Tip of the Week

Tips for the Runner at First Base- A few Advanced Tips for the base runner at first.

• The 3-2 count. If you are given the sign to go on this pitch, (3-2 and 2 outs you go without a sign) play it just like a hit and run; make sure the pitcher goes to the plate before you break for second. Be aware of the backdoor play with a LH pitcher.
• First baseman playing behind the runner. Be aware of the backdoor play.
•   On your primary lead keep your eyes on the pitcher and listen to your first base coach.
•    Out of your secondary lead make your first two steps back to the base HARD. Don't hang in the baseline and give the catcher a chance to pick you off.
•    When returning to first keep your eyes on the catcher and your ears on the coach.
• Break up the double play- With less than two outs go directly into the base. Low and hard. No head first slides when breaking up the double play. You must slide directly into the base.
• Read the ball in the dirt- Follow the ball out of the pitcher's hand and read the "down" pitch. If you have an aggressive secondary lead you will be able to advance on many balls in the dirt that are not directly in front of the catcher.
• Ground ball in the hole at Short Stop- As you approach the bagdo not start your turn (arc) in front of second base too early. Go hard and straight into the bag until you see the ball go into the outfield. If you begin your arc too early and the SS fields the ball you will be an easy out at second. 

Other Fine Baseball Excellence Email Products:

A Skill and a Drill

Game Day Coach

Practice Planner

and DVDs

The Game Within the Game

Complete Baseball Practice

ThrowMAX

Nick Kafer wearing the ThrowMAX demonstrates Maximum Shoulder External rotation while throwing a two seam fastball. The Arm blurs with acceleration as shoulders square to target.

Problems with throwing mechanics? Check out the #1 selling throwing tool in the world... The ThrowMAX!

Work in the off season to develop sound throwing mechanics. The ThrowMAX is designed to be used when throwing a ball.

Can also be used doing the Towel Drill. We have gotten great results throwing a foam ball at a Plexiglas Mirror.

Players learn by seeing, feeling and hearing. The ThrowMAX helps players feel the proper motion and develop the muscle memory needed to have a great arm with great mechanics. A great arm can go a long way in the game of baseball. Get a ThrowMAX and keep them in the game!

ASK THE UMPIRE
Umpire Forum

Check out some of the interesting posts on the Ask the Umpire Forum on the Baseball Excellence Forums section.

Jim and his friends are at the ready to help coaches and umpires with their questions.

 Pocket Radar 199.00

Is the world's smallest full performance radar gun. This award-winning device delivers the same great accuracy and performance as other professional radar guns, at a fraction of the cost. Perfect for a wide variety of applications including traffic safety and sports. Independently tested and certified to be accurate to within +/- 1 mph, it gives over 10,000 readings on a single set of batteries. Includes a hardshell case, wrist strap, 2 AAA alkaline batteries, and an illustrated Quick Start Guide.
Offered at Baseball-Excellence.com

QUOTES of the Week

Baseball is a very simple game: "get on, get over, and get in"!  The thing that makes the game so tough is the mental stress/anguish so many players feel. At all levels of the game, the participants put so much pressure on themselves to execute that they lose sight of the mission.  It is a team game and you do not have to get a hit EVERY time up...in fact, many times, outs can be as productive as line drives and base hits.  Baseball is a game of fallibility; every player is going to make a lot of outs and many physical errors.  The key is to delimit these, eliminate the mental errors and create positive situations that help the team gain an advantage.  Having a quality at bat(using up the pitches), diving to keep a ball in the infield, hitting a cut-off man to keep a runner from advancing, etc. are all non-recorded important facets of the game.  None of these go in the scorebook BUT each can be the deciding factor in the game!

Coach Phil