June 2010
1 post
4 tags
2010 Mid American Conference Champs
So we did it. We won the regular season title for 2010 and finished off the year with 8 straight conference wins (10 if you include the first two games of the conference tournament). What a great season and the guys did it as a team.
This team had great leadership, and they help each other accountable everyday. You do not often see that from a group of ball players at any level but for a...
May 2010
1 post
6 tags
People are watching you: Play hard
Coaches are out recruiting all the time, they are at fields you would never expect them to be at and they are watching and they are taking notes crossing kids off and adding kids to their list. Why am I telling you this? so you will play hard all the time. I have found myself watching baseball games and a kid will hit a routine fly ball to center and the ball will be caught before he gets to...
April 2010
1 post
7 tags
Keep everyone involved
Coaches are always telling their players to stay in the game when they are sitting on the bench. This is true they need to do this, but one thing you must realize is how boring it is to sit on the bench. Imagine how short your attention span would be just sitting there and now understand you are dealing with kids who probably have an even shorter attention span. So what do we do? Here are a...
March 2010
3 posts
Force Mistakes: Play Hard
One thing I love to see is a team that is always putting pressure on the defense. These teams are very aggressive and do everything the right way. They round first hard looking for second, they steal, hit and run, drag bunt, slash, they do anything and everything to force mistakes from the other team. Teams like this are tough to play against because you can never relax, it feels like you never...
Been Gone For A While
Again I am missing in action. After this weekend it will be 5 straight weeks of being on the road including 10 straight days. I love the job but that is why keeping up on here has been tough…OK, impossible. Our season is in full swing and we are playing every weekend and once or twice during the week.
For all you kids out there who dream of playing college baseball please make sure you...
mightyflynn asked: Have you seen this story & video about changes in the Mariners' conditioning program? I thought you'd find it interesting.
http://www.ghostrunneronfirst.com/2010/02/next-level.html
http://www.ghostrunneronfirst.com/2010/02/next-level.html
February 2010
12 posts
3 tags
What Just Happened?
This is usually the thought process of the high school kid who realizes he just spent the last however many years of his life working on his game and just when he became the best player on his high school team he gets to college and finds out his work has only begun.
I saw this happen to people I played with in college who walked in and expected things to be easy and for people to lay down for...
Listen
Two Strike Approach: Universal or Situational
I have heard the conversation about the two strike approach at every level I have played or coached. I think it is a topic that is very much a gray area and not set in stone.
Example: Nobody on with two outs and my three hitter is up. With two strikes, simply putting the ball in play does nothing for me. In this situation I want my hitter to take the exact same approach he always does when it...
Hit and Run Philosophy
What is the true purpose of the hit and run and what should the hitter be trying to do? These are questions I always ask every time I watch a hitter take BP and try and chop the ball into the ground or really try to go the opposite way with a pitch when it is inside. I do not understand what is being taught and why when I see this.
Here are my thoughts: The hit and run is a calculated risk...
Monday Night
I know I have been behind on the page and I apologize, but coaching college baseball is a busy gig. It is great but really busy, I am having a blast and learning a ton about all aspect of coaching, not just the on field stuff. Again, I know I am behind but I am going to post a lot of content Monday. I am going to do a few videos, so stop by and check them out. We had camp today from 10:00-4:30...
At Bats: Yours or The Team's
Each player has individual stats, we all know that, but some of the at bats players have start one way and finish another.
For example if there is a runner on second base with nobody out, the hitter starts with one thing in mind, getting the runner in. I am OK with this approach as long as the hitter understands to stay within himself and not get overly aggressive swinging at pitches out of the...
Listen
Enjoy the game...and play for the love
I say it all the time but I beg and plead with parents and parent coaches to make the game fun, let kids of a young age play all positions, and do not just get a kid his one at bat per game because it is the rules. I ask kids to play for the love of the game, but they can only do that if the coach and parents allow that love to grow. So I am going to assume the coaches and parents are doing this...
