HITTERS: STUDY THE PITCHER!

The majority of hitter's instruction at the amateur
levels is focused on the fundamentals of hitting.

Why? Because hitting fundamentals are important to your success!

But... there is so much more to becoming a successful hitter!

To be a successful hitter... a really successful hitter... you need to Study the Pitcher.

All the BEST hitters do!

Some things to look for as you learn to study pitchers:

Along with rhythm, tempo and release point/area of the opposing pitcher... here is a small sample of some other things to train yourself to look for in the pitcher you are facing...

Does the pitcher consistently throw "first pitch fastball?"

Does he live "down and away" or does he work "in and out?"

Does he come "up and in?" When does he come "up and in?" Only when ahead in the count?

What pitch does he "go to" for his "out" pitch?

What does he throw ahead in the count?

What does he throw behind in the count?

Does his pitch selection change when in the stretch?

TIPPING PITCHES

Does he "toe the rubber" in the same spot all the time?

Prior to his windup, does his wrist/glove angle change?

Is his glove more open than closed on certain pitches?

How about his elbows? Are they always the same or do they extend away from or close up to the body on certain pitches?

Do his hands come over his head on certain pitches and not on others?

Or... do his hands stay below chin/chest/belt level on certain pitches?

Do his hands "sway" to one side or the other on certain pitches?

IN THE STRETCH:

Does he hold his hands in the same position on all pitches? Or does he hold them higher/lower for a particular pitch?

What about his glove position? Does it turn/angle slightly when in the "hold" position on a certain pitch?

What about the glove? Does it "close up" or "open up" more on certain grips?

How about his elbows? Are they in close to the body for one type of pitch and a little more extended outward for another?

Does he slow down/rush for off speed pitches? Shorten his stride?

His head... Does the pitcher tend to tilt his head for one pitch and not another?

Don't try to remember these all at once. Learn to look for one thing... Then another...

Study the pitchers yourself... Better yet... Do it with your teammates!

It doesn't have to be a grind... Challenge yourself to learn something you didn't know!

Make yourself a better hitter!

Make it FUN!

Remember... to make yourself a dominate hitter, you must learn to always...

STUDY THE PITCHER! 

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A STORY OF WHAT IT TAKES TO REALLY GET BETTER

Whether your a hitter or pitcher... to make your baseball dreams a reality takes extraordinary PERSISTENCE and DETERMINATION

The following is knuckleball pitcher R.A. Dickey's story:     

R.A. Dickey: When I started the knuckleball in 2005, I would grab whoever I could and have them catch with me underneath the stadium, in the cages, [wherever].

I would throw balls off of the outfield wall during batting practice. I would always have a ball in my hand. As I drove around the city, I would put it in my cup holder and I would play with it—that’s one of the things Charlie Hough first taught me. He said, “always have a ball in your car and always have it in your hand when you’re driving so you can just get the sensation of what it feels like for your grip to be in the right place.”

It wasn’t like I was a robot and I went into the gym after 500 balls a day for six months and all of a sudden I came out the other side and was this great knuckleballer.

In 2006, I remember I was with the Texas Rangers trying to make the club and I would come into the cages before anybody even got to the stadium and take a bucket of balls and just throw them into the net. I would go pick that bucket of balls up and go back to the mound and throw it into the net.

That was early on in my transformation, so I would get so angry because I could see that it wasn’t doing what it was supposed to do and I didn’t know how to fix it.

Out of sheer stubbornness, I just would keep going—just hoping that at some point something would click. I certainly held onto the hope that it might.

I had no guarantees, but I trusted that if I worked hard and put in the time, it would eventually reap a fruit.

I just didn’t know what that fruit was going to be or how big it was going to be.

As far as being able to pinpoint how many hours or how many times?
I would go ahead and say that 30,000 is a conservative estimate.

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THE LONG HARD ROAD OF A WORLD SERIES CHAMPION

Pitcher Ryan Vogelsong, of the 2012 World Series Champion San Francisco Giants, is the epitome of persistence and determination!

  Check out his road to becoming a member of the 2012 World Series Champions:

r

CONGRATS TO 2012 SF GIANTS!

This Never Gets Old!

Throughout History, Only One Team Wins 
The Last Game Of The Year...

