Friday, February 29, 2008

Comebacker to mound. Batter try and get to 2B?

Runners on 2B and 3B. Batter hits a comebacker to the mound. The runner on 3B breaks on contact and is caught in a rundown. The question is- should the batter attempt to get to 2B?

At the professional level, the batter is expected to try and get into scoring position. The runner at 3B is to stay in that rundown as long as possible so the batter can advance to 2B and recreate the exact situation that just occurred. However, I contend that at amateur levels of baseball it doesn't make any sense whatsoever to try and get to 2B. Here's why.

Consider this. If the runner at 3B went on contact the runner at 2B is not the tying run- or a very important run. Otherwise, the lead runner would be more cautious not to compromise the importance of the trail runner. So, the lead runner is a run of importance and the trail runner is an "extra" run. We want the lead runner to score!!

If the contact play is on and a comebacker is hit- the lead runner, breaking aggressively, will probably be caught in a rundown. That rundown will probably produce out number 2(again- contact basics). If the runner at 2B advances to 3B while the rundown is occurring where do we want the batter to stop?

I believe 1B is where he should stop. Here's why.

1) 1st and 3rd defenses are difficult to defend and maybe would actually be a better situation than a 2B and 3B scenario.

2) With the runner at 2B advancing to 3B, the rundown shouldn't take too long. We're actually giving the lead runner up for dead. If the rundown doesn't have the potential to last a long time why would you risk the the batter trying to get to 2B?

This is a very detailed baseball play but it is one that should be practiced if you want to understand gaining advantage on the offensive side.

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Pitcher's responsibility on aggressive bunt coverages

When runners get to 1st and 2nd or even just 1st with 0 out, a potential bunt defense could employed. The pitcher must know what play is on and he must know where to cover on these plays. His knowledge of these plays is critical for the success of the plays.

Let's assume we have a runner on 1st base and nobody is out. The defense puts on a play where the 1B is going to start in and then drive the runner back with a "ball" call. The runner at 1B is going to retreat(hopefully) as the 1B comes driving back to the bag. The pitcher delivers the ball to home plate while the runner at 1B has shortened up his lead. Because the 1B is now firmly even with the bag, the pitcher must hustle over and cover the 1B side on this bunt. If he releases the ball and observes the play develop, regardless of how far the runner has to run, he'll probably get 2B. The pitcher must anticipate the ball will be bunted at the 1B and cover this position immediately.

Now, in 1st and 2nd situations it's different. The SS is the position player who is driving the lead runner back. Because 3B is the base that is most coveted in this bunt scenario, the 3B is the player that will be holding his ground . The pitcher must recognize that he will hustle off the mound and cover the 3B side. He does this anticipating that the batter will be attempting to bunt the ball at the 3B as he is taught.

Again, this isn't necessarily traditional baseball thinking with respect to bunt defenses. This is the manner in which the pitcher must think in regards to what we call our "flash" defenses. A position player will flash to the base asking for the ball.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Outfielders. To dive or not to dive.

There are many instances in the course of a season where an outfielder has to make a decision on whether he should dive or allow the ball to fall safely in front. The score, the outs, the inning, the flight of the ball all dictate this choice. Having said that, the primary factor in deciding if the dive is worth the risk or not is whether or not the runner gains a distinct advantage if he is on 2B and what is the likelihood that he would get to 2B- or beyond.

Let's take a closer look.

The flight of the ball is the obvious variable that should be taken into consideration. When the ball is off the bat you'll notice that the ball either is a line drive that could roll forever. Or, the ball has some lift to it and if it lands it will land softly. As a general rule- diving on the high lofted ball is a prudent decision.

With 2 outs it is generally a very bad time to dive at a ball hit into the outfield. Why? Well, if you dive and the ball lands safely the runner will get into scoring position with two outs. This is one of those games within the games. The defense is trying to prevent runners from getting into scoring position with two outs while the offense is trying to get into scoring position.

If the outfield moves into a no doubles defense you should not dive. The whole premise of the no doubles defense is to not allow a runner to move into scoring position. Don't even risk it.

