practice the timing of bunt plays so that players get to experience game-like conditions.  Usually batters/runners are used so that […]

Fielding a bunt is all in the footwork (Part 1)

Anytime I have written a post regarding defense, I have emphasized the importance of getting the body/feet in the proper spot prior to actually touching the ball.  When people see dropped balls or throwing errors at the end of a play, many fail to recognize the poor footwork prior to the error that resulted.  Mistakes […]

Earned vs Unearned runs

On every pitching stat sheet you’ll find a column for RUNS and EARNED RUNS.  Usually they are two different numbers.  Sometimes very different numbers.  When people look at these stats, most just ignore both categories and put all their emphasis on a pitcher’s ERA (Earned run average).  That’s what you see every time stats are […]

Focus inward – Focus outward

I have done many posts on the mental side of playing baseball.  If you are a fan of sports psychology, you probably know that much of what is done in the field is based on trying to get players to avoid distractions in order to focus on only those things that are important to the […]

Tampa Bay Rays: Talented and having fun!

At the time of this post, the Tampa Bay Rays have won 7 of their last 10 games and sit two games behind the Boston Red Sox in the American League wild-card standings.  The Red Sox, on the other hand, have lost 7 of their last 10 games and I think are starting to look […]

Outfielders: Give yourself a chance

The next time you watch a MLB game live or on TV, see if you notice anything different in the way outfielders position themselves with two outs and a runner on second base.  You will usually see (sometimes the announcers point this out) that the outfielders move in a few steps.  The purpose of this […]

There’s no such thing as a “wrong pitch to throw”

It is very common for a coach – usually a pitching coach if the team has one – to sit down with pitchers and catchers after games in order to debrief.  Discussing what went well, what didn’t, and why is certainly beneficial to all involved.  One topic that usually comes up in that process is […]

Curve ball adjustment – another option

I’m watching a game on TV the other night and the announcers are discussing one of the pitcher’s curveball and how he gets a lot of batters to swing and miss by throwing it in the dirt.  The discussion led to a common adjustment that batters are told to make in order to combat this […]

The safety squeeze

A little while back I did a five part series of posts on the suicide squeeze.  As I stated, I’m a big fan of the play but I do realize that the play can be risky.  Many things on the offensive side have to be timed and executed correctly.  Of course, anything that happens on […]

Communication tips for defense

In May 1988, I was playing for Villanova University in the Big East Conference Championship against St. John’s.  The winner moved on to the regional tournament and the loser went home.  We lost.  Anyway, towards the end of the game, our second baseman and I learned a lesson about the importance of communication on defense.  […]

APPROACH – result – RESPONSE

In yesterday’s post I talked about the importance of staying in the “NOW.”   That, of course, is easier said than done.  In the future, I’ll write about some actual techniques to help players improve in this area but today I wanted to add something to the concept of focus.  Our culture is very results […]

Focus on the NOW

The mental side of the game has always fascinated me.  The number of posts that have been about or connected to that concept is surely indicative of that.  There are many areas within the field of sports psychology but I do believe there is one central message that is at the core in all that […]

Catchers: Be sure to protect your hand

Catch long enough and you are sure to take a few foul balls off various unprotected areas of the body.  The proper catching stance coupled with wearing the equipment right will limit a catcher’s vulnerability but it certainly will never eliminate it completely.   One of the biggest dangers a catcher faces is a ball […]

Recognize the little things

Those of you who have been readers of this blog probably are well aware of my passion for the little things in baseball.  One goal that all coaches probably have is to instill this same passion in their players.  Having this passion to learn more about the finer points of the game and then be […]

Second basemen – Back up first base!

There is a saying in baseball that no matter what position you play, there is a place for you to be on every single play.  One such place for a second baseman is to back up first base on certain throws to that base.  Here’s an example:  With nobody on base, a grounder is hit […]

Two fungo drills you may not have done

Using a fungo bat is synonymous with coaching baseball.  With the amount of ground balls and fly balls I hit during the course of a normal season, I’d be lost without mine.  Below are two drills that you may not have thought of that involve the use of a fungo bat.Note:  Both of these drills […]

A tip for improving location for pitchers

As pitchers move up in levels, hitting their spots or improving the location of their pitches becomes more of a priority.  The next time you watch Sports Center, Baseball Tonight, or one of the many other highlight shows on the MLB Network, pay close attention to the home runs that are hit.  Actually, pay attention […]

Report card for off-season planning

With September now upon us, many high school players are starting to enter other sports like football and soccer.  Others are continuing their baseball in one of the many fall leagues that now exist.  Whatever their fall plans are, it is in every players’ interest to do some reflecting on the baseball season they just […]

Be on time in fastball counts!

