Must read article related to one of baseball’s unwritten rules. Of course, A-Rod is the culprit.
Bullpen Routine: Keeping Pitchers Sharp
Here’s a copy of the bullpen routines that we use for our pitchers. This document was put together by our pitching coach, Mr. Ryan Bemont. The “Base Bullpen” and “Short Bullpen” are the two that we use the most. As well, we will modify these routines during the season as needed. The modification is based on which pitcher needs to be penned and how often he has thrown. For example, if we have a commonly used pitcher, we may use a modified short pen between starts just to stay sharp and focus on mechanics. If it is a player that may not be throwing as much, the longer routines will come into play. The short pen is the primary routine used before a game.
FB= fastball
CU= change up
CV= curve
Cure for the Forgettful? : Positive Discipline
This is really a fun post. I’m a stickler for team rules and discipline, but I want to give credit to a coaching friend for this one. After a varsity baseball practice our sophomores were taking the field and the coach, Mr. Ryan Pierce, found the glove of one of my players. My first reaction was to make that player run the next day, but Coach Pierce had a better remedy.
“I’ve got the cure for this,” he said.
I thought, ‘I’ll see what he’s got in mind.’
The next day he showed up to practice with that glove, covered in the most interesting array of pre-pubescent stickers in the history of Nickelodeon. When that player saw his glove, he laughed. His teammates laughed. The coaches laughed. Coach Pierce turned a negative into a positive. Needless to say, that player has not forgotten his glove to this day.
I have since adopted this policy. Below are some recent victims….. I mean players that were in need of discipline.
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It’s become a family event at my house. As you will see, my 4 year old daughter really enjoys artistic expression on varsity gloves.
I guess the point is, to be disciplined, yet find ways to have fun with it. There are ways to make your point with out blowing your stack. Don’t get me wrong, I fully believe that every so often, the bear needs to growl, but if the bear growls too often, it loses meaning.
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DON’T PACK UP EARLY
“Never do today what you can as well do tomorrow, because something may occur may occur to make to make you regret your premature action.”
-Aaron Burr
This one is part respect for your opponent and part superstition. I guess the old saying about not counting your chickens comes to mind. With only one inning left in the game, sometimes players get the bug to start packing up the equipment bags as though they are in some sort of hurry to leave. Maybe they’ve got a hot date or something. This is never a good idea whether a team is either winning or losing.
In the lead, it is extremely disrespectful to your opponent to start packing up in anticipation of a victory. And who wants to give the other team added motivation to come back and beat you? Not me. When behind, a player that packs up gear is showing disrespect to his own team. This type of player sends a “we suck, we can’t come back” message to his teammates. This should never be tolerated. Hopefully, another player will see this poor display in action and convey the proper message to the not-so-sharp player. Otherwise, it will be up to the coach to explain the situation. I have found that a little extra cardiovascular activity will typically remedy this type of behavior.
Some people are more superstitious about baseball than others. “Early gear packing” seems to be a big one. I can remember coaches and players saying that this habit was taboo for years. I suppose the fear is that some innocent bench player that is just trying to be tidy will upset the baseball gods. In turn, the gods will strike that team down with horrible luck. Though, we all know teams make their own luck. Besides, there are no baseball gods. Right?
Pre-Game Infield/Outfield Routine
In an earlier post, I described the importance of a good, intense, well-rounded pre-game routine. In that post, I alluded to our routine. That link is listed here:
Below you will see a 14 step pre-game routine that we use. It can be modified hundreds of ways to fit your needs. In order to run it correctly, you will need two coaches hitting fungoes. If you don’t have an assistant coach, I would recommend a very reliable reserve player or team manager. The goal of this routine is to allow as many players as possible to get as many quality touches of the baseball in a short amount of time.
The first few times your team will go through a routine like this one it will take 20 -25 minutes. That may seem long but, with familiarity, that time will be reduced down to 12-15 minutes. Every player will get a variety of game-like plays to practice. This routine can also be used in an extended version at practices.
I’m sure that others have similar routines. If you have some variations or some suggestions how to make this better, please leave a comment.