January 2010
24 posts
5 tags
College Camps: Then and Now
College baseball camps used to be for fun and a chance to get out on a college field and practice your skills and hopefully learn a few things. Times have change and I mean a lot. Now College camps are used not only to teach skills but they also allow college coaches the chance to see multiple players live and at one time. What makes these such great tools for coaches is the ability to see...
4 tags
4 tags
Proof of the hip rotation with singles hitters
Some people argue that people who hit for power use hip rotation and singles hitters tend to slide forward and be more linear. I disagree completely, I think there is one way to swing a baseball bat that makes people consistently successful. That way as I have stated before comes down to your back hip opening and driving forward after your front heel hits the ground. This is obviously a little...
Playing Catch The Right Way
When you are playing catch the name of the game is catch, not chase or pick up, it is catch. So how do you play catch the right way? First you play often and second you work on throwing the ball to a person. The person who does not have the ball should give the person throwing the ball a target, this helps concentration and focus. You should always throw to something, do not just throw it in a...
Last installment of this series
The truth shall set you free:
As a player you must be honest with yourself in order to give yourself the best opportunity to play at the college level. Let your friends and parents tell you how great you are but you must be informed and truthful with yourself. Why is this so important? You need to know what schools your abilities fit and you need to search the right schools. Chances are...
Recruting Resources
Use your resources:
Ask Coaches and instructors to contact a coach.
A good word from someone the coach knows or trusts can go a long way. Your high school coach, summer coach, and private instructors are good people to ask for help. Talk to them and find out if they would be willing to make a call or send an email on your behalf. Most coaches will do this, the only stipulation they will have...
2 tags
Recruting: Summer Baseball
School and Summer baseball:
These are times when coaches can come watch a player play in a live game situation with or without the player knowing they are there. Showcases can also provide live games but the player always knows people are watching and may be nervous. During your school season it is tougher for the coach to actually come watch because they are still playing as well. ...
6 tags
Recruting Tapes: Make them simple and quality
Recruiting tapes:
This is very basic and Easy.
Make a recruiting tape of yourself showcasing your tools. In your recruiting tape you want to have footage of your swing from the back, the open side, and the front. You want to include yourself fielding (position specific), throwing and running if possible. At this point in the game you do not have to be outside, you can make this tape at...
6 tags
Recruiting Manual Continued: Play In Front Of A...
How to market yourself:
Let your actions do the talking.
Now that you know what schools value your tools, you have to make sure the coach sees your skill set in order to determine if you are a good fit for their program. How do you do this? You have to play, but more importantly you have to play in front of them. Showcases and camps are a great way to do this. You can get information on the...
4 tags
Part 5: Questionnaires
Questionnaires:
Personal Information
Some coaches will send you a questionnaire in the mail and others will have you go their site and fill one out electronically. These are helpful for the coach to get a brief overview of a player and will help you make initial contact with a coach if you do not find their email. You can go to a school’s website and fill out a questionnaire without being...
6 tags
Recruiting Manual Part 4: Do Your Part
What you can you do to help the recruiting process:
Getting the information you need.
Assuming you possess some of the tools we talked about in the previous chapter you are now going to go to work marketing them. Remember you do not have to possess all five tools, only a small percentage of players in the history of the big leagues possess them. What you have to do is figure out your strengths...
Listen
Listen
5 tags
Exposure: Myth and Reality
For this post we are going to assume you are a high school player and you are going to play travel baseball. As you choose your team and go to a tryout listen carefully to what the coaches talk about. One word you will hear a lot is exposure. A lot of coaches will say you should play on our team because we will get you in front of more college coaches or pro scouts. Beware of this because a...
4 tags
The Hawk
Congratulations go out to Andre Dawson. Mr. Dawson was finally elected into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame. Again, Congratulations. Now I am just waiting on Jack Morris to get in and then I will be happy.