If you have coached for any length of time, there are probably a couple of things that really annoy you.  Enough to drive you nuts.  Usually they are things you say to your players over and over yet still see players do. For me, one of the things that has always driven up my blood […]

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

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

Don’t speed up the hitter’s bat

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

Everyone can hit a fast ball

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

The flaw in 1st pitch hitting stats

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

The Suicide Squeeze – Part 5: Defending the squeeze play

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

The suicide squeeze – Part 4: The mechanics

Although the squeeze play is hard to defend against once it has been properly put into motion, the batter still has to get the bunt down and the runner still has to travel 90 feet to score.  Easier said than done.  Except for the timing of when to square to bunt as explained in Part […]

The Suicide Squeeze – Part 3: The timing

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

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

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

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

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

There’s more to pro ball then just playing baseball

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

Book Review: Catching 101

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

If you’re good, they will find you.

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

The game shows no mercy

At the time of this post, the Seattle Mariners are mired in a 17 game losing streak.  Play the game long enough and your team will go through some kind of losing spell.  Hopefully not 17 games though.  It’s not fun to been caught in a rut like that and it can turn ugly very […]

Catchers: Tips before giving the pitch sign

At some point during a televised major league game, the camera usually will focus up close on the catcher while he gives the pitch sign and location to the guy on the mound.  If you look carefully, here are two things you’ll probably see the catcher do before giving the sign:   He watches the […]

Pay vs Job Security

In every career there are varying degrees of pay and job security.  Professional baseball is no different.  Some players are extremely high paid and others make closer to the league minimum.  Some players have their “cup of coffee” in the major leagues and others seem to stick around forever.  There could be entire books written […]

Which eye is dominant?

When you watch MLB games on TV, you probably will notice that it’s not uncommon for many of the hitters to have somewhat of an open stance in the batter’s box.  Of course, some are more pronounced than others.  Young hitters are rarely taught to have an open stance so why is it that so […]

Coaching vs Managing

In one of my first days in professional baseball, I got an eye opener about the difference between a coach and a manager.  A teammate of mine started a conversation with our manager by saying “Hey Coach, …”.  What came next was quite unexpected.  With a very serious look, the manager shot back sternly by […]

Talking hitting

I think it’s safe to say that Adrian Gonzalez has worked out well for the Boston Red Sox.  He may have been able to fly under the radar in San Diego but he certainly is not going to sneak up on any American League team now. Before the MLB All Star break, Peter Gammons was […]

Pitching: Keeping the foot under the knee

To be successful as a pitcher, actually anything in baseball, good balance becomes a top priority.  If your balance is poor, power and quickness will usually suffer.  This is certainly true for pitchers who have the not so easy job of trying to throw a pitch accurately.  If their balance is off, the ability to […]

Catchers and throws to third base

In the summer of 1998, I had the pleasure of coaching under former 8 year major league catcher Ed Ott.  “Otter” played for the Pittsburgh Pirates where he helped win a World Series in 1979 and finished his playing career with the California Angels.  Before one game, I was talking to our catcher about some […]

Don’t leave scouts guessing about your arm strength

When I was in college, I was fortunate to play in front of a lot of professional scouts.  In my senior year we had four future major leaguers on our team roster so it was common to have many scouts there.  With my father’s baseball background, he knew a few of those scouts.  After one […]

Another option for defending the double-steal

In a major league game with runners on first and second, you’ll probably notice that the catcher usually will step out in front of the plate and give the infield players some hand signals of some kind.  What he is doing is letting the infielders know what base he will be throwing to if the […]

Don’t ignore your star players.

On every team there are going to be varying levels of ability.  Much of the time spent interacting with players involves trying to get the players who are struggling to improve.  A combination of encouragement and constructive criticism is usually what is recommended in order to do this.  Our time as coaches is limited so […]

Can a pitcher throw too many strikes?

When you listen to major league announcers, especially the former major leaguers, you’ll hear them say some great stuff.  I always recommend that my players really pay attention to the announcers when they watch games because they can learn a lot about the game just by listening.  The problem that arises, though, is that announcers […]

Double-Relays

As players get older, the fields they play on get bigger as well.  When a ball is hit into a gap and runners are rounding the bases, how the defense returns the ball to the infield becomes extremely important.  Which infielders go out as relay men, how they line themselves up, where they line themselves […]

Outfielders: Know the steps to the fence

A big part of playing the outfield positions is knowing how to handle a ball that is hit to the wall.  Unfortunately, when you watch outfielders on TV, you are rarely going to get a clinic on how to do this properly.  At the major league level, the corner outfield positions (left field and right field) […]

Bat label up and bat label down

This time of year, it’s not unusual to hear a player say that his bat is feeling a bit heavier.  The drain of the long season is kicking in.  The heat and humidity take its toll as well.  Many hitters, even at the major league level, will experience this and may choose to change to […]

I got it, you take it!

