Baseball Around The Clock

MAS Ambassador Ryann, is having fun shopping for school supplies

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 08:30:59 -0400

MAS Ambassador Ryann, is having fun shopping for school supplies

School supplies that MAS purchased for a school in Florida.

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 08:29:43 -0400

School supplies that MAS purchased for a school in Florida.

I am going to break this video down, and explain what this coach...

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 07:48:55 -0400

I am going to break this video down, and explain what this coach is saying that is wrong and then I will tell you what actually happens in a “high level” swing.

Step 1: Load hands (right idea, wrong demo) the scap load pulls the hands back.

Step 2: Stride (right idea) problem is the stride is too short and creates no momentum which sets up the problem in step 3:

Step 3: Back hip explosion- In the swing, the hip does turn, but the momentum created by the stride and the scap load, which should be step 1, power the hip turn because they set the hitter up with some serious torque. Since the hips begin to open slightly before foot and heel plant, the momentum and torque allow the hitter to simply continue the hip turn at heel plant. The planting of the heel gives the hitter something to rotate into. Another problem with this step is the demo. Notice how the hands come in front of the shoulder, and the bat is still pretty vertical. Letting your hands get in front of your shoulder creates slack, and the bat should be laying a lot flatter, in order to get on plane, and come up through the ball.

Step 4: Throw hands to ball, Knob to ball (never do this) and the demonstration again has a poor bat angle that is not on plane. Remember from previous videos I have shown, that the foot gets down when the ball is half way to the plate or closer, which means your bat needs to get on plane quickly and this swing does not allow that. Also, notice the flat shoulders, “No Tilt” this is a huge problem, because “Tilt” is the back shoulder dropping a little, to allow the bat to get on plane. Huge issue here, and look at his hands, one is almost off the bat. Knob to ball does appear to happen in the “high level swing” but not like this. Knob to ball is an effect not a cause. The knob points to the ball, due to hand torque, body torque, shoulder tilt.

Contact: He demonstrates the right contact position, so that is a plus. Problem is it doesn’t get there with a knob to ball, and wrist flip swing, you get to the good contact position due to rotation. If the player scap loads and uses the stride for momentum, then allows the torque plus momentum to power the swing, the rotation of the body will pull the hands and bat around, and if the hitter has proper rotation the torque of the hands will actually pull the barrel through and the hitter will achieve the contact position.

Step 6 and 7: I will lump together because the extension and finish are all results of proper rotation and landing. If the hitter is hitting into his front foot, the body rotation will again (beating a dead horse) pull the hands through to contact. If the hitter is using rotational forces the hands will be launched into the extension and finish phase after the front foot stops the rotation. So the hands are not the power or cause, they are an after thought, what happens to the hands all depends on whether or not the hitter has achieved torque and used proper rotation and momentum to power the swing.

Follow these six steps to hitting yourself right out of...

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 10:34:21 -0400

Follow these six steps to hitting yourself right out of baseball. Again, we see anyone with a camera and voice can make a video.

Talks about keeping the hands back, which is good, problem is where the hands are in this video, they are already committed. Also, he points to the contact point as fully extended (Wrong) (Very Wrong). The short step you see, happens in barely any major league swings, and they never happen by just sticking the leg out.

Never mentions rotation, scap load, stride creates momentum, but does mention extend and extend again, which is a very hands controlled swing, and a very bad swing.

So follow these step for your son or daughter if you would like them to quit playing baseball, and take up soccer.

Check out this Scap Load. The result was a monster bomb.

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 08:45:06 -0400

Check out this Scap Load. The result was a monster bomb.

There you go, that is exactly what not to do. I am now done...

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 13:58:00 -0400

There you go, that is exactly what not to do. I am now done with these videos, but I am glad I found them. I love hearing people still teaching old info, and by the way, you do not “spin” on your back foot, and you surely do not swing down on the ball.

I really hope all of you watch these, and then go watch real hitters in the MLB. Also, if you have a coach telling you to do these things, please do not listen. I have heard this coaching all over the country, and coaching like this is why baseball has a high drop off rate. It is hard enough to hit a ball, but when a coach tells you to use these mechanics, it becomes impossible.

By the way, this video was not Andy Pascoe teaching hitting, I was messing with Andy, because he is a good hitting coach, and he really does not like these video.

Andy Pascoe teaches hitting. If you swing like this, you will...

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 13:53:27 -0400

Andy Pascoe teaches hitting.

If you swing like this, you will without a doubt STINK.

These are the hitting mechanics Andy Pascoe teaches. Boom,...

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 13:50:00 -0400

These are the hitting mechanics Andy Pascoe teaches.

Boom, that’s hitting yourself to the bench. Boom, that’s the worst swing in the World. I knew a guys who coached these mechanics, noticed I used past tense.

Just watch this video for entertainment value, but please do not...

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 13:46:11 -0400

Just watch this video for entertainment value, but please do not listen to one word this guy is saying. If you do this, you will get worse, but if you just watch and enjoy, you will get a great ab exercise.

Again, this guy actually demonstrates a half way decent swing,...

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 13:40:43 -0400

Again, this guy actually demonstrates a half way decent swing, but then tells you that is the wrong swing. Then he chops down and tells you to hit a low pitch, without “Tilt” letting your back shoulder drop.

Well if you scroll through my site, or just YouTube the very best hitters in the world you will see they have “Tilt”. How do people still teach this stuff. Remember, if the ball is down, your shoulders will have more tilt, than if the pitch is up, but never do you chop down on the ball.

My stomach hurts from watching these videos, as I still think this guy is trying to be funny, almost like Domingo Ayala.

If you chop down like this, you will be the worst hitter in the...

