If while pitching, you have the very good fortune to have an umpire who is calling strikes on pitches not in the strike zone, don't feel any obligation to throw strikes.
If he is calling them high, why should you bring your pitches down? If he is calling them low, why should you bring your pitches up higher? The same holds true for inside and outside off the plate. Pay close attention early in a ball game to what an umpire IS or is NOT calling strikes and pitch accordingly.
No matter what the rule book says for the strike zone at any level of play, no two umpires are going to call balls and strikes the same. Some have small strike zones and some have very large strike zones.
It's 2009 and I STILL remember an umpire I had in high school back in the year 1968. I simply want to make a point here. Do you want to talk about a pitcher friendly umpire? I noticed very, very early in the game that if a curve ball was within a foot of home plate, he would call it a strike. Also, if it didn't bounce it in the dirt it was high enough for him to call it a strike. I was only 16 years old but I recognized in the first inning how this guy loved any curve ball he saw and was pretty much going to call it a strike if it was anywhere close to the plate. This is one of the many baseball pitching tips that has nothing to do with the actual pitching mechanics and it merely requires a simple observation.
It was easy to have a very successful outing and you probably know what pitch made it a success. You guessed it. Curve balls that were six inches off the outside corner and just barely above being in the dirt. The umpire wasn't intentionally trying to favor anyone or give anyone an unfair advantage. In fact, he was a very nice guy and an honorable man.
But ALWAYS remember, all umpires have different strike zones and you better "get to know your umpire very quickly."
You don't necessarily have to throw strikes to get hitters out. Making good use of this will work to your advantage big time!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Larry_Cicchiello
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Prevention is Better Than Cure - Safety Measures For Your Child to Participate in Baseball
A Survey in the world says there are more young baseball players from the age of 4 to the age of 15. It is advised that parents and team managers take proper care of the safety measures enforced for these games to avoid any serious injury later. Take your child to your doctor to evaluate the physical condition and injury prone conditions of the kid. Take proper precautionary measures to protect the parts that are vulnerable for high risk as per the doctor's analysis.
If your kid plays as a pitcher, make sure the timings are followed for pitcher in the game. This position of the game causes severe shoulder pains and knee pains cause of continuous heavy throws. If the position is as a catcher, then extra safety measures are to be taken to protect throat, face, shoulders, chest, and shin guards with double thicker gloves suitable for catchers. Make sure the coach insist on safe play as part of the training techniques apart from winning strategies. There are rules for kid games to make sure the game is safe for all the team members. Follow closely with the game organizers to understand the guidelines followed.
Insist your kid on wearing the helmets with eye protectors all time's infield, outfield during the game. Purchase the right brand of comfortable gloves for the players need. Carry first aid always for the practices and game tours with you like Pain relief sprays, prescribed medicines, and extra safety gears. Give enough fluids to prevent the player from getting dehydrated. Make sure your kid is not forced to continue playing with heavy injuries or pain. Worst thing happen immediately take him to the doctor from the play field rather than letting him continue playing.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=T._Dudson
If your kid plays as a pitcher, make sure the timings are followed for pitcher in the game. This position of the game causes severe shoulder pains and knee pains cause of continuous heavy throws. If the position is as a catcher, then extra safety measures are to be taken to protect throat, face, shoulders, chest, and shin guards with double thicker gloves suitable for catchers. Make sure the coach insist on safe play as part of the training techniques apart from winning strategies. There are rules for kid games to make sure the game is safe for all the team members. Follow closely with the game organizers to understand the guidelines followed.
Insist your kid on wearing the helmets with eye protectors all time's infield, outfield during the game. Purchase the right brand of comfortable gloves for the players need. Carry first aid always for the practices and game tours with you like Pain relief sprays, prescribed medicines, and extra safety gears. Give enough fluids to prevent the player from getting dehydrated. Make sure your kid is not forced to continue playing with heavy injuries or pain. Worst thing happen immediately take him to the doctor from the play field rather than letting him continue playing.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=T._Dudson
Know Your Roles In and Out to Become the Best Baseball Player
One important position or key role of the game is the Pitcher. A Pitcher is the one who throws the ball to the catcher. The ball is thrown in a way that the batter could not strike the ball from the strike zone. The role is to make sure the batter fails to strike the ball as well as the catcher is able to get the throw adding advantage to the side of the team in which the pitcher is a member of.
A catcher role is like the role of a wicker keeper in the game of cricket. He needs to defensively play the game and catch the ball thrown towards the striker. He would be able to sense the ball anytime in the field based on the stroke of the batter and knowing the strengths of his team pitcher. He is the only person in the field to get the whole perception in a single sight. With hand signs he would be able to direct all the team members in the field. His role requires him to protect himself very well from the hazard of any game injury.
Other positions are called as in field playing and outfield playing. The positions of infield are called First Base, Second Base, Third Base and Shortstop. The positions of outfield include Left Field, Center Field and Right Field. The Infield positions are closed to the batter while the outfield is farther away from him. The role of infield position is to catch the ball before the striker reaches the base position to score the run. They are required to cover higher range of area to catch the ball and high concentration on the game. In contrast the outfield positions play defensive game with reflex ball throw back to the catcher or pitcher or the first base position to secure the scores. All these positions require safer protective gloves. Choose the best protective measures for the game.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=T._Dudson
A catcher role is like the role of a wicker keeper in the game of cricket. He needs to defensively play the game and catch the ball thrown towards the striker. He would be able to sense the ball anytime in the field based on the stroke of the batter and knowing the strengths of his team pitcher. He is the only person in the field to get the whole perception in a single sight. With hand signs he would be able to direct all the team members in the field. His role requires him to protect himself very well from the hazard of any game injury.
Other positions are called as in field playing and outfield playing. The positions of infield are called First Base, Second Base, Third Base and Shortstop. The positions of outfield include Left Field, Center Field and Right Field. The Infield positions are closed to the batter while the outfield is farther away from him. The role of infield position is to catch the ball before the striker reaches the base position to score the run. They are required to cover higher range of area to catch the ball and high concentration on the game. In contrast the outfield positions play defensive game with reflex ball throw back to the catcher or pitcher or the first base position to secure the scores. All these positions require safer protective gloves. Choose the best protective measures for the game.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=T._Dudson
Baseball Strikeout Pitchers - Ranking the Best of the 1960s
Baseball fans have always worshipped the pitchers who could string together strikeouts. And as hitters have become less concerned with making contact and more concerned with reaching the fences (since home runs always pay better than singles), strikeout ratios have increased steadily with each decade throughout the 20th Century.
The biggest jump in the average number of strikeouts per 9 innings pitched among all major league pitchers came in the 1960s, when the average per 9 innings rose to 5.47 strikeouts (compared to 4.38 in the 1950s). That's more than a strikeout per 9 innings better than the previous decade ... the most dramatic increase in strikeouts for any decade.
This increase in strikeouts was no doubt partly due to the raised pitching mound and enlarged strike zone that prevailed during mot of the 1960s. But it is just as likely that the increase was due to the talent of 1960s pitchers ... the same pitchers who posted the lowest collective major league ERA (3.60) of any decade since the introduction of the "lively ball" in 1920.
The simply 1960s featured more great strikeout pitchers than any other baseball decade. The 10 best are recognized in thi ranking. These are the pitchers who faced some of the best power hitters in major league baseball history, and sent more hitters back to the dugout with their bats dragging than any generation of pitchers before them.
Half of the pitchers making up this list (Koufax, Gibson, Bunning, Drysdale, Marichal) are currently in the Hall of Fame. Had they played more years for better teams, McDowell, Lolich and Tiant might well have had a shot at Cooperstown. They were certainly among the most dominant pitchers of the decade.
1. Sandy Koufax -The Dodger left-hander averaged 9.51 strikeouts per 9 innings pitched during the 1960s, the highest average among all major league starting pitchers that decade. Koufax finished 3rd in total strikeouts for the decade with 1,910, though he retired after the 1966 season.
2. Bob Gibson - With a total of 2,071, Bob Gibson recorded more strikeouts during the 1960s than any other pitcher. He averaged 7.62 strikeouts per 9 innings, and struck out 200 or more batters in a season 7 times during the 1960s, though leading the National League only once (1968).
3. Sam McDowell - The American League's most proficient strikeout pitcher during the 1960s, "Sudden" Sam finished just behind Koufax in average strikeouts per 9 innings with 9.41. He led the American League in strikeouts 4 times during the 1960s (as well as in 1970), and topped 300 strikeouts in a season twice.
4. Jim Maloney - The Cincinnati Reds right-hander struck out 1,585 batters during the 1960s, averaging 7.92 strikeouts per 9 innings. From 1963 through 1966, Maloney averaged 234 strikeouts per season while winning 78 games for the Reds.
5. Bob Veale - This 6-6 southpaw won 100 games for the Pittsburgh Pirates during the 1960s, including 18 victories in 1964, the year he led the National League in strikeouts with 250. Veale struck out 1,428 batters during the 1960s, an average of 7.98 strikeouts per 9 innings (3rd best among all pitchers).
6. Jim Bunning - Bunning is the only member of this list to lead each league in strikeouts. As a member of the Detroit Tigers, he topped the American League with 201 in both 1959 and 1960, and with the Philadelphia Phillies, Bunning led the National League in strikeouts with 253 in 1967.
7. Don Drysdale - Drysdale led the National League in strikeouts twice in the 1960s (as well as in 1959), totaling 1,910 strikeouts for the decade to tie for 3rd with teammate Sandy Koufax. Drysdale averaged 6.54 strikeouts per 9 innings during the 1960s.
8. Mickey Lolich - The all-time strikeout leader for the Detroit Tigers, Lolich registered a total of 1,336 strikeouts during the 1960s, averaging 7.87 strikeouts per 9 innings for the decade. In 1969, he averaged 8.69 strikeouts per 9 innings.
9. Juan Marichal - The pitcher with the most victories during the 1960s (191), Juan Marichal struck out 200 or more batters in a season 6 times. He amassed a total of 1,840 strikeouts for the decade, with an average of 6.49 strikeouts per 9 innings.
10. Luis Tiant - Though he pitched only 6 seasons during the 1960s, all with the Cleveland Indians , Tiant struck out 1,041 batters during the decade. He averaged 7.81 strikeouts per 9 innings, the 6th highest average among major league pitchers in the 1960s.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carroll_Conklin
The biggest jump in the average number of strikeouts per 9 innings pitched among all major league pitchers came in the 1960s, when the average per 9 innings rose to 5.47 strikeouts (compared to 4.38 in the 1950s). That's more than a strikeout per 9 innings better than the previous decade ... the most dramatic increase in strikeouts for any decade.
This increase in strikeouts was no doubt partly due to the raised pitching mound and enlarged strike zone that prevailed during mot of the 1960s. But it is just as likely that the increase was due to the talent of 1960s pitchers ... the same pitchers who posted the lowest collective major league ERA (3.60) of any decade since the introduction of the "lively ball" in 1920.
The simply 1960s featured more great strikeout pitchers than any other baseball decade. The 10 best are recognized in thi ranking. These are the pitchers who faced some of the best power hitters in major league baseball history, and sent more hitters back to the dugout with their bats dragging than any generation of pitchers before them.
Half of the pitchers making up this list (Koufax, Gibson, Bunning, Drysdale, Marichal) are currently in the Hall of Fame. Had they played more years for better teams, McDowell, Lolich and Tiant might well have had a shot at Cooperstown. They were certainly among the most dominant pitchers of the decade.