Mention “PFP” to an experienced pitcher and you’ll probably get a major groan or eye roll.  PFP stands for “Pitchers Fielding Practice.”   I haven’t played with many pitchers who liked the idea of practicing covering first base for the 200,000th time or getting come backers hit at them by some sadistic coach who enjoys […]

When two runners are at a base

Occasionally, you’ll run into the situation where two runners are standing on the same base.  It can become a little comical because many times nobody knows what to do or what the call should be.  Here’s the scoop. The rule. A) The rule states that two runners cannot occupy the same base and if they […]

Hitting behind a runner at first base (Part 2)

In Part 1, I explained the “why?” when it comes to hitting behind a runner at first base with no outs.  Now we’ll focus on the “how.” Left-Handed Batters. Obviously, for a left handed batter, this strategy is much simpler because all the batter must try to do is pull a ball through the right […]

Hitting behind a runner at first base (Part 1)

A runner is on first base with no outs.  The next batter swings at the first strike and smokes a pitch into left field for a base hit.  The crowd and his teammates cheer, the batter is happy that his average went up a couple points, and some old timers in the stands shake their […]

Practice vs "Deliberate" Practice

Batter #1: 100 swings off a tee (1 hour total)60 swings on a ball set up down the middle, waist high20 swings with the ball set up thigh-high inside20 swings with the ball set up thigh-high outside. Josh Hamilton and a batting tee. Batter #2: 60 swings off a tee (40 minutes total)5 free swings […]

The new and improved (?!) Justin Verlander

There are a few pitchers that I would love to face as a hitter.  Justin Verlander is one of them.  When I say “love to face” I don’t mean “I’d love to face them because they are not very good.”  Watching Verlander on TV is something special in and of itself but standing in the […]

Infield footwork

If you look at the “Popular Posts” section on the right side of the page, you’ll notice that one of the most widely read posts is called Shortstop Mistakes / Footwork (Part 2).  That post deals primarily with the footwork of a shortstop after they catch a ground ball.  Part 1 dealt with the steps […]

Inside for effect and inside for a strike

Here is a pitching sequence that is rarely used but can be very effective. Inside for effect … When the count is in the pitcher’s favor (0-2, 1-2), many pitchers are aware of the “Inside for Effect” fast ball.  It’s a fast ball designed to move the batter off the plate a bit.  It’s not […]

How can you get mad at young players?

“Don’t worry about it kid.  Your majorleague idol hasn’t hit the cut-off manall season and I’m pretty sure he makes more money than you do.” My wife and I recently went to a Phillies game at Citizens Bank Park.  If any of you are not from the Philadelphia area, I highly suggest you take a […]

Long-Tee Drill

Like most coaches, I’m a big fan of the batting tee.  I think it is by far the best invention known to baseball. Unfortunately, it’s probably the most underused invention as well, particularly for younger players who sometimes feel that if it’s not live pitching, it’s not worth doing.  What a shame. Access to a […]

Is it ok to slide into first base?

The answer is yes, but most of the time runners who slide into first base do it for the wrong reason.  By sliding, usually head first, most are of the mind set that they will reach first base more quickly than if they ran through the bag.  Check out the following video clip to see […]

Most players …

It’s the end of June and most players have been working out, practicing, and/or playing since the fall.  The “dog days of summer” are approaching.  Some thoughts about this time of year:   Most players are starting to feel the physical drain of a long season. Most players are starting to feel the mental drain […]

Where do you touch a base?

When rounding the bases, which part of the bag do you tag? Just about every baseball player would answer with “the inside corner.”  And they would be correct.  However, when you go farther and ask “what part of the inside corner do you touch?” the answers probably don’t come so quickly.  It would be nice […]

3rd base coach: Send the runner?

A third base coach rarely gets much attention, especially at the higher levels where the manager stays on the bench.  Quick, name five MLB 3rd base coaches.  See what I mean?  It seems the only time a 3rd base coach ever gets his name in the paper is when he gets a runner thrown out […]

First base: Defending the "first move"

When a left handed pitcher has a great move to first base, many base runners will be told to run on first move.  The runner will take a normal (or longer) lead and take off as soon as the pitcher lifts his foot after coming set.  The runner is gambling that he will be able […]

When does the stride foot land?

I recently got a question from a reader asking about when the stride foot should be landing in order to be ready to hit a hard fastball.  It’s a good question because many young hitters have trouble with this aspect of hitting.  Some just don’t seem to be getting the front foot down in time […]

Staying within your stance

  Greg Gross, the hitting coach for the Philadelphia Phillies, had a short clip on a pre-game Phillies show about a basic hitting tip he gives to players of all ages.  He called it “staying within your framework” but I’ll call it “staying within your stance.”  It’s a very simple tip for players of any […]

Quickening your throws: Catch around the ball

  Yesterday, I posted a tip for infielders called Quickening your throws: Take it to the hip where I explained that taking the ball out of your glove and towards your throwing side hip sets the fielder up for a quicker release with some power as well.  Today’s post expands upon that concept and actually […]

Quickening your throws: Take it to the hip

I’ve said many times that as kids get older, the game gets faster.  In many respects, this blog is an attempt to help players keep up with the pace of the game so that they can get the most out of their potential.   The catching and throwing transition is an important one but even […]

The Power of the Bench

  “I didn’t like his attitude.  The inning before there were a couple of plays he didn’t make, but he gave the effort. There are going to be plays that you can’t make. On that play, there wasn’t energy. Elvis is better than that. I didn’t chew him out, but I let him know that.”  […]

