If you want to become a baseball player that you want yourself to be, you should know how to set your heart and your goal into it. You need to define a more concrete way of doing things and you will really achieve that goal. You only need to believe not only in yourself but also in what you do. There are a lot of things you can do to become the baseball player that you really wanted to be and here we will mention few.
Before heading out to the field, take time to sit down and relax first. Think about how you want your baseball career be in ten years time. Do you only want this at the moment or do you want it to continue until it becomes your primary career. It really would make a big difference if you want this to be a full time career or you only want this for fun until you are done in your school. You need to make a clear-cut definition of what you really want. It is sometimes necessary to write down the things you want to do for you to be able to think about it more clearly. There are many things you can achieve by clearly defining your goals first. If you want to become a pitcher for that matter then you need to define this.
The next thing you can do is think about what you can do as a pitcher and what the abilities you already have for this position are. If you are not a pitcher to start with, then you will have a hard time to achieve this. Develop your potential. Discover where and what position you really excel. Don't just go into the battle field without even knowing what kind of abilities you have to defeat your opponent, before long, you'd be up against yourself for that matter. You need to know what position you most likely will have success with proper training and practice.
If you already know the best position you can have is the pitcher position then it is time for you to define what you really want as a pitcher. Your hand flexibility and accuracy of pitch are two major things you need to possess. Being a pitcher is a major role and should be played correctly. It is the number one defense of your team. The more accurate your pitch is the better will be your coordination with your catcher. If you have the proper coordination with your catcher, this will become the best defense you got against your opponent. You need to focus and do your own thing once you got to your pitcher's plate. If your fast ball only got 98 mph then make it a hundred but that is only when you still can control the ball. You can't just throw in a ball and let it be just like that. You need to have control over the ball or else you will only end the game in disaster. If you already have the skills then improve them. The only best thing you can do is to train until you master and excel in all that you do.
Monday, September 29, 2008
The Year of the Champions - 1961
Baseball is still one of the best sports to watch. The pace lets you read the newspaper between batters, get up for a cold frosty beverage, or just drift back into times past to one's own days of glory on the fields of dreams. As I watched the game the other night, I couldn't help but drift back to the year 1961. It was a unique year in more ways than being able to turn it upside down and still be "The Same Thing." (Try it. 1961. 1961. See?).
Anyway, that was the year of the one and only championship season of my youth, when my St. Jerome Tigers baseball team became St. Louis Catholic Youth Council City Champions. It can be said that it was certainly a defining moment in the life of this kid.
We had won our Crusader division league title against the likes of traditional neighborhood powers St. Pius X and Our Lady of Good Counsel. They were teams from vibrant parishes that were established in what once were corn fields north of the Greater St. Louis area. The post-war baby boom was causing homebuilding to explode in those days. And since the churches and schools were right in the middle of the new subdivisions, a great number of settlers were of the Catholic persuasion. Our group of kids were rookies to post-season play, even after playing baseball since first grade. Most of our games were played on the scrap-hard grounds of Bissel Hills Park or Hickey Park down in the City. So we were unprepared when our first playoff game was set to be played on a well-groomed city park. We showed up at the main field of Fairgrounds Park, rubber spiked shoes slung over our shoulders, in view of grandstands ten rows high and a pay gate! Tarps were strung around the fences to give the field a stadium effect. People were actually going to have to pay to see us play! I recall feeling like we'd somehow moved up into another world overnight. As I write this, I can recall the feel of the sun over the first base dugout, burning into my face as I crouched at shortstop. I can see the swirl of dust behind home plate. I can hear the crack of the bat, and the crunch of my spikes across the dirt. I can remember fielding the ball to my right and making the long throw from the hole to first. It's like it happened yesterday. We won that game against St. Thomas More. A kid whom I was to call a high school teammate with was on that team. Call it irony.
Our next game held a thrill that few of us could wrap our minds around.
Our little gang was about to enter baseball heaven, 1961 style, as the next two games were slotted for Busch Stadium. This, of course, was the old yard on Grand and Dodier, the former Sportsman's Park, the playground of Stan the Man, Ducky Medwick, Dizzy Dean, and my favorite, Kenny Boyer.
Two diamonds were set up on the outfield grass, with the home plates put at third and first base. Our opponent in the semifinal was St. Ann's from Normandy. Turns out, their starting pitcher was a boy whom I would meet in high school. Even more irony. I don't remember the score but I got two hits and we won. The next Saturday, we were to play for the championship.
That game has been in my head for all of these years since. There we were, a bunch of sixth graders, sitting in the same dugout that our heroes used. A warm late summer sun streamed down on our "field of dreams". I hit lead-off that day. I recall getting on base and scoring twice. I can't remember who we played, but I do know that it was a tight game, where every pitch counted.
The drama carried into the last inning, with us boys from the north side holding a slight one run edge. Their first batter struck out. Then the next guy doubled. Our pitcher was humming that old pea all day long, and got a big strikeout. Two outs, tying run on second, winning run at the plate. The pitcher came inside with a fastball. Up rose the ball, drifting behind third, spinning fair. It was like one of those seeing-eye pop-ups, you know--the kind that always seems to find that empty square of turf nobody can get to? But I was able to slide over and get under the quickly descending sphere.
Anyway, that was the year of the one and only championship season of my youth, when my St. Jerome Tigers baseball team became St. Louis Catholic Youth Council City Champions. It can be said that it was certainly a defining moment in the life of this kid.
We had won our Crusader division league title against the likes of traditional neighborhood powers St. Pius X and Our Lady of Good Counsel. They were teams from vibrant parishes that were established in what once were corn fields north of the Greater St. Louis area. The post-war baby boom was causing homebuilding to explode in those days. And since the churches and schools were right in the middle of the new subdivisions, a great number of settlers were of the Catholic persuasion. Our group of kids were rookies to post-season play, even after playing baseball since first grade. Most of our games were played on the scrap-hard grounds of Bissel Hills Park or Hickey Park down in the City. So we were unprepared when our first playoff game was set to be played on a well-groomed city park. We showed up at the main field of Fairgrounds Park, rubber spiked shoes slung over our shoulders, in view of grandstands ten rows high and a pay gate! Tarps were strung around the fences to give the field a stadium effect. People were actually going to have to pay to see us play! I recall feeling like we'd somehow moved up into another world overnight. As I write this, I can recall the feel of the sun over the first base dugout, burning into my face as I crouched at shortstop. I can see the swirl of dust behind home plate. I can hear the crack of the bat, and the crunch of my spikes across the dirt. I can remember fielding the ball to my right and making the long throw from the hole to first. It's like it happened yesterday. We won that game against St. Thomas More. A kid whom I was to call a high school teammate with was on that team. Call it irony.
Our next game held a thrill that few of us could wrap our minds around.
Our little gang was about to enter baseball heaven, 1961 style, as the next two games were slotted for Busch Stadium. This, of course, was the old yard on Grand and Dodier, the former Sportsman's Park, the playground of Stan the Man, Ducky Medwick, Dizzy Dean, and my favorite, Kenny Boyer.
Two diamonds were set up on the outfield grass, with the home plates put at third and first base. Our opponent in the semifinal was St. Ann's from Normandy. Turns out, their starting pitcher was a boy whom I would meet in high school. Even more irony. I don't remember the score but I got two hits and we won. The next Saturday, we were to play for the championship.
That game has been in my head for all of these years since. There we were, a bunch of sixth graders, sitting in the same dugout that our heroes used. A warm late summer sun streamed down on our "field of dreams". I hit lead-off that day. I recall getting on base and scoring twice. I can't remember who we played, but I do know that it was a tight game, where every pitch counted.
The drama carried into the last inning, with us boys from the north side holding a slight one run edge. Their first batter struck out. Then the next guy doubled. Our pitcher was humming that old pea all day long, and got a big strikeout. Two outs, tying run on second, winning run at the plate. The pitcher came inside with a fastball. Up rose the ball, drifting behind third, spinning fair. It was like one of those seeing-eye pop-ups, you know--the kind that always seems to find that empty square of turf nobody can get to? But I was able to slide over and get under the quickly descending sphere.
The Art of Pitching a Baseball
What does Mariano Rivera and a Ferrari have in common? Well it is an easy one if you think about it. They both have no problem dialing it up to 95 MPH. Just a little brain teaser before we get started today. Today we are going to talk about pitching.
First I would like to talk about what you have to do before you even step on the mound. I always have my players make sure that their body and arm is in shape before they even think of stepping on to the mound. I like for them to throw several long toss sessions before throwing off the mound and I would advise you to do the same.
Once your arm and body are in shape and your ready to step on the mound your goal should be to work on location and mechanics. You don't want to get on the mound and start reaching back and throwing your hardest. You want to make sure your hitting your spots, your mechanics are good. Good mechanics can add 3-5 MPH on your fastball.
Mechanics start with your legs. Your legs should be very strong if you want to be a good pitcher. A pitcher with weak legs will have arm problems. Once a pitchers legs get tired they tend to drag their arm, and that can cause injury to the arm. So remember to work out those legs.