There are certainly other variable involved but I'd hate to make an instinctive outfielder a robot with so many rules. These three are important general outfield guidelines when addressing the dive play vs. allowing it to land safely.

Next time you're watching sportscenter highlights see if you can see a play in which the outfielder may have dived. Hopefully you'll get enough of the game context to see if it actually was a good time to do so.

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Man at 3B. Attempted pickoff at 1B.

When runners get to 1st and 3B, the runners at 3B need to be aware of many things. Obviously, they need to be aware of potential pickoff attempts at 3B. They also need to be aware of potential pickoff attempts at 1B.

When the pitcher attempts a pickoff at 1B there is always a possibility of a wild throw. If the pitcher throws wildly the 3B should be able to score if reacts correctly. This reaction isn't necessarily instinctive and must be taught.

When the pitcher turns to throw to 1B, the runner at 3B shuffles down the line towards home plate. We need to understand that pitchers can not fake to 1B if they don't disengage from the rubber. So, if the pitcher turns to throw to 1B without disengaging the runner at 3B should shuffle down the line. This allows a runner to score if the pitcher makes a wild throw.

Instinctually, runners go back to the bag if not taught. This technique must be addressed if you want to take advantage of a wild throw possibility.

Next time a 1st and 3rd situation occurs, keep an eye on the lead runner to see how they react. My money is on going back to 3B.

Monday, February 25, 2008

Man at 3B. Come back to the bag BIG.

When there is a runner at 3B, you need to learn to come back to the bag correctly. Here is how it is done.

Many coaches teach take a lead in foul territory. Many coaches teach come back in fair territory. But, the element that sometimes goes neglected is the idea that runners must go back hunting the 3B's glove.

It may or may not materialize but the runner at 3B should come back to the bag trying to align his body with the glove of the 3B. If the runner does in fact get too much and a play at 3B appears a reality. What we don't want the runner doing is diving back into the bag. This creates a very easy throwing lane for the catcher.

Rather, what the runner at 3B should do is go back very big actually hoping that the catcher's throw hits him in the back. This concept of going in big is certainly difficult to teach because it betrays a natural reaction of protecting oneself.

Easy to teach. Difficult to execute.

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Run with your eyes on the ball!!

I find it amazing at amateur levels of baseball that players run with their head down. And, I'm not just talking little league. I'm talking about high school level here.

When a player is on offense and he is hitting or running, it is imperative that he runs with his head up. How are you supposed to take advantage of poor defenders if you are not in position to see their mistakes?

Let me give you some examples.

1- You single to left field and you round 1B. As you return to the bag you turn away from the ball and retreat to the bag with your back to the play. All the while, the leftfielder airmails the 2B and you could have easily had 2B. See the play to the end!

2- You're at 1B and you have a bunt and run. You start to take off like it's hit and run principles. The ball gets bunted at the 3B. The 3B picks the ball up and instead of throwing to 1B, arm fakes. Running with your head down and assuming the ball was thrown you run full speed into the awaiting 3B with the ball. THIS HAPPENED LAST YEAR IN A VARSITY BASEBALL GAME!

3- You're at 3B and the contact play is on. The batter hits the ball back to the pitcher and the runner at 3B broke as he should. However, the pitcher fielded the comebacker and the runner is now bearing down on home plate. The runner should have his eyes up and if the pitcher fielded the ball there might be a rundown coming. We certainly don't want the runner to run into an out at home plate.

When you consider the fundamentals of baseball it's hard to not consider proper base running techniques. This can be taught as early as t-ball with some exciting drills. Have the runners call out numbers once the ball is off the bat or once they are on the bases. Get the kids seeing the ball. Don't just worry about what bases they're touching.

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Green light to steal in amateur baseball?

Giving a player the green light to steal a base is so much more than simply saying you can run when you like. There are timing issues involved that can impact the result of the play. What are these issues that need considered before saying "You can run when you like."

1- The coach or manager must have a "red light" signal. This signal would indicate when you do not want the runner to steal. There are certainly times when this applies.

2- You have to communicate the concept of pitch counts and out counts and when are the best times to run.