1. Sandy Koufax -The Dodger left-hander averaged 9.51 strikeouts per 9 innings pitched during the 1960s, the highest average among all major league starting pitchers that decade. Koufax finished 3rd in total strikeouts for the decade with 1,910, though he retired after the 1966 season.
2. Bob Gibson - With a total of 2,071, Bob Gibson recorded more strikeouts during the 1960s than any other pitcher. He averaged 7.62 strikeouts per 9 innings, and struck out 200 or more batters in a season 7 times during the 1960s, though leading the National League only once (1968).
3. Sam McDowell - The American League's most proficient strikeout pitcher during the 1960s, "Sudden" Sam finished just behind Koufax in average strikeouts per 9 innings with 9.41. He led the American League in strikeouts 4 times during the 1960s (as well as in 1970), and topped 300 strikeouts in a season twice.
4. Jim Maloney - The Cincinnati Reds right-hander struck out 1,585 batters during the 1960s, averaging 7.92 strikeouts per 9 innings. From 1963 through 1966, Maloney averaged 234 strikeouts per season while winning 78 games for the Reds.
5. Bob Veale - This 6-6 southpaw won 100 games for the Pittsburgh Pirates during the 1960s, including 18 victories in 1964, the year he led the National League in strikeouts with 250. Veale struck out 1,428 batters during the 1960s, an average of 7.98 strikeouts per 9 innings (3rd best among all pitchers).
6. Jim Bunning - Bunning is the only member of this list to lead each league in strikeouts. As a member of the Detroit Tigers, he topped the American League with 201 in both 1959 and 1960, and with the Philadelphia Phillies, Bunning led the National League in strikeouts with 253 in 1967.
7. Don Drysdale - Drysdale led the National League in strikeouts twice in the 1960s (as well as in 1959), totaling 1,910 strikeouts for the decade to tie for 3rd with teammate Sandy Koufax. Drysdale averaged 6.54 strikeouts per 9 innings during the 1960s.
8. Mickey Lolich - The all-time strikeout leader for the Detroit Tigers, Lolich registered a total of 1,336 strikeouts during the 1960s, averaging 7.87 strikeouts per 9 innings for the decade. In 1969, he averaged 8.69 strikeouts per 9 innings.
9. Juan Marichal - The pitcher with the most victories during the 1960s (191), Juan Marichal struck out 200 or more batters in a season 6 times. He amassed a total of 1,840 strikeouts for the decade, with an average of 6.49 strikeouts per 9 innings.
10. Luis Tiant - Though he pitched only 6 seasons during the 1960s, all with the Cleveland Indians , Tiant struck out 1,041 batters during the decade. He averaged 7.81 strikeouts per 9 innings, the 6th highest average among major league pitchers in the 1960s.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carroll_Conklin
Thursday, September 10, 2009
The Kettlebell + The Baseball Pitcher = Success!
As you know pitching involves a lot of technique that incorporates a lot more than just throwing the ball with your arm. Your entire body has to be working as a solid unit to create the maximum amount of force in order to blow the ball by a batter! Because of the physical exertion that is required with pitching you must make certain that your body is properly trained and conditioned in order to endure the taxing feat of throwing the ball hard over and over again.
As a strength and conditioning specialist I will tell you that there is no better friend to the baseball pitcher than the ancient kettlebell. Kettlebell training for the baseball pitcher is a definite way for a player to gain the edge on the competition. If you have a strength and conditioning program for baseball then you have got to include the kettlebell into your current program or change from what you are already doing. I will tell you that if you aren't willing to change then you will not experience the true benefit of this ancient strength training device. Kettlebells have been around for over three centuries and have been used by the world's greatest strongmen and athletes. If you don't consider utilizing this tool to increase your pitching performance then you are doing yourself a disservice! Executing some of the more basic lifts with the kettlebell such as swings and snatches are also great for promoting further shoulder stability and strength which is a necessity for a pitcher.
Take the time to endure the learning curve of kettlebell training. If you haven't already done it then you need to invest in your own bell as soon as you finish reading this article. Feel free to access my other articles on how you can start!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brandon_Richey
As a strength and conditioning specialist I will tell you that there is no better friend to the baseball pitcher than the ancient kettlebell. Kettlebell training for the baseball pitcher is a definite way for a player to gain the edge on the competition. If you have a strength and conditioning program for baseball then you have got to include the kettlebell into your current program or change from what you are already doing. I will tell you that if you aren't willing to change then you will not experience the true benefit of this ancient strength training device. Kettlebells have been around for over three centuries and have been used by the world's greatest strongmen and athletes. If you don't consider utilizing this tool to increase your pitching performance then you are doing yourself a disservice! Executing some of the more basic lifts with the kettlebell such as swings and snatches are also great for promoting further shoulder stability and strength which is a necessity for a pitcher.
Take the time to endure the learning curve of kettlebell training. If you haven't already done it then you need to invest in your own bell as soon as you finish reading this article. Feel free to access my other articles on how you can start!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brandon_Richey
The Kettlebell - The Path For the Baseball Player to Achieve Cleanup Hitting Power!
If you want to show up at the beginning of baseball season practice and impress your teammates and coaches with your bat speed and power then you need to learn about the kettlebell. Kettlebells have been around for over three centuries and have been field tested and proven by the greatest strongmen and athletes of all time! This ancient tool is second to nothing in terms of helping you to develop superior athleticism and the performance to match!
First of all, in order to train with kettlebells you must learn proper technique. Just like hitting the baseball requires fine tuning your skills so does kettlebell training. This particular type of training integrates hundreds of your muscles at once training your body to perform with the most efficient movements. Training your body for strength and power requires big core movements and learned skills. It involves a lot more than just "going through the motions!" Kettlebell training for baseball is a sure way to increase your athleticism and allow you to develop the necessary core strength for you to match the power of any cleanup hitter! In order to achieve an optimal level of strength and conditioning as it relates to baseball you must have a sound training plan. The kettlebell is the perfect device and method of training for the baseball player to invest in!
If you want to take the path to developing superior hitting power then take the time to learn about the iron bell. I will even make it easy for you by allowing you to access ALL of my other articles on the matter for FREE! Train hard and enjoy my friends.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brandon_Richey
First of all, in order to train with kettlebells you must learn proper technique. Just like hitting the baseball requires fine tuning your skills so does kettlebell training. This particular type of training integrates hundreds of your muscles at once training your body to perform with the most efficient movements. Training your body for strength and power requires big core movements and learned skills. It involves a lot more than just "going through the motions!" Kettlebell training for baseball is a sure way to increase your athleticism and allow you to develop the necessary core strength for you to match the power of any cleanup hitter! In order to achieve an optimal level of strength and conditioning as it relates to baseball you must have a sound training plan. The kettlebell is the perfect device and method of training for the baseball player to invest in!
If you want to take the path to developing superior hitting power then take the time to learn about the iron bell. I will even make it easy for you by allowing you to access ALL of my other articles on the matter for FREE! Train hard and enjoy my friends.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brandon_Richey
3 Hitting Drills Guaranteed to Produce Hits
When a player doesn't hit, frustration sets in for players and parents alike. Hitting can be a very difficult skill for parents and untrained coaches to figure out. The good news is that you don't have to know what is wrong as long as you know how to "fix it." Hitting in its most basic form comes down to doing three things - watching the ball, throwing the hands (bat) at the ball, and opening the hips. The following three drills will make these things happen and can prove a quick exit from the player's hitting slump.
1. Seeing the Ball Drill - In batting practice put an object like a ball glove or empty soda can at the front of the opposite side batter's box. After taking their swing, the hitter should keep their eyes on the placed object for a second or two before looking out to see where they hit the ball. This will prevent hitters from pulling their head out early on the pitch and help prevent them from over swinging.
2. Pad Drill - Place a pad like a sponge, towel or the player's glove under their lead armpit when taking batting practice. The hitter's goal is to keep the glove under the arm until contact and then allow the pad to fall out after making contact. This drill ensures that the hitter is using their hands and forearms to swing the bat in a compact, direct manner.
3. Back Knee Pick-up Drill - Have the hitter pick up their back leg with their back knee turning to point at the pitcher as they swing. This drill will force the hitter to use their front side to pull the bat initially as well as forcing the hitter to open their hips. Both of these forced moves with this drill promote contact, weight shift and power.
There are many hitting drills that can benefit a hitter and it is a good idea to continue with some of them throughout the season. Drills are the best way to develop good fundamentals whereas batting practice is good for the hitter's timing.
Finally, it is always best to challenge hitters during batting practice with game like speeds and speed changes. There is no speed that is too slow or too fast, within reason of course based on the age of the player. Remember, you don't need to know what is fundamentally wrong with a hitter's swing as long as you know how to fix it.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jack_Perconte
1. Seeing the Ball Drill - In batting practice put an object like a ball glove or empty soda can at the front of the opposite side batter's box. After taking their swing, the hitter should keep their eyes on the placed object for a second or two before looking out to see where they hit the ball. This will prevent hitters from pulling their head out early on the pitch and help prevent them from over swinging.
2. Pad Drill - Place a pad like a sponge, towel or the player's glove under their lead armpit when taking batting practice. The hitter's goal is to keep the glove under the arm until contact and then allow the pad to fall out after making contact. This drill ensures that the hitter is using their hands and forearms to swing the bat in a compact, direct manner.
3. Back Knee Pick-up Drill - Have the hitter pick up their back leg with their back knee turning to point at the pitcher as they swing. This drill will force the hitter to use their front side to pull the bat initially as well as forcing the hitter to open their hips. Both of these forced moves with this drill promote contact, weight shift and power.
There are many hitting drills that can benefit a hitter and it is a good idea to continue with some of them throughout the season. Drills are the best way to develop good fundamentals whereas batting practice is good for the hitter's timing.
Finally, it is always best to challenge hitters during batting practice with game like speeds and speed changes. There is no speed that is too slow or too fast, within reason of course based on the age of the player. Remember, you don't need to know what is fundamentally wrong with a hitter's swing as long as you know how to fix it.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jack_Perconte
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Baseball Trivia - Flashes in the Pan, And Big Bats in the Small-Time
You may have heard in the past about players who had great one-game careers, great seasons, great moments even, but has anyone in professional baseball ever had a greater INNING than Gene Rye? The diminutive outfielder of the 1930 Waco club in the Texas League accomplished something no other player has, before or since, by blasting out three home runs in one inning! Rye later went on to play for the Boston Red Sox, and went homerless in his 17-game big league career
Perhaps no one will beat the one-game pitching record of Ron Necciai, who in his regular turn for Bristol of the Appalachian League on May 13, 1952 actually threw a no-hitter where he struck out 27 batters, an all-time record! Just to prove that was no fluke, Necciai turned around and fanned 24 batters in his next start! Necciai was promoted to the Pittsburgh Pirates later that season, but only managed to compile a 1-6 record and 7.04 ERA.
Sammy Sosa has topped the 60-homer mark three times, and Mark McGwire has done it twice in the big leagues, but the only player to turn the trick twice in the minors is Joe Hauser, a first baseman for the Philadelphia Athletics of the 1920's who ended his career in the bushes. In 1930 he smacked 63 home runs for the International League's Baltimore Orioles, then came back in 1933 to blast 69 for the Minneapolis Millers of the American Association.