JACKIE ROBINSON

October 24, 2012 marks the 40th anniversary of the death of Jackie Robinson, who broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball in 1947.

There are myriad sources telling of Mr. Robinson’s career and legacy.

Jack Roosevelt Robinson was born on January 31, 1919. He was named for President Theodore Roosevelt who died on January 6 of that year.
   
Jackie attended UCLA and was the first student to letter in four sports: baseball, football, basketball, and track.

He won the NCAA Long Jump championship in 1940.

While at UCLA his worst sport was baseball.

During World War II Robinson enlisted in the Army. In 1944 while serving at Ft. Hood in Waco, Texas he was court martialed for refusing an order to move to the back of a bus because of his race. He was found not guilty.
   
Robinson would play one season in the Negro Leagues for the Kansas City Monarchs.

According to Robinson, if Branch Rickey of the Dodgers hadn’t recruited him for the majors, he would have quit playing baseball and become a coach at Sam Houston College.
   
Robinson was 28 years old when he stepped on the field on April 15, 1947 as the first African American major leaguer in over 60 years.

He won the Rookie of the Year award, which is now named for him.
   
Here are his stats for his career with the Brooklyn Dodgers which included the 1949 MVP Award as well Brooklyn’s only World Series victory in 1955.
   
Jackie played himself in The Jackie Robinson Story (1950), his wife was played by Ruby Dee.
   
He was traded to the New York Giants, the Dodgers NL rival, after the 1957 season. He never played for the Giants having already signed a contract to work for Chock Full O’ Nuts - a coffee company.
   
In 1965 Robinson became the first African Americans sports analyst when he worked on ABC’s Game of the Week.
   
Robinson was a Republican, supporting Richard Nixon in the 1960 election as well as Nelson Rockefeller’s presidential and gubernatorial bids. He left the party in 1968 after they failed to support civil rights legislation in the 1960s.
   
Robinson’s last public appearance was at game 2 of the 1972 World Series (October 15) where he threw out the first pitch in honor of the 25th anniversary of the integration of baseball. The Cincinnati Reds were playing the Oakland A’s.
   
He died at the age of 53 from a heart attack in his home. His eulogy was given by the Reverend Jesse Jackson.
   
In 1997 Jackie Robinson became the first, and so far only, player to have his uniform number retired throughout all of baseball. (Wayne Gretzky is the only other professional athlete to earn that honor.)

Family notes:

Jackie’s brother, Mack Robinson, won the silver medal at the 1936 Berlin Olympics in the 100 meter sprint. Jesse Owens finished first.
   
Jackie’s wife, Rachel, was an associate professor of psychiatric nursing at Yale University at the time of Jackie’s death.
   
Jackie’s son, Jackie Jr., died in a car accident in 1971. He was only 27.

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NO EXCUSES EXPLOSIVENESS!

 NO EXCUSES!

EXERCISES FOR EXPLOSIVENESS!

Always work on becoming more explosive with your body movements, strength, and quickness!

Squats

Lunges

Push-ups

Pull-ups

Sprints! Sprints! Sprints!

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EXPLOSIVE PLAYERS LEAD WITH THEIR ELBOW

MIKE TROUT

One of the most Explosive Five Tool  players in the game leads with his elbow when he throws.

Make sure you do it too!

HUGE TIP TO STRONGER THROWING

All Players...  not just pitchers, should learn to throw by Leading With The Elbow!

Below is a picture of one of the better shortstop arms in the game today... Elvis Andrus...

Leading with the Elbow!

Leading with elbow will create whip! And increased whip will create velocity and carry.

No matter your age or level of play, ALL players should makes this a mandatory part of their game.

Yes! Even warming up and playing catch!

Remember... "Winning Ain't No Part Time Thing!"

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BIG MEN BEING LITTLE BOYS AGAIN!

FUN with an INFECTIOUS SPIRIT!!!

NOBODY... IS EVER TOO OLD!

WHO LIKES CAKE 'N ICE CREAM?

"WHO LIKES CAKE 'N ICE CREAM!?"

Okay guys! Every coach has these practice moments...

You know... when your team, or some of your players, are not putting out the effort you're looking for...

Now what!? All you want is a more focused effort... More concentration! Higher energy! More desire!

On days or moments like these... STOP EVERYTHING!