Ok so you just got done throwing a bullpen session and your thinking what should I do now. Well get your running shoes on because it is time to start running some poles. You want to run because it will get your blood flowing through your body and it will help prevent stiffness and soreness. Next you want to ice for about 15 minutes.
First I would like to talk about what you have to do before you even step on the mound. I always have my players make sure that their body and arm is in shape before they even think of stepping on to the mound. I like for them to throw several long toss sessions before throwing off the mound and I would advise you to do the same.
Once your arm and body are in shape and your ready to step on the mound your goal should be to work on location and mechanics. You don't want to get on the mound and start reaching back and throwing your hardest. You want to make sure your hitting your spots, your mechanics are good. Good mechanics can add 3-5 MPH on your fastball.
Mechanics start with your legs. Your legs should be very strong if you want to be a good pitcher. A pitcher with weak legs will have arm problems. Once a pitchers legs get tired they tend to drag their arm, and that can cause injury to the arm. So remember to work out those legs.
Ok so you just got done throwing a bullpen session and your thinking what should I do now. Well get your running shoes on because it is time to start running some poles. You want to run because it will get your blood flowing through your body and it will help prevent stiffness and soreness. Next you want to ice for about 15 minutes.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
How To Increase Your Fun In Playing Fantasy Baseball
In 1986, while working at KCBS-TV, Channel 2 in Los Angeles, California, my newsroom buddies and I made up a "fantasy" basketball game, drafting a bunch of NBA players, using their real life stats and vying for the title of best basketball owner in our workplace. However, because baseball was my favorite sport, I remember saying to the guys in my league, "It's too bad we couldn't figure out how to do this with baseball!" Well, wouldn't you know it, the power of suggestion kicked in, and the very next weekend after saying that, I was browsing through a bookstore in the mall and found a book entitled "Rotisserie Baseball". I took it off the shelf immediately, and read the whole thing while still in the bookstore. I was hooked. I purchased the book, took it home, and the following Monday at work announced to my guys, "Hey, I know how to do this now for baseball."
For the past two decades, I've been having the time of my life as commissioner of many different types of fantasy baseball leagues. Expanding from the "classic" version of roto-ball...you know, using those original 8 statistical categories, to a full-blown version of playing a 162 game schedule of head-to-head competition in a league of eighteen teams, waking up every morning to daily standings and box scores generated by our fantasy players using real life statistics.
Are you a fantasy baseball player? If not, would you like to be? If you are, are you completely satisfied with the way your final results and league champions are determined? Are you looking for new challenges in your game? Do you have the courage...and the skill...to take it to the next level? I believe all versions of the game are great. If you're having fun playing your own type of "Hot Stove" baseball, then that's all that really matters. Of course, if there are ways to boost your fun to much higher levels, and you just aren't aware of how to do so, you may not know what you're missing.
Using the classic eight categories of Batting Avg., Home Runs, RBIs, Stolen Bases (for hitters), and Wins, ERA, WHIP and Saves (for pitchers) was always a blast. But hey, for a baseball afficionado like myself, I was always searching for ways to enhance the pleasure of playing this incredibly enjoyable recreational sport. More categories, such as On Base Avg., Slugging Percentage, OPS (a combination of the preceding two), Winning Percentage, picking a major league manager and using his real life record, picking a major league team, and somehow incorporating its home attendance into your salary cap, are all options available in playing fantasy baseball.
Does it ever bother you though, knowing that one bad outing by one of your starting pitchers can destroy your ERA or WHIP for the entire season? In major league baseball, a pitcher may have a couple of bad outings, but that won't necessarily prevent his team from winning it all at the end of the year. Is it the best way to build a team by stockpiling hitters who slug tons of home runs and collect loads of RBIs, or to load up on closers? Those are very common strategies to winning in many forms of fantasy baseball.
Have you ever built a fantasy team where every hitter in your starting lineup, from the leadoff guy, to the cleanup hitter, to the 8th guy in the order, each has equal importance? Do you think MLB GM's consider these types of things to be vital? Have you ever built a fantasy team where your middle relievers are every bit as crucial to your success as your starting rotation and your closer? Just watch a major league game today, and you can see just how critical it is to have those middle relievers who can either keep a lead for you, or keep you close enough to get into a position to win, while setting things up for your closer to come in and hopefully slam the door on the opposition. How about your defense? Does the ability of your fielders to catch and throw the ball matter to your team's success?
How do you mix all of these elements into a fantasy baseball game? Imagine not only being able to do so, but also doing it 162 times every season, and again in the post-season if you're good enough to make it to the playoffs. There are plenty of computer simulations out there which will allow you to do this, and they, too, are great fun. That is, if you don't mind your team's or players' success relying upon the computer's "roll-of-the dice", or "spin-of-the-wheel" in generating the outcome of your game.
For the ultimate experience, I suggest you consider finding a way to play your fantasy games where the stats your players generated in real life the day or night before, have a direct and immediate impact on what your team does the very next day. Where every phase of the game is critical, hitting for average, getting on base, hitting for power, driving in runs, base running, fielding, fielding range, throwing out base runners. All of these elements are accurately measurable through a science known as sabermetrics, using linear weighted values, made popular by baseball statistics researchers like John Thorn, Pete Palmer and Bill James, just to name a few. When you assign linear weighted values to offensive events in baseball, you can predict the total amount of runs any major league team will score in a given season within about a five percent margin of error.
Wow! Well, isn't baseball all about scoring more runs than the other team? If you could predict, scientifically, how many runs a team should score, or prevent from being scored by a team's pitching staff and its defense, would that be a most viable and dynamic way to play fantasy baseball? Where every offensive event, and a pitcher's pitching index (total innings pitched...times the league ERA divided by nine...minus the pitcher's earned runs) are absolutely critical to the outcome of your game. You can absolutely play a game where all of these things, and much, much more are determined, every day of your season. If you'd like to learn more about how to do that, I invite you to visit my website. And hey, no matter how you play fantasy baseball in the upcoming seasons, I hope you continue to have as much fun as I do.
For the past two decades, I've been having the time of my life as commissioner of many different types of fantasy baseball leagues. Expanding from the "classic" version of roto-ball...you know, using those original 8 statistical categories, to a full-blown version of playing a 162 game schedule of head-to-head competition in a league of eighteen teams, waking up every morning to daily standings and box scores generated by our fantasy players using real life statistics.
Are you a fantasy baseball player? If not, would you like to be? If you are, are you completely satisfied with the way your final results and league champions are determined? Are you looking for new challenges in your game? Do you have the courage...and the skill...to take it to the next level? I believe all versions of the game are great. If you're having fun playing your own type of "Hot Stove" baseball, then that's all that really matters. Of course, if there are ways to boost your fun to much higher levels, and you just aren't aware of how to do so, you may not know what you're missing.
Using the classic eight categories of Batting Avg., Home Runs, RBIs, Stolen Bases (for hitters), and Wins, ERA, WHIP and Saves (for pitchers) was always a blast. But hey, for a baseball afficionado like myself, I was always searching for ways to enhance the pleasure of playing this incredibly enjoyable recreational sport. More categories, such as On Base Avg., Slugging Percentage, OPS (a combination of the preceding two), Winning Percentage, picking a major league manager and using his real life record, picking a major league team, and somehow incorporating its home attendance into your salary cap, are all options available in playing fantasy baseball.
Does it ever bother you though, knowing that one bad outing by one of your starting pitchers can destroy your ERA or WHIP for the entire season? In major league baseball, a pitcher may have a couple of bad outings, but that won't necessarily prevent his team from winning it all at the end of the year. Is it the best way to build a team by stockpiling hitters who slug tons of home runs and collect loads of RBIs, or to load up on closers? Those are very common strategies to winning in many forms of fantasy baseball.
Have you ever built a fantasy team where every hitter in your starting lineup, from the leadoff guy, to the cleanup hitter, to the 8th guy in the order, each has equal importance? Do you think MLB GM's consider these types of things to be vital? Have you ever built a fantasy team where your middle relievers are every bit as crucial to your success as your starting rotation and your closer? Just watch a major league game today, and you can see just how critical it is to have those middle relievers who can either keep a lead for you, or keep you close enough to get into a position to win, while setting things up for your closer to come in and hopefully slam the door on the opposition. How about your defense? Does the ability of your fielders to catch and throw the ball matter to your team's success?
How do you mix all of these elements into a fantasy baseball game? Imagine not only being able to do so, but also doing it 162 times every season, and again in the post-season if you're good enough to make it to the playoffs. There are plenty of computer simulations out there which will allow you to do this, and they, too, are great fun. That is, if you don't mind your team's or players' success relying upon the computer's "roll-of-the dice", or "spin-of-the-wheel" in generating the outcome of your game.