McGwire beat that total by one four-bagger in 1998, but at the time he still had to settle for second place on the all-time list in Organized Baseball (until Barry Bonds' 73 of course). Local fans must have thought they were seeing UFO's in 1954 when Joe Bauman, playing for Roswell (N.M.) in the Class C Longhorn League, pumped out 72 round-trippers, a mark which held up until Bonds' onslaught in 2001. You would think a feat like that would have produced a swift ticket to the majors, but in reality, Bauman never played an inning of big league ball!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Charles_Jay
Perhaps no one will beat the one-game pitching record of Ron Necciai, who in his regular turn for Bristol of the Appalachian League on May 13, 1952 actually threw a no-hitter where he struck out 27 batters, an all-time record! Just to prove that was no fluke, Necciai turned around and fanned 24 batters in his next start! Necciai was promoted to the Pittsburgh Pirates later that season, but only managed to compile a 1-6 record and 7.04 ERA.
Sammy Sosa has topped the 60-homer mark three times, and Mark McGwire has done it twice in the big leagues, but the only player to turn the trick twice in the minors is Joe Hauser, a first baseman for the Philadelphia Athletics of the 1920's who ended his career in the bushes. In 1930 he smacked 63 home runs for the International League's Baltimore Orioles, then came back in 1933 to blast 69 for the Minneapolis Millers of the American Association.
McGwire beat that total by one four-bagger in 1998, but at the time he still had to settle for second place on the all-time list in Organized Baseball (until Barry Bonds' 73 of course). Local fans must have thought they were seeing UFO's in 1954 when Joe Bauman, playing for Roswell (N.M.) in the Class C Longhorn League, pumped out 72 round-trippers, a mark which held up until Bonds' onslaught in 2001. You would think a feat like that would have produced a swift ticket to the majors, but in reality, Bauman never played an inning of big league ball!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Charles_Jay
Baseball - Not All Hall of Fame Honorees Are Inductees
Induction ceremonies for baseball's Hall of Fame will take place this year on July 26 in Cooperstown, and invariably it will be preceded by those members of the media who will exercise their annual piece of misinterpretation, something that may sound a bit anal, but is nonetheless important when it comes to writing and speaking about things in a historical context. The writers and broadcasters who will be honored that day will be referred to as "Hall of Famers" or "inductees," but that would be inaccurate.
This year, Dave Niehaus will receive the Ford C. Frick Award, emblematic of "major contributions" in baseball broadcasting, an honor which is indeed bestowed upon its recipients at the induction ceremony. But this award does not constitute induction into the Hall, nor has it ever. Neither does the Spink Award, which is given "for meritorious contributions to baseball writing" and which Larry Whiteside will get.
It has long been a common misconception among fans and members of the media that the writers and broadcasters so honored have been enshrinees. I fell under this misconception at one time myself. It was only in the process of writing a Hall of Fame trivia book that clarification of this issue became important to me.
I noticed that in a couple of "sports almanacs," it is stated that the Frick and Spink awards were not symbolic of enshrinement. Then, during a pilgrimage to the Hall of Fame in the course of my research, I visited the exhibit in the Hall of Fame Library that depicts these honorees, and in conversations with Hall of Fame officials, it was confirmed to me that indeed, the awards were not synonymous with induction.
If you need further affirmation, you can go to the Baseball Hall of Fame website - where under the description of both the Frick and Spink awards is the following passage -- "Each award recipient (not to be confused with an inductee)..."
Interestingly, the Negro Leaguers faced a similar fate when their "wing" was being discussed in 1971. The Negro Leaguers were to be honored in a separate "exhibit", without the distinction of being full members, to which Satchel Paige replied, "I ain't going in the back door to the Hall of Fame". Eventually, the Hall of Fame officials buckled to the tremendous public criticism that ensued and established former Negro Leaguers as "real" Hall of Famers.
Much of this may seem completely meaningless, except to someone like me, who has to ask questions that concern which Hall of Famers did this, and which Hall of Famers did that. In that instance, it indeed carries a certain degree of importance, in establishing who is and isn't a Hall of Famer.
I do contend, however, that some members of the print and broadcast media do indeed deserve full-fledged enshrinement, as many of them had as much impact, were responsible for as much contribution, as many of the players did. Not one per year, which would seem a bit much, but certainly an elite group, which would include people like Red Barber, Mel Allen, Vin Scully, Ernie Harwell, Harry Carey, Bob Prince, Jerome Holtzman, Bob Broeg, Hugh Fullerton, Red Smith, and some others.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Charles_Jay
This year, Dave Niehaus will receive the Ford C. Frick Award, emblematic of "major contributions" in baseball broadcasting, an honor which is indeed bestowed upon its recipients at the induction ceremony. But this award does not constitute induction into the Hall, nor has it ever. Neither does the Spink Award, which is given "for meritorious contributions to baseball writing" and which Larry Whiteside will get.
It has long been a common misconception among fans and members of the media that the writers and broadcasters so honored have been enshrinees. I fell under this misconception at one time myself. It was only in the process of writing a Hall of Fame trivia book that clarification of this issue became important to me.
I noticed that in a couple of "sports almanacs," it is stated that the Frick and Spink awards were not symbolic of enshrinement. Then, during a pilgrimage to the Hall of Fame in the course of my research, I visited the exhibit in the Hall of Fame Library that depicts these honorees, and in conversations with Hall of Fame officials, it was confirmed to me that indeed, the awards were not synonymous with induction.
If you need further affirmation, you can go to the Baseball Hall of Fame website - where under the description of both the Frick and Spink awards is the following passage -- "Each award recipient (not to be confused with an inductee)..."
Interestingly, the Negro Leaguers faced a similar fate when their "wing" was being discussed in 1971. The Negro Leaguers were to be honored in a separate "exhibit", without the distinction of being full members, to which Satchel Paige replied, "I ain't going in the back door to the Hall of Fame". Eventually, the Hall of Fame officials buckled to the tremendous public criticism that ensued and established former Negro Leaguers as "real" Hall of Famers.
Much of this may seem completely meaningless, except to someone like me, who has to ask questions that concern which Hall of Famers did this, and which Hall of Famers did that. In that instance, it indeed carries a certain degree of importance, in establishing who is and isn't a Hall of Famer.
I do contend, however, that some members of the print and broadcast media do indeed deserve full-fledged enshrinement, as many of them had as much impact, were responsible for as much contribution, as many of the players did. Not one per year, which would seem a bit much, but certainly an elite group, which would include people like Red Barber, Mel Allen, Vin Scully, Ernie Harwell, Harry Carey, Bob Prince, Jerome Holtzman, Bob Broeg, Hugh Fullerton, Red Smith, and some others.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Charles_Jay
Baseball - Some Stuff About Babe Ruth You Didn't Know
Babe Ruth, for all the incredible home run records he set during his illustrious major league career, never hit four home runs in a big league game. However, Ruth is believed to be the first major league player ever to hit four homers in an exhibition game. That's right. On April 18, 1919, when Ruth was in spring training for what would be his final season with the Boston Red Sox (1919), he blasted four round-trippers in a pre-season game between his club and the Baltimore Orioles of the International League.
Ruth reached base six times in six trips that day, getting two walks in addition to his four home runs. Henry Rodriguez, now with the Florida Marlins, came along and hit four homers in a spring training game for the Dodgers in April of 1995 - he joins Ruth as the only big leaguers we know of to do it.
Ruth dreamed of managing his beloved New York Yankees when his playing days were over, but by and large, Yankee management felt that Ruth had enough problems controlling himself to be able to control his players. He later was strung along by the Boston Braves and their owner, Judge Emil Fuchs, becoming a playing vice-president who was promised an eventual opportunity to manage in the majors which never came.
But the Bambino did indeed eventually manage a game in Yankee Stadium, albeit one that didn't count in the standings. On July 27, 1943, Ruth managed a combination Yankee-Indian team called the "Yank-Lands" in a war benefit game against a contingent called the "Chapel Hill Cloudbusters", based at a Navy pre-flight school and managed by Ted Williams. During the game, the 48-year-old Ruth actually stepped up to the plate once, drawing a walk, and advanced to second base before signaling for a pinch runner. His managerial debut was unsuccessful, as the Cloudbusters won 11-5, before 27,281 enthusiastic fans at the Stadium.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Charles_Jay
Ruth reached base six times in six trips that day, getting two walks in addition to his four home runs. Henry Rodriguez, now with the Florida Marlins, came along and hit four homers in a spring training game for the Dodgers in April of 1995 - he joins Ruth as the only big leaguers we know of to do it.
Ruth dreamed of managing his beloved New York Yankees when his playing days were over, but by and large, Yankee management felt that Ruth had enough problems controlling himself to be able to control his players. He later was strung along by the Boston Braves and their owner, Judge Emil Fuchs, becoming a playing vice-president who was promised an eventual opportunity to manage in the majors which never came.
But the Bambino did indeed eventually manage a game in Yankee Stadium, albeit one that didn't count in the standings. On July 27, 1943, Ruth managed a combination Yankee-Indian team called the "Yank-Lands" in a war benefit game against a contingent called the "Chapel Hill Cloudbusters", based at a Navy pre-flight school and managed by Ted Williams. During the game, the 48-year-old Ruth actually stepped up to the plate once, drawing a walk, and advanced to second base before signaling for a pinch runner. His managerial debut was unsuccessful, as the Cloudbusters won 11-5, before 27,281 enthusiastic fans at the Stadium.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Charles_Jay
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Mental Training and Goal Setting
Each year I work with teams of youth baseball players in teaching them the values of the mental game of baseball. Just as there are skills needed to develop the physical side of the sport, there are skills necessary to build the mental side of the game as well. Unfortunately, teaching the mental game is a bit more difficult to teach because the results aren't necessary visible as quickly. Let me assure you however, if you have goals of playing baseball at the collegiate level or above, you will need a sold mental game if you are going to excel.
One of the first things I teach kids is set proper goals. This usually sounds a bit dry and boring, but it's important that a game plan is created in order to form a path to follow as an athlete. There are three important steps involved in setting goals that are functional. Broad goals, process goals, and action habits. Let me explain those below.
If we are talking about a season to season focus, broad goals are essentially what you want to accomplish by the end of the season. These should be something you can measure like batting average, fielding percentage, stolen bases, etc.
Process goals are the middle level of goal setting. There are the things you need to solve or improve upon in order to accomplish your broad goals. They should be specific as far as the things you are going to do daily, but they should be areas in your game that need immediate improvement. So let's say you have a season goal of hitting .400. A process goal would be to improve on your ability to hit off speed pitches. Or, it could be that you need to work on what pitches you choose to swing at.
The last part of this goal setting process is your daily action habits. These are the day to day things that you will do to get better at accomplishing your process goals. Using the example from above, if you process goal is to get better at hitting off speed pitches, your daily action habit might be to spend 15 minutes in the batting cage working on hitting a curveball. Whatever you choose to make it, it should be something that has a time frame attached to it.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nate_Barnett
One of the first things I teach kids is set proper goals. This usually sounds a bit dry and boring, but it's important that a game plan is created in order to form a path to follow as an athlete. There are three important steps involved in setting goals that are functional. Broad goals, process goals, and action habits. Let me explain those below.
If we are talking about a season to season focus, broad goals are essentially what you want to accomplish by the end of the season. These should be something you can measure like batting average, fielding percentage, stolen bases, etc.
Process goals are the middle level of goal setting. There are the things you need to solve or improve upon in order to accomplish your broad goals. They should be specific as far as the things you are going to do daily, but they should be areas in your game that need immediate improvement. So let's say you have a season goal of hitting .400. A process goal would be to improve on your ability to hit off speed pitches. Or, it could be that you need to work on what pitches you choose to swing at.
The last part of this goal setting process is your daily action habits. These are the day to day things that you will do to get better at accomplishing your process goals. Using the example from above, if you process goal is to get better at hitting off speed pitches, your daily action habit might be to spend 15 minutes in the batting cage working on hitting a curveball. Whatever you choose to make it, it should be something that has a time frame attached to it.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nate_Barnett
Independent Baseball Teams - What They Are
You may have recently heard about an independent baseball team near where you live, or near where you were traveling. If so, you may have wondered what makes a team "independent" and if it is worth your money to go watch that team.
