|
Tips From the Dugout of Coach John Peter
Winning With Small Ball
Cal-State Fullerton won the College World Series with a small ball philosophy. The team's offensive strategy was defined by their coach as "Choke and Poke" and "Bunt and Attack." Fullerton hitters were reminded to shorten their strokes and put the ball in play, focusing on team baseball, rather than going for the long ball.
The Titans' strategy, which focused on infield hits, bunts, & stolen bases, obviously worked well. Of the eight teams in Omaha, the two finalists - Fullerton & Texas - ranked 1st and 2nd in sacrifice bunts and 7th and 8th in home runs.
Change of Pace
It's oft uttered that pitching is the disruption of a hitter's timing, and perhaps no pitcher in baseball has been more successful at keeping hitters off balance the past two years than the Dodgers' Eric Gagne, who finally blew a save this week after 84 consecutive successful chances.
But Gagne didn't just shatter the previous record of 54 thanks to a mid to high 90's fastball. His best pitch is actually a nearly unhittable changeup, a pitch recognized as the best in baseball. Gagne holds his changeup back towards his palm with two fingers on either side of the ball and throws it 10 MPH less than his fastball. He has impeccable command of both pitches.
Young pitchers should take note of what has made Gagne such a success: control of his fastball and changeup. The confidence to throw both will keep hitters off balance, regardless of how fast you throw. And it doesn't matter where you're from: Gagne grew up in Canada playing hockey and pitched at a Junior College in Oklahoma.
|
|
Baseball Bytes: When to Hit and Run
From the book Coaching Baseball Skills & Drills by Bragg Stockton
|
The hit-and-run may be used when there is a runner on first base or possibly runners on first and third. Here are the best times to hit-and-run:
A runner with excellent speed is on first base and a hitter with excellent bat control is at the plate. There can be any number of outs.
If the count is 2-0, 3-1, or 3-2, the next pitch will probably be a fastball near the strike zone which the hitter will be able to hit.
If there is a slow runner at first base, a slow runner at bat, and less than two outs, a hit-and-run can help prevent the double play. The hitter must make contact by hitting down through the ball.
If the score is close, the hit-and-run can help increase a team's offensive momentum.
If the team at bat is several runs ahead, the hit-and-run can help keep the pressure on the defense.
Baseball Tips Best-Selling Book - Just $24.95
Coaching Baseball Skills & Drills
A great book for anybody involved in youth baseball. You'll learn in-depth aspects of hitting, pitching, defense, and planning, plus baseball-oriented conditioning drills and a team practice chart.
264 pages, includes over 600 illustrations & 85 drills
"Coaching Baseball Skills & Drills by Bragg Stockton is the most comprehensive baseball skill development book we've ever seen."
- Coach JP
|
|
Featured Article
|
How to Break-In Your Glove
Tonto Genovese
After 30+ years of playing & coaching baseball I have tried many different methods of breaking in a glove. In my opinion, the steps listed below will speed up this seemingly forever process.
Please keep in mind this process should be used on high quality gloves
made of 100% leather, as this process may shorten the life of synthetic materials.
- Fill up your sink or a bucket & completely submerge glove in room temperature water for approximately 3-5 minutes.
- Put a baseball deep in the pocket & try to stretch glove around a baseball forming a pocket.
- Tie up glove tightly, forming the pocket around the ball using a belt or string fingers facing up, to help the water drain.
- Keep tied up & let glove dry naturally out in the sun or in the
attic a couple days or in any warm part of the house.
Do not place on any HOT surface.
- Untie & throw in the clothes dryer (even if still wet) on hot for 15-20 minutes. This will help "beat up the leather."
- Remove from dryer & start working it in.
The more time you spend bending down
on the fingers & forming the pocket the better the end result.
Once completely broken in I prefer an occasional application of
inexpensive shaving cream (just the white foam kind with lanolin
and no fragrance) when glove gets a little dry.
This method should leave your glove as close to game-ready as is possible in the absolute least amount of time... It works!
Remember, the cow that your glove came from certainly spent most of its life outdoors, so a little water shouldn't affect your leather.
However, I would not use this method with any of those chemically pre-oiled gloves that you sometimes see. They are chemically broken in and, in my opinion, will not last as long and tend to turn into rag dolls way before their time.
Coach JP:
I recently broke in one of our new Barazza infield gloves using this "recipe." WOW! Did it work! I was shocked! In 4 days, that glove was ALMOST GAME-READY! As Coach Genovese remarks, this process is not recommended on any pre-oiled gloves.
|
|
|
|
Featured Products at Baseball Tips.com
Cal State-Fullerton Wins College World Series
They were just 15-16 at midseason, but the Titans of Cal State University, Fullerton proved it's not how you start, but how you finish.
And when the College Baseball World Series concluded in Omaha on June 27, it was Cal State-Fullerton that finished on top after sweeping two games from Texas in the CWS championship.
The 4th baseball championship in Cal State-Fullerton history was all the more remarkable due to the fact that they knocked off the top-seeded Longhorns (58-15) with 7th inning rallies in the season's deciding games. Texas had been 50-0 when leading after six innings, but blew 4-3 and 2-0 leads in the 7th on consecutive days.
George Horton won his first title as head coach for Fullerton, which also won national titles in 1979, 1984 and 1995 - all under current Texas coach Augie Garrido.
The Titans finished 47-22, and their 22 losses were the most by a national champion since Stanford had 23 in 1988.
Other Collegiate Baseball Championships
Delta State (MS) won the Division II title, defeating Grand Valley State 12-8 in Montgomery, Alabama. The title was the first in school history for the Statesmen (54-11).
George Fox University (OR) won the Division III title, beating Eastern Connecticut State 6-3 in Appleton, Wisconsin. The Bruins (40-10) won their first title in school history.
Baseball Quotes, Wit & Wisdom
I think the game's more intelligent than most of the guys playing it.
Jeff Russell
Slumps are like a soft bed. They're easy to get into and hard to get out of.
Johnny Bench
Throw strikes. Home plate don't move.
Satchel Paige
I don't want to play golf. When I hit a ball, I want someone else to go chase it.
Rogers Hornsby
|
Free Baseball Tips Resources
Find A Baseball Instructor Near You
|
If you or a player you know is seeking personalized instruction this summer, please take advantage of our free Instructors Section to find a baseball coach in your area.
States Currently Available
|
|
|
Southeastern Baseball Camp
Sessions begin July 11
The 30th annual Southeastern Baseball Camp will be held at Southern Union State Community College in Wadley, Alabama. Run by former Cincinnati Reds Scouting Director Julian Mock, the camp features two July sessions for the following age groups: 12 & Under, 13 & Up.
Southeastern prides itself as the oldest baseball camp in the Southeast region, and features an 8-to-1 instructor to camper ratio, 200 swings and two games a day, and even the chance to choose your roommate. Tuition includes insurance and camp t-shirt.
Log onto www.sebaseballcamp.com for more information, including dates, cost, pictures, directions, and an application form.
|
|
|
Youth Gloves Are Just $69