Indoor Batting Cage Practice: Our Set-up Chart
| Station #1: | Cage Sequence #1: 3-2-7-1 (track 3, 2 sacs, 7 cuts, 1 H&R) |
| Station #2: | Cage Sequence #2: 2-7-1 (2 sacs, 7 cuts, 1 H&R) |
| Station #3: | Cage Sequence #3: 2-8-1-1 (2 sacs, 8 cuts, 1 H&R, 1 Squeeze) |
| Station #4: | Cage Sequence #4: 2-6-1-1-1 (track 2, 6 cuts, 1 sac, 1 H&R, 1 Squeeze) |
| Station #5: | Cage Sequence #5: 1-NO ROCKS IN THE AIR!!! |
Drill List
1. Vision Soft toss (No side or standing feeders)
2. Launch & Drop (up the middle to opposite field)
3. Battle with the paddle
4. Battle with the paddle top hand
5. Lite-Flite Bunt
6. Launch
7. Dot Drill
8. Vision Tee
9. High Tee
10. Tee Walk-ups
11. Hitting discs
12. Front Toss Whiffle Balls
What you see above is basically the chart that is used during the season when we are stuck inside due to weather. Our cage area has space limitations. Therefore, we have to be creative utilizing the space that we have. This chart serves as a portion of a practice plan. It will be posted. The players are placed into their hitting groups. They should be able to look at the chart, understand where they should be, and what they are to do once they get there. It usually takes 2-3 three times for the players to totally understand the process, but when they get used to it, it’ll be like clockwork.
Here’s how the chart is used. The top of the chart is a map that displays the numbered cage station areas. It also shows the direction in which the players are to rotate. The table in the middle of the chart has Stations 1-5 listed. The coach is to write in drills for each station from the drill list at the bottom. Then, the coach is to circle a cage sequence to be followed once any given hitting group rotates into the machine area of the cage. The whole team rotates when the group on the machine is done. There is no reason for any one on the team to be standing around.
Everyone has a place to be and a purpose once they get there. By planning ahead of time there is less wasted time and more time for the coaches to float around and work with hitters. This is typically used in 45-60 minute session. We try to get everyone to each station twice. Each player should get between 100-125 cuts. If a player gets less than that, it’s on them for not working hard enough.
Must Read Article Related to MLB Hitters
My staff and I went to a clinic yesterday in Chillicothe, IL. Jerry Rashid, the head coach there always does a very nice job putting together the clinic with a variety of speakers. Two of the speakers, an assistant from the University of Illinois and the head coach from Indiana State University, gave a college perspective on hitting. Both came with different ideas. I saw this article this morning related to the relationship of a major leaguer player and his hitting coach, and I thought I’d share. Enjoy!
Click the link below:
Basic Bunt Coverage #4: Runner at 1st
Situation: Runner at 1st, less than 2 outs
Description of responsibilities by position:
C: The catcher must first check for any short bunts in front of the plate. In which case, C fields the bunt and 3B retreats to cover third base. Ultimately, we want the C and 3B to switch responsibilities. The point of this coverage is to bait the runner and third base coach into thinking that third base has been abandonded. An easy out or run-down could occur which may lead to a double play after the initial out at first base is made.
1B: The first baseman is responsible for fielding a bunt on the right side of the infield beyond the range of the catcher. The first baseman must charge hard as soon as the hitter shows bunt.
2B: The second baseman rotates to cover 1st base. This player may cheat towards first base in an obvious bunt scenario.
SS: The shortstop rotates to cover second base for a possible force play.
3B: The third baseman is responsible for fielding a bunt on the left side of the infield beyond the range of the catcher. The third baseman must charge hard as soon as the hitter shows bunt. If another player fields the bunt, the third baseman must retreat back to cover third base.
P: The pitcher is responsible for fielding any bunt in front of home plate out of the range of the catcher.
RF: Comes in to back up any throw to first base.
CF: Comes in to back up any throw to second base.
LF: Comes in to back up any throw to second base.
Bunt Coverage #3: Suicide Squeeze Play
Situation: This coverage is a defense for a suicide squeeze play.
C: The catcher’s first priority is covering home plate. The only bunt that the catcher should field is one in which the ball stops so close to home plate that it can be fielded with very little movement. Otherwise, as with other bunt coverages, the catcher’s job is to direct traffic after another fielder gets the ball.
1B: The first baseman is responsible for fielding a bunt on the right side of the infield beyond the range of the catcher. The first baseman must charge hard as soon as the hitter shows bunt.
2B: The second baseman rotates to cover 1st base.
SS: The shortstop rotates to cover third base.
3B: The third baseman is responsible for fielding a bunt on the left side of the infield. The third baseman must charge hard as soon as the hitter shows bunt.
P: The pitcher is responsible for fielding a bunt directly in front of home plate. Since the catcher is most likely staying home, the pitcher must cover ground that would normally be covered by the catcher.
RF: Comes in to back up any throw to first base.
CF: Comes in to cover second base.
LF: Comes in to back up any throw to third base.