An independent professional baseball team is a team which plays in a professional baseball league that is not affiliated with any Major League organization or the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, which is now named (officially) Minor League Baseball. These teams have complete control over the players they sign, the personnel they hire, and their players can be signed by any "affiliated" team in Minor League Baseball.
Occasionally, an independent baseball player may make it to a Major League Baseball roster after having started his career in the independent baseball leagues. Many players who make it to a Major League roster after having spent time with an independent baseball team usually had previous Major League, or high-level Minor League experience prior to joining a Major League Baseball roster.
For the 2009 season, nearly 60 independent teams fielded a team in 8 independent leagues. The teams play in the U.S. and Canada. There are independent baseball teams in the Northeast, Quebec, Calgary, California, the Mid-Atlantic, Texas, Arizona, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota and the Dakotas, just to name a few regions. The players can range from just out of college, former "affiliated" minor league players who were released, players who could be in the minors but opted to play closer to home for family reasons, former Major League players, and occasionally international players. Many teams have managers and coaches whom have previous Major League Baseball experience.
The question you may still have, however, is if an independent baseball team is worth your time and money. In most markets this is a "yes."
Here are just some of the reasons why:
* Prices are usually equal to or less than comparable entertainment, such as the movies
* Concession prices are usually less than at higher-level professional sports
* Kids and fans get participate in on-field and off-field promotions
* Many teams offer incentives for you to bring groups
* Many of the general managers and team executives have years of professional sports experience, so they understand what it takes to give you good entertainment for your money
* Many of the players are accessible for autographs
* The quality of play is considerably high, especially compared to other alternatives you may have in your area
Hopefully this article gives you a better understanding of independent baseball and helps you make a better decision for your entertainment dollar.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matt_Mc_Dermott
An independent professional baseball team is a team which plays in a professional baseball league that is not affiliated with any Major League organization or the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, which is now named (officially) Minor League Baseball. These teams have complete control over the players they sign, the personnel they hire, and their players can be signed by any "affiliated" team in Minor League Baseball.
Occasionally, an independent baseball player may make it to a Major League Baseball roster after having started his career in the independent baseball leagues. Many players who make it to a Major League roster after having spent time with an independent baseball team usually had previous Major League, or high-level Minor League experience prior to joining a Major League Baseball roster.
For the 2009 season, nearly 60 independent teams fielded a team in 8 independent leagues. The teams play in the U.S. and Canada. There are independent baseball teams in the Northeast, Quebec, Calgary, California, the Mid-Atlantic, Texas, Arizona, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota and the Dakotas, just to name a few regions. The players can range from just out of college, former "affiliated" minor league players who were released, players who could be in the minors but opted to play closer to home for family reasons, former Major League players, and occasionally international players. Many teams have managers and coaches whom have previous Major League Baseball experience.
The question you may still have, however, is if an independent baseball team is worth your time and money. In most markets this is a "yes."
Here are just some of the reasons why:
* Prices are usually equal to or less than comparable entertainment, such as the movies
* Concession prices are usually less than at higher-level professional sports
* Kids and fans get participate in on-field and off-field promotions
* Many teams offer incentives for you to bring groups
* Many of the general managers and team executives have years of professional sports experience, so they understand what it takes to give you good entertainment for your money
* Many of the players are accessible for autographs
* The quality of play is considerably high, especially compared to other alternatives you may have in your area
Hopefully this article gives you a better understanding of independent baseball and helps you make a better decision for your entertainment dollar.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matt_Mc_Dermott
Braves Get Bombed
The Bronx Bombers unleashed their fury in Atlanta, Georgia for two nights this week.
As an avid Braves fan, I should have known it was far too good to be true. The first game and a half of a three game set went as perfect as a game and a half could go for Atlanta. They shut out a 200 million dollar lineup for 14 straight innings. Hell, Kenshin Kawakami and Kris Medlen had combined for a perfect game for the first five innings of the second game. Then, the law of averages caught up with the Braves.
You see, winning those 14 consecutive division titles from 1991 to 2005 really has us screwed now. Having Cy Young Award winners filling the rotation for all those years has simply caught up to the Braves. And now, Atlanta cannot get the ball to take a single bounce their way. And in a game of inches, one bounce means a lot.
While baseball is a game of inches, the Yankees beat the Braves by a few hundred miles in games two and three of this series. Sure, mainstream media will give all the credit to manager Joe Girardi's ejection in the 6th inning of the second game, but the offensive outburst had very little to do with his tirade. Bottom line is, the freakin' Yankees are flat out loaded. Look at their order. Jeter, Damon, A-Rod, Teixiera, Swisher, Cano, Posada. The Yankees have guys on their bench that would hit in the middle of some lineups. A modern day murderer's row, cannot be shut out forever. That is why they beat up on Atlanta. They were simply overdue.
Of course it didn't help that Kawakami took a line drive off his neck and forced Bobby Cox to go to his bullpen in the 4th inning. It's tough for any bullpen to have to give you six quality innings, and against the Yankees nonetheless. And you can't overlook that Derek Lowe was absolutely awful. New York can make a lot of pitchers look terrible, but Lowe has been bad against everybody in the month of June(lost 3 straight decisions).
All those factors certainly helped a Yankees lineup that needed no help. They just needed time. So the New York Times can chill out, no need to suggest a trade out of desperation. And Brian Cashman didn't need to fly to Atlanta unexpectedly so that reporters could speculate that Girardi's job was on the line. It appears that a sleeping giant just woke up in the ATL.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daniel_Doyle
As an avid Braves fan, I should have known it was far too good to be true. The first game and a half of a three game set went as perfect as a game and a half could go for Atlanta. They shut out a 200 million dollar lineup for 14 straight innings. Hell, Kenshin Kawakami and Kris Medlen had combined for a perfect game for the first five innings of the second game. Then, the law of averages caught up with the Braves.
You see, winning those 14 consecutive division titles from 1991 to 2005 really has us screwed now. Having Cy Young Award winners filling the rotation for all those years has simply caught up to the Braves. And now, Atlanta cannot get the ball to take a single bounce their way. And in a game of inches, one bounce means a lot.
While baseball is a game of inches, the Yankees beat the Braves by a few hundred miles in games two and three of this series. Sure, mainstream media will give all the credit to manager Joe Girardi's ejection in the 6th inning of the second game, but the offensive outburst had very little to do with his tirade. Bottom line is, the freakin' Yankees are flat out loaded. Look at their order. Jeter, Damon, A-Rod, Teixiera, Swisher, Cano, Posada. The Yankees have guys on their bench that would hit in the middle of some lineups. A modern day murderer's row, cannot be shut out forever. That is why they beat up on Atlanta. They were simply overdue.
Of course it didn't help that Kawakami took a line drive off his neck and forced Bobby Cox to go to his bullpen in the 4th inning. It's tough for any bullpen to have to give you six quality innings, and against the Yankees nonetheless. And you can't overlook that Derek Lowe was absolutely awful. New York can make a lot of pitchers look terrible, but Lowe has been bad against everybody in the month of June(lost 3 straight decisions).
All those factors certainly helped a Yankees lineup that needed no help. They just needed time. So the New York Times can chill out, no need to suggest a trade out of desperation. And Brian Cashman didn't need to fly to Atlanta unexpectedly so that reporters could speculate that Girardi's job was on the line. It appears that a sleeping giant just woke up in the ATL.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daniel_Doyle
Choosing Your Next Baseball Bat
People want a baseball bat that looks good and is productive. That's why it is of the utmost importance to choose an appropriate bat. The bat does many things for the hitter. For example, the baseball bat can determine the velocity of your swing, as well as how far the ball will travel after contact. Choosing the right bat will ensure that you use less effort compared to an ineffective bat which will require more effort to get the results you want.
You should consider length, weight, and type.
A short bat will not let the hitter hit as many balls within their strike zone as a longer bat will allow. Also, a short bat causes the hitter to reach out and hit the ball, which is definitely a no-no in the world of hitting. Reaching out and hitting the ball causes the hitter to lose their stance as well as their rhythm. To remedy this problem, just get the right size bat. A very long bat is often too heavy. Also, the person will swing the bat slower and this will cause him or her to miss more often than not.
A hitter should stand in the center of the batter's box and put the bat on the home's plate inside corner. The end of the bat should be right where the batter's palm is at. A long bat will extend beyond the palm. A short bat will end where the fingers are at.
Weight is a big concern. There have been several professional players who have been caught up in a cheating scandal involved with lightening their bat in illegal ways. A lighter bat is easier to swing and thus, allows you to hit the ball further due to increased velocity and then you are in control. Cork is illegal in professional baseball because it gives an obvious unfair advantage to the hitter. However, the down side is that a lighter bat will cause batters to over swing. This often causes the hips to fall behind the shoulders. Players are often taught that the hips should be the leader of the swing. The shoulder can't be used too quickly because there won't be enough power in the batter's swing.
You should consider whether you want wood or aluminum for your bat. The type is an obvious consideration you will make because it affects how your bat looks and swings. You should check out the league rules to figure out if either is not allowed before even considering either. If the league you play in doesn't have specifics about what type, then this definitely needs to be discussed.
Aluminum bats are newer than wooden bats. There are different techniques that you can use for aluminum bats that you do not necessarily need for wooden bats. It's important to use the proper mechanics for the particular bat because if you don't then you will do more harm than good.
The weights in the two are different. Wooden bats are heavier than aluminum ones. Players that use aluminum bats on average have a higher hitting percentage because they can adjust at the last minute, whereas players with wooden ones really can't. The density and weight causes a wooden bat to hit the ball further. If you use these tips, then you are on your way to being a good hitter.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Colby_Brister
You should consider length, weight, and type.
A short bat will not let the hitter hit as many balls within their strike zone as a longer bat will allow. Also, a short bat causes the hitter to reach out and hit the ball, which is definitely a no-no in the world of hitting. Reaching out and hitting the ball causes the hitter to lose their stance as well as their rhythm. To remedy this problem, just get the right size bat. A very long bat is often too heavy. Also, the person will swing the bat slower and this will cause him or her to miss more often than not.
A hitter should stand in the center of the batter's box and put the bat on the home's plate inside corner. The end of the bat should be right where the batter's palm is at. A long bat will extend beyond the palm. A short bat will end where the fingers are at.
Weight is a big concern. There have been several professional players who have been caught up in a cheating scandal involved with lightening their bat in illegal ways. A lighter bat is easier to swing and thus, allows you to hit the ball further due to increased velocity and then you are in control. Cork is illegal in professional baseball because it gives an obvious unfair advantage to the hitter. However, the down side is that a lighter bat will cause batters to over swing. This often causes the hips to fall behind the shoulders. Players are often taught that the hips should be the leader of the swing. The shoulder can't be used too quickly because there won't be enough power in the batter's swing.
You should consider whether you want wood or aluminum for your bat. The type is an obvious consideration you will make because it affects how your bat looks and swings. You should check out the league rules to figure out if either is not allowed before even considering either. If the league you play in doesn't have specifics about what type, then this definitely needs to be discussed.
Aluminum bats are newer than wooden bats. There are different techniques that you can use for aluminum bats that you do not necessarily need for wooden bats. It's important to use the proper mechanics for the particular bat because if you don't then you will do more harm than good.