For the ultimate experience, I suggest you consider finding a way to play your fantasy games where the stats your players generated in real life the day or night before, have a direct and immediate impact on what your team does the very next day. Where every phase of the game is critical, hitting for average, getting on base, hitting for power, driving in runs, base running, fielding, fielding range, throwing out base runners. All of these elements are accurately measurable through a science known as sabermetrics, using linear weighted values, made popular by baseball statistics researchers like John Thorn, Pete Palmer and Bill James, just to name a few. When you assign linear weighted values to offensive events in baseball, you can predict the total amount of runs any major league team will score in a given season within about a five percent margin of error.
Wow! Well, isn't baseball all about scoring more runs than the other team? If you could predict, scientifically, how many runs a team should score, or prevent from being scored by a team's pitching staff and its defense, would that be a most viable and dynamic way to play fantasy baseball? Where every offensive event, and a pitcher's pitching index (total innings pitched...times the league ERA divided by nine...minus the pitcher's earned runs) are absolutely critical to the outcome of your game. You can absolutely play a game where all of these things, and much, much more are determined, every day of your season. If you'd like to learn more about how to do that, I invite you to visit my website. And hey, no matter how you play fantasy baseball in the upcoming seasons, I hope you continue to have as much fun as I do.
A Brief History Of Baseball
The game of baseball is said to have begun in the early 19th century, but that's just half the truth. The game was played much before but the first baseball clubs were formed around that time. An Englishman named Alexander Cartwright in the year 1845 devised the first set of rules baseball. In fact, many of the rules listed out then are still used in the game.
In the year 1858, a group of amateur players came together to form the first baseball league - known as the National Association of Baseball Players. Right from the first year, the National Association of Baseball Players began charging for admission to baseball games.
At the turn of the century, the American League of baseball came into being and began playing in 1901. The game of baseball was still very much a game of strategy. The game depended on bunting, base stealing and contact hitters. With the invention of the cork centered baseball, all that changed. Because the new baseball allowed for more home runs baseball's popularity took off--and so did the cost of admissions.Throughout the early 20th century, the game of baseballrelied more and more on the hitting of home runs, and lesson strategy. This was thanks to great baseball players like Babe Ruth, who completely revolutionized the game with hisprowess at hitting home runs. It is largely due to the "Babe" that baseball became one of the most popular sports in America. And it didn't hurt future baseball players that people were willing to pay to see Babe Ruth play.
Even as late as 1960, rival leagues tried to make their way into American baseball. All of them failed to leave any significant mark, and the game is still ruled today by the National and American leagues. And throughout the last part of the 20th century, baseball became both a game of strategy and hitting. Pitching and home run hitting, though, are the baseball benchmarks of today. Baseball teams are either big winners or big losers, depending on the strength of their bullpens and their home run hitters. And the cost of admission still continues to rise.
In the early 20th century the concentration was more on hitting the home runs. Babe Ruth changed the course of the game with his magical abilities to achieve home runs. It was due to sportsmen like Babe Ruth that baseball achieved the levels of popularity that it did. The popularity of Babe Ruth also helped in improving the money in the game, since people just went to watch Babe Ruth in action.
Rival leagues kept trying to break into American baseball even as late as 1960. Of course, they all failed to leave any significant mark, and could not challenge the supremacy of the National and American leagues that rule the game till date. Baseball became a game of strategy and hitting throughout the last part of the 20th century. However, pitching and home run hitting are the baseball benchmarks of today. Depending on the strength of their bullpens and their home run hitters, baseball teams are either big winners or big losers. The one thing that is consistent is that the cost of admission still continues to rise.
In the year 1858, a group of amateur players came together to form the first baseball league - known as the National Association of Baseball Players. Right from the first year, the National Association of Baseball Players began charging for admission to baseball games.
At the turn of the century, the American League of baseball came into being and began playing in 1901. The game of baseball was still very much a game of strategy. The game depended on bunting, base stealing and contact hitters. With the invention of the cork centered baseball, all that changed. Because the new baseball allowed for more home runs baseball's popularity took off--and so did the cost of admissions.Throughout the early 20th century, the game of baseballrelied more and more on the hitting of home runs, and lesson strategy. This was thanks to great baseball players like Babe Ruth, who completely revolutionized the game with hisprowess at hitting home runs. It is largely due to the "Babe" that baseball became one of the most popular sports in America. And it didn't hurt future baseball players that people were willing to pay to see Babe Ruth play.
Even as late as 1960, rival leagues tried to make their way into American baseball. All of them failed to leave any significant mark, and the game is still ruled today by the National and American leagues. And throughout the last part of the 20th century, baseball became both a game of strategy and hitting. Pitching and home run hitting, though, are the baseball benchmarks of today. Baseball teams are either big winners or big losers, depending on the strength of their bullpens and their home run hitters. And the cost of admission still continues to rise.
In the early 20th century the concentration was more on hitting the home runs. Babe Ruth changed the course of the game with his magical abilities to achieve home runs. It was due to sportsmen like Babe Ruth that baseball achieved the levels of popularity that it did. The popularity of Babe Ruth also helped in improving the money in the game, since people just went to watch Babe Ruth in action.
Rival leagues kept trying to break into American baseball even as late as 1960. Of course, they all failed to leave any significant mark, and could not challenge the supremacy of the National and American leagues that rule the game till date. Baseball became a game of strategy and hitting throughout the last part of the 20th century. However, pitching and home run hitting are the baseball benchmarks of today. Depending on the strength of their bullpens and their home run hitters, baseball teams are either big winners or big losers. The one thing that is consistent is that the cost of admission still continues to rise.
Weight Training and Baseball
Baseball is known as perhaps one of the most inactive sports there is-by this I mean you don’t really have to be a top athlete to actually be the best at the game! Compared to other games there is far lese activity and running!
However strength is crucial in this game!
When you are strong, you can hit harder, you can be quicker at base-running and you will have stronger throws- all of which are the needed to win the game.
And isn’t that what all baseball players want to have the ability to hit home runs with ease? And make flying passes at the bases beating the throwers to the plate?
Now you can say that some players are gifted and can hit home runns without much training. But for most players , strength training is crucial if they want to excel at the game!
Fact is, you can be as strong and just as good as the most talented players through a solid weight training program no matter how skillful you are right now, your speed, muscle endurance and power can all be improved!.
It is undeniable what a good weight program can do to improve your game.
Evidence of this can be seen on T.V. you will find some baseball players aren’t as fast as they may be fit and they always get taken out at the plate by a faster player
Baseball primarily involves explosive movements with little endurance movements involved in it
For example -a slugger hits the ball then explodes to the plate then waits there until the next slugger finally hits another strike-which could send him to wait at the next base.
As you can see there is very little endurance required in baseball and there is more than enough time to catch your breathe at each play , plus you also get to rest after you pass home base.
So all baseball players should focus on explosive training workouts for both their upper and lower bodies.
The main focus however should be on upper body strength development!
However the best workout that any baseball player can perform is neuromuscular training, neuromuscular training is important for one reason, it improves neuromuscular efficiency –which is the rate at which your brain sends signals to your muscles (hands and arms- which is crucial for hitters).
Neuromuscular strength is what allows encourages faster swings and better hits.
However when it comes to pitching it’s a different story because a pitcher also has to be in good overall shape because pitching a baseball requires the work of the whole body: legs, abs, arms and chest
And its focus should be on explosive strength training, endurance is also crucial. I refer to endurance of the arms -pitchers need endurance in the arms because they have to pitch the ball repeatedly throughout the whole game.
All baseball players however can benefit from a good weight training program. Strength training will give every baseball player-Better performance, injury avoidance/career longevity, improved recovery rate, improve pitching speed, sustaining/increasing muscle strength and balance, and improved upper body strength
You can’t argue with these results. Fact is, a stronger baseball player will always out perform an average baseball player – if we assume they have the same skills!
Now as for a Hitter
A hitter needs to have strong arms for better bat swings etc .the main muscle for both a hitter and pitcher are the shoulder muscles. So emphasis should be placed on both the shoulders and arms!
The muscles of the shoulders are the main muscle for pitching and swinging.
And exercises that are good for hitting and pitching are: Internal/external rotation at 90 degrees • bent-over raises • medial rotation raises • Dumbbell shrugs and• Lateral raises
Hitters also need to have good neuromuscular connection it’s a must in almost all sports but more so in baseball
Hitter’s should perform their workouts with a repetition range of 3 to 4 to encourage neuromuscular strength development! This should be followed by a set of 6 to 8 repetitions on the next set to encourage maximum strength development.
And then finally a third set of 3 to 4 reps to encourage explosive strength development.
So all baseball players other than hitters need to follow the same method of training, using 4 sets that combine neuromuscular training with strength training to yield total muscular development!
This way of exercising will give hitters explosive power in their arms, the neuromuscular strength that his exercise builds will cause the hitter to have faster reaction times and allow them to hit that ball clear out of the park- which is helpful in winning games
Plus baseball players could benefit from swinging the bat as a drill! Swing drills combine Nero muscular training and strength training which will make the arms faster, stronger and leaner
Also needed for baseball is a strong lower body-.some baseball players prefer to perform plyometrics exercises in order to gain speed and power for more explosive runs.