Shortstops and the 5.5 hole

One of the toughest defensive plays in all of baseball is when a shortstop has to go to his right to field a ground ball.  This is especially true whenever the batter/runner has a good amount of speed.  For some hitters who can fly, just making the shortstop move to his right even a little […]

Third Base Coach: What to say

In a recent post, I focused on the 1st base coach and what they should be saying to base runners who get to first base.  Today is for the 3rd base coaches out there.  The first three points are the same thing that 1st base coaches say so if you want to go back and read the explanation for […]

The Contact Play

With a runner on third base, the offensive team has a few things it can do on a ball hit on the ground.  They can tell the runner to make the ball go through the infield before running, they can have him go on any grounder that gets past the pitcher, they can have the […]

1st Base coach: What to say

Things that all 1st base coaches should say to runners at first base:   Number of outs. “On your own past the catcher & pitcher” – if a ball gets past the catcher or if the return throw gets by the pitcher, the runner decides for himself whether or not to go.  He can’t wait for […]

Leads off second base: Settle down!

Baseball is a very hard game to play.  The hardest part of the game is hitting the baseball.  Hitting becomes even harder whenever the batter is distracted either mentally or visually.  That being said, here’s a piece of advice for base runners who are at second base.    SETTLE DOWN OUT THERE!   Base runners […]

Get the umpire to talk

  So much goes into the dynamics of the relationship between the head coach and umpires.  I’m sure a whole book can be written about how to handle umpires during the course of a game depending on the situation and the call.  Different coaches have different philosophies regarding how they handle umpires in general.  Some […]

Labeling

As a sociology teacher, one concept I teach is called labeling.  One aspect of labeling is similar to having a reputation.  A reputation can be good or bad, fair or unfair.  If a person has been labeled a good kid by most of the people around him, that kid will usually receive the benefit of […]

Go with your best

A general tip for any pitcher that is in a jam is to “go with your best stuff.”  Most pitchers by the time they reach the high school level are going to throw at least three types of pitches.  They might include a fastball, curve ball, and change-up or might simply be a four-seam fastball, […]

The Delayed Steal (Part 3)

In Part 2, I listed and explained what coaches should look for before giving the delayed steal sign to a runner at first base.  If you read it, you’ll notice I didn’t say anything about mistakes made by the first baseman.  That is because the first baseman is a complete non-factor in whether a delayed […]

The delayed steal (Part 2)

Because a delayed steal is a timing play and mostly will involve runners who are not overly fast (if they were, a straight steal usually would be easier), it becomes imperative for coaches to choose wisely in when they put on the delayed steal.   There are only three players a coach needs to pay attention […]

The Delayed Steal (Part 1)

One of the most underrated offensive plays at the lower levels of baseball is the delayed steal.  My teams at the high school level have probably used it well over one hundred times.  I can honestly say that the runner has been thrown out about 5 times max.  Of course, the runner needs to know […]

Showing up players

Coaches at all levels routinely teach their players to not “show up” umpires and their teammates during a game.  A player needs to keep his cool and move on if an umpire makes a questionable call.  A pitcher has to keep his poise and move on if a teammate makes a bad error behind him.  […]

The game is hard

You can hide here … You have to give a lot of credit to baseball players if they are still playing at the high school level and beyond.  So much of our modern society pushes them away from a sport like baseball.  Playing the game well takes an incredible amount of skill.  Acquiring that skill […]

Sun balls

A tough play that is rarely practiced is the fly ball in the sun.  Here are some suggestions and tips for players with regards to handling balls hit in the sun.  Suggestions: Get a pair of sunglasses.  Not all glasses are alike.  Try a variety of styles and lenses if you are able to in […]

The big inning

Want to see how important the “big inning” is in baseball?  Try this experiment.  Look at the box scores of all the games played on a particular day.  Could be MLB games, college games, and/or high school games.  Look at them all and do the following.  Count how many games the winning team scored an […]

Good or bad?

I saw in the paper the other day that Blue Jays pitcher JoJo Reyes finally won a game.  He almost broke the record of consecutive starts without a win.  It ended at 28 with his win against the Cleveland Indians.  29 games without a win is one of those records that no pitcher wants to have. Here […]

Catchers and pre-game

Most every team at the lower levels takes pre-game infield/outfield practice.  Here is a tip for catchers during this pre-game routine. Find out how the ball bounces. Seeing how a throw bounces in front of home plate isnot something you want to find out with a runnerapproaching and the game on the line. One of the […]

Swing and Miss stuff

Pitchers who can get batters to do this more often are seen as more valuable, especially come playoff time. This time of year involves two important things:  high school/college playoffs and the amateur draft.  In both, the importance of good pitching is key.  The teams that tend to do the best come playoff time generally have […]

Bunt delay

  Being a little slower out of the batter’s box mightjust keep the catcher back long enough to move a runner on a bad bunt.(Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)  A  batter squares to sacrifice bunt.  The ball is bunted about a foot or two in front of the plate.  The catcher pounces on it […]

