Tips From the Dugout
by Coach John Peter
For Hitters
"Too many players let their mind get in the way of their ability," Steve Springer says in his audio CD Quality at Bats. "Everybody's favorite day in pro baseball is opening day and the playoffs. That's because there are no stats in their head to worry about."
Springer had over 1,600 hits in his decade and a half in professional baseball and he learned more than a thing or two during his career, which included cups of coffee with the Indians and Mets.
While compiling his knowledge into a CD about the mental side of hitting, Springer noted there are four main things that hitters can do every day to make themselves better:
- Walk up to the plate with confidence every single at-bat.
- Attack the inside part of the baseball.
- Have an attainable goal, and that is to hit the ball hard.
- Help my team win that day.
Follow this simple advice in 2006 and you'll become a better, more confident hitter!
For Coaches
"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader."
Those were the words of John Quincy Adams, the 6th President of the United States, and they are applicable in all walks of life...including the dugout!
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Ask the Coach
by Coach Arnald Swift
Phil asks:
I am working with my son's throwing and have been since this summer. I am using the knee drill and make sure he comes down and around, but he just seems to not get anything on the ball. I want to get him into pitching but he just seems to throw too slow. Also, he plays catcher and has a hard time getting it to second base. I am just disappointed he can not throw like most of the other kids. I just don't know what to do at this point.
Coach Swift answers:
Without seeing the boy throw it's tough to tell, but the general problem is that his hand is in front of his elbow. You're doing the correct thing by using individual drills to try to create the proper arm motion, and the first and foremost thing is that you know what good arm motion is.
The second fact is something that nobody is really able to explain: why some kids can throw hard and some kids can't, even with good arm mechanics. You did not tell me the boy's age but I assume that he's younger and that strength itself hasn't been developed yet, and won't be until he gets into puberty.
What is important to remember is that he needs to start with good mechanics right from the beginning, as it is very difficult to change later on. How hard he throws is not as important as how he throws.
Solutions
We have a couple of tapes that show and talk about arm motion that you may want to take a look at. The Pitch Right DVD by former Major Leaguers Doug Bochtler and Sean Bergman is great for all ages. For older and/or advanced pitchers, check out the classic Common Mechanical Pitching Faults VHS from renowned pitching coach Bill Thurston.
There is also a great little training device called the ThrowMax that causes the arm to be in the correct position all the way through.
Drill
Phil referred to the knee drill in the above question. Many coaches use this drill during warm-ups. For those of you that don't know what the knee drill is, read on:
Knee drills are simple throwing drills where you put your throwing foot forward, get down on one knee, and then either flip throw or circle throw the ball, using only shoulder rotation.
The purpose of the knee drill is to get your arm to do what you actually want it to do. In the flip throw it's like you're turning a double play, or flipping to first base. The circle drill is for pitchers to develop good arm drop rotation.
The knee drill is designed to be very specific: only the arm and shoulder are used. There's no involvement by the legs or hips.
Have a Baseball Question?
Coach Swift is the Director of Customer Relations at Baseball Tips. He joined the staff in 2003 after retiring from the high school coaching ranks in Colorado. If you have a question you'd like answered, send an e-mail to baseballtips@gmail.com.
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Featured Article
Pitchers Push Up Workout
Paul Reddick, Pittsburgh Pirates scout
Below is a list of the push up workouts that I like my players to do on a daily basis. You can do 5-10 reps of each.
- Dive bomber pushup
Start in a downward dog position, almost like an upside down V. Roll your face about an inch from the the ground, swoop it up so that your chest is forward and your eyes are facing the ceiling, and then come back to the starting position.
- Hand over hand pushups
Have both hands in front of your face at face level. Reach down, touch your lips to your hands and come back.
- Hands back pushups
Keep your hands tucked tight into your ribs and, with your fingers facing back, extend your elbows and lower your body down and return using just your arms
- The side to side pushups
Start in regular pushup position. Slide your body to the left so that more weight is on the left (almost leaning). Do a pushup. Slide your body to the right. Do a pushup. Keep sliding back and forth and reversing after every repetition.
- Arms extended pushup
Extend your arms as far out as you can comfortably. Bend with your elbows going towards the ground. Do not let your elbows fly out. You should actually feel this more in your chest and abdomen.
