Tips From Coach John Peter
The game of baseball is infinitely more complex than most give it credit for. Most that I have learned about baseball is common sense.but each lesson took someone with more common sense than I to point it out.
For Hitters
Find a good pitch to hit!
This may be the most important lesson that doesn't get enough emphasis.
For Pitchers
Every pitch sets up the next pitch!
It's easier to get strike 3 on the outside of the plate when strike 2 was thrown inside. Remember...Hitting is timing and balance, while pitching is the destruction of timing and balance!
For Coaches
There is only one reason to be coaching baseball: Every single player you coach!
Make them all "your kids," no matter what the age group!
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Baseball Bytes
From the book Developing A Successful Baseball Program
Excerpt from Ch. 5, pg. 115
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Using The Stopwatch
A stopwatch is generally of little use on the youth level (though essential in high school), but it can be a very helpful guide against a quick pitcher or a strong-armed catcher. The rules of using a stopwatch are as follows:
The pitcher-to-catcher time, from initial movement to when the ball hits the leather, should be 1.5 seconds of less.
The catcher's throw to second base should be around 2 seconds.
Know your players' steal times from first to second. Time them off their lead during preseason. Then do the math to determine your call. For example, if the pitcher takes 1.6 seconds to the plate, the catcher is 1.8 to second base, for a total of 3.4 seconds, you're not going to send a player who runs a 3.6 from first to second base.
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| - Ty Hawkins, New York Yankees Player Development |
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Baseball Banter
From the book Dugout Wisdom
Excerpt from Ch. 8, pgs. 113 & 120
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Visualize
Psychologist Tom Hanson interviewed Hall-of-Famer Hank Aaron to see how he got into the zone. Aaron stated that his primary means of mentally preparing was visualization. Visualizing himself facing pitchers in various situations throughout the day fostered his great focus during each at-bat. His mental preparation involved:
- From the night before and throughout the day he would visualize facing the next game's pitcher in a variety of different situations.
- During the game he continued visualization, studying the pitcher's motion and release, looking for cues that tip off his pitches early.
- On deck he kept his eyes on the pitcher, studying his motion and release.
- In the batter's box he focused in on the pitcher like looking down a tunnel, effectively blocking out any possible distractions.
What Aaron did was put himself in a place where mentally he pictured his desired result. Dusty Baker learned from him. "Hank told me.you have to expect something good, you have to visualize yourself coming through."
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Coach JP: Learn how to throw correctly and keep your arm safe! You owe it to your kid or players.
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Coach JP: These videos are from the best in the business. You're bound to incorporate some of these ideas into your practices. After all, you have 84 drills to pick from! You can also buy each video separately.
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Featured Article
Perhaps the most common question I have bean asked over the years is the subject of this issue's Featured Article. See what you think...Coach JP
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When and How to Throw a Curveball by Andrew Tinnish
The Assistant of Amateur Baseball Operations for the Toronto Blue Jays goes over the six key elements to the curveball that must be followed in order to throw the pitch properly.
When running instructional clinics for young players I am often asked by coaches and parents "When should my son or daughter start throwing a curveball?" This is a difficult question to answer. There is no specific moment when a coach or parent will say, "my son or daughter is ready now."
I would recommend waiting until the player is 14 or 15 years old. If young players throw curveballs on a consistent basis at younger ages they can cause damage to their elbows and thus hinder the growth process. But it's not only the fact that they are throwing curveballs at a young age, it's the fact that they are throwing curveballs with improper mechanics that causes much of the damage. MAKE SURE THEY ARE THROWING THE PITCH WITH PROPER MECHANICS!
The mechanics of a curveball are NOT the same as a fastball. There are several key elements to the curveball that must be followed in order to throw the pitch properly:
Read the full article
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Featured Drill
Perfect Innings by Bill Hutton
Two teams compete against each other: one on defense, one running the bases. Coach hits the ball wherever he wants. A team must make nine consecutive outs. Any mistake pulls the team off the field and the other team goes on defense. Try to simulate all routine situations that come up in a game.
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Baseball News
All-Time Hitting Streak Record Set at 60 Games
Damian Costantino of Division III Salve Regina (Newport, Rhode Island) University broke the NCAA hitting streak record of 58 consecutive games on March 10 in Ft. Myers during the Seahawks' spring trip to Florida. His streak finally ended at 60 games, which surpassed the marks at all levels of baseball: the Major League record of 56 games by Joe DiMaggio, the previous NCAA mark, and the old Division III mark of 46 games.
Costantino, playing in the Eastern College Athletic Conference, singled against Mount Union (Ohio) to break the record, which had been held by current New York Yankees third baseman Robin Ventura, who set the 58-game record as an Oklahoma State sophomore in 1987.
The record now belongs to Costantino, a 24-year-old junior outfielder, who put off playing baseball coming out of high school to enlist in the army, where he is still a reservist.
Costantino's streak began April 1, 2001, when he hit safely in his team's final 21 games of the year. He recorded a hit in all 35 games of Salve Regina's 2002 season, before extending the streak to 57 games in the 2003 opener with a double in his last at-bat. The streak was finally snapped at an even 60 games aftering going 0-for-2 against Baldwin-Wallace (Ohio) College.
By contrast, Ventura's streak ended at Oklahoma State in the College World Series, where he was held hitless against Stanford by future big leaguers Al Osuna and Jack McDowell.
Costantino, an administration of justice major, completed his record-breaking run with a sprained right wrist, which occurred weeks before he broke the record. He entered the year hitting .459 for his career, with eight homers and 63 RBI.
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Baseball Quotes, Wit & Wisdom
Baseball is drama with an endless run and an ever-changing cast.
Joe Garagiola
Pitching is... the art of instilling fear.
Sandy Koufax
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