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 13:35:51 -0400

If you chop down like this, you will be the worst hitter in the World, yes the World. Now this is just hilarious. I love the lingo and the demonstration. This is some of the worst coaching I have ever heard, and I have heard some bad coaching. I am going to spend today watching this guys segments, because it is like watching a really funny movie.

Hopefully all of you know that staying on top of the ball is really bad advice, and keeping your barrel above the hands as demonstrated in this video does not happen in high level swings. Hitting below the center line of the ball is how you hit line drives and HRs. Chopping down like that, you would be lucky to make contact.

WHY???? I ask why do people still say the foot gets down when...

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 13:29:53 -0400

WHY???? I ask why do people still say the foot gets down when the pitcher releases the ball. Last week, I showed numerous hitters getting their foot down when the ball was well on the way to the plate.

I often ask people if they are teaching what they are seeing, and videos like these prove, people are still just repeating old and false information.

This is a video of Shane Victorino from the left side. You will...

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 09:00:06 -0400

This is a video of Shane Victorino from the left side. You will notice the same swing issues I pointed out front the right side.

The major issue is a lack of “Scap Load” because he never pulls his hands back into a powerful position and therefore cuts down on his torque, which in turn cuts down on his power, and allows him to push his hands forward which is weak.

Scap Load will pull the hands behind the back shoulder, it will actually block the hitter from “Throwing the Hands, because the hitters rib cage will be in the way, which will force the hitter to rotate, and drive the ball.

Shane must have been told that if you move your hands back to far, it will take longer to get them forward, but that is simply not true. You need to pull your hands back with a scap load to ensure maximum power potential, and if you rotate properly your bat will pick up speed and enter the hitting zone quickly, with max speed and bat mass going into the ball. Also, this will allow your bat to be on plane longer, and maximize your area of impact.

Just some thoughts, please let me know what you think.

I was looking around the web for high profile players and swing...

Sun, 01 Apr 2012 09:00:05 -0400

I was looking around the web for high profile players and swing mechanics, flaws, or things I could help them improve upon.

I came across the is video of Shane Victorino from the right side and noticed a few things.

From the right side of the plate, he lacks any kind of “scap load”
The lack of a “Scap Load” keeps his hands in front of his body and allows him to push them foward.
Pushing the hands forward is not powerful and does not get the bat on plane early, which causes inconsistencies in contact, which is why his HRs are low, and Ks are higher than BBs
Notice how short Shane’s bat is in the hitting zone, this is called Area of Impact, and his Area of Impact is very short, therefore his margin for error is very low, causing him to need better timing than other hitters.

last video dealing with when the foot comes down. Again notice...

Sat, 31 Mar 2012 09:00:05 -0400

last video dealing with when the foot comes down. Again notice as the heel plants on the front foot, you can see the shadow of the ball. All of the videos posted also show scap load.

If you need more evidence of the foot getting down when the ball is in the air you will have to search the web, but if you find any video of hitters getting them down very early, or when the pitcher releases the ball, please let me know.

You cant actually see the ball, but you can see the shadow, and...

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 09:00:05 -0400

You cant actually see the ball, but you can see the shadow, and you can see that Adrian’s foot is down, with the ball well on its way to the plate.

Double Play footwork at 2B. I posted about this a long time...

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 18:11:53 -0400

Double Play footwork at 2B. I posted about this a long time ago, and here is some video to show you.

Notice the Second Baseman getting his left foot to the base. Now the throw dictates his next next action. On this video you will see him take step across the bag on the first and last ground ball. Notice the step across isn’t huge, and you can only tell it is across, because his foot disappears behind the base. He steps to the ball.

On the second ground ball, notice how he gets his left foot to the base (always left foot to the base) and he steps back, because the throw takes him there. The key on this play is getting to the base early, reading the throw, and then stepping to the ball. Notice the player never steps back (toward right field), I am not saying guys never do this, but the correct steps, are across the bag, and toward left field if the throw takes you that way.

I am going to look for better video, but this is a start.

Even at full speed with the help of a few pauses and replays you...

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 17:58:08 -0400

Even at full speed with the help of a few pauses and replays you can see all the same mechanics in the delivery of Andy Petit. Check it out, they are all there.

I’m done with the shoulder, because my friend already said...

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 17:53:09 -0400

I’m done with the shoulder, because my friend already said he was sorry.

Look at the scap load, the hip separation, the length of the stride (not short). Also, notice how Roy Oswalt’s hips start opening before foot strike (just like hitting) and then at foot plant the hips pick up speed (just like hitting) due to torque (just like hitting).

The high level arms are all doing the same thing, the high level hitters are all doing the same thing, so I have created a few if then statement for you.

If you want to be a high level pitcher or hitter, then you should be practicing the same mechanics the high level pitchers and hitters are using.

If you are sitting at home playing XBox or Play station all day, then you are not doing what the high level pitchers and hitters are doing.

If you are listening to someone tell you to do something that looks a lot different than what these guys are doing, then you should stop listening, before you either A) Get Hurt B) Do not get any better (C Quit due to frustration and a low ceiling.

Cliff Lee. Front side high. I want you to stop this video at...

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 17:43:16 -0400

Cliff Lee. Front side high. I want you to stop this video at :42 seconds and look at Cliff Lee’s front foot pointing toward home plate, not closed. Also, look at his lower half, and notice how it is open, then scan to his shoulders and notice how they are closed (torque) just like in hitting. Cliff Lee has a ton of separation between his front hip and back shoulder, which is one reason he is able to throw as hard as he does.

Another thing to notice is around the :41 second mark. Check out his back elbow poking out behind him due to, what else, “Scap Load” another reason he is able to throw hard, and another similarity to hitting.

Just watch these videos and emulate them, if you do not like my opinion or partial breakdown. I will say if you watch these videos, you will notice a lot of the same things in all the best pitcher, just one more similarity to hitting.