One popular baseball plyometrics exercise is bounding which is excellent for increasing speed and explosiveness.
To make plyometrics exercises more effective, you need to perform squats – which is an universal exercise for working out the entire lower body
Squats should be used by all baseball players to increase muscle strength and explosiveness. Other good lower body workouts include: squats, lunges .leg raises, hamstring curls and calf raises.
There is another effective way to increase batting strength and speed and that is using a heavy bat to hit the ball!
A heavy bat is a baseball that is weighted and is used by hitters to swing at balls. This exercise drill stimulates the exact muscles used during a swing, so It is most efficient exercise you can perform for increasing hitting power and speed. Caution should however be used when using a heavy bar because there is a risk of injury of flinging heavy weights.
Now we move onto strength training for pitchers!
The weight training program here differs slightly; it becomes more specific because pitchers need arms that are powerful as well as enduring
They also need the endurance to last the whole baseball game
They should also use a variety of exercises to develop the whole body!
All workouts should be compromised of strength training, plyometrics and endurance training.
Here is an example of what a pitcher weight workout would look like:
Bench press
Flies
Should presses
Dumbbell front raise
Upright rows
Dumbbell flies
Bicep curl
Preacher curl
Triceps extensions
Front face extensions
Squats
Leg raises
Hamstring curls
Calf raises
As a general rule, perform 3-4 sets each and train explosively with repetitions in the 4-8 rep range!
More specifically: Pitchers will need to use 3 to 4 reps for power and mix it up with 10 to 16 reps for endurance.
Hitters might also perform 3 full sets of power repetitions! By that I mean, they should use 3 to 4 reps to build neuromuscular strength and power, which they will need for both throwing the ball and lasting throughout the whole game.
When it comes to medicine ball workouts, it should consist of
Medicine ball chest passes
Over head passes
Medicine ball crunches
This medicine ball workout increase power and neuromuscular efficiency
Which also helps to improve the range of motion and power of the body- because they will be performing explosive movements in a wide range of motion, which will develop power and increase the range of motion in the pitchers body.
For example, the medicine ball chest passes will increase explosive power in the arms and chest, which will help with the power of the pitchers pitch.
Plyometrics baseball exercises would consist of the following:
Bounding jumps
Squat jumps
Lunge jumps
Box jumps
These exercises will develop the explosive power needed in the legs for explosive movements such as sprinting to the plates, which is crucial when it comes to winning games!
I hope you found this brief guide helpful, use it and improve your baseball game!
However strength is crucial in this game!
When you are strong, you can hit harder, you can be quicker at base-running and you will have stronger throws- all of which are the needed to win the game.
And isn’t that what all baseball players want to have the ability to hit home runs with ease? And make flying passes at the bases beating the throwers to the plate?
Now you can say that some players are gifted and can hit home runns without much training. But for most players , strength training is crucial if they want to excel at the game!
Fact is, you can be as strong and just as good as the most talented players through a solid weight training program no matter how skillful you are right now, your speed, muscle endurance and power can all be improved!.
It is undeniable what a good weight program can do to improve your game.
Evidence of this can be seen on T.V. you will find some baseball players aren’t as fast as they may be fit and they always get taken out at the plate by a faster player
Baseball primarily involves explosive movements with little endurance movements involved in it
For example -a slugger hits the ball then explodes to the plate then waits there until the next slugger finally hits another strike-which could send him to wait at the next base.
As you can see there is very little endurance required in baseball and there is more than enough time to catch your breathe at each play , plus you also get to rest after you pass home base.
So all baseball players should focus on explosive training workouts for both their upper and lower bodies.
The main focus however should be on upper body strength development!
However the best workout that any baseball player can perform is neuromuscular training, neuromuscular training is important for one reason, it improves neuromuscular efficiency –which is the rate at which your brain sends signals to your muscles (hands and arms- which is crucial for hitters).
Neuromuscular strength is what allows encourages faster swings and better hits.
However when it comes to pitching it’s a different story because a pitcher also has to be in good overall shape because pitching a baseball requires the work of the whole body: legs, abs, arms and chest
And its focus should be on explosive strength training, endurance is also crucial. I refer to endurance of the arms -pitchers need endurance in the arms because they have to pitch the ball repeatedly throughout the whole game.
All baseball players however can benefit from a good weight training program. Strength training will give every baseball player-Better performance, injury avoidance/career longevity, improved recovery rate, improve pitching speed, sustaining/increasing muscle strength and balance, and improved upper body strength
You can’t argue with these results. Fact is, a stronger baseball player will always out perform an average baseball player – if we assume they have the same skills!
Now as for a Hitter
A hitter needs to have strong arms for better bat swings etc .the main muscle for both a hitter and pitcher are the shoulder muscles. So emphasis should be placed on both the shoulders and arms!
The muscles of the shoulders are the main muscle for pitching and swinging.
And exercises that are good for hitting and pitching are: Internal/external rotation at 90 degrees • bent-over raises • medial rotation raises • Dumbbell shrugs and• Lateral raises
Hitters also need to have good neuromuscular connection it’s a must in almost all sports but more so in baseball
Hitter’s should perform their workouts with a repetition range of 3 to 4 to encourage neuromuscular strength development! This should be followed by a set of 6 to 8 repetitions on the next set to encourage maximum strength development.
And then finally a third set of 3 to 4 reps to encourage explosive strength development.
So all baseball players other than hitters need to follow the same method of training, using 4 sets that combine neuromuscular training with strength training to yield total muscular development!
This way of exercising will give hitters explosive power in their arms, the neuromuscular strength that his exercise builds will cause the hitter to have faster reaction times and allow them to hit that ball clear out of the park- which is helpful in winning games
Plus baseball players could benefit from swinging the bat as a drill! Swing drills combine Nero muscular training and strength training which will make the arms faster, stronger and leaner
Also needed for baseball is a strong lower body-.some baseball players prefer to perform plyometrics exercises in order to gain speed and power for more explosive runs.
One popular baseball plyometrics exercise is bounding which is excellent for increasing speed and explosiveness.
To make plyometrics exercises more effective, you need to perform squats – which is an universal exercise for working out the entire lower body
Squats should be used by all baseball players to increase muscle strength and explosiveness. Other good lower body workouts include: squats, lunges .leg raises, hamstring curls and calf raises.
There is another effective way to increase batting strength and speed and that is using a heavy bat to hit the ball!
A heavy bat is a baseball that is weighted and is used by hitters to swing at balls. This exercise drill stimulates the exact muscles used during a swing, so It is most efficient exercise you can perform for increasing hitting power and speed. Caution should however be used when using a heavy bar because there is a risk of injury of flinging heavy weights.
Now we move onto strength training for pitchers!
The weight training program here differs slightly; it becomes more specific because pitchers need arms that are powerful as well as enduring
They also need the endurance to last the whole baseball game
They should also use a variety of exercises to develop the whole body!
All workouts should be compromised of strength training, plyometrics and endurance training.
Here is an example of what a pitcher weight workout would look like:
Bench press
Flies
Should presses
Dumbbell front raise
Upright rows
Dumbbell flies
Bicep curl
Preacher curl
Triceps extensions
Front face extensions
Squats
Leg raises
Hamstring curls
Calf raises
As a general rule, perform 3-4 sets each and train explosively with repetitions in the 4-8 rep range!
More specifically: Pitchers will need to use 3 to 4 reps for power and mix it up with 10 to 16 reps for endurance.
Hitters might also perform 3 full sets of power repetitions! By that I mean, they should use 3 to 4 reps to build neuromuscular strength and power, which they will need for both throwing the ball and lasting throughout the whole game.
When it comes to medicine ball workouts, it should consist of
Medicine ball chest passes
Over head passes
Medicine ball crunches
This medicine ball workout increase power and neuromuscular efficiency
Which also helps to improve the range of motion and power of the body- because they will be performing explosive movements in a wide range of motion, which will develop power and increase the range of motion in the pitchers body.
For example, the medicine ball chest passes will increase explosive power in the arms and chest, which will help with the power of the pitchers pitch.
Plyometrics baseball exercises would consist of the following:
Bounding jumps
Squat jumps
Lunge jumps
Box jumps
These exercises will develop the explosive power needed in the legs for explosive movements such as sprinting to the plates, which is crucial when it comes to winning games!
I hope you found this brief guide helpful, use it and improve your baseball game!
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Market Break - Collusion in the MLB?
As the 2008 baseball season is more than halfway over, it does so without its biggest name and most infamous star. Barry Bonds, whose 762 career home runs put him atop the career long-ball list, has yet to be signed. His shocking absence from any team's roster jives with sports fans concerned about his reputation as a chemistry killer. Others question if the 44 year old veteran bat has fallen victim to one of baseball dirtiest and most secretive practices, collusion.
