Sparky's Purpose

A grandfather was delivering his grandchildren to their home one day when a fire truck zoomed past. Sitting in the front seat of the fire truck was a Dalmatian dog. The children started discussing the dog's duties. "They use him to keep crowds back," said one child. "No," said another. "He's just for good luck." A third child brought the argument to a close. "They use the dogs," she said firmly, "to find the fire hydrants!"

Dr. Hanson Has A Deal For You

From Dr. Tom ...

Happy Holiday Season --


I'm pumped up for you to read my new book but it will be a few weeks.

The focus of the book is on feeling good and here's a great way to do it, especially this time of year.

1. Watch this movie (16min)Feel Good Movie

2. Follow the lead guy's lead with your teammates, players, and/or sons, etc.

Sincerely,

Dr. Tom

p.s.  Here's a great deal on a bundle of my programs:Great Deal Here

p.p. s.  You --- You are great!

Heads-Up Performance, Inc, 12852 Big Sur Drive, Tampa, FL 33625, USA

Dominican Republic Baseball Tour-Update

From Sam LeBeau:

Dear Coach Pittman,

We have the dates set for next summer’s Dominican Republic Baseball Trips and are in the process of identifying players who want to go.  These trips are a wonderful baseball experience on the island that produces more Major Leaguers, per capita, than any nation in the world.  Each trip will include 15 high school varsity level players and will be coached by a Division I college coach in addition to our ex-pro Dominican Staff.  Trips feature practices, games, tours and other fun activities.

2011 dates are listed at http://www.dominicanbaseballcamp.com/sessions.htm

Other important links:

General information:  http://www.dominicanbaseballcamp.com
Testimonials:  http://www.dominicanbaseballcamp.com/testimonial.htm
Photos:  http://www.dominicanbaseballcamp.com/photos.htm

We will be registering players between now and April.  Each session will be filled on a first come-first served basis.  I am confident that any player who participates will have an exciting and rewarding experience with memories that last a lifetime.

Please pass along this email to any of your players who may be interested.  Please call or email to discuss further.  Let me know if you will be at the ABCA conference next month and perhaps we can meet up there.

Sincerely,

Sam LeBeau
Dominican Baseball Camp
sam@dominicanbaseballcamp.com
(434) 466-2128

 “I have been around baseball all my life as a amateur player, professional player, and as a coach.  I can say without a doubt Dominican Baseball Camp is one of the best baseball experiences in my life, it not the best!  Sam LeBeau’s philosophy of making the kids live baseball “Dominican Style” for a week is educational and rewarding. The players come back better baseball players and better people.  I had no idea what to expect when I agreed to direct the camp this past summer, and in fact, I was even a little hesitant on going.  However, after having been there and experiencing baseball as I have never experienced it before, I have already asked Sam to lock me in for next summer.”-----Tracy Smith, Head Baseball Coach, Indiana University

My Review on Amazon of Jaime Cevallos' Book POSITIONAL HITTING

With POSITIONAL HITTING, Jaime has written a comprehensive book on the most effective and efficient swing for hitting a baseball. In this well written hitting instructional, you'll get an understanding of the body's natural coordination and movement during the positional slot swing. His book is presented in an easy to read format even when covering kinetic linking, angular measurements, balance, bat dynamics, and mechanical efficiency. I can easily say that his book is the best book on hitting that I've ever read, and I've read them all. If you are serious about becoming the best hitter that you can be on any level, this book is a MUST.
For better hitting,
Del Pittman
Combat Hitting

Heroes

Dr. Coop DeRenne(Hitting Bio-Mechanics),
Jaime Cevallos(Hitting Mechanics),
Spencer Wood(Mental Coach),
Dr. Richard Crowley(Sports Psychologist),
Dannion Brinkley (Spiritual Author),
Paul Richards(Baseball),
Willie Mays(Baseball),
Sandy Koufax(Baseball),
Sadaharu Oh(Baseball),
Roy White(Baseball),
Tommy Lasorda(BSBL/Enthusiasm),
Dr. Bill Harrison(BSBL Vision Training),
Dr. Rolando Toyos(BSBL Vision Training),
Bruce Lee(Jeet Kune Do),
Shodai George Brock(Ju Jitsu),
Kubler Al Abidin(Hikuta),
Barbara Jordan(Mastery of the English Lang/Eloquence),and Brian Wilson(Music).

REALITY HITTING

Hitting is an act of controlled aggression. To be a good hitter that can consistently drive a pitch, you must put yourself into the role of being the aggressor in a confrontation with the pitcher.