The weights in the two are different. Wooden bats are heavier than aluminum ones. Players that use aluminum bats on average have a higher hitting percentage because they can adjust at the last minute, whereas players with wooden ones really can't. The density and weight causes a wooden bat to hit the ball further. If you use these tips, then you are on your way to being a good hitter.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Colby_Brister
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Women in Baseball - A Chapter in Baseball History
In the 1900's, barnstorming teams known as "Bloomer Girls" were formed in parts of the United States of America.
An attempt to profit from the participation of women in baseball was thought to have caused the rapid increase in its popularity.
In 1931, Jackie Mitchell signed a contract with the minor league Chattanooga Lookouts. Mitchell pitched against the New York Yankees and struck out their two star players, Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig! Since then, in 1952, organized baseball formally banned women from signing professional contracts with men's teams. This is still in effect today!
The amount of women in baseball was about to increase as the Second World War saw many men go off to fight for their country. This meant that many women took their place, to keep the game of baseball alive. It when then that the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) was founded with four teams; the Rockford Peaches, the Racine Belles and the Kenosha Comets, and the South Bend Blue Sox. The population of women in baseball soared!
Rules encouraging the wearing of lipstick and long hair on the women in baseball were declared. Also the banning of wearing trousers off the field.
At first, the women baseball players played fast pitched softball, with a larger ball with no overhand pitching. In 1948 overhand was introduced. Women's baseball's rules evolved from the men's baseball rules, with a few small changes.
The AAGPBL finally folded in 1954, due to the televising of major league baseball in the 1950's. But the spirit of the women of baseball was to live on, as on November 5, 1988, the All American Girls Professional Baseball League enshrined memorabilia in the Hall of Fame, Cooperstown, New York. More than 550 names are on a plaque in the exhibit named "Women In Baseball".
Currently, there are around 40 youth and women's baseball teams throughout the U.S. They play in roughly nine leagues and independent tournaments throughout the year.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nathan_R_Park
An attempt to profit from the participation of women in baseball was thought to have caused the rapid increase in its popularity.
In 1931, Jackie Mitchell signed a contract with the minor league Chattanooga Lookouts. Mitchell pitched against the New York Yankees and struck out their two star players, Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig! Since then, in 1952, organized baseball formally banned women from signing professional contracts with men's teams. This is still in effect today!
The amount of women in baseball was about to increase as the Second World War saw many men go off to fight for their country. This meant that many women took their place, to keep the game of baseball alive. It when then that the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) was founded with four teams; the Rockford Peaches, the Racine Belles and the Kenosha Comets, and the South Bend Blue Sox. The population of women in baseball soared!
Rules encouraging the wearing of lipstick and long hair on the women in baseball were declared. Also the banning of wearing trousers off the field.
At first, the women baseball players played fast pitched softball, with a larger ball with no overhand pitching. In 1948 overhand was introduced. Women's baseball's rules evolved from the men's baseball rules, with a few small changes.
The AAGPBL finally folded in 1954, due to the televising of major league baseball in the 1950's. But the spirit of the women of baseball was to live on, as on November 5, 1988, the All American Girls Professional Baseball League enshrined memorabilia in the Hall of Fame, Cooperstown, New York. More than 550 names are on a plaque in the exhibit named "Women In Baseball".
Currently, there are around 40 youth and women's baseball teams throughout the U.S. They play in roughly nine leagues and independent tournaments throughout the year.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nathan_R_Park
Baseball Pitching Mechanics - All You Need to Know
Problems in life can sometimes cause distraction during a game and if this happens to you, it is best to approach your trainer and ask help especially on different baseball pitching mechanics. Your trainer can help you control your emotion and thoughts and use the important concept on the field. One of the most essential things that should be noticed is their attention on performing at their highest level. Remember that all physical and mental skills can be learned and developed with hard work and diligence.
An important part of baseball pitching mechanics is work out in order to respond faster, build a more athletic body, have a tougher mind, acquire more stamina for games, to practice longer without losing concentration and have the ability to execute even in hot conditions. It is recommended to do stretching for at least two to three minutes after every game. In order to play properly, it is best to have a regular exercise routine. It is also important to concentrate on different small factors involved in baseball pitching mechanics such as discipline, focus, taking care of your baseball equipments and teamwork.
One of the important baseball pitching mechanics is keeping the ball near to the ground as well as on the corners. You should also avoid walking at almost all the time except for some situations. Make sure to be assertive on the bases and never give easy bases to runners. It is essential to keep your mental state strong throughout the game. In order to increase speed, it is recommended to determine your fitness level and go on an appropriate fitness program. You can ask your trainer to perform a test for your conditioning quality and throwing mechanics aspect. In order to enhance your speed, it is best to change your pitch velocity. You must use bigger muscle groups in throwing a baseball instead of using your shoulders and arms only. You must learn the right way to pitch from the ground going up. Remember that speed comes from the forces that are added to the ball.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alan_Karpuch
An important part of baseball pitching mechanics is work out in order to respond faster, build a more athletic body, have a tougher mind, acquire more stamina for games, to practice longer without losing concentration and have the ability to execute even in hot conditions. It is recommended to do stretching for at least two to three minutes after every game. In order to play properly, it is best to have a regular exercise routine. It is also important to concentrate on different small factors involved in baseball pitching mechanics such as discipline, focus, taking care of your baseball equipments and teamwork.
One of the important baseball pitching mechanics is keeping the ball near to the ground as well as on the corners. You should also avoid walking at almost all the time except for some situations. Make sure to be assertive on the bases and never give easy bases to runners. It is essential to keep your mental state strong throughout the game. In order to increase speed, it is recommended to determine your fitness level and go on an appropriate fitness program. You can ask your trainer to perform a test for your conditioning quality and throwing mechanics aspect. In order to enhance your speed, it is best to change your pitch velocity. You must use bigger muscle groups in throwing a baseball instead of using your shoulders and arms only. You must learn the right way to pitch from the ground going up. Remember that speed comes from the forces that are added to the ball.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alan_Karpuch
See Where Baseball History Lives at Wrigley Field in Chicago
The Chicago area is a wonderful tourist destination to visit any time of the year. With countless concerts and events, great places to say, and a wonderful smorgasbord of eating establishments, it should be on your list of "must see" destinations.
During the long baseball season, Chicago is a mecca for ball fans who can combine their love of sport with their vacation. The world famous Chicago Cub have their home at historical Wrigley Field, playing host to other professional ball teams, all season long.
Baseball fans are inevitably history fans, at least when it comes to the game of baseball, and Wrigley Field is steeped in moments that echo down through the years. Built way back in 1914, 2009 marks its 96th season showcasing Major League Baseball. Incredibly the Cubs have played there for 94 of the 96. Only Fenway Park, built in 1912 in Boston, can claim seniority.
What baseball fan hasn't heard of Babe Ruth's "called shot". The story goes that in the third game of the 1932 World Series, Ruth was up to bat and before the pitch he pointed to an area in the bleachers. The opposition's pitcher Charlie Root fired, and The Babe connected for a homer that landed in the area he had just pointed to. It's a legend that will live on forever.
Wrigley Field started out as Weeghman Park on land that once housed a seminary. Charles H. Weeghman acquired the land, investing a sum of $250,000, bringing in more than 4.000 yards of soil and planting four acres of bluegrass on the outfield. This ball diamond became home to the Federal League with Weeghman financing the startup baseball club, first known as the Federals and later as the Whales.
April 23, 1914 marked the very first major league game. The Federals beat Kansas City by a score of 9-1. Art Wilson, the Federals catcher, smashed a two run blast off Kansas City's Chief Johnson in the second inning, marking the park's very first home run.
After the 1915 season, the Federal League collapsed due to financial problems, and Weeghman bought a team called the Cubs and installed them at his two year old ballpark. With a little bear cub looking on, the Cubs defeated the Cincinnati Reds 7-6 in a game that went 11 innings. This was the first National League game and it happened on April 20, 1916.
In 1920 Weeghman Park morphed into Cubs Park when the Wrigley family bought the team. The name Wrigley Field began in 1926 to honor the club's owner William Wrigley Jr., and has stuck ever since.
About ten years later, in 1937, a scoreboard and bleachers were built in the outfield because attendance was increasing. This scoreboard remains to this day with numbers that are changed by hand. Imagine the thrill of being the person posting those numbers to the assembled crowd.
Perhaps you have seen the magnificent wall of ivy at Wrigley Field. It is very distinctive and many folks have seen it on televised games. A gentleman by the name of Bill Veeck is responsible for that horticultural touch. He first strung bittersweet from the top to the bottom of the wall and then planted ivy plants all along the base. Now, seventy years later, the wall is simply blanketed in green.
It is hard to fathom this fact, but no batted ball has ever hit the scoreboard in center field. With the number of games that are played, and the skilled players who have hit many home runs, not one has connected with that scoreboard.
Two have come really close, however. Way back in 1948, Bill Nicholson hit a home run onto Sheffield Avenue, and then in 1959, Roberto Clemente smashed one onto Waveland Avenue. Could 2009 be the year someone makes contact with that fabled board?
Here is another charming tradition. If you drive past Wrigley Field and spot a white flag flying from the scoreboard masthead, with a blue letter "W", that indicates that the Cubs were victorious that day. If the flag is blue with a white "L" it means that the Cubbies were beaten. If it was a doubleheader with a split result, then both the flags are hoisted.
This summer or fall would be a great time to visit Chicago and soak up the sights and sounds of the city as well as see some great baseball. Be sure to get your Chicago Cubs tickets today.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nick_Messe
During the long baseball season, Chicago is a mecca for ball fans who can combine their love of sport with their vacation. The world famous Chicago Cub have their home at historical Wrigley Field, playing host to other professional ball teams, all season long.
Baseball fans are inevitably history fans, at least when it comes to the game of baseball, and Wrigley Field is steeped in moments that echo down through the years. Built way back in 1914, 2009 marks its 96th season showcasing Major League Baseball. Incredibly the Cubs have played there for 94 of the 96. Only Fenway Park, built in 1912 in Boston, can claim seniority.
What baseball fan hasn't heard of Babe Ruth's "called shot". The story goes that in the third game of the 1932 World Series, Ruth was up to bat and before the pitch he pointed to an area in the bleachers. The opposition's pitcher Charlie Root fired, and The Babe connected for a homer that landed in the area he had just pointed to. It's a legend that will live on forever.
Wrigley Field started out as Weeghman Park on land that once housed a seminary. Charles H. Weeghman acquired the land, investing a sum of $250,000, bringing in more than 4.000 yards of soil and planting four acres of bluegrass on the outfield. This ball diamond became home to the Federal League with Weeghman financing the startup baseball club, first known as the Federals and later as the Whales.
April 23, 1914 marked the very first major league game. The Federals beat Kansas City by a score of 9-1. Art Wilson, the Federals catcher, smashed a two run blast off Kansas City's Chief Johnson in the second inning, marking the park's very first home run.
After the 1915 season, the Federal League collapsed due to financial problems, and Weeghman bought a team called the Cubs and installed them at his two year old ballpark. With a little bear cub looking on, the Cubs defeated the Cincinnati Reds 7-6 in a game that went 11 innings. This was the first National League game and it happened on April 20, 1916.
In 1920 Weeghman Park morphed into Cubs Park when the Wrigley family bought the team. The name Wrigley Field began in 1926 to honor the club's owner William Wrigley Jr., and has stuck ever since.
About ten years later, in 1937, a scoreboard and bleachers were built in the outfield because attendance was increasing. This scoreboard remains to this day with numbers that are changed by hand. Imagine the thrill of being the person posting those numbers to the assembled crowd.