Earlier this season, the uncharacteristic actions of management prompted player's association chief Donald Fehr to say he would be looking into the matter as part of his annual free-agency review. Major League Baseball's collective bargaining agreement explicitly states that "Players shall not act in concert with other players and clubs shall not act in concert with other clubs." When acting together, collusion amongst the owners can unofficially ban players - as has been alleged in the Bonds case - or collectively drive down the value of the salaries paid to players on the free-agent market.
The idea of collusion is not without precedent in baseball. One of the league's most famous cases was in 1985, when the owners collectively agreed not to pursue free agents from other ball clubs - claiming they individually decided to be more "fiscally responsible". The outcome: all 29 free agents that off-season were forced to re-sign with their former teams. Of those players, just one, Carlton Fisk, agreed to what was termed a true "bona fide" offer. The case was brought to arbitration and the owners were ordered to pay the players a penalty of $280 million.
The recent change in atmosphere throughout the free agent market has come under heavy scrutiny. For example, in recent years, successful veteran pitchers have been signing incredibly lucrative long-term deals. In 2005, Kevin Millwood signed with the rangers for $60 million over five years. In 2006 Esteban Loaiza cashed in for $21 million over three years, and most recently Barry Zito signed a seven year deal for $126 million in 2007. The list goes on, but clearly quality pitching has been a lock to pull the big contract in the recent market.
However, in this 32nd winter of free agency, similar veteran pitchers are not inking the same caliber multi-year deals. Randy Wolf signed for one year at $4.75 million while solid veterans Kenny Rogers and Tom Glavine both signed contracts spanning just one year for $8 million.
"It's a highly irregular situation to see veteran pitchers who are out there and only one American pitcher got a multiyear contract," player agent Scott Boras told the New York Times.
It seems clear that teams are just not spending like they used to. Optimists would no doubt write this newfound frugality off to the proverbial bubble bursting on player values. Mediocre talent is being recognized as such, and salary inflation is finally undergoing a bit of self-correction. Isn't that a possibility too?
Certainly it is, but this cannot explain the Barry Bonds enigma. There is absolutely no doubt that many clubs, especially in the American League, could benefit from having a powerful left-handed bat like Bonds' in their lineup. Last season, the three-time most valuable player hit .276 with 28 homers, 66 RBIs and drew a major league-leading 132 walks. He made $19.3 million. Bonds has made it clear he wants to play, and he would do so for less than that kind of money. He will put fans in the seats, and he will produce. Many fans from many teams are left wondering: what's the holdup?
But, fans aren't the only ones questioning their teams' agendas. Even team officials have made public statements regarding Bonds' services, like St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa. His call for the Cards to sign Bonds was promptly shot down by management. The Tampa Bay Rays also held internal discussions about making a play for Bonds, according to the St. Petersburg Times. So far no club has made an offer for the slugger, raising suspicions that there might be more at play than meets the eye.
As the investigations into these most recent allegations of collusion continue in this age of celebrity, reality TV, Senate hearings, and probes more answers are sure to come. Maybe teams just aren't willing to spend like they used to or maybe there is a big, closed door behind which illegal activities are taking place.
Earlier this season, the uncharacteristic actions of management prompted player's association chief Donald Fehr to say he would be looking into the matter as part of his annual free-agency review. Major League Baseball's collective bargaining agreement explicitly states that "Players shall not act in concert with other players and clubs shall not act in concert with other clubs." When acting together, collusion amongst the owners can unofficially ban players - as has been alleged in the Bonds case - or collectively drive down the value of the salaries paid to players on the free-agent market.
The idea of collusion is not without precedent in baseball. One of the league's most famous cases was in 1985, when the owners collectively agreed not to pursue free agents from other ball clubs - claiming they individually decided to be more "fiscally responsible". The outcome: all 29 free agents that off-season were forced to re-sign with their former teams. Of those players, just one, Carlton Fisk, agreed to what was termed a true "bona fide" offer. The case was brought to arbitration and the owners were ordered to pay the players a penalty of $280 million.
The recent change in atmosphere throughout the free agent market has come under heavy scrutiny. For example, in recent years, successful veteran pitchers have been signing incredibly lucrative long-term deals. In 2005, Kevin Millwood signed with the rangers for $60 million over five years. In 2006 Esteban Loaiza cashed in for $21 million over three years, and most recently Barry Zito signed a seven year deal for $126 million in 2007. The list goes on, but clearly quality pitching has been a lock to pull the big contract in the recent market.
However, in this 32nd winter of free agency, similar veteran pitchers are not inking the same caliber multi-year deals. Randy Wolf signed for one year at $4.75 million while solid veterans Kenny Rogers and Tom Glavine both signed contracts spanning just one year for $8 million.
"It's a highly irregular situation to see veteran pitchers who are out there and only one American pitcher got a multiyear contract," player agent Scott Boras told the New York Times.
It seems clear that teams are just not spending like they used to. Optimists would no doubt write this newfound frugality off to the proverbial bubble bursting on player values. Mediocre talent is being recognized as such, and salary inflation is finally undergoing a bit of self-correction. Isn't that a possibility too?
Certainly it is, but this cannot explain the Barry Bonds enigma. There is absolutely no doubt that many clubs, especially in the American League, could benefit from having a powerful left-handed bat like Bonds' in their lineup. Last season, the three-time most valuable player hit .276 with 28 homers, 66 RBIs and drew a major league-leading 132 walks. He made $19.3 million. Bonds has made it clear he wants to play, and he would do so for less than that kind of money. He will put fans in the seats, and he will produce. Many fans from many teams are left wondering: what's the holdup?
But, fans aren't the only ones questioning their teams' agendas. Even team officials have made public statements regarding Bonds' services, like St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa. His call for the Cards to sign Bonds was promptly shot down by management. The Tampa Bay Rays also held internal discussions about making a play for Bonds, according to the St. Petersburg Times. So far no club has made an offer for the slugger, raising suspicions that there might be more at play than meets the eye.
As the investigations into these most recent allegations of collusion continue in this age of celebrity, reality TV, Senate hearings, and probes more answers are sure to come. Maybe teams just aren't willing to spend like they used to or maybe there is a big, closed door behind which illegal activities are taking place.
That Perfect Summer When Manny Was a Dodger
Nostalgia isn't what it used to be; so true.
Yet one can't help recalling with a grin and a sigh how transforming The Might Manny's presence was when he was wearing the Blue Bandanna at Chavez Ravine.
Young players suddenly caught on.
A veteran, like Jeff Kent, earned his last hurrah at 40, connecting with his bat better than he had done all season; heck for two or more seasons.
Manager Joe Torre had genuine, performing ballplayers to guide, who played as a team, battling back to pull out victories against all odds.
And Dodger owners, despite numerous personnel miscues, were seeing money go in and stay in their pockets.
Then, after the '08 season, Manny was free to negotiate with any team, and as he had allegedly whispered, his most welcomed suitor was the New York Yankees. Offering him $61 million for two years, with an option for a third, Manny declined the Dodgers' comparatively paltry gesture of $42 million, and away he chortled, ready to vanquish the team that had spurned him, the Boston Red Sox.
What went wrong? Why didn't the Dodgers cough up the premium needed to keep Manny in LA?
Some excused the brass because they were on a "youth campaign," seeking to develop tomorrow's stars from within their farm system. Having dropped big change on Andruw Jones and other disappointing veterans, the front office was thrice shy about taking out a mega Manny mortgage.
Cynics pointed out that the Dodgers got a free pass. They didn't have to go out of pocket to obtain Manny in the first place. The Red Sox offloaded him but continued paying his 2008 salary.
His dream sequence in Hollywood was a one-shot production. When the curtain fell on the 2008 season, Manny-The-Roadshow had scooted down the line to the next paying venue, where he packed them in.
But now that this has all played out, the Manny-Dodgers coupling was doomed from the start, much like that other Glittertown mismatch--featuring Lyle Lovett and Julia Roberts.
The Dodgers were out of their league in sharing company with this all-time great ballplayer.
But this can't prevent fans from recalling with melancholy that perfect summer when Manny was a Dodger.
Yet one can't help recalling with a grin and a sigh how transforming The Might Manny's presence was when he was wearing the Blue Bandanna at Chavez Ravine.
Young players suddenly caught on.
A veteran, like Jeff Kent, earned his last hurrah at 40, connecting with his bat better than he had done all season; heck for two or more seasons.
Manager Joe Torre had genuine, performing ballplayers to guide, who played as a team, battling back to pull out victories against all odds.
And Dodger owners, despite numerous personnel miscues, were seeing money go in and stay in their pockets.
Then, after the '08 season, Manny was free to negotiate with any team, and as he had allegedly whispered, his most welcomed suitor was the New York Yankees. Offering him $61 million for two years, with an option for a third, Manny declined the Dodgers' comparatively paltry gesture of $42 million, and away he chortled, ready to vanquish the team that had spurned him, the Boston Red Sox.