Bring 'em together and ask... "WHO LIKES CAKE 'N ICE CREAM?!"

Hands will fly up! Kids will all of a sudden be energized! They'll holler, "I DO, I DO!"

Now ask, "Who wants some cake 'n ice cream right now!?"...

Again... more hands going up even faster! More hollering "I do! I do!"

Have them put down their bats... put down their gloves and balls...

They're energized now! So... you proceed to tell them...

"Okay guys!  10 wind sprints! 100 crunches! 100 sit-ups!"

"Coach, I thought we were getting cake 'n ice cream!?"

"You are! My kind of CAKE 'N ICE CREAM!"

You can only get away with this once... the next time they'll be on to you...

More importantly... they'll know what you're thinking about their efforts when you ask...

"WHO LIKES CAKE 'N ICE CREAM!?"

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ROCK STAR COACH in SOUTH AFRICA!

1 BASEBALL... 3 GAMES TO PLAY!

The following are a couple emails Baseball Training Magazine received from Dion Wasserman, a Dad, Coach and founder of the newly formed Third Base Baseball Academy in South Africa.

His spirit, passion, dedication and infectious humor resonates.

What really distinguishes Dion are his efforts to do anything and everything he can to help all his kids in his area of South Africa.

I'm sure you will find a new appreciation for what most players, coaches and programs have here in the United States.

If you would like to contact Dion you can email him at: coach@thirdbase.co.za

Enjoy the read!

 EMAIL #1

Hey Dusty,

Really can't thank you enough, for your help and in put. l have done my level 1 coaches course, last year, so l do understand a lot of what you were saying, but think its more the experience l lack, and a lot of it. Reason being, for one, we only train twice a week and play at most, 25 to 30 games the whole season, sad but true!!!

l appreciate your positive in put on the web page, as l was saying it still being put together. But yea Dusty, well get it going. One of the things l want to do on the web site, is a players profile.  Of the kids that are part of the academy. As you were saying, "keep it fun"!!!! Were there friends can go onto the site and read up on thair mates, and see how cool baseball really is, and hopefully get some of them to come down to the ball park.

Baseball is lot different than you guys have it in the US. we only have one ball park in Durban, were we play, (senior only) the juniors ( 7-16yrs old) they play on soccer fields with a make shift diamond marked on it. No dug out or big catch net, just a 3m x 3m frame,  with net on it to stop the ball. Oh! ! And the ball, gets used up to 3-4 games at atime. As you can pay up to $ 12 for a junior ball. A juniors bat l saw on one of your web sites in the states, for $ 30, we pay upto R600. ($70). So as you can see it not only tough, not having the right facilitys, but equipment is very expensive,

l am funding this project on my own, with a bit of sponsorship for one or two of my mates. l have made a lot of the equipment my self, catch nets, portable pitching mound, etc. The academy its self, is really a facility were kids, from the area, as well as disadvantage kids, can come together and learn to play this great game called baseball, which l as a kid grow  to love so much. We train outside on the field, just with the equipment l have.

It free of charge to the kids, as a lot of them can't afford the fees of the other clubs, or even buy kit /equipment they need to play. (Bold print added by Baseball Training Magazine)

My son also plays, he's a lefty batter, and throws and pitches right hand. He was picked to play in Poland last year, at the EMEA  (Europe, Middle East and Africa) Regional tournament, for a place to play in the world junior league baseball tournament in the USA, but lost to Italy in the semi final! !! Chase (my son) pitched his team, the KZN seals (South Africa) to a 3-1 win  over the Cech Republic, in the play offs. So this is a another Reson why l have started the academy.

So Dusty, it would be awesome to have you on board with third base and my self. l am very excited to be chatting and sharing info with you. Hopefully day in the near future, Chase and l can make a trip to you guys. Would love to attend a training camp, with him and one or two of the kids.

Look forward to chatting soon. What l am looking for, is a throwing and pitching program, we start our season in two weeks time. Thanks again! !!!

All the best mate, take care
AND LET PLAY BALL!!
Dion.

EMAIL #2

Hey Dusty

hope you are all well? Yes! No problem to put my letter on your page, l have some pic which l am sending you of the equipment l have made for the academy, and don't laugh! !!!

My bucket of 15 practice balls (the brown ones) and 10 new game balls (the white one) for the season.