3- You have to communicate to the runner and the batters hitting behind the runner what to expect. For example, if you don't run early you may not be running at all. The batters won't be taking forever. With two outs, give me a chance to get into scoring position. Be more willing to take some pitches with two outs.

4- You have to communicate who are the batters that you should not run in front of. These are the batters that teams will pitch around if you open up a base. Obviously, you could give a red light in this situation but it's good to educate in case you forget.

At the professional level, base stealers have the green light. At the amateur level, I would think that the green light might be somehow replaced with a "yellow light." There are so many timing issues that need addressed, I wouldn't want to think that the GO sign is on all the time.

Friday, February 22, 2008

The bunt and run. 2 options.

There are two ways in which the bunt and run holds merit. In other words, you could teach two ways to execute the bunt and run and each is slightly different with respect to what you are asking of the runner. Here are the two different bunt and run options.

A) The bunt and run that attempts to advance a runner two bases. You apply the hit and run and ask the batter to bunt the ball on the ground. An ideal bunt would be for the ball to be bunted in the direction of the 3B. In this way, the runner would be given the opportunity to possibly advnace to 3B with the vacated position. There must be some time placed on the mechanics of the batter here. The batter squares late and must make an effort to get the bunt down. It is not a bunt for a hit. It is a late square with get it down principles. You must protect the runner just as you would with hit and run principles. The biggest issue is you must get the ball down first. Bunting it at the 3B would be ideal.

B) The second bunt and run option is when you simply want to advance a runner one base. Why start the runners if you only want to advance them one base? Probably, because the defense has an aggressive play on and you think that the bunt might be defended well enough to get the force out. So, you as the offensive coach puts on a bunt and run. This play means the runner applies hit and run principles but the batter simply bunts the ball back to the pitcher or wherever he believes he can get the bunt down. The hitter has more pressure than a normal sac bunt because he must bunt the ball. He has less pressure because he can bunt the ball anywhere.

The two primary differences with these two bunt and run scenarios is how many bases you want the lead runner to achieve. If it's one, bunter bunts it anywhere. If it's two, try and make the 3B field it.

In all bunt and run instances, the batter squares late but with urgency. The bunter must bunt the ball unless a) dirt, b) pitchout, c) hit you.

Thursday, February 21, 2008

You strike out looking for 1 of 3 reasons

When a player strikes out looking, it was because of 1 of 3 reasons.

A) He thought the pitch was a ball. This is the excuse that most players give. They take strike 3 and they turn and look at the umpire like he missed the call. Regardless of whether or not they actually thought the pitch was a ball, they blame the umpire with their body language.

B) He was fooled. When facing a very good pitcher, this happens quite frequently. You recognize the pitch as a strike but because you were looking for something else or maybe the pitch had late movement, you take it. This is simply a part of baseball and happens frequently.

C) The third and final reason that you take strike 3 is that your swing prevented you from hitting it. Longer swings prevent hitters from initiating their swing. They know that the inevitable would be a poorly contacted ball. Why swing when you know that the results would be poor anyway. Take the pitch and "roll the dice" with the umpires decision.

An often overlooked by product of a poor swing is how many times a kid takes a pitch. I have found that players with efficient swings will swing at many pitches that aren't strikes simply because they believe they can hit anything. The opposite holds true with respect to poor swings. A player with a poor swing will take take take. Why? He just can't get to certain pitches and it makes no sense to attempt to hit it if you know that you can't make good contact.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

PFP(Pitchers Fielding Practice) ?

PFP at the big league level is almost laughable. I was watching Sportscenter and they were showing pitchers performing a spring training ritual of PFP. You have got to be kidding me.

This is professional baseball, right? This is the highest level at which the game is played. Yet, PFP is always done at half speed. ALWAYS.

I have yet to see a player hustle over to the bag and catch a throw from the 1B and turn and look to see if there is a play on another runner. I have yet to see loud communication between the pitcher and the 1B that would indicate that there is a chance that the play could be botched.

Rather, the professional coach hits a routine, slow roller that the 1B fields and casually flips it to a jogging pitcher. Why? Probably because this is so routine and they have done it for years.