Receiving pick-off throws at second base

I recently did a post on throws to second base by pitchers on pick-off moves.  This one deals with the footwork around the bag at second on the part of the shortstop.  If you are a reader of Baseball By The Yard, you are probably aware that I am a firm believer in proper footwork.  […]

Throwing on the run

There are many situations in baseball when fielders will need to catch a ball and throw it “on the run.”  Slow rollers are usually when you see this the most.  Throwing on the run is one of the more difficult plays because it requires quick hands with a strong arm from a variety of angles, […]

Ladder of Accountability

About a year or so ago, I was flipping through the TV channels and came across a speaker who was speaking at a conference.  It turned out that the speaker was a gentleman by the name of Bruce Gordon, who served as the CEO of the NAACP for a stretch.  What caught my attention was […]

Pick-off throws to second base

One of the more demoralizing things that can happen to an offensive team is to have a runner picked off.  This is especially true when the runner is at second base and thus taken out of scoring position.  A pitcher has a couple different ways to perform a pick-off at second base.  One is the […]

Base running with two outs

I have always told my players that base running should be the easiest part of the game.  In no way am I implying that base running is less important than the other facets of the game though.  Many games can swing one way or the other simply because of good or bad base running.  I […]

The push-bunt (Part 2)

In Part 1 of the push-bunt, I talked about the value of a push-bunt for right handed hitters over a traditional base hit bunt down towards third base.  Today I list and explain the mechanics of the push-bunt so that players can do it more effectively. Before getting into any of the specifics of how […]

The push-bunt (Part 1)

When a right handed batter bunts for a base hit, you’ll usually see him direct the bunt down the third base line.  There are a number of situations that call for this kind of bunt and a variety of little things associated with doing it correctly.  What you don’t see much of at any level […]

On your own (Part 2)

Yesterday, in Part 1, I spoke about the value of letting runners decide for themselves when to steal a base.  Today, it gets more specific on what runners should look for and provides some tips for coaches who might be interested in giving it a shot.What are some things a runner should look for? The catcher’s signs. […]

On your own (Part 1)

I was watching the Phillies the other night and the two announcers discussed something that is not well known at the lower levels of baseball.  They were talking about how the straight steal sign is rarely given at the major league level and that most runners who steal just go when they want to.  This […]

The slide step

Let me say right off the bat that I am not a big fan of the slide step.  In my opinion, it is way overused at the younger levels and even at the high school level.  I even think some arm injuries are at least partly caused by too much slide stepping.  I’m sure there […]

The slow roller (Part 2)

Yesterday, I listed the mechanics of fielding the slow roller.  Today it’s tips for teaching and practicing the play.Practice tips When I work on this play with infielders, especially those just starting out, I usually do it in steps.  It starts off very easy in order to learn and get comfortable with the footwork and […]

The slow roller (Part 1)

One of the toughest things an infielder has to do is field and throw on the run.  This usually occurs on slow rollers, swinging bunts, sac bunts, and base hit bunts.  The player has to charge, field the ball (or barehand it), and normally throw off the opposite foot.  It requires a tremendous amount of […]

Putting runners in motion

Aggressive base running is a valuable weapon for any offense.  Putting runners in motion in all its forms puts a lot of pressure on a defense because they are forced to deal with multiple things at the same time – throwing, covering bases, chasing and fielding grounders, pop-ups, etc.  The more things you make a […]

Fielding in "less than ideal" conditions

Note: For the past two days, Blogger has not been allowing writers to add/edit posts due to maintenance issues with the site.  Sorry to those who check in daily.  Hopefully Blogger will not let that happen again.  In my area of the country (Pennsylvania), the second week of May is usually when the weather begins […]

What to do IF you are picked off by a lefty.

The other day I did a post on How NOT to get picked-off by a left-hander at first base when the steal is not on.  Of course, when a runner does have the steal sign, he can be in for a real challenge with a left hander on the mound.  Especially when the lefty has […]

Team Climate

If you are a coach, there is a technique that is rarely used but can offer some very valuable information with regards to team chemistry and how your players think of your coaching.  We all know that what kids say to a coach and what they say in private can be very different.  A Team Survey […]

How NOT to get picked off by a lefty

A while back I wrote three posts called the Cardinal Sins of Baseball that got a lot of positive feedback.  One of the cardinal sins I listed on the Offense post was getting picked-off first base when there is no steal on.  There are quite a number of things that can get a player a […]

The mini tee

In yesterday’s post called hitting the low pitch, I mentioned that exaggerating the low pitch when you train is a great way to improve.  Practicing getting to a pitch correctly at your shins makes a pitch at the knees not look so difficult anymore.  The problem with this is, how does a hitter practice this pitch when […]

Hitting the low pitch

Every now and then I get a laugh from a TV baseball announcer when he says “this guy is a good low-ball hitter.”  Although some guys are certainly better at it than others, there is more to that story.  As you move up the levels of baseball, the pitching obviously gets better.  There are certainly […]

Act as if …

  To piggy-back off of a recent post on Fear and Arrogance, a problem sometimes arrives with regards to arrogance.  Some players find it difficult or even might reject the idea of a need to be more arrogant.  Many have been taught to be nice, respectful, and level headed towards others and the thought of being […]