Being six months long,in which l well play 25-30 games. Out of the 10th new balls, l keep back 2 for my pitches, to train with.

Now Dusty try Get your head around this one! !! I get Chase, at lest every second week, too wash and scrub the brown practice balls clean, with a bucket of water and soap powder!!! Yes crazy as it sound, you guys have ball boys, l have a ball boys "washer" !!

our junior season starts this weekend, so a lot still too do, and that's why l am so grateful to you for your input and assistance Dusty! !
Thanks a ton.
Dion.

NOTE FROM BASEBALL TRAINING MAGAZINE:

5 of the best words anyone can live by:

"How Can I Help You?"

I'm sure many of us can help Dion with some baseball equipment! If you can't, ask around!

Anything! A few baseballs? An extra bat collecting dust? How about a glove? Hitting tees, nets etc. 

If you feel you would like to help Dion and his kids, you can contact Dion by email at coach@thirdbase.co.za

Thanks "mates!"

All the best,

Dusty Rhodes
Baseball Training Magazine

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MULTIPLE RUNNER RUNDOWNS MADE EASY

Okay... A botched play in the infield or outfield... maybe a bobble, maybe a wild throw... maybe both!



Maybe, maybe, maybe!

Well.... now we have another maybe!

More than one runner caught halfway off the bags...

Maybe 2 runners... maybe 3!

Crowd screaming! Benches screaming! Coaches ON BOTH BENCHES %#@#$*&^!!!

What's all the fuss about?

No problem! No big deal! No sweat!

What you have here is a Multiple Runner Rundown...

Doesn't matter how they got there... they're there now!

Whenever you are faced with this situation... STAY COOL! RELAX!

and ALWAYS...

THROW BEHIND THE LEAD RUNNER!!!

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HITTERS HORSEPOWER!

Hitters... Your Lower Body is Your Foundation!

Your lower body swings the bat.

Your lower body will produce maximum power and bat speed!

Your lower body is your HORSEPOWER!

Your Rear Foot Anchors Your Swing

Whether you ‘sway’ or ‘shift’ load, where your weight moves from centered to back towards the catcher, or a ‘coil’ load, where your front hip rotates inward while the shoulders stay straight, there is one absolute must do...

MUST DO: You must keep your back knee inside the instep of your back foot and the top of the kneecap inside your shoe line.  

The double inside load drives the rear ball of the foot and big toe into the ground, creating your anchor.


Image 1: Alex Rios in the double inside load position.
Image 2: Albert Pujols also using a double inside load.

The Yellow Line shows the vertical plane and the outside of the rear knee and the inside of the rear foot.    


In these pictures, both Rios and Pujols are anchored to the ground on the ball of their back foot and the rear big toe.   

No weight on the outside of either of their back foot pinky toe.

Both guys’ back hip is loaded and supporting the upper body.

This load allows lower body mechanics to work correctly.

This is critical in allowing the shoulders to support the hands and create a whipping action of the bat around the body and around the hands.

Your lower body mechanics allow your swing to be supported, efficient, coordinated, and suddenly explosive!

Be EXPLOSIVE by loading into your back hip with a double inside load. Create the super strong support structure that all elite, maximum power and speed swings are built on.

Do this and you'll be "da man!" The UNBEATABLE MAN!

AUTHORS CREDIT: ALTHOUGH EDITED FOR OUR READERS, THIS ARTICLE IS COURTESY OF CHAS PIPPITT AT baseballhittingrebellion.com 

CHECK CHAS OUT! 

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JOEY COOPER WINS HOME RUN DERBY

                                "Aw shucks, nuttin to it!"

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THE BEST COACHES DO THIS!

"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader" -  John Quincy Adams
 
Coaches...

If you are currently coaching, aspire to be a coach, or are looking to hire a coach, strive for these qualities...

As a Teacher you:

*Inspire your players to learn more

*Inspire your players to do more

*Inspire your players to set goals and dream more

As a Leader you:

*Make your players better

A coach who both inspires and makes their players better is truly the best of both worlds...

A Teacher and a Leader!

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"CHICKS DIG ME!"

HONEST ABE KNOWS BASEBALL

"Give me six hours to chop down a tree
 and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe" - Abraham Lincoln

The best players spend more time sharpening their game... makes playing much easier... and a lot more fun!

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