Someone needs to tell professional baseball that this is an absolute waste of time.

And just so I could bolster my argument, I called my brother who participated in these workouts at the big league level. His reply?

It's a joke!

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

2B and C responsibility on ground balls

On ground balls in the infield, the 2B and the C are charged with the responsibility of backing up 1B. Who should do it and when?

When nobody is on base, it's good practice for both players to charge over in the direction of 1B to back up an overthrow. However, when runners get on base it gets a little more complicated.

Lead runner at 1B, the catcher can back up on any ground ball. 2B must have 2B bag responsibility on balls hit to the left side of the infield. On balls hit to the right side, the 2B should be moving in that direction in case he is to field the ball or potentially even cover the 1B bag.

Lead runner at 2B, the catcher may not leave as their is a runner in scoring position. The 2B actually should read the direction of the batted ball. If the ball is hit to the left side of the infield he goes to anchor down 2B. Even if there is not a runner at 1B he should go to hold the lead runner from getting a walking lead away from the bag.

Lead runner at 3B. The 2B actually should be sprinting in the direction of 1B as long as a double play is not in order or he doesn't need to anchor down 2B with a trail runner. The throw from the 3B will likely ricochet down the RF corner if the throw is errant. This makes the 2B's hustle important. The catcher? Well I think this one is obvious.

Many times when practicing ground balls we neglect the person who has back up responsibility. The 2B and the C play an important role in this respect.
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Monday, February 18, 2008

The emergency five infielder defense

The need for this defense occurs every now and then during a season. What is it and when should it be used?

The only time this defense should be employed(in a non bunt situation) is when you are on the road and the winning run gets to 3B. In this scenario, if the runner on 3B scores- GAME OVER!

Therefore, often times teams will bring a fifth infielder into the infield from the outfield. Or, they will pull an infielder off the bench and pull an outfielder from the game.

The idea is rather simple. If the ball gets through to the outfield on the ground the game is over. Put a fifth infielder in the game to prevent that. Also, if the ball is hit into the air deeply it doesn't matter how many outfielders you have so you might as well rearrange your players to improve your chances at prolonging the game.

A prudent idea with outfielders is to have your two fleetest outfielders in the outfield to try and rundown all potential balls that might fall. Arm strength isn't an issue if the ball isn't first caught.

Sunday, February 17, 2008

2nd and 3rd best range situation?

Typically best range positioning is used as a defense with the lead runner at 2B. But, could it also be employed in a 2B and 3B scenario? Yes, but it is certainly more of a coaches prerogative than a traditional way of thinking.

Let's investigate a scenario where one might consider going into a best range situation.

Bottom of the seventh. We are the home team and we have a 5-3 lead. The visiting team has runners on 2nd and 3rd with 2 outs.

What do you do?

If you stay in normal depth, you give yourself a better chance at recording the game winning out on a routine ground ball. However, you also put your defense at a slightly greater risk of having a ground ball find a hole.

You could also go to best range and try and prevent the ball from getting to the outfield. However, in doing so you put the infield in a deeper position making the routine out a little more difficult.

I suggest the other variables be considered when making this choice. What is the speed of the runner hitting? What is the on deck hitter like? Many options come into play when making such a critical decision with infield depth.

Saturday, February 16, 2008

Why the pitch count is needed now.

The pitch count is a relatively new thing. By new I mean it wasn't an issue before the 1980's. So, what was it that made the pitch count something to value?

I believe the answer is two fold.

The first reason that pitch counts are needed is the idea of the radar gun. As soon as pitchers velocity began getting "gunned" pitchers started throwing harder. The reason was they finally had something that could measure what they were doing. This caused some overthrowing and some arm issues, I believe.

The other major reason that a pitch count has become standard operating procedure is that agents exist. Agents must protect their commodity. In so doing, they have created a convenient way of doing so with the pitch count. The less pitches a pitcher throws, the less chance of injury. The less chance of injury, the better chance the agent takes his percentage. Before the "agent age" no one really looked out for the individual player.