What went wrong? Why didn't the Dodgers cough up the premium needed to keep Manny in LA?
Some excused the brass because they were on a "youth campaign," seeking to develop tomorrow's stars from within their farm system. Having dropped big change on Andruw Jones and other disappointing veterans, the front office was thrice shy about taking out a mega Manny mortgage.
Cynics pointed out that the Dodgers got a free pass. They didn't have to go out of pocket to obtain Manny in the first place. The Red Sox offloaded him but continued paying his 2008 salary.
His dream sequence in Hollywood was a one-shot production. When the curtain fell on the 2008 season, Manny-The-Roadshow had scooted down the line to the next paying venue, where he packed them in.
But now that this has all played out, the Manny-Dodgers coupling was doomed from the start, much like that other Glittertown mismatch--featuring Lyle Lovett and Julia Roberts.
The Dodgers were out of their league in sharing company with this all-time great ballplayer.
But this can't prevent fans from recalling with melancholy that perfect summer when Manny was a Dodger.
Stiff Or Flexible Baseball Bat Handle?
This Stiff vs. Flex Handle debate is the centerpiece of the baseball bat wars and complicated when evaluating baseball bat reviews. Manufacturers like Easton and Demarini have pushed the flex handle, while Louisville says a stiff handle is the way to go. By the way, a bats handle is rated at 100 for the stiffest and down to 65 for maximum flexibility.
So who is right? Kettering University conducted an in-depth study on the subject. I'll save you some time from reading their fifteen pages, thirteen graph analysis. The answer is... WE DON'T KNOW. Believe it or not that is their conclusion. Are you kidding me? Every bat manufacturer touts the benefits of one or the other and the scientists can't tell the difference. What's a ball player to do? Here's my recommendation.
First decide what you want to spend, the material that's best for you and then the handle design. Although there doesn't seem to be a scientific difference I side with the stiff handle design when all else is equal for two reasons. First, we all know the barrel needs to flex. If the handle is flexing too it just seems it has to interfere with the barrel flexing (and yes I slept through physics in HS). Hence, Louisville's stance of "when the handle flexes, the barrel can't. This reduces the potential for trampoline effect when the barrel comes into contact with the ball. A stiff handle produces more barrel flex resulting in great trampoline effect" makes more sense to me than the stance of the flex handle people. Second, after years of pushing the flex handle Easton now has a stiff handle version of all their bats. This tells me they know something. More players from little league to college go with Easton's stiff handle bats as opposed to the their flex handle bats. They even removed all of the flex handle research from their website. Again, I'm assuming they did this because they have some evidence.
So who is right? Kettering University conducted an in-depth study on the subject. I'll save you some time from reading their fifteen pages, thirteen graph analysis. The answer is... WE DON'T KNOW. Believe it or not that is their conclusion. Are you kidding me? Every bat manufacturer touts the benefits of one or the other and the scientists can't tell the difference. What's a ball player to do? Here's my recommendation.
First decide what you want to spend, the material that's best for you and then the handle design. Although there doesn't seem to be a scientific difference I side with the stiff handle design when all else is equal for two reasons. First, we all know the barrel needs to flex. If the handle is flexing too it just seems it has to interfere with the barrel flexing (and yes I slept through physics in HS). Hence, Louisville's stance of "when the handle flexes, the barrel can't. This reduces the potential for trampoline effect when the barrel comes into contact with the ball. A stiff handle produces more barrel flex resulting in great trampoline effect" makes more sense to me than the stance of the flex handle people. Second, after years of pushing the flex handle Easton now has a stiff handle version of all their bats. This tells me they know something. More players from little league to college go with Easton's stiff handle bats as opposed to the their flex handle bats. They even removed all of the flex handle research from their website. Again, I'm assuming they did this because they have some evidence.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Pitching Machine Baseballs - The Right Choice When Using a Pitching Machine
The controversy surrounding what type of ball to use when taking batting practice has been around for years. Coated baseballs, also called pitching machine balls or dimple balls, are often thought of in a negative manner with the argument that they do not provide the same feel as a real baseball when struck by the bat. In my opinion the pitching machine balls are superior for their durability, longevity, cost benefit and the fact that they do not scuff and pick up moisture like real baseballs so the flight from the machine is much truer leading to better pitches and more consistent swings during batting practice. This article describes those points in great detail.
Color - When hitting in the batting cage the color of the pitching machine ball becomes very important. As you work to train your hitting eye a yellow ball is easier to pick up than a white ball. The yellow color is designed to give you the best overall visibility in several different lighting conditions.
Durability and Consistency - It is important to keep in mind the durability of a baseball. A standard baseball is made for game use. With consistent use it will pick up moisture, scuffs and wear out very quickly. The design of a pitching machine baseball, with a plastic outer coating, will last much longer. You should expect the pitching machine baseball to last at least 2 to 3 years. That is a lot hits, long drives, and home runs. The design of the pitching machine ball adds to its durability. Because of their plastic outer coating, pitching machine balls are designed to not attract moisture. A standard leather baseball can pick up moisture from many sources. It can come from either a wet or damp field, overnight rain or even the morning dew. Over time, the regular baseball begins to add weight from the moisture and can become very heavy. If a wet or heavy ball is used in a pitching machine the pitches can become unpredictable. When that happens the act of taking batting practice can actually become dangerous. A lot of wild pitches are sure to follow. Take comfort in knowing that you will get a consistent pitch every time with the use if regular pitching machine baseballs.
Like New Quality - The high durability of the pitching machine ball makes the balls very easy to clean. You don't have to worry about getting them wet. The pitching machine balls will easily clean using water and a mild cleaning detergent. I have had good luck simply wiping them dry after each use. This simple task, much like a golfer wipes their clubs clean after each use, helps to keep the color bright and the balls in great shape to last to their full life expectancy of 2-3 years.
Lower Cost - While the initial cost of a set of pitching machine baseballs may be slightly higher than regular baseballs, the long-term cost of pitching machine baseballs are lower. As the cost of baseball equipment rises, a standard baseball is no exception. The cost of a box of 24 balls will be about $60. With year long training you will probably need to replace the balls about twice a year. The easy solution is to switch to pitching machine baseballs. The cost with the pitching machine baseballs is very close to the same as regular baseballs, with the cost of the pitching machine balls being about $72 for 24 balls. The real savings comes from the fact that the pitching machine balls should last about 2 - 3 years.
It does not take a hitters eye to see that the smart choice is to use pitching machine baseballs with your pitching machine. If you are preparing for the upcoming baseball season or if you are in mid-season form getting ready for the stretch run, fire up the pitching machine, it is time to Play Ball!
Color - When hitting in the batting cage the color of the pitching machine ball becomes very important. As you work to train your hitting eye a yellow ball is easier to pick up than a white ball. The yellow color is designed to give you the best overall visibility in several different lighting conditions.
Durability and Consistency - It is important to keep in mind the durability of a baseball. A standard baseball is made for game use. With consistent use it will pick up moisture, scuffs and wear out very quickly. The design of a pitching machine baseball, with a plastic outer coating, will last much longer. You should expect the pitching machine baseball to last at least 2 to 3 years. That is a lot hits, long drives, and home runs. The design of the pitching machine ball adds to its durability. Because of their plastic outer coating, pitching machine balls are designed to not attract moisture. A standard leather baseball can pick up moisture from many sources. It can come from either a wet or damp field, overnight rain or even the morning dew. Over time, the regular baseball begins to add weight from the moisture and can become very heavy. If a wet or heavy ball is used in a pitching machine the pitches can become unpredictable. When that happens the act of taking batting practice can actually become dangerous. A lot of wild pitches are sure to follow. Take comfort in knowing that you will get a consistent pitch every time with the use if regular pitching machine baseballs.
Like New Quality - The high durability of the pitching machine ball makes the balls very easy to clean. You don't have to worry about getting them wet. The pitching machine balls will easily clean using water and a mild cleaning detergent. I have had good luck simply wiping them dry after each use. This simple task, much like a golfer wipes their clubs clean after each use, helps to keep the color bright and the balls in great shape to last to their full life expectancy of 2-3 years.
Lower Cost - While the initial cost of a set of pitching machine baseballs may be slightly higher than regular baseballs, the long-term cost of pitching machine baseballs are lower. As the cost of baseball equipment rises, a standard baseball is no exception. The cost of a box of 24 balls will be about $60. With year long training you will probably need to replace the balls about twice a year. The easy solution is to switch to pitching machine baseballs. The cost with the pitching machine baseballs is very close to the same as regular baseballs, with the cost of the pitching machine balls being about $72 for 24 balls. The real savings comes from the fact that the pitching machine balls should last about 2 - 3 years.
It does not take a hitters eye to see that the smart choice is to use pitching machine baseballs with your pitching machine. If you are preparing for the upcoming baseball season or if you are in mid-season form getting ready for the stretch run, fire up the pitching machine, it is time to Play Ball!