Perhaps you have seen the magnificent wall of ivy at Wrigley Field. It is very distinctive and many folks have seen it on televised games. A gentleman by the name of Bill Veeck is responsible for that horticultural touch. He first strung bittersweet from the top to the bottom of the wall and then planted ivy plants all along the base. Now, seventy years later, the wall is simply blanketed in green.
It is hard to fathom this fact, but no batted ball has ever hit the scoreboard in center field. With the number of games that are played, and the skilled players who have hit many home runs, not one has connected with that scoreboard.
Two have come really close, however. Way back in 1948, Bill Nicholson hit a home run onto Sheffield Avenue, and then in 1959, Roberto Clemente smashed one onto Waveland Avenue. Could 2009 be the year someone makes contact with that fabled board?
Here is another charming tradition. If you drive past Wrigley Field and spot a white flag flying from the scoreboard masthead, with a blue letter "W", that indicates that the Cubs were victorious that day. If the flag is blue with a white "L" it means that the Cubbies were beaten. If it was a doubleheader with a split result, then both the flags are hoisted.
This summer or fall would be a great time to visit Chicago and soak up the sights and sounds of the city as well as see some great baseball. Be sure to get your Chicago Cubs tickets today.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nick_Messe
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Too Much Money on the Yankees - What Else is New?
The Better Business Bureau should look into the new Yankee stadium. The $1.5 billion dollar ballpark has been a disaster thus far; and $1,000 dollar ticket prices should be printed with a new logo... 'Let the Buyer Beware'.
In three games played at the new Yankee stadium, the NY Yankees have been outscored by a total of 37-12. And yesterday's completely outrageous result even had the baseball pundits at a loss for words.
The 14 runs given up by the NY Yankees breaks the Major League Baseball record for most runs scored in the 2nd inning. That record stood for over 100 years before Yankees RH pitcher Chein-Ming Wang took the mound yesterday afternoon.
Wang got pounded yesterday. He was charged with eight runs and eight hits in a little over an innings worth of work giving him a 34.50 ERA in three starts this year.
In an Interleague game with the Houston Astros last year, Wang injured his foot while stepping across home plate. The Yankees would have to place Wang on the DL for the rest of the year; and, the Yankees pitching staff was never able to recover as the Yankees missed the playoffs for the first time in a number of years.
Nevertheless, the Yankee organization was very optimistic about Wang's future with the club; and, with his foot 100% healed...Wang was expected to return to form and have another solid year in 2009. His first start was kind of shaky against Baltimore, but giving up 7 Earned Runs in Camden Yards is not completely out of the ordinary. The Orioles usually play the Yankees tough; and, final scores go waaay over the posted total more often than not.
But, when Wang gave up 8 Earned Runs to the Rays in the first couple of innings, the Yankees pitching staff should have seen the red flag. Wang was obviously not capable of pitching in a Major League Baseball game and his sinker ball had no movement. Nevertheless, Yankees manager Joe Girardi put Wang out on the frontline yet again with only a round of ammo against an Indians team that took no mercy on the struggling right hander.
When I walked into the Las Vegas Plaza, the score was 15-2 in the second inning. And, although I thought that Wang might have a bounce back game at home against the Indians; I really wasn't suprised by the score. It was sad to see all of the public bettors dressed in pinstripes and Yankee blue...some of them left the casino in disgust...but others still half heartedly cheered the Yankees on.
It was only natural to feel cheated if you decided to take the Yankees at a (-135) on Saturday. Afterall, the scouting report indicated that Wang's sinker had been improving; and, it was reasonable to think that Giradi would have a short leash on Wang if he started to falter in the early innings.
But how could Girardi and the pitching staff send Wang out to the mound on Saturday. They've been around the game long enough to know when a pitcher doesn't have it. Even more peculiar, why did the Yankees leave him out to dry in the 2nd inning? Wang gave up 8 runs in that inning. Wouldn't you think that they would have pulled him a little earlier. Why concede the game? It makes no sense. Unless of course, the Las Vegas Sportsbook is acting as a silent partner in the Yankee front office, j/k.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_Luckerson
In three games played at the new Yankee stadium, the NY Yankees have been outscored by a total of 37-12. And yesterday's completely outrageous result even had the baseball pundits at a loss for words.
The 14 runs given up by the NY Yankees breaks the Major League Baseball record for most runs scored in the 2nd inning. That record stood for over 100 years before Yankees RH pitcher Chein-Ming Wang took the mound yesterday afternoon.
Wang got pounded yesterday. He was charged with eight runs and eight hits in a little over an innings worth of work giving him a 34.50 ERA in three starts this year.
In an Interleague game with the Houston Astros last year, Wang injured his foot while stepping across home plate. The Yankees would have to place Wang on the DL for the rest of the year; and, the Yankees pitching staff was never able to recover as the Yankees missed the playoffs for the first time in a number of years.
Nevertheless, the Yankee organization was very optimistic about Wang's future with the club; and, with his foot 100% healed...Wang was expected to return to form and have another solid year in 2009. His first start was kind of shaky against Baltimore, but giving up 7 Earned Runs in Camden Yards is not completely out of the ordinary. The Orioles usually play the Yankees tough; and, final scores go waaay over the posted total more often than not.
But, when Wang gave up 8 Earned Runs to the Rays in the first couple of innings, the Yankees pitching staff should have seen the red flag. Wang was obviously not capable of pitching in a Major League Baseball game and his sinker ball had no movement. Nevertheless, Yankees manager Joe Girardi put Wang out on the frontline yet again with only a round of ammo against an Indians team that took no mercy on the struggling right hander.
When I walked into the Las Vegas Plaza, the score was 15-2 in the second inning. And, although I thought that Wang might have a bounce back game at home against the Indians; I really wasn't suprised by the score. It was sad to see all of the public bettors dressed in pinstripes and Yankee blue...some of them left the casino in disgust...but others still half heartedly cheered the Yankees on.
It was only natural to feel cheated if you decided to take the Yankees at a (-135) on Saturday. Afterall, the scouting report indicated that Wang's sinker had been improving; and, it was reasonable to think that Giradi would have a short leash on Wang if he started to falter in the early innings.
But how could Girardi and the pitching staff send Wang out to the mound on Saturday. They've been around the game long enough to know when a pitcher doesn't have it. Even more peculiar, why did the Yankees leave him out to dry in the 2nd inning? Wang gave up 8 runs in that inning. Wouldn't you think that they would have pulled him a little earlier. Why concede the game? It makes no sense. Unless of course, the Las Vegas Sportsbook is acting as a silent partner in the Yankee front office, j/k.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_Luckerson
Baseball Betting - America's Favorite Past Time
Although there is some question as to whether or not the title has been passed on to football, baseball has long been known as America's favorite past time. Whether it is still at the top of the mound or not, though, baseball still attracts more than enough fans to make a lot of profit. Some of the profit generated by the sport comes from people who like to engage in a little bit of baseball betting, to make the game itself a bit more fun or just to try and make some money at what they know best. In this article, we are going to take a look at some information about baseball betting.
The Golden Rule of Sports Betting:
Those who want to bet on baseball need to follow the same basic rule that applies to all sports betting. Namely, do not count on winning more than 50% of the time! The sports books know what they are doing, and it is hard even for professional sports gamblers to make a living strictly by placing bets. There are some who do, but even the best tend to have off years. Remember to watch your payroll!
What makes betting on baseball so fun?
In the wide world of sports betting, there is perhaps no sport more fun to wager on than baseball. The main reason for this are the sheer number of variables that come into play when predicting the outcome of any baseball game.
Just what factors are we talking about? Well, the player roster is definitely one. Every game will see not only a new starting pitcher, but a new relief staff as well. The pitchers can make all the difference in a baseball game, and significantly alter a team's chance at victory. The professional baseball season in particular is a long one, and that means that changes are likely to occur throughout the lineup from game to game. Good sports betting on baseball means being aware of who is playing what for each game!
Baseball betting is different from football betting, and other types of sports betting too, in that a team may find itself against another team many more games in a row. This means that those wagering on baseball games can bet series, if they wish, or calculate the odds of making a profit by wagering individual games in a steady manner.
There are many ways to obtain the information you need in order to make informed wagers when baseball betting. Sports information lines are one of the most reliable; the big draw is live updates not only on odds but on roster changes as well. Having this information at your fingertips can certainly strengthen your chances of making a profit when betting baseball.
The favorite baseball bet:
Because baseball can often be a close game in terms of scores, the money line is the preferred sports bet for most gamblers. Money lines are straightforward picks of who will win or who will lose a given game.
For those who enjoy the predictions and (sometimes) better payouts that come with a spread, sports books also offer run lines on baseball games. These work the same way as spreads in football or basketball. The favorite team has to win by over a specified amount of runs (the run line) in order for a bettor to successfully collect. Conversely, the underdog could lose but not by more than the run line, and those who bet the underdog will win their bets.
Baseball betting, in the technical sense, is much more straightforward than football betting. Most of the time you are either betting on a team to win or to lose. However, the trick with baseball is in being able to do good research to win. There are many variables, so placing a wager on the outcome of a baseball game can be a lot of fun for the knowledgeable sports betting fan!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shirley_Durling
The Golden Rule of Sports Betting:
Those who want to bet on baseball need to follow the same basic rule that applies to all sports betting. Namely, do not count on winning more than 50% of the time! The sports books know what they are doing, and it is hard even for professional sports gamblers to make a living strictly by placing bets. There are some who do, but even the best tend to have off years. Remember to watch your payroll!
What makes betting on baseball so fun?
In the wide world of sports betting, there is perhaps no sport more fun to wager on than baseball. The main reason for this are the sheer number of variables that come into play when predicting the outcome of any baseball game.
Just what factors are we talking about? Well, the player roster is definitely one. Every game will see not only a new starting pitcher, but a new relief staff as well. The pitchers can make all the difference in a baseball game, and significantly alter a team's chance at victory. The professional baseball season in particular is a long one, and that means that changes are likely to occur throughout the lineup from game to game. Good sports betting on baseball means being aware of who is playing what for each game!
Baseball betting is different from football betting, and other types of sports betting too, in that a team may find itself against another team many more games in a row. This means that those wagering on baseball games can bet series, if they wish, or calculate the odds of making a profit by wagering individual games in a steady manner.
There are many ways to obtain the information you need in order to make informed wagers when baseball betting. Sports information lines are one of the most reliable; the big draw is live updates not only on odds but on roster changes as well. Having this information at your fingertips can certainly strengthen your chances of making a profit when betting baseball.
The favorite baseball bet:
Because baseball can often be a close game in terms of scores, the money line is the preferred sports bet for most gamblers. Money lines are straightforward picks of who will win or who will lose a given game.
For those who enjoy the predictions and (sometimes) better payouts that come with a spread, sports books also offer run lines on baseball games. These work the same way as spreads in football or basketball. The favorite team has to win by over a specified amount of runs (the run line) in order for a bettor to successfully collect. Conversely, the underdog could lose but not by more than the run line, and those who bet the underdog will win their bets.
Baseball betting, in the technical sense, is much more straightforward than football betting. Most of the time you are either betting on a team to win or to lose. However, the trick with baseball is in being able to do good research to win. There are many variables, so placing a wager on the outcome of a baseball game can be a lot of fun for the knowledgeable sports betting fan!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shirley_Durling
How to Choose a Quality Pitching Instructor
One of the biggest frustrations many parents and coaches share is the lack of teaching talent and many philosophies pitching instructors seem to have these days. There are many theories out there that are not yet proven. Can you teach each pitcher the same way and clone them? The answer is no, you cannot.
Here are some things to look out for when choosing a qualified pitching instructor.