As far as amateur players, they better hope they don't get "gun" happy. It's one thing to train with a gun to monitor velocity. But, this should be closely monitored as you don't want a player simply throwing for velocity without proper supervision. Also, you want to make sure that pitcher's have some good guidance from parents and coaches alike.

Friday, February 15, 2008

The mechanics of the piggy back man

In sure double possible triple(SDPT) situations, a tandem relay is employed. This means that when the outfielder goes out to retrieve the ball, two infielders go out to serve as the cutoff. The reasons behind this are as follows.

1- The piggy back man only goes out in tandem once he realizes that the ball is in fact a SDPT. You don't want the piggy back man leaving too early. Having an outfielder make a great play at cutting the ball off only to throw to an unoccupied base can be demoralizing.

2- Once the piggy back decides to go, the piggy back situation allows for the outfielder to overthrow the first cutoff man and still have the ball caught by an infielder. Two infielders minimizes an outfielders margin for error of missing the cutoff man. The piggy back man should be about 15-20 ft. behind the lead cutoff man. He is positioned to catch overthrows or under throws. He is basically a safety valve for the lead cutoff.

3- The piggy back is the "traffic cop" for the lead cut man. As the lead cut man watches the outfielder secure the ball, the piggy back man has his head on a swivel and is telling the lead cut man where to throw the ball.

The dynamics of this play must be practiced and practiced. The size of the field determines much of what takes place. In fact, the little league field probably makes this play obsolete.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Hustle- what coaches should emphasize

Every coach has his own style. So, whatever you believe and you want to stress to your team you need to be consistent. If you are going to say "every time we step on the field, we are going to sprint." Well, you better be prepared to sprint everywhere you go too. When you go to the 3B coaches box you better be on the sprint. When your assistants take the field- same thing goes.

I also believe that the older players get the harder it is to make them hustle. They begin to understand that baseball is a long game comprised of short, focused attention plays. I coach hustle the same way. I don't expect a player to sprint in from the field. I don't expect a player to sprint to 1B after a walk. I do expect a player to sprint if it can impact the game itself.

Here are some examples that might get overlooked.

1- Groundball to an infielder with no one on base. The 2B and the C should be sprinting to back up. Both could impact the play with an overthrow.

2- All pop ups off the bat need to be practiced. It isn't that a kid doesn't know he should run, it's that he is disappointed and that emotion supercedes the knowledge that he should run. I have seen games lost because a player didn't hustle on a routine pop up. Convince them that the sun could be a problem. Convince them that dusk is a tough time to catch a ball. Convince them that this is a must run time.

3- Hustle off the field after an out. Not that you're going to affect the game in so much as what you are going to do. But, the game should be moving. The batter and base runners should be getting ready to pick up the sign. When you delay getting off the field, it allows the other team a focused opportunity to observe the signals being given. This is not what the offensive team should want. Get off the field so focus can be given to the base coach.

Hustle is such a topic among coaches. It is what the average fan can see rather easily. But, we need to be perfectly clear in that some instances demand hustle. Others are just a coaches prerogative.

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

1st and 3rd; Draw a throw from the catcher.

1st and 3rd situations create an uneasy feeling from most defensive coaches. Why? They know that with players at the corners of the diamond it puts a lot of pressure on the arm strengths of the defensive players. At the amateur level, this can cause defensive coaches to feel helpless.

Most defensive coaches put on a play for the catcher when the runner at 1st takes off to 2B. What most coaches don't account for is what if something happens if the runner doesn't take off for 2B?

The play I am referring to is the runner at 1st simply gets a large secondary lead and invites a throw from the catcher. If the catcher takes the bait the runner immediately turns and sprints towards 2B. The speed in which he takes off forces the 1B to make a quick decision. This quick decision is what the offensive team is counting on. When the 1B cocks his arm to throw to 2B to record the out, the runner at 3B begins his sprint home. The arm strength of the defensive players should make this play a tough one to defend.

This play would certainly not show up in professional baseball. The arm strength is too good and they would allow their hitter to attempt to drive the run in. At amateur levels where all variables are in the offensive teams corner make this play much more attractive.

