Tips From Coach John Peter Getting To The Next Level The great thing about baseball is that you get judged everyday starting in High School. This means that on any given day you can be "found" no matter who or where you are! Don't think that you will be found by colleges or pro scouts simply because you are a very good player.Why? Because there are so many very good players out there. Train with players who share your dream.whatever that dream is. When you hang with players who get into trouble, you will be seen as someone who gets into just as much trouble. Anytime you goof off.You always seem to get caught, or at least get noticed for the wrong reasons. Never let up.Never give up.

Baseball Bytes
From the book Coaching Baseball Skills & Drills by Bragg Stockton
  Excerpts from Training Aids & Activities section

Conditioning: Running and Sit-Ups Two of the weakest areas of a young player's body are his legs and abdominal muscles. A very important part of a young player's development program is adding strength. This will help his speed and quickness. Without a dedicated routine of abdominal strengthening exercises and a running program of sprints and long distances in order to strengthen his legs, a young player will really struggle trying to move up to the next level of competition each year. Do sit-ups with knees bent to eliminate back strain Run on the balls of your feet and with arms by the side of the body A fast runner does not run with his arms crossing the front of his body or landing on his heels. Practice short sprints always running on the balls of the feet with a slight body tilt forward. The movement of the arms should be short, compact and moving from front-to-back, never side-to-side. Shaping Your Glove Too often young players become ineffective and inconsistent with their defensive skills because their glove is stiff and not "shaped" properly. Dampen a towel and clean all dirt and grime off the front and back surface of the glove. Dry the glove with another towel and then make a ball with the towel and place it in the pocket of the glove in order to train the glove to stay open. Do not let the glove fold flat or shut. The glove should look like the extension of an open palm of the glove hand. Be sure to tighten all the leather string on the glove and keep it oiled with a quality glove oil or leather conditioner. Oil both front and back of the glove, but do not over oil, because the glove may become too flexible and thus lose its shape. Always keep something big and round in the glove when not using it so it will be "trained" to stay open when fielding ground balls and fly balls. Send this page to a friend   Coaching Baseball Skills & Drills A great book for anybody involved in youth baseball. You'll learn in-depth aspects of hitting, defense, and planning, plus baseball-oriented conditioning drills and a team practice chart. Topics covered include numerous baseball techniques and fundamentals and many coaching competencies. 264 pages, includes over 600 illustrations "I firmly believe that the ideas and drills presented in this book will benefit both players and coaches alike."   - Woody Williams, St. Louis Cardinals All-Star pitcher Signs You Know How To Practice From the book A Guide to College Baseball and Beyond by Bobby McKinney   From Section 2: Daily Practice Guidelines Your arrive 10 to 15 minutes early You have all your equipment with you You bring any extra clothes needed for bad weather You want to know what the day's practice activities will be You listen to instructions and follow directions You help set up any extra equipment that needs to be put out You are where you are supposed to be No one has to wait on you to begin a drill or exercise Other players ask you what they are supposed to be doing You could care less what time it is You wish practice would not end You see continuous positive progress Drills and exercises get easier as you go You help clean up any gear that needs to be put away You are exhilarated but not dead tired exhausted after practice You do not have to be reminded to work harder Printer-Friendly Version of Signs You Know How To Practice A Guide to College Baseball and Beyond - Only $39.95 Bobby McKinney, a scout for 15 years with the Pittsburgh Pirates, has taken his years of life experience and compiled the most complete reference guide to the making of a college or professional player. His book is used as a reference manual at countless camps and clinics around the country and Bobby speaks to thousands of players on college campuses throughout the year.   206 pages "An extremely fact filled book that will be helpful to those who are educating themselves regarding the college baseball process. A tremendous resource for players, high school coaches & parents. The points on hitting are outstanding."   - Jeff Guy, Georgia Tech

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Baseball's Believe It or Not

Hockey Team Retires #14 in Honor of Pete Rose Pete Rose's number 14 was never allotted the ultimate tribute paid to former Reds greats such as Joe Morgan, Tony Perez, and Frank Robinson, all of whom had their numbers retired by Cincinnati. His lifetime banishment from baseball prevented it. But Rose's # 14 is retired in his hometown of Cincinnati in a professional venue that baseball fans wouldn't expect. Since October 12, 2002 Charlie Hustle's number has hung from the rafters of the U.S. Bank Arena. The Cincinnati Cyclones, an affiliate of the NHL's San Jose Sharks, came up with the idea to commemorate Rose's years of service to the greater Cincinnati area, both on the field and off. Rose attended the game and served as an honorary assistant coach during the first period, then competed in a whiffle ball home-run hitting contest against five fans during the first intermission. The jersey retirement ceremony during the second intermission. Rose, who actually collected his 4,000th hit during his 95 game stint as a Montreal Expo in 1984, played all but five of his 24 seasons for the Reds. "We thought the retirement ceremony was a great idea," said Warren Greene, Rose's agent.

Baseball's Trivial Facts
"Yogi" Berra's real name is Lawrence Peter Berra.

After Pete Rose was walked by a New York Yankees pitcher during a 1960's exhibition game he ran to first base, instead of trotting. When Yankees players laughed, Whitey Ford labeled him "Charlie Hustle."

Baseball Quotes, Wit & Wisdom

You know what God told the Cubs? Don't do anything until I come back.   Pete Rose When there is no room for individualism in ballparks, then there will be no room for individualism in life.   Bill Veeck Everybody judges players different. I judge a player by what he does for his ball club and not by what he does for himself. I think the name of the game is self-sacrifice.   Billy Martin The pitcher has to find out if the hitter is timid. And if the hitter is timid, he has to remind the hitter he's timid.   Don Drysdale

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