First of all, if the pitching coach has spent some time in the Major Leagues, Rookie ball and so on, do not assume they know what they are talking about. There are many who have natural talent with incredible arms, however most don't know the first thing about pitching mechanics; they only know what has worked for them. What has worked for them may not work for you.
Not only that; if the instructor seems to know what they are talking about, are they a good educator? I have run into many retired Major League pitchers that are great people, but horrible educators. Some I know, understand pitching mechanics, but they have the most difficult time explaining or demonstrating the "how to's" of mechanics. Just attend a pitching camp or clinic in your local area and ask the boys that attend that camp what they learned that day and how they are going to apply it.
Don't listen to an instructor who tries to change your natural arm slot or tells you most successful pitchers throw at a 90 degree angle. I throw with a "natural" three quarter arm slot, most pitchers "naturally" throw this way, but others really do throw close to 90 degrees.
Avoid instructors who try to teach other off speed pitches before the student understands how to throw a great fastball with solid pitching mechanics. Until you, as a pitcher, understand proper movements toward home plate with outstanding balance, you will not be successful throwing other pitches anyway. You can risk a shortened career and put undo stress on your throwing arm.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dan_Gazaway
Here are some things to look out for when choosing a qualified pitching instructor.
First of all, if the pitching coach has spent some time in the Major Leagues, Rookie ball and so on, do not assume they know what they are talking about. There are many who have natural talent with incredible arms, however most don't know the first thing about pitching mechanics; they only know what has worked for them. What has worked for them may not work for you.
Not only that; if the instructor seems to know what they are talking about, are they a good educator? I have run into many retired Major League pitchers that are great people, but horrible educators. Some I know, understand pitching mechanics, but they have the most difficult time explaining or demonstrating the "how to's" of mechanics. Just attend a pitching camp or clinic in your local area and ask the boys that attend that camp what they learned that day and how they are going to apply it.
Don't listen to an instructor who tries to change your natural arm slot or tells you most successful pitchers throw at a 90 degree angle. I throw with a "natural" three quarter arm slot, most pitchers "naturally" throw this way, but others really do throw close to 90 degrees.
Avoid instructors who try to teach other off speed pitches before the student understands how to throw a great fastball with solid pitching mechanics. Until you, as a pitcher, understand proper movements toward home plate with outstanding balance, you will not be successful throwing other pitches anyway. You can risk a shortened career and put undo stress on your throwing arm.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dan_Gazaway
Friday, January 30, 2009
Independent Professional Baseball Leagues Which Plan to Operate in 2009
If you are a fan of independent professional baseball, then here is a list of the proposed teams which will take the field in 2009. In one glance you can determine if there are independent teams in your area or where you will be when you travel for work or vacation.
All of these teams and leagues were taken from the league websites the day this article was written. Of course, no guarantee is made as the individual teams and leagues may change names, cities, or even fold. They also may add teams or merge with other leagues at their discretion.
List of independent baseball leagues and independent baseball teams:
American Association:
* El Paso Diablos
* Fort Worth Cats
* Grand Prairie AirHogs
* Lincoln Saltdogs
* Pensacola Pelicans
* Shreveport Sports
* Sioux City Explorers
* Sioux Falls Canaries
* Wichita Wingnuts
* St. Paul Saints
Atlantic League:
* Bridgeport Bluefish
* Camden Riversharks
* Lancaster Barnstormers
* Long Island Ducks
* Newark Bears
* Somerset Patriots
* Southern Maryland Blue Crabs
* York Revolution
CanAm League:
* Atlantic City Surf
* Brockton Rox
* American Defenders
* New Jersey Jackals
* Sussex Skyhawks
* Quebec Capitales
* Worcester Tornadoes
Continental Baseball League:
* Bay Area Toros
* Coastal Bend Beach Dawgs
* Dallas
* Texarkana Gunslingers
Frontier League:
* Evansville Otters
* Florence Freedom
* Gateway Grizzlies
* Kalamazoo Kings
* River City Rascals
* Rockford RiverHawks
* Southern Illinois Miners
* Traverse City Beach Bums
* Washington Wild Things
* Windy City ThunderBolts
* Avon Professional Baseball
* Midwest Sliders
Golden Baseball League:
* Calgary Vipers
* Chico Outlaws
* Edmonton Cracker Cats
* Long Beach Armada
* Orange County Flyers
* St. George Roadrunners
* Victoria Seals
* Tuscon Toros
* Yuma Scorpions
Northern League:
* Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
* Gary SouthShore RailCats
* Joliet JackHammers
* Kansas City T-Bones
* Schaumburg Flyers
* Winnipeg Goldeyes
United League Baseball:
* Alexandria Aces
* Amarillo Dillas
* Edinburg Coyotes
* Laredo Broncos
* Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings
* San Angelo Colts
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matt_Mc_Dermott
All of these teams and leagues were taken from the league websites the day this article was written. Of course, no guarantee is made as the individual teams and leagues may change names, cities, or even fold. They also may add teams or merge with other leagues at their discretion.
List of independent baseball leagues and independent baseball teams:
American Association:
* El Paso Diablos
* Fort Worth Cats
* Grand Prairie AirHogs
* Lincoln Saltdogs
* Pensacola Pelicans
* Shreveport Sports
* Sioux City Explorers
* Sioux Falls Canaries
* Wichita Wingnuts
* St. Paul Saints
Atlantic League:
* Bridgeport Bluefish
* Camden Riversharks
* Lancaster Barnstormers
* Long Island Ducks
* Newark Bears
* Somerset Patriots
* Southern Maryland Blue Crabs
* York Revolution
CanAm League:
* Atlantic City Surf
* Brockton Rox
* American Defenders
* New Jersey Jackals
* Sussex Skyhawks
* Quebec Capitales
* Worcester Tornadoes
Continental Baseball League:
* Bay Area Toros
* Coastal Bend Beach Dawgs
* Dallas
* Texarkana Gunslingers
Frontier League:
* Evansville Otters
* Florence Freedom
* Gateway Grizzlies
* Kalamazoo Kings
* River City Rascals
* Rockford RiverHawks
* Southern Illinois Miners
* Traverse City Beach Bums
* Washington Wild Things
* Windy City ThunderBolts
* Avon Professional Baseball
* Midwest Sliders
Golden Baseball League:
* Calgary Vipers
* Chico Outlaws
* Edmonton Cracker Cats
* Long Beach Armada
* Orange County Flyers
* St. George Roadrunners
* Victoria Seals
* Tuscon Toros
* Yuma Scorpions
Northern League:
* Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
* Gary SouthShore RailCats
* Joliet JackHammers
* Kansas City T-Bones
* Schaumburg Flyers
* Winnipeg Goldeyes
United League Baseball:
* Alexandria Aces
* Amarillo Dillas
* Edinburg Coyotes
* Laredo Broncos
* Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings
* San Angelo Colts
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matt_Mc_Dermott
What Has Happened to the Big Boppers?
You Know... The Sultans of Swat, the Kings of clout, the Big Bashers, OR, in days gone past" The Colossus of Clout, Hammerin Hank, The Rajah, The Bash Brothers, Big Mac, Mr October, the Big Hurt and Slammin Sammy.
Let's start in 1927: Babe Ruth hit 60 homeruns in a 154 game season. A record that stood for 34 years. The Babe hit 714 Homeruns in his career. In 1961 in a 162 game season, an unknown, at the time, Roger Maris, came on the scene to belt 61 home runs and break the Babes long standing record. Mr Maris ended his career with 275 taters to his credit. The 1960's were a great time for great baseball players, during this era Hammerin' Hank Aaron hit most of his 755 career homeruns to take the all time record. Mr consistency never hit more than 47 Dingers in a season.
In the 1990's and early 2000s we witnessed Slammin Sammy Sosa hit 63, 64, & 66 Homeruns in separate seasons and now sits with 609 lifetime. Is he done? wait and see. During this period of long balls Mark McGwire hit 65 and 70 homeruns and left the game with a total of 583 fly aways.
Most recently, Most baseball fans are aware of Barry Bonds hitting 73 Home runs in a single season and taking the all time record with 762 round trippers.* Of course with an asterisk.
So where does that leave todays followers of the power play? In 2007 A-Rod hit 54, Prince Fielder 50, Ryan Howard 47, Carlos Pena 46 and Adam Dunn 40. In 2008 Ryan Howard hit 48 homeruns. He has 177 in 5 seasons. Adam Dunn again hit 40 giving him 278 in 8 seasons. A-Rod had 40, giving him 553, and at his young age, he has the best shot at reaching for763 big Blasts.
The top Homerun Kings as of today, including three active players looks like this; Barry Bonds 762*, Hank Aaron 755, Babe Ruth 714, Willie Mays 660, Ken GRIFFEY Jr 611, Sammy Sosa 609, Frank Robinson 586, Mark McGwire 583, A-ROD 553, and Jim Thome 541. Some other long ball threats that pitchers FEAR today include Vladimir Guererro, Manny Ramirez, Albert Pujols, and David Ortiz.
So Why have only six players ever hit 60 or more homeruns in a season?? And no one in the past few years?? Let's just say it takes a combination of talent, focus and an eye for the right pitch coupled with the right swing, at the right moment, day after day, throughout a 162 game schedule. Probably a Homerun out of every 10 at bats. And then we have the 'S' factor. Three of the players in this category have been suspected of using steroids.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ashi_Mittal
Let's start in 1927: Babe Ruth hit 60 homeruns in a 154 game season. A record that stood for 34 years. The Babe hit 714 Homeruns in his career. In 1961 in a 162 game season, an unknown, at the time, Roger Maris, came on the scene to belt 61 home runs and break the Babes long standing record. Mr Maris ended his career with 275 taters to his credit. The 1960's were a great time for great baseball players, during this era Hammerin' Hank Aaron hit most of his 755 career homeruns to take the all time record. Mr consistency never hit more than 47 Dingers in a season.
In the 1990's and early 2000s we witnessed Slammin Sammy Sosa hit 63, 64, & 66 Homeruns in separate seasons and now sits with 609 lifetime. Is he done? wait and see. During this period of long balls Mark McGwire hit 65 and 70 homeruns and left the game with a total of 583 fly aways.
Most recently, Most baseball fans are aware of Barry Bonds hitting 73 Home runs in a single season and taking the all time record with 762 round trippers.* Of course with an asterisk.
So where does that leave todays followers of the power play? In 2007 A-Rod hit 54, Prince Fielder 50, Ryan Howard 47, Carlos Pena 46 and Adam Dunn 40. In 2008 Ryan Howard hit 48 homeruns. He has 177 in 5 seasons. Adam Dunn again hit 40 giving him 278 in 8 seasons. A-Rod had 40, giving him 553, and at his young age, he has the best shot at reaching for763 big Blasts.
The top Homerun Kings as of today, including three active players looks like this; Barry Bonds 762*, Hank Aaron 755, Babe Ruth 714, Willie Mays 660, Ken GRIFFEY Jr 611, Sammy Sosa 609, Frank Robinson 586, Mark McGwire 583, A-ROD 553, and Jim Thome 541. Some other long ball threats that pitchers FEAR today include Vladimir Guererro, Manny Ramirez, Albert Pujols, and David Ortiz.
So Why have only six players ever hit 60 or more homeruns in a season?? And no one in the past few years?? Let's just say it takes a combination of talent, focus and an eye for the right pitch coupled with the right swing, at the right moment, day after day, throughout a 162 game schedule. Probably a Homerun out of every 10 at bats. And then we have the 'S' factor. Three of the players in this category have been suspected of using steroids.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ashi_Mittal
Keeping Track of Baseball - Baseball Scorebook Options For You
A baseball scorebook is used by team managers or coaches in keeping track of their team's numbers and record each of the player's history, tournament play, and team placement. Depending on what needs tracking, a baseball scorebook may feature different headings and subheadings for easy organization.