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

An absolute for the cleanup hitter

Everyone knows that the 4th hitter in the lineup should be a quality hitter. Most people believe that person should be a person that has a lot of power. Well, that is primarily true but I believe there is another quality that the 4 hole hitter must have.

The cleanup hitter must have the ability to take the curve ball.

Opposing teams have the same opinion of the cleanup hitter as we have. They certainly respect this spot in the order. They are not going to throw room service fastballs. Rather, they are going to pitch "backwards" and be as unpredictable as possible. If pitches can't be predicted, it is imperative that the cleanup hitter be able to recognize pitches. You don't want your 4th hitter flailing at off speed stuff when taking the pitch would put him in a better position to hit.

So, although power is a probability in the 4 hole, discipline is an absolute necessity.

Swinging and missing at the curveball simply perpetuates the breaking ball count and guarantees that the same pitch will be thrown over and over again.

Monday, February 11, 2008

Signals that should be "discreet"

Not every signal that a 3B coach gives should be a formal process. There needs to be some signals that can be communicated extremely quick. These signals should be very inconspicuous and should look like a very normal part of a coach's actions. What are these signals?

1- The bunt for a hit. When a coach communicates to a player that he would like him to bunt for a hit there may or may not be players on base. If there are not players on base you don't want to run through a whole set of signals to say "bunt for a hit." I mean what other sign might you have given? None. Therefore, the bunt for the hit would be the only option. Make it very discreet and you've got a legitimate chance to communicate the message.

2- Steal of 3B. If you have a runner on 2B by himself there really aren't too many other things you would communicate other than a straight steal of 3B. This signal should be discreet and quick.

3- Take. You want to say "take this pitch" as quickly as possible with as little fanfare as possible.

4- Swing or "greenlight" should be communicated as quickly as the take sign.

A coach that communicates these signs and maybe some others understands the nuances of the game. Not every signal can be given in every circumstance. So, why pretend that any signal could be given. The above scenarios require a quick message rather than a detailed procession of signals.

Sunday, February 10, 2008

"No doubles" vs. "Play the count"

When the situation arises late in the game what decision would you make?

You have a 5-3 lead and the opposition has runners on 1st and 2nd with 1 out. It's the last inning so you are thinking that you should be in a no doubles defense. However, the 7th hitter is coming up and you're also thinking that he isn't going to drive the baseball so maybe you should "play the count."

Obviously, the decision is based upon many factors but one important one is the coaches philosophy . Keep your outfielders back to cut off the extra base or allow them to move with the count to catch shallow balls off of 0-2/1-2 counts.

I think both decisions have merit but I'm going to suggest the opposing batter vs. the defense's pitcher should be the overriding factor. Think logically upon that matchup and less about the timing of the matchup. If the batter is not likely to drive the ball in the gap- allow "play the count" to be the most important element. If the batter has the potential to drive the ball in the gap, a no doubles defense is certainly a logical thought.

There is no right or wrong decision here. There is just another baseball choice that many people never consider when thinking the game of baseball.

Saturday, February 9, 2008

Infielders need to know how to "give ground"

So many times when we work with our infielders we teach them how to field the routine ground ball. We teach them how to field the backhand and the charge ball. But, what about the "give ground" ball?

The give ground ball is the ball where you drop step(Righties with their left foot) and lower your eyes to get a better hop.

You're playing an infield position and the ball is hit to you. You don't have to charge it and you don't need to go either way to field it. It is literally right at you. You're always trying to get the good hop. As you see it progressing towards you, you realize you're going to get an in between hop. What to do?

Drop step and give some ground to get the hop at the top of the hop rather than the middle of the hop.

A very important point to giving ground is that when you give ground you must also work very quick with your feet to move in the direction of your target after giving ground. Maybe that is why little league teams never practice this ball- not enough arm strength to record the out anyway. But, if the arm strength is there, infielders should practice this ball repeatedly as it simply allows them to get a better hop on the routine ground ball.

Watch some high level games and you will invariably see the "give ground" ball. Don't dismiss it because arm strength might be a factor.

Friday, February 8, 2008

An easy and unintentional way to lose a players trust

Trust is the backbone of all relationships. Without it, the relationship starts to crumble. One way that coaches unconsciously sabotage this trust is by extending practice.