Examples of Strategy Used in Baseball
Baseball is commonly thought of as the sport that involves the most strategy. To be successful in the sport players not only need to be strong and athletic, they also need to be very knowledgeable. This article highlights a few examples of how understanding the game better can sometimes be more important than muscle or speed.
Outfielders Moving Back in Later Innings
When you are watching a game, it isn't uncommon for the announcers to mention that the outfield has backed up in an effort to 'limit extra base hits'. An extra base hit is something that goes for more than a single. If the outfield plays a little deeper, it makes it harder for a hit ball to slip between the players. People ask me, "if the players are deeper, isn't it harder to throw the runners out?" Sure it is, but major league players hit the ball hard and it gets to the outfielders very quickly. Many players simply are not fast enough to run down a hard hit ball and if the ball gets past them, the play can quickly turn into a double or worse yet, a triple. Shifting the outfielders to a deep position is usually done when a team is ahead. The goal is to force the losing team to get 4 hits to score a runner, which is very hard to do. The strategy usually isn't employed early in games because it gives opposing teams too much opportunity to score single runs. By backing up the outfielders, teams are trying to avoid the big innings.
Pitch Counts
When I was growing up, a starting pitcher would throw every 4th day and it wasn't uncommon for them to pitch an entire game. Pitchers often threw for 300 innings a year while remaining healthy. So what has changed? Today's pitchers are paid a lot more than they were 20 years ago and with such a large investment, teams are not willing to risk the chance of injury which increases with the number of pitches thrown. Pitchers are now played and rotated based on the "pitch count". At 100 pitches you'll see most managers looking to make a pitching change, even though it may look like the pitcher is doing fine.
Double Switch
I personally love this move. It is a favorite of teams that have players who are defensive specialists. It is also a great strategy for teams with hitters who excel against certain pitchers. In a double switch, two players are replaced to change the hitting lineup. For example, the Chicago Cubs right fielder Cliff Floyd ends the inning with a grounder to second base. Instead of Cliff going back into the field the Cubs remove him for another player like Craig Monroe. At the same time, the Cubs also change pitchers but instead of the replacement pitcher hitting in 9th spot where the previous pitcher was hitting, he now replaces Cliff Floyd in the lineup with Craig Monroe hitting 9th. This is called a legal double switch. Teams use this strategy so the pitcher doesn't have to hit for a couple more innings and it gives regular players more at bats. It also allows the team to get the better defender in the game for the later innings or the hitter that hits better off of lefties for example. This strategy gives the team manager greater flexibility with the roster.
Outfielders Moving Back in Later Innings
When you are watching a game, it isn't uncommon for the announcers to mention that the outfield has backed up in an effort to 'limit extra base hits'. An extra base hit is something that goes for more than a single. If the outfield plays a little deeper, it makes it harder for a hit ball to slip between the players. People ask me, "if the players are deeper, isn't it harder to throw the runners out?" Sure it is, but major league players hit the ball hard and it gets to the outfielders very quickly. Many players simply are not fast enough to run down a hard hit ball and if the ball gets past them, the play can quickly turn into a double or worse yet, a triple. Shifting the outfielders to a deep position is usually done when a team is ahead. The goal is to force the losing team to get 4 hits to score a runner, which is very hard to do. The strategy usually isn't employed early in games because it gives opposing teams too much opportunity to score single runs. By backing up the outfielders, teams are trying to avoid the big innings.
Pitch Counts
When I was growing up, a starting pitcher would throw every 4th day and it wasn't uncommon for them to pitch an entire game. Pitchers often threw for 300 innings a year while remaining healthy. So what has changed? Today's pitchers are paid a lot more than they were 20 years ago and with such a large investment, teams are not willing to risk the chance of injury which increases with the number of pitches thrown. Pitchers are now played and rotated based on the "pitch count". At 100 pitches you'll see most managers looking to make a pitching change, even though it may look like the pitcher is doing fine.
Double Switch
I personally love this move. It is a favorite of teams that have players who are defensive specialists. It is also a great strategy for teams with hitters who excel against certain pitchers. In a double switch, two players are replaced to change the hitting lineup. For example, the Chicago Cubs right fielder Cliff Floyd ends the inning with a grounder to second base. Instead of Cliff going back into the field the Cubs remove him for another player like Craig Monroe. At the same time, the Cubs also change pitchers but instead of the replacement pitcher hitting in 9th spot where the previous pitcher was hitting, he now replaces Cliff Floyd in the lineup with Craig Monroe hitting 9th. This is called a legal double switch. Teams use this strategy so the pitcher doesn't have to hit for a couple more innings and it gives regular players more at bats. It also allows the team to get the better defender in the game for the later innings or the hitter that hits better off of lefties for example. This strategy gives the team manager greater flexibility with the roster.
Fun and Competitive Baseball Games That Help Young Players Develop Proper Fundamentals
Young baseball players should be encouraged to get outside whenever possible to practice their baseball skills. Playing outside is great exercise and it builds hand-eye coordination which is crucial to playing baseball. Playing video games will not build the fundamentals young players need! Kids need to know that there are many baseball games they can compete in aside from an official game that requires 18 players and an umpire. This article explains some of the most classic baseball games kids can participate in with very few participants and in just about any environment.
Over the Line
In over the line, an imaginary line is determined on the field. One player is the pitcher and one player is the hitter. Each hitter gets three outs and nine innings are played. On most fields the infield dirt is decided to be the imaginary line. If a hit ball does not make it past the line, the batter is out. If the ball makes it past the line but doesn't roll to the fence, it is a single. If it rolls to the fence, it is a double and if it hits the fence on the fly, it is a triple. "Ghost runners" are used after each hit. The purpose of this game is to allow the hitter to hit, not strike him out. To make the game more interesting, add fielders to the mix and make the field smaller.
For example, if the hitter hits the ball to the right of center field it is an out. This forces the hitter to pull the ball and hit it over the line to be safe. By adding the fielder, any ball that is caught is an out. In one last twist, the fielder can field the ball cleanly and throw to the pitcher on the fly. If he throws the ball directly to the pitcher, the batter is out; however, if the ball bounces to the pitcher or the pitcher drops the ball, the batter is safe. No hitter can be called out on an error by the fielder. In the case of the sacrifice fly, the hitter must yell if the runner is going to tag up while the ball is in flight to the outfielder. If the fielder catches the ball and makes a clean throw to the pitcher on the fly, a double play occurs. If the throw doesn't make it to the pitcher, or isn't caught by the pitcher, the runner scores. Some of my favorite memories of playing this game are as an adult. It is often difficult to pull together enough people for a game so this is a great way to get your baseball fix with only a few people. Try it and you'll love it.
Wiffle Ball
As kids we would take our mom's mini trampoline and stand it on end to use as a target. The trampoline became our strike zone. If the pitch missed the tramp, we actually had a sheet set up to stop the balls. It worked wonders. Wiffle balls are light and using them teaches a player to learn to read different pitches as well as helping them to focus on different pitch speeds. I encourage younger players to play with the real wiffle ball bat that is skinny and yellow and not the giant, orange-barrel bats. If a player can master hitting with the yellow bat, a real bat will seem easy! You can play this game in teams and include base running if desired.
Home Run Derby
Believe it or not, this game has a purpose. Young players are often trained to make contact with the ball when they should be trained to drive the ball. Too many times as a youth I was content hitting the ball instead of hitting the ball hard. My father was an excellent coach and was constantly encouraging me to drive the ball consistently. It takes a lot of time and encouragement to instill hitting tenacity in young players. Playing home run derby can teach a player to recognize a good pitch, as well as the proper mechanics behind hitting the ball hard. Typical home run derby should be played on a field where everyone involved can hit homers. You don't want it to be easy but you also don't want it to be impossible. The purpose after all is to hit the long ball. We typically play nine innings with three outs an inning to keep the game moving.
HotBox
Before you play hotbox, make sure that you have clearance from your parents. This game will wear out the grass quickly. We had to constantly play our hotbox game in different areas of our yard to avoid turning our parents' yard into a series of trails. If you live near a hill, find a flat place to play so you don't have to chase the ball relentlessly. To play hotbox, you need at least three players and two bases. Don't place the bases too far apart for this game. One player is on each base with the 3rd player being the base runner. The runner keeps track of each base he safely gets to before he is thrown out. The game is simple. The runner must attempt to run the bases before being tagged out by another player. If the players on base throw the ball away, the runner keeps running until the ball is back in play and the runner is out. This will encourage hustle from all players. When the runner gets out, another player takes a turn running the bases. You can create your own winning score. Make sure there are no sprinklers or other objects in the area when playing hotbox. I slid into a sprinkler while playing the game once and it cost me about 15 stitches.
These games encourage healthy competition and love of baseball. I hope your young players build fond memories playing these games.