- Walking pushups
Start in a normal push up position. Step out with your left foot and left hand. Do the pushup. Step out with your right foot and right hand and do a pushup. This forces you to use ab muscles and do more stabilizing as you are working the shoulders.
- Explosive pushups
Actually pushing yourself and your entire body off the ground and coming back to the ground absorbing the impact. Hands and feet should come a few inches off the ground. Move your body as one unit. As soon as you absorb impact spring right back up.
- Wide pushups
As far as you can get wide, extend your arms to shoulder height and go up and down, bending at your elbows. It is more important that your elbows go out than in or down.
That's the Pitcher's Push Up workout. It is a great workout! Next month I'll write about back side shoulder workouts to balance things out.
Paul Reddick co-authored the book, The Picture Perfect Pitcher. He currently is a scout for the Pittsburgh Pirates. In addition, Paul has been a state delegate for USA Baseball and has traveled extensively providing baseball and fitness consultations.
Make sure to check out the holiday specials available on his websites at www.FreePitchingVideo.com and www.PitchingLinks.com
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Baseball Tips for the Holidays
Baseball players and coaches are not born....they are trained!
Check out our gift ideas for the player, coach and baseball parent in your family!
| Holiday Sales |
Personal Pitcher Pitching Machines
Our Best Seller!
The only golf wiffleball machine that is fully portable and rechargeable. Throws a very straight ball every 6 seconds, unless you prefer the brand new curveball model. Great for pre-game warmups or hitting stations. Zero set-up time. Use any bat. Eliminate fear of the ball and build confidence! All you need is 25 feet and enough area to swing a bat! This is a FUN pitching machine that any player can use by himself.
Was $259....Now $189
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| Gifts for Under $30 |
Coaching Baseball Skills & Drills Book
The Baseball Coaches' Bible
This great book by Bragg Stockton is for anybody involved in baseball. You'll learn in-depth aspects of hitting, pitching, defense, and planning, and the book features baseball-oriented conditioning drills and a team practice chart. Easy to understand, there are over 600 illustrations complete with descriptive captions designed to help diagnose and evaluate skills for coaches, players, and parents.
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| Gifts for Under $100 |
Armed & Ready Program
For Arm Health & Injury Prevention
Includes what has been called The Greatest Long Toss Program in Big League ball.and much, much more. Kids want to throw harder and more strikes. Alan Jaeger has devised a map to help them throw harder and with more accuracy while keeping these talented arms healthy! Used and endorsed by 2002 Cy Young winner Barry Zito.
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| Gifts for Players |
Heater Pitching Machine
Great for the Backyard
The Little League approved Heater is the most efficient entry-level pitching machine available! It throws baseballs, softballs or dimple balls up to 60 MPH from regulation distances. A free auto feeder is included with the pitching machine, all for just $499. Package the Heater with a batting cage, starting at only $1,029.
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| Gifts for Coaches |
Fungo Bat
Only $39.95
What kind of bat do you see a youth league coach or a dad hitting grounders and fly balls with? Usually it's a kid's bat. What you need is a fungo bat. Most are around 36 to 37 inches, but our Coach's Club is only 33" and weighs just 18 ounces. It even comes in team colors!
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| When will it arrive? |
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All products found at Baseball Tips will be delivered in time for Christmas and are processed immediately. We ship in a timely fashion via USPS Priority Mail, UPS and occasionally FedEx.
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Free Baseball Tips Resources
Local Coaches & Baseball Instructors
If you or a player you know is seeking personalized instruction this winter, please take advantage of our free Instructors Section to find a baseball coach in your area.
We are now up to 275 instructors in 39 states!
States Currently Available
We have a nationwide database of instructors and we would like to add even more. If you know of any coach who instructs individuals or groups, forward this information to them so they can add their information to this FREE service.
For those that wish to be added to our online Baseball Tips Instructors section, please fill out the Instructors Section Form.
Help For Local Players!
Local instruction and videos/DVDs are among the best ways for players to improve quickest!
To view our new & unique 150+ videos, DVDs & books go to the:
Baseball Tips DVD, Video & Book Store
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