All coaches at this stage of the game should know you need a practice plan. On that practice plan, the time that practice ends should be clearly marked. If it isn't clearly marked, players will coast through practice saving energy for that practice that has no end. On the other hand, if that practice end time is clearly marked they will work very hard with the end in mind. it's not just players that do it, everyone conserves energy when given the chance.

Now, if you set a practice plan that ends at say 6:00. And then you go to 6:15. You just betrayed their trust. It was subconsciously but it was done nonetheless. This trust will begin to erode and erode as long as the time factor is betrayed. It's a very discreet way of lying to the kids.

If you state on a practice plan an end time(AND YOU SHOULD), then you need to do yourself a favor and stick to the end time. If you go over, for whatever reason that is a coaches fault, then your relationship with the players will begin to decay. Don't hit extra fungoes if it means you'll go over. Don't throw extra BP if it means you'll go over. Don't have extra guys hit if it means you'll go over. If this is that important, end the practice and offer "late" work.

Now, if the reason that things were not accomplished is the players fault, then all bets are off. They have betrayed you and feel free to keep 'em there until midnight.

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Ball gets crushed? Throw it again.

It goes against all logic. The guy just hit the ball 400 ft. foul and you want me to throw that same pitch again? Yes.

Here is why. There was a count associated with that pitch and on that count you threw the wrong pitch. The hitter obviously was looking for what you threw and you barely survived the experience. So, now what.

Throw it again. Many, many times the hitter will assume "well, he won't throw that again." Wrong. By throwing the same pitch that has now become unexpected you will catch the hitter off guard and often times get the same pitch to be taken. If it's in the zone you'll get a strike out of it. If it's in the zone and it's strike 3, you'll ring him up looking.

It's quite a thing of beauty when the pitcher gets the strikeout one pitch after seeing a ball demolished by the opposition.

Keep an eye on this thing in professional baseball. Now that you have something to look for it will surprise you how many times it happens.

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Why hit and run when you can steal?

I see managers or coaches outthink themselves all the time. They put a hit and run on when you could straight steal. Maybe they think that since they have the sign, they should use it. Here is the most egregious of errors.

A lefty is on the mound. Left handers are typically harder to read than a righty. If you give the hit and run sign, the runner must make sure that the pitcher goes home. In order to make sure the pitcher goes home, he must wait an extra long time at 1B. This delay prevents a decent jump and it actually prevents the middle infielders from leaving their position to cover the bag. So, now we have a runner leaving with a lousy jump and middle infielders who have yet to vacate their position. The batter is then asked to protect the runner by hitting the ball on the ground. Many, many variables must align themselves to successfully advance the runner.

On the other hand, if you simply give the straight steal, there is a better chance that 2B could be achieved. A lefty should be easy to steal on if you run on 1st lift; significantly easier than attempting to execute a difficult hit and run with multiple variables.

I have always laughed when I notice a player with the base stolen and then the batter swings and fouls the ball off. I think "Wow. What a waste of a good stolen base."

It happens much more than it should.

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Dangerous advice from a little league coach to pitcher

There are many bad pieces of advice that I hear at the little league park. But, some just make my blood boil. Not, that there intentions are bad. Quite the opposite, their intentions are very good. It's just that the advice can be damaging. Let's take a couple for example.

1) Bend your back. Actually, when a pitcher thinks bend his back too early he robs himself of some major velocity. Usually, the idea of bending occurs to a coach when the pitcher gets up in the zone. He thinks that bending will bring the ball down in the strike zone. The better advice would be to maintain the weight on that front leg longer. Pitchers usually are up in the zone when they get tired and can't support the momentum they are creating. Maintaining a strong landing leg is essential rather than thinking bend the back.

2) Get into fielding position. This can be a logical thought but it can also rob pitchers of a natural movement that is designed to create more velocity. Quickly getting that back leg down can be a tragic flaw for pitchers.

3) Throw over the top. The only thing that really needs to be on top when you throw a ball is your fingers. Throwing over the top can cause unnatural head action and it can actually lead to a pitchers ball flattening out. It's best to leave arm action alone and allow a trained professional address that.