The forbidden conversation

Having pitched at the college and professional levels, I think I have a pretty good idea as to what makes a pitcher successful enough to pitch at those levels.  Although I did not make it to the major leagues, I played with and against many pitchers who did.  We have had many conversations with our […]

Fear and Arrogance

Given the number of times I have referred to the film Bull Durham, you can probably guess by now that I’m a fan of the movie.  Even though there are some exaggerations in the film, just about every scene has some element of truth to it when it comes to the game of baseball.  In […]

Snap throws to third base

One of the more demoralizing things that can happen to an offensive team is to have a base runner picked off third base.  I’ve written a post or two on base running and taking leads but this post is for the defensive team and mostly for the third baseman and catcher. Watching how this guys […]

Fast paced practice drills for defense

The following are defensive drills that are great for keeping everyone moving and working on game-like situations.  Each sequence is intended to be run for about 5 minutes to keep focus high.  Some of the situations require a coach to either throw or hit balls but many can work by players rolling or throwing each […]

Pitching: Using both sides of the plate

As pitchers move up through the various levels of baseball it becomes increasingly important to have command on both sides of the plate.  Hitting is a very difficult skill.  However, a pitcher who uses only half the plate – say the 8 ½ inches of the outer half – is making things much easier for […]

Step and Throw

“Step and Throw!”  If you were/are a pitcher, how many times have you heard that phrase on a ball hit back to you?  How many times have you said it as a coach?  A wonderful friend to any pitcher is an easily fielded ball hit back to them.  This is especially “friendly” when the pitcher […]

Point

A simple tip for everyone in the infield that can go a long way is to point to all fly balls off the bat.  If you pay attention to MLB games, you’ll see this quite a bit.  A ball is hit high and deep into the outfield and everyone in the infield points to the […]

Pitchers: Pre-game routine (Part 2)

In the previous Pre-game routine (Part 1), I provided a pre-game schedule for starting pitchers.  The timing involved allows pitchers to properly prepare to avoid having a sluggish start to the first inning.  Today, I provide a suggested pitch-by-pitch routine when pitchers are actually on the bullpen mound practicing their pitches.  This too can be […]

Pitchers: Pre-game routine (Part 1)

Going into his fifth start of this 2011 season, Cincinnatti Reds pitcher Edinson Volquez had a 1st inning ERA of 29.25.  Prior to his latest start, the announcers talked quite a bit about what causes pitchers to have so much difficulty in the first inning.  They also mentioned that the pitching coach had been working […]

"Puppet" or the "Puppeteer?"

One of my posts was included in a recent newsletter by the Clell Wade Coaches Directory.  Along with my article was an piece written by a former teammate of mine in the minor leagues who is now coaching at Mississippi State University.  In his article which you can access HERE, Coach Cohen mentioned that he […]

Games are for the players

The past couple years I have noticed something new in college baseball.  It involves players wearing wristbands that apparently have all the offensive and defensive plays written on them along with some kind of a numeric code system.  A coach calls out a sequence of numbers and the player(s) look at their wristbands to figure […]

Danger of treating every player equally

You’ve probably heard this before.  “My coach hates me” or “My coach plays favorites.”  Common statements like those directed at coaches come from young players and their parents all the time.  It’s a tricky situation for a coach because I believe a good coach does not and cannot treat all his players equally.  Every player […]

First base & Third base cutoffs

One of the important jobs for both third basemen and first basemen is to be the cutoff guy on throws to home plate from the outfield.  Below are some things both should consider and/or do to make the play more successful. Line yourself up.  I mentioned this part in the First Base Mistakes post a […]

Batting order roles

Below is a chart that indicates the ideal roles, expectations, and priorities for each batter in the line-up.  Of course, a manager is going to be limited to the talent he has on the team and most likely will not have a hitter in each spot who is capable of achieving all that is expected. […]

Tips for gripping a bat

How a batter holds the bat is one thing that a lot of players overlook when addressing problems with hitting.  I think that it is assumed that hitters just know how to do it.  Sometimes a minor adjustment in the grip can go a long way to improve contact and overall bat speed.  Below are […]

Change your sights for a better breaking pitch

When pitchers throw a fast ball or a change-up, they usually focus their eyes on where they want the ball to end up.  They get the sign, stare at the catcher’s mitt, and throw it to the glove.  Pretty straight forward.  But what about a curve ball or a slider?  Actually, throwing a breaking pitch […]

Kevin Manero – The case for American Legion baseball

Today is Baseball By The Yard’s first guest post.  It comes from my right-hand man, Coach Kevin Manero, who along with being an assistant of mine at the high school level, is also an American Legion coach.  He is a former high school and Division I pitcher at LaSalle University and is a tremendous baseball guy.  […]

Two strike adjustments (Part 2)

Yesterday’s post dealt with the physical adjustments a batter should make when he is in a two strike situation.  Today, I list the mental adjustments all hitters should consider making.   Mental adjustments:   Expand your strike zone.  This adjustment goes back to the saying “never allow the umpire to take the bat out of your […]