Types of baseball scorebooks
In as much as each scorebook may be customized to suit the needs of each team, there are two general types of baseball scorebooks that are available in the market today, the manual and electronic baseball scorebooks. Mostly spiral bound, manual scorebooks are portable notebooks in form, complete with the required stat sheets. Stat sheets included in manual scorebooks can contain those needed for batting positions, game-by-game records for each player, games and innings, pictorial scoring, and prefigured batting averages. Continuous batting and slo-pitch scorebooks are also available. An electronic baseball scorebook, on the other hand, is a software program designed for tracking down a team's game-by-game and season-to-date statistics. Since an electronic baseball scorebook features more extensive space for information compared to a manual scorebook, schedules, biographical information, and statistical report for certain opponents, may be recorded, on top of the normal team and game history.
How to choose: some buying tips
If you're going to use a manual scorebook, go for one that comes with hard covers so you won't need to put the scorebook down on a solid surface before you can write on it. The hard cover will give you the kind of support you need.
If you're opting for an electronic baseball scorebook, make sure that the software you choose is compatible with the kind of operating system your current computer has.
Since it's possible to run into trouble with electronic scorebooks, look for one that offers free technical assistance and support through toll-free numbers you can call at any time.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ilse_Hagen
Types of baseball scorebooks
In as much as each scorebook may be customized to suit the needs of each team, there are two general types of baseball scorebooks that are available in the market today, the manual and electronic baseball scorebooks. Mostly spiral bound, manual scorebooks are portable notebooks in form, complete with the required stat sheets. Stat sheets included in manual scorebooks can contain those needed for batting positions, game-by-game records for each player, games and innings, pictorial scoring, and prefigured batting averages. Continuous batting and slo-pitch scorebooks are also available. An electronic baseball scorebook, on the other hand, is a software program designed for tracking down a team's game-by-game and season-to-date statistics. Since an electronic baseball scorebook features more extensive space for information compared to a manual scorebook, schedules, biographical information, and statistical report for certain opponents, may be recorded, on top of the normal team and game history.
How to choose: some buying tips
If you're going to use a manual scorebook, go for one that comes with hard covers so you won't need to put the scorebook down on a solid surface before you can write on it. The hard cover will give you the kind of support you need.
If you're opting for an electronic baseball scorebook, make sure that the software you choose is compatible with the kind of operating system your current computer has.
Since it's possible to run into trouble with electronic scorebooks, look for one that offers free technical assistance and support through toll-free numbers you can call at any time.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ilse_Hagen
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Why Goofy Pitchers Win
Every team has a couple goofy pitchers, and if you watch closely it doesn't take a long time to figure out which ones. I haven't solved the mystery as to why there are more goofy pitchers compared to hitters, must have to do with all of the emotional stress pitching can cause or something. I've seen some jump over the third and first base lines every time they enter or exit the field as well as brush their teeth between every inning. But it's not just the superstitions, a lot of ball players are superstitious. It has to do with a certain amount of carefreeness combined with a dosage of competitiveness that has a way to produce success on the mound.
We always hear that pitching is such a mental sport. So why do many "goofy" pitchers have success? The reason is they simply don't think! It is not meant to be a negative in this context. Pitchers who don't allow negative results to affect how they go about their business tend to last longer, remain more in control of their emotions, and can bounce back from failures quickly.
If you haven't been blessed with the "goofy" gene, it's ok. Here are some things you other hurlers can learn from these guys.
3 Ways to Increase your "Goofiness" Factor
It's alright to take breaks while performing
Baseball is a sport that depends greatly on momentum and rhythm. There are brief periods of high focus and intensity followed by mental vacations that sometimes last quite a while. The key is to learn how to balance the two. Do you know any athletes who play on one speed, FAST? They all suffer from system failure at some point during the season and perform inconsistently. A baseball game is like a good movie, there is plot development early, build up, and then an apex. Keep your attitude right with the flow of the game and you'll find yourself mentally invested when you need to be.
Learn to fail, learn, and forget
Everyone fails in this sport. Get over it, you're not immune. Instead learn from your mistakes, work hard at changing, and then move on. I know this sounds simplistic, and it is. It's emotionally freeing to never be wrapped up in past performances.
Find your outlet
This last point is directed to those of you who have a hard time letting down after a tough performance. If you can't let go of a game an hour after the performance, this is for you. Discover what takes you out of reality for a bit. Watch a movie, play some video games, listen to music, or hang around some friends who have nothing to do with baseball. Once you find what takes your mind off of your situation and frustrations, use it as a tool to help you achieve relaxation and freshness of mind so you can perform free of baggage next time.
Nate Barnett is owner of the The Pitching Academy, a pitching information website designed to improve your on the mound performance as a pitcher. Download a FREE copy of the pitching workouts ebook The Pitching Academy contains information, products, training, free articles, and more on pitching, pitching drills, pitching mechanics, and much more.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nate_Barnett
We always hear that pitching is such a mental sport. So why do many "goofy" pitchers have success? The reason is they simply don't think! It is not meant to be a negative in this context. Pitchers who don't allow negative results to affect how they go about their business tend to last longer, remain more in control of their emotions, and can bounce back from failures quickly.
If you haven't been blessed with the "goofy" gene, it's ok. Here are some things you other hurlers can learn from these guys.
3 Ways to Increase your "Goofiness" Factor
It's alright to take breaks while performing
Baseball is a sport that depends greatly on momentum and rhythm. There are brief periods of high focus and intensity followed by mental vacations that sometimes last quite a while. The key is to learn how to balance the two. Do you know any athletes who play on one speed, FAST? They all suffer from system failure at some point during the season and perform inconsistently. A baseball game is like a good movie, there is plot development early, build up, and then an apex. Keep your attitude right with the flow of the game and you'll find yourself mentally invested when you need to be.
Learn to fail, learn, and forget
Everyone fails in this sport. Get over it, you're not immune. Instead learn from your mistakes, work hard at changing, and then move on. I know this sounds simplistic, and it is. It's emotionally freeing to never be wrapped up in past performances.
Find your outlet
This last point is directed to those of you who have a hard time letting down after a tough performance. If you can't let go of a game an hour after the performance, this is for you. Discover what takes you out of reality for a bit. Watch a movie, play some video games, listen to music, or hang around some friends who have nothing to do with baseball. Once you find what takes your mind off of your situation and frustrations, use it as a tool to help you achieve relaxation and freshness of mind so you can perform free of baggage next time.
Nate Barnett is owner of the The Pitching Academy, a pitching information website designed to improve your on the mound performance as a pitcher. Download a FREE copy of the pitching workouts ebook The Pitching Academy contains information, products, training, free articles, and more on pitching, pitching drills, pitching mechanics, and much more.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nate_Barnett
Becoming a Mound Magician
I remember being a twelve year old pitcher and trying to strike every hitter out by throwing hard fastballs by everyone. I carried this same mentality into high school with some success. But, it wasn't until I pitched in college that it was clearly communicated to me why throwing a good change up as well as changing the speeds of my fastball was so important. At first, I was quite nervous with the prospect of throwing a slower pitch. I had a tough time with the fact that I would be taking speed off of pitches to produce positive results. Once I began to change velocities, however, pitching got much more fun.
So what makes Pedro Martinez, Greg Maddux, and Mariano Rivera so effective as pitchers? They change speeds, angles, and create movement on most all of their pitches. The goal of a pitcher should always be to mess with the balance and timing of a hitter by changing speeds. This doesn't mean that pitchers should be less aggressive while throwing a fastball; it simply means that all fastballs thrown should not be at 100% effort. There are a lot of pitchers who throw with great velocity. But, few have mastered the ability to change speeds like Greg Maddux and Jamie Moyer have.
You don't need a blistering fastball to compete as a pitcher. You do, however, need to create the illusion of a blistering fastball by keeping hitters off balance. Learn a good change up; it will be one of the best investments of time you make as a pitcher.
Nate Barnett is owner of the The Pitching Academy, a pitching information website designed to improve your on the mound performance as a pitcher. Download a FREE copy of the pitching workouts ebook The Pitching Academy contains information, products, training, free articles, and more on pitching, pitching workouts, pitching mechanics, different baseball pitching grips, and much more.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nate_Barnett
So what makes Pedro Martinez, Greg Maddux, and Mariano Rivera so effective as pitchers? They change speeds, angles, and create movement on most all of their pitches. The goal of a pitcher should always be to mess with the balance and timing of a hitter by changing speeds. This doesn't mean that pitchers should be less aggressive while throwing a fastball; it simply means that all fastballs thrown should not be at 100% effort. There are a lot of pitchers who throw with great velocity. But, few have mastered the ability to change speeds like Greg Maddux and Jamie Moyer have.
You don't need a blistering fastball to compete as a pitcher. You do, however, need to create the illusion of a blistering fastball by keeping hitters off balance. Learn a good change up; it will be one of the best investments of time you make as a pitcher.
Nate Barnett is owner of the The Pitching Academy, a pitching information website designed to improve your on the mound performance as a pitcher. Download a FREE copy of the pitching workouts ebook The Pitching Academy contains information, products, training, free articles, and more on pitching, pitching workouts, pitching mechanics, different baseball pitching grips, and much more.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nate_Barnett
When a Thrower Becomes a Pitcher
I'm sure you've heard before about the best pitch a pitcher can throw. You know, the pitch all coaches love to see out of their starters and relievers.
A strike.
I'm sure I don't need to explain all of the advantages of throwing strikes. But, I would like to help clarify the difference between a thrower and a pitcher, since I see too many of the latter.
A pitcher is an athlete who has command of his pitches to a large extent. In the younger age groups, there may be some slack given on command of pitches, but as you approach junior high school and into high school, there are some musts.
MUST #1 - To call yourself a pitcher, you must be able to throw all of your pitches for a strike (in any count) 50% of the time or better. In college, 60%. Why? For two main reasons. Getting ahead and staying ahead of hitters, and saving your valuable "bullets" in your arm. You don't want to end up in the 4th inning (as a starter) and have used 80% of your pitch count.
MUST #2 - As a pitcher you must, must, must learn to change speeds. I don't care if your only pitch is a fastball, you can win games. Keep the same arm speed and shorten your landing stride six inches would help with that. Throwing hard is nice, but if that's all you do, hitters will figure it out.
So what is the difference between a pitcher and a thrower? You're a thrower until you have become proficient with the above. Keep working on it.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nate_Barnett
A strike.
I'm sure I don't need to explain all of the advantages of throwing strikes. But, I would like to help clarify the difference between a thrower and a pitcher, since I see too many of the latter.
A pitcher is an athlete who has command of his pitches to a large extent. In the younger age groups, there may be some slack given on command of pitches, but as you approach junior high school and into high school, there are some musts.
MUST #1 - To call yourself a pitcher, you must be able to throw all of your pitches for a strike (in any count) 50% of the time or better. In college, 60%. Why? For two main reasons. Getting ahead and staying ahead of hitters, and saving your valuable "bullets" in your arm. You don't want to end up in the 4th inning (as a starter) and have used 80% of your pitch count.
MUST #2 - As a pitcher you must, must, must learn to change speeds. I don't care if your only pitch is a fastball, you can win games. Keep the same arm speed and shorten your landing stride six inches would help with that. Throwing hard is nice, but if that's all you do, hitters will figure it out.
So what is the difference between a pitcher and a thrower? You're a thrower until you have become proficient with the above. Keep working on it.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nate_Barnett
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