5 tags
Matt Holliday gets PAID and Randy Johnson...
4 tags
Volunteer Assistant
This is my title on the Central Michigan University baseball coaching staff. Questions I have received from some people about this position are:
-What is a volunteer assistant?
-What are your responsibilities?
-Are you actually a coach?
-Do you make any money?
A volunteer assistant is an actual coaching position that most Universities have on staff. A volunteer assistant is basically an...
Recruiting Manual Part 3: Tools
Today’s post is a little more authentic as I accepted an assistant coaching position at Central Michigan University last night. I start on Monday, and I will keep the information coming on here. Have a great day.
What are tools: An overview of the five tools coaches look for.
In baseball there are five physical tools, arm strength, speed, fielding, hitting for power, and hitting for...
Recruiting Manual Part 2: Do not twist his words
How to decipher what a coach says: Just listen, no really listen
A coach’s job is to go out and get the best players available, that means if you are the best shortstop in high school he will want to get you. This is where you must listen carefully and fully understand what the coach is saying. Some coaches will be flat out honest and tell you, “We have a shortstop who is a senior so you will...
Greatest Being On Earth: Baseball
If being the best was easy everyone would be in the hall of fame. Please understand how hard baseball actually is, and if you want to make it, or if you even want to keep your head above water you have to put some time into it and actually understand what baseball is. It is for this reason you have to love this game with every inch of your being, and that is only the start of the journey, you...
Recruiting Manual Part 1
You Can Do It:
There is more competition for college scholarships today than I ever remember in the past. People are willing to pay any amount of money to anyone who can get them into a school. Unfortunately there are people who will take advantage of this situation and charge families huge sums of money for their services. Funny thing is if you have the ability to play at the college level...
Best Compliment You Can Get
As a player you would think the best compliment you can get is you are the best player on your team or you are the best player in the city, state, country, etc. Well you would be wrong, the best compliment you can get as a player is “you make the players around you better”. There are a lot of good players out there and there are a lot of players who help their teams win games or make...
We Can Teach Him How To Hit
I love this phrase when it comes to baseball. You usually hear people say this when they see someone who is extremely fast but cannot hit to save their lives. This player may also be able to play a little defense but hitting is something they cannot do, and that is why scouts say we will teach him how to hit. It is the way they justify taking a shot on someone who is an athlete and not a...
December 2009
155 posts
MLB: Predictions
Jason Bay will hit .260 with 26 HRs. The Mets will say “oh why did we give him that money, when we could have signed John Lackey”. Too bad you guys he is yours now.
John Lackey will be a stud in Boston winning 15+ games and imagine what he would have done in the National league.
Detroit Tigers will contend for the division even without Curtis and Edwin. Their pitching will be...
Summer Ball
Sometimes you hear people say if you are good enough coaches will find you. That can be true but you have to be out playing baseball where coaches are at. If you live in a small town and you are not near a college you have to understand college coaches find it hard to make it there and quite honestly they go to places that allows them to see many players at one time. What does this mean for...
Be honest with your players
One thing I love about the coaches I have played for is whether the news was good or bad, they were honest with me. Your players need to believe in you and they need to know where you are at and where they stand as far as a depth chart. The most uneasy feeling a players has is heading to the field and having to guess if they are in or if they are out because the coach did not communicate with...
Listen
Camp Experience
Finally I have the time to sit down and talk about the camp at Central Michigan. I had a great time, and when you work at these camps you see how much work really goes into bringing it all together. I think all the kids had fun which is always a good thing, I didn’t feel like any of the kids there did not want to be there which is also a good thing. The camp was set up in two sessions. ...
Sorry For Slacking
It is that time of the year…I am sorry the site has not had a ton of new content on it but I hope you were able to use this time to catch up on old posts. I will be back at it soon, and I have a product review I am uploading as I type. I hope you guys enjoy it, and I hope you are having a fantastic Holiday season. I promise to get the posts up about the camp, it was a really cool...