Two strike adjustments (Part 1)

In my post called Cardinal Sins of Baseball: Offense, I mentioned a number of times something that drives me nuts.  Called third strikes.  I was raised to believe that under no circumstances should a hitter take a called third strike.  Period.  End of story.  No exceptions.   Of course, hitting is not easy and sometimes the umpire will just […]

Good v Great

Although there are a lot of Yankee haters out there, most baseball fans would concede that Derek Jeter has been a great player.  His longevity and career stats prove it.  But what makes him great?  Does he have a great arm?  No.  He has a good arm.  Does he have great speed?  No. He has good speed.  Does he have great […]

Pitchers and the set position

When pitchers throw from the stretch, you’ll see a number of variations as to where they come set with their hands after getting the sign from the catcher.  Some bring their hands together and come set (come to a stop) around chin level.  Some come set at the chest.  Some even stop down near the […]

Where pride still matters

There are times in every coach’s career that he asks, “why am I doing this?”  Sometimes the game of baseball can drive you crazy.  Sometimes it will break your heart.  During these occasions, it’s good to take a step back and see the big picture.  The link below is probably the best article I have ever […]

Hitting: Power and Grace

Twins catcher, Joe Mauer Think of some swings that are/were just beautiful to watch.  For me, I think of Ken Griffey Jr., Adrian Gonzalez, Ted Williams, Albert Pujols, and Joe Mauer.   I also think of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson in golf.  What makes them beautiful is that all their swings have the combination of power and grace.  […]

Exhale

Here is a quick tip for any player who recognizes that their nerves are getting the better of them in pressure situations.  Correctly time your exhale.  The human body reacts differently when we inhale versus when we exhale.  When someone is startled or frightened they usually gasp which means they inhale quickly and tense up.  […]

Compounding errors

“Winning is contagious.”  Hitting is as well.  Unfortunately, so is making errors. Errors are always going to be part of the game.  Even the best defenders are going to drop a ball or make a bad throw every once in a while.  What good teams and individual players need to prevent is what I call […]

Middle infielders: Backing up return throws

Middle infielders need to pay attention to this throw … and return properly. (Photo by FourSeamImages) By the time kids get to the high school varsity level, most middle infielders  know that when there are runners on base, especially one at third, they should be taking a step or two up the middle after each pitch in order to […]

Pitching later into games

The “complete game” seems to have had the same fate as the black and white TV and phones with cords.  In 2010, Roy Halliday led the Major Leagues with 9 complete games on the way to the National League Cy Young Award. Entering his 14th season in the Major Leagues, Halliday tied his career best […]

Freeze on a line drive

Most players grow up hearing the phrase “freeze on a line drive” when they are on base with less than two outs.  In general, that is good advice.  Do not get doubled off on a line drive.  However, as players move up in levels to high school and beyond, there are a few more things […]

Shortstop: The 1-6-3 double play

An easy ground ball back to the pitcher with a runner on first base is called “a pitcher’s best friend.”  It should be an easy double play for the defense.  There are a number of little things the pitcher, the shortstop, and the first baseman must do in order to execute this play efficiently and […]

Managing your emotion

Below is what sports psychologists call an Inverted-U Graph.  The inverted-U’s show the relationship between performance and emotional arousal.  Emotional arousal is a combination of things like blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing rate.  Here is what the chart is showing.  Whether you are golfing or weight lifting, if your emotional arousal level is too […]

Interview with Coach Barksdale – Univ. of Louisville

I recently had the opportunity to talk with Coach Xan Barksdale of the University of Louisville.  Coach Barksdale is one of college baseball’s best catching instructors.  He was a Division I catcher himself at the University of Mississippi and went on to catch in the Atlanta Braves organization.  He has a terrific website and a […]

Pitchers: Take good care of your fielders

A pitcher’s ERA and win-loss record depends largely on what the players behind them do during the course of the game.  If players make more plays, a pitcher’s ERA tends to go down.  If a pitcher’s ERA goes down they tend to have a better win-loss record.  The point is that fielders are a pitcher’s […]

Pitching with a runner on third base

Here’s a tip for pitchers who find themselves with a runner on third base.  Be sure to look at the runner prior to starting your delivery to home plate. Especially from the wind-up.  Here’s why.  Occasionally, the runner on third base will either tip off that a squeeze play is on or a steal of […]

Track the ball to the catcher

In a previous post called Off-season Hitting: An overlooked Drill I talked about the advantages of standing in when pitchers are throwing indoors or in the bullpen.  One tip I recommended while doing it was to follow the ball all the way back to the catcher’s mitt.  This allows the hitter the ability to see any late […]

Separating yourself vs Standing out

We all have words we live by.  I’ve turned a few into posts. “Show up, Suit up, Shut up, and Play hard“ is one of them.  Another one for me is …  It is better to separate yourself from the crowd then to stand out from one. A clown stands out in a crowd.  Your eyes […]

