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
Thursday, September 10, 2009
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
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