Listen next time for these pieces of advice at the little league park. Ugh.

Monday, February 4, 2008

"You, Me" system with middle infielders

The way professional middle infielders handle bag coverage on potential stolen bases is with a system called "Me/You." Typically, the SS peers in at the catcher and recognizes what pitch the catcher has called. Based upon the hitter and the pitch selection the SS will then cover his mouth with his glove and determine bag coverage.

A close mouth indicates "me" and an open mouth indicates "you."

Is this something that could be done at the amateur level? Is this something that should be done at the amateur level?

Professional teams meet and discuss hitter tendencies and how they want to defend all situations. They discuss how each pitcher should attack each hitter and how the defense should defend them.

Amateur baseball isn't nearly as sophisticated. Nor should it be. The amateur level simply doesn't have the time and the resources to allow for such detailed meetings. Therefore, a "me/you" system seems a little overkill. In fact, without detailed scouting reports the "me/you" system would simply be a shot in the dark if a deviation from the norm would be called. So, what is the answer for the amateur player?

I believe the answer is what many teams do. Righty hitting- 2B cover. Lefty hitting- SS cover.

If the manager or coach would like to switch coverage then he can signal for such a change.

But, avoiding the "me/you" system actually seems like the prudent decision.

Sunday, February 3, 2008

The pitchout early in the game

One of the major differences with professional coaching vs. amateur coaching is in amateur baseball the pitchout is not that prevalent. Whether it be lack of pitchers command or simply lack of knowing when to pitchout, professional teams use the pitchout a lot more than their amateur counterparts. How does that impact a game? Immensely.

Without the fear of a pitchout, an offensive coach or a manager can call anything he wants with impunity. There is absolutely no "what if" in his decision making. If he wants to hit and run, if he wants to straight steal, if he wants to squeeze he can do so without the thought of what is the opposition going to do. How is the defense going to prevent me from accomplishing my goal?

In pro baseball, many times teams will eschew certain choices because they believe the pitchout will be called. Not so much in the amateur game.

I contend that a good, astute baseball mind should pitchout early in the game to plant a seed to his opponent. That thought planted becomes "If he is willing to pitchout, maybe I can't run this play?" It's a simple process and granted a ball will probably be the immediate end result. But, in the long run it very well may dictate the opposition's attitude toward calling his next play.

Watch for the pitchout in the professional game. It is one of the more entertaining things to try and predict if you're a knowledgeable fan.

Saturday, February 2, 2008

The 60 yard dash?

Why baseball people continue to run the "60" is beyond me. At what point in a person's baseball career will he run 60 yards? What baseball person said "let's see how fast he can run in a straight line for 60 yards?"

Have these people looked at a baseball field? Do they know the bases are only 30 yards away? Do they know that players take left turns on their way to home plate?

I think I have made my point. But, it's baseball convention and nothing is so tied to convention as baseball. UGH!

Friday, February 1, 2008

The mechanics of the quick pick.

When a base runner gets his lead from 1st base, often times he makes a simple mistake of looking back at the bag. This is an error that should be taken advantage of. Here's how.

The catcher notices the runner is a bag peeker. If he can identify when he is going to look, he can pick him off. The catcher rather than putting his hand in his crotch area for a signal to the pitcher, he puts his hand up in front of his chest. This alerts the pitcher that something else other than a pitch is on. The pitcher should get ready to make an attempt at a pickoff rather than preparing to throw a pitch.

When the catcher thinks the peek is coming, he throws his arm in the direction of the pitcher. The pitcher then turns and fires to the awaiting 1B. By the time the bag peeker swivels his head back around it's simply too late and we have recorded an out at 1B.

The effectiveness of the quick pick lies in a perfectly timed signal from the catcher. This signal must then be followed by an accurate throw. The throw doesn't need to be lightning quick. The runner's poor base running mechanics is the reason for the plays success. Although the throw should not be extraordinarily slow, it doesn't have to be as fast as normal either. The throw should simply be accurate.

There are many outs to be had out there because of this play.