A tip for secondary leads

A secondary lead is the extra lead base runners take when the ball is traveling to home plate.  Others call it “shuffling off on the pitch” but it’s all the same thing.  This post is specifically going to deal with a very important piece that must occur at the end of a secondary lead.  It […]

The mentality of a thief

When a normal person walks into your home for the first time, they will walk around and compliment you on your decorations, your new flat screen TV, your stereo system, and your brand new iMac computer.  When a person who is really a thief walks into a house, they will say the same thing but […]

The Stubborn Hitter – a short story

Once upon a time on a field far, far away there was a hitter who was very stubborn.  The boy hit mile-high pop-ups.  One after another. They soared high up into the clouds … and always landed for outs. The coaches all tried to intervene.  The boy wanted nothing of it. They searched far and […]

Perfect hitting speed

At any level of baseball, there is going to be a pitching speed that most of the hitters at that level are comfortable hitting.  It’s that speed that is not too fast and not too slow – the Perfect Hitting Speed (PHS).  Your game-plan as a pitcher depends largely on knowing where you are on the […]

The silent catcher

For every position or role on the field there are a given set of expectations for a player, should he want to be successful.  The nature of the lead-off spot in the order demands that a player be good at getting on base.  A third or fourth hitter should have a greater ability to drive […]

The game is your toughest opponent

Any player that has been with me for at least one season has heard me say many times the following: “The game of baseball is a much tougher opponent then any team you will ever face.” What does this mean?   It means that sometimes a team or an individual player will place too much […]

Focus on your weaknesses?

Here’s a question. If your child came home with a report card with the following grades … Math = A Computer Science = B Social Studies = B English = C Physics = F Which grade would you focus the most attention on?  The F is usually the popular answer. The same thing goes in […]

Tips for diving after ground balls

Being a defensive minded baseball person by nature, I love watching highlights of great defensive plays by infielders.  For me, a player diving for a ball and getting up to throw a strike to first base is better than watching a batter hit a game winning home run.  Although some of these Major League infielders […]

How to hit (take!) a curve ball

I get a lot of questions related to hitting asking for tips on how to hit a curve ball.  As players get older, pitchers certainly are going to throw more than just a fastball so all hitters have to be prepared – physically and mentally – to handle curve balls and other breaking pitches. That […]

Hitting: "Looking" vs "Guessing"

After a big home run, you have probably heard a Major League hitter interviewed and say “I was looking for a fastball and got one.”  You may have also heard an announcer say after a bad swing/miss or a called third strike, “it appeared the batter was guessing on that pitch.”    Good hitters occasionally will “look” […]

Tips for an underhand toss

There are a number of plays in baseball that require an underhand toss: A first baseman tossing the ball to the pitcher covering first. A pitcher fielding a hard hit bunt on the first base side and tossing it to the first baseman. A pitcher tossing the ball to the catcher on a squeeze bunt. […]

The importance of repeating yourself

The other day I am watching the MLB Network (surprise!) and they are doing an analysis of the Chicago White Sox during their 30 Teams in 30 Days Tour.  They spent a bit of time on a young pitcher named Chris Sale who was drafted in last year’s MLB Draft and is already in the […]

Tips for runners in a "pickle"

Even the best base runners get picked off and/or get caught in a rundown every once in a while.  Although at the higher levels practically all these runners will be out, there are a couple things a runner can do to increase the likelihood that they will be safe.  Here are two tips that might […]

Footwork for outfielders

When it comes to baseball instruction, I’ve always been a fan of taking a “ground up” approach.  That means everything I teach starts with the feet.  I believe most problems with hitting and fielding originate with footwork mistakes.  So when I discuss playing outfield, proper footwork is my first priority.  The following three parts are […]

Indoor Hitting Drills

Yesterday’s post dealt with some indoor practice tips.  Below are some drills specific for those hitting stations that allow you to maximize the time and space available.  Of course, these tips and drills are also great for individual players who are looking for ways to improve their hitting when they are stuck indoors at home.Hitting drills for […]

Indoor practice tips

With flood warnings in effect for my area over the next few days, it appears we will have to endure the wonderful “indoor workout” nightmare.  If you live in one of the warmer, drier states, I hope you appreciate it.  In Pennsylvania and certainly areas more north, we usually start the season in, shall we […]

Catching tip for middle infielders

The concept “As you get older the game gets faster” has been written numerous times on this blog in many different forms.  Careers are ended when a player’s abilities cannot keep pace with the speed of the game at a particular level.  For some, it’s Little League.  For others, it’s high school, college, or a […]

A tip to improve footwork

Notice anything the players in these photos have in common? Albert Pujols Miguel Tejada Chase Utley Chipper Jones Jose Reyes None of the players are wearing spikes.  All are wearing sneakers or turf shoes.  Why would that matter?  On the surface, it wouldn’t matter much at all.  Players in spring training take lots of ground […]

Baseball Curriculum

Our schools have a K-12 curriculum for every subject.  Math, science, social studies, etc.  If you want to see how your student is tracking, just look at the curriculum and see if they are keeping pace with the skills needed at the next level.   Does your district / organization have a baseball curriculum?  Do […]

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