Over the Line
In over the line, an imaginary line is determined on the field. One player is the pitcher and one player is the hitter. Each hitter gets three outs and nine innings are played. On most fields the infield dirt is decided to be the imaginary line. If a hit ball does not make it past the line, the batter is out. If the ball makes it past the line but doesn't roll to the fence, it is a single. If it rolls to the fence, it is a double and if it hits the fence on the fly, it is a triple. "Ghost runners" are used after each hit. The purpose of this game is to allow the hitter to hit, not strike him out. To make the game more interesting, add fielders to the mix and make the field smaller.
For example, if the hitter hits the ball to the right of center field it is an out. This forces the hitter to pull the ball and hit it over the line to be safe. By adding the fielder, any ball that is caught is an out. In one last twist, the fielder can field the ball cleanly and throw to the pitcher on the fly. If he throws the ball directly to the pitcher, the batter is out; however, if the ball bounces to the pitcher or the pitcher drops the ball, the batter is safe. No hitter can be called out on an error by the fielder. In the case of the sacrifice fly, the hitter must yell if the runner is going to tag up while the ball is in flight to the outfielder. If the fielder catches the ball and makes a clean throw to the pitcher on the fly, a double play occurs. If the throw doesn't make it to the pitcher, or isn't caught by the pitcher, the runner scores. Some of my favorite memories of playing this game are as an adult. It is often difficult to pull together enough people for a game so this is a great way to get your baseball fix with only a few people. Try it and you'll love it.
Wiffle Ball
As kids we would take our mom's mini trampoline and stand it on end to use as a target. The trampoline became our strike zone. If the pitch missed the tramp, we actually had a sheet set up to stop the balls. It worked wonders. Wiffle balls are light and using them teaches a player to learn to read different pitches as well as helping them to focus on different pitch speeds. I encourage younger players to play with the real wiffle ball bat that is skinny and yellow and not the giant, orange-barrel bats. If a player can master hitting with the yellow bat, a real bat will seem easy! You can play this game in teams and include base running if desired.
Home Run Derby
Believe it or not, this game has a purpose. Young players are often trained to make contact with the ball when they should be trained to drive the ball. Too many times as a youth I was content hitting the ball instead of hitting the ball hard. My father was an excellent coach and was constantly encouraging me to drive the ball consistently. It takes a lot of time and encouragement to instill hitting tenacity in young players. Playing home run derby can teach a player to recognize a good pitch, as well as the proper mechanics behind hitting the ball hard. Typical home run derby should be played on a field where everyone involved can hit homers. You don't want it to be easy but you also don't want it to be impossible. The purpose after all is to hit the long ball. We typically play nine innings with three outs an inning to keep the game moving.
HotBox
Before you play hotbox, make sure that you have clearance from your parents. This game will wear out the grass quickly. We had to constantly play our hotbox game in different areas of our yard to avoid turning our parents' yard into a series of trails. If you live near a hill, find a flat place to play so you don't have to chase the ball relentlessly. To play hotbox, you need at least three players and two bases. Don't place the bases too far apart for this game. One player is on each base with the 3rd player being the base runner. The runner keeps track of each base he safely gets to before he is thrown out. The game is simple. The runner must attempt to run the bases before being tagged out by another player. If the players on base throw the ball away, the runner keeps running until the ball is back in play and the runner is out. This will encourage hustle from all players. When the runner gets out, another player takes a turn running the bases. You can create your own winning score. Make sure there are no sprinklers or other objects in the area when playing hotbox. I slid into a sprinkler while playing the game once and it cost me about 15 stitches.
These games encourage healthy competition and love of baseball. I hope your young players build fond memories playing these games.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Tale of the Two Joes
"Sooner or later, no matter how smart you are, baseball plays everyone for a fool," remarked an old hand at the game.
He could have been talking about the Steinbrenner clan that owns and runs the New York Yankees. Putting the screws to Joe Torre to win a World Championship or to take a cut in pay, Joe T. traded a sour apple for a sweet orange, accepting a longer and arguably much better contract with the Dodgers.
The Yanks promoted Joe Girardi, a fine former catcher and a gritty leader. Did I mention Girardi's about a couple of decades younger than the other Joe? But you knew that.
So did the Steinbrenners, who thought they had brought youth, vigor, and a certain championship to the Bronx. Now, it's August, and the pin-stripers are in third in their division and very wobbly. Whispers are deafening that the Yanks might miss out on tying a record 14th consecutive visit to the post-season.
That discard, the 70-something veteran who was consigned to baseball's worst division, that Joe-how's he doing?
Torre's team is torrid right now--tied for first place with the Diamondbacks. With the addition of Manny Ramirez's bat and electricity, the Blue Crew is coming on strong.
Both Joes have had to manage through adversity, including multiple player injuries.
They're effective, but you have to wonder if Torre's steady hand, his ability to keep an odd coupling of youngsters and oldsters in contention until Ramirez' arrival, will have been the decisive factor when the post-season begins.
You heard of the "Curse of the Bambino," that winning drought that Boston brought upon itself after trading Babe Ruth to the Yanks.
As I've said before, we might be witnessing more than a Tale of Two Joes.
It could be the first year New York suffers The Curse of the Torreno.
He could have been talking about the Steinbrenner clan that owns and runs the New York Yankees. Putting the screws to Joe Torre to win a World Championship or to take a cut in pay, Joe T. traded a sour apple for a sweet orange, accepting a longer and arguably much better contract with the Dodgers.
The Yanks promoted Joe Girardi, a fine former catcher and a gritty leader. Did I mention Girardi's about a couple of decades younger than the other Joe? But you knew that.
So did the Steinbrenners, who thought they had brought youth, vigor, and a certain championship to the Bronx. Now, it's August, and the pin-stripers are in third in their division and very wobbly. Whispers are deafening that the Yanks might miss out on tying a record 14th consecutive visit to the post-season.
That discard, the 70-something veteran who was consigned to baseball's worst division, that Joe-how's he doing?
Torre's team is torrid right now--tied for first place with the Diamondbacks. With the addition of Manny Ramirez's bat and electricity, the Blue Crew is coming on strong.
Both Joes have had to manage through adversity, including multiple player injuries.
They're effective, but you have to wonder if Torre's steady hand, his ability to keep an odd coupling of youngsters and oldsters in contention until Ramirez' arrival, will have been the decisive factor when the post-season begins.
You heard of the "Curse of the Bambino," that winning drought that Boston brought upon itself after trading Babe Ruth to the Yanks.
As I've said before, we might be witnessing more than a Tale of Two Joes.
It could be the first year New York suffers The Curse of the Torreno.
How to Paint Your Way to a .400 Batting Avg
In my opinion, baseball hitting is the hardest thing to do in all of sports. It may seem almost impossible at times and very frustrating.
Keep practicing and utilizing different hitting drills such as this one. It was my favorite while I played in college and can be used for high school and youth also.
It's called .......
Painting Your Way to a .400 Batting Avg.
Take about 30 old baseballs or softballs and spray paint 10 blue, 10 yellow and 10 red. The brighter and more visible the color the better. Now assign a pitch to each color. Example, blue is a curveball, yellow is a change-up and red is a fastball.
Utilizing a pitching machine or live pitcher, set up a batting cage or go on the field if weather permits. Give the batter a sheet to study for one minute containing the pitches and their corresponding colors.
Now, here is the important part. As the pitcher delivers or the machine delivers the colored balls, a coach will call out where he wants the batter to hit the ball.
For Instance: A Live pitcher throws a Red ball (fastball), then a coach standing off to the side of the batter will say left field, center, or right. The batter not only has to recognize the color and adjust, be must also attempt to hit the ball in a certain location. This drill is awesome, it uses all facets of your hand eye coordination, pitch recognition and reflexes. It is great for hit and runs, contact plays and hitting behind the runners. Using this drill repeatedly will raise batting averages and improve hitting morale.
Remember, you must practice this drill at least one to two times a week and you will get results.
Keep practicing and utilizing different hitting drills such as this one. It was my favorite while I played in college and can be used for high school and youth also.
It's called .......
Painting Your Way to a .400 Batting Avg.
Take about 30 old baseballs or softballs and spray paint 10 blue, 10 yellow and 10 red. The brighter and more visible the color the better. Now assign a pitch to each color. Example, blue is a curveball, yellow is a change-up and red is a fastball.
Utilizing a pitching machine or live pitcher, set up a batting cage or go on the field if weather permits. Give the batter a sheet to study for one minute containing the pitches and their corresponding colors.
Now, here is the important part. As the pitcher delivers or the machine delivers the colored balls, a coach will call out where he wants the batter to hit the ball.
For Instance: A Live pitcher throws a Red ball (fastball), then a coach standing off to the side of the batter will say left field, center, or right. The batter not only has to recognize the color and adjust, be must also attempt to hit the ball in a certain location. This drill is awesome, it uses all facets of your hand eye coordination, pitch recognition and reflexes. It is great for hit and runs, contact plays and hitting behind the runners. Using this drill repeatedly will raise batting averages and improve hitting morale.
Remember, you must practice this drill at least one to two times a week and you will get results.
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