MONSTER HITTER

We teach a form of recycling made famous by Tim Galwey years ago. Our hitters develop a personalized hitting mantra with our assistance as part of a hitting routine. Once the hitting routine is in their subconscious, the hitter recycles their HM (hitting mantra) before each pitch. Recycling the HM in the hitting routine recharges the aggressive hitting attitude for driving your pitch.

Funny, but...

A grandfather was telling his little grandson what his own childhood was like: "We used to skate outside on a pond.  I had a swing made from a tire; it hung from a tree in our front yard. We rode our pony. We picked wild raspberries in the woods." The little boy was wide-eyed, taking this all in.  At last he said, "I sure wish I'd gotten to know you sooner!"

Free .mp3 and annual sale from Coach Traub

Dear Del,
I hope you are having a fantastic morning.  I am writing to throw out this idea: mental skills training books, CDs, wristbands, and other products make awesome Christmas presents for elite-level coaches and athletes!
My online store goes on "sale" once per year, and it is now through this weekend.  All orders received during this sale will be received by Christmas and will include (free -- sent electronically) a bonus short .mp3 titled "Creating the Confidence of a Champion."

My book/dvd combo is the featured product.  At $25, it really is a great value.  I'm sure I could sell the same book and videos in a series for $149 if I worked on the packaging.  Of course, the sale price of $22 or bulk rate for a team is even better. The information inside can help any athlete build confidence, deal with adveristy effectively, and have a tunnel vision focus where the mind is as quiet as a glass lake.  You can get the product details here:

 

http://coachtraub.com/cart/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=21

or just go to the store homepage here:

http://coachtraub.com/cart/index.php

Feel free to contact me directly with questions about team orders.
Thank you for your time and for allowing me to support your work! Best wishes for making today your masterpiece.
-Aaron
--
www.CoachTraub.com
Mental Skills Coach for the University of Texas-Arlington. Go Mavs!
phone: (214) 264-4373

BAT SALES REPS WANTED

Gone Batty Looking For Sales Reps

JUST FYI

Do you know anyone in your area who could help me market a surplus of Wood Bats?

Seeking reps who will are in tight with leagues and teams as well as training Academies and such.

Regards,

Walter

reply to:     gonebattybats@gmail.com

Muscle Hitting Memory

A considerable portion of the difficulty of hitting a baseball consistely hard can be attributed to the hitter's mental approach, but sometimes a monkey wrench can be thrown in by the mental aspect's ugly cousin, twice removed, muscle memory.
Great care has been taken in developing and maintaining muscle memory at Combat Hitting. It is our belief that muscle memory flaws can be avoided if the correct muscle memory is used and revisited frequently. Due to the complexity of the bio-mechanics and muscles used in hitting, a proper pre-game and practice sequence should be followed. Light running is done before any stretching to help get the muscles in an elastic state. Following immediately after the running and stretching, a hitter should do the most difficult muscle memory movements in baseball which are the swing mechanics. In other words you must BEGIN with 10 minutes of hitting mechanics reinforcement before anything else. It is imperative to understand that fielding and throwing movements are secondary to maintaining hitting muscle memory. It's just like school, start with the hardest subjects first or the one's that require a refresher. Speaking of a refresher, ideally, the 10 minute hitting mechanics review includes the infusion of your hitting mantra helps to sustain an aggressive hitting mindset. Try to wrap your head around this idea...it's just common sense, good judgment, and priorities for a someone who strives to be the best hitter they can be.
For better hitting,
Del

ON DECK PREP

How To Cool Your Jets and Let Your Butterflies Go

At Combat Hitting you're taught to desensitize your nervous system in your pre-at bat prep. In conjunction with this technique, I've borrowed strength and stretching techniques from the Russian Sports Program and incorporated some aspects from Martial Arts into a pre-at bat routine.
Desensitizing the nervous system by using breathing techniques followed with slaps and pats from toe to head will have a positive effect towards relaxation which improves focus. Additional on deck prep steps include using your hitting mantra along with muscle memory work with a MP30 Training Bat, quick depth perception drills, and fine tuning your dynamic visual acuity with fine centering and soft centering reference points...all are reinforced here in the on deck circle. After this, you're ready "to see the ball; hit the ball".
For better hitting,
Del

Associative Linking For Aggressive Hitting Mindset

Top Fuel Drag Racing Drivetrain Analogy for Hitting

Nitro Methane Fuel : Hitting Mantra
Engine : Mental Aspect
Transmission : Dynamic Visual Acuity
Rear End : Hitting Mechanics

Coach Traub December Showcase Camps

Dear Coach Pittman,

Greetings and thank you for your time.  Forwarding this message on to your student-athletes is extremely appreciated.

The CoachTraub.com business mission is to over-deliver value on the goods and services we provide.  One of these services is this camp [click here for the brochure]. It's organized to give your players maximum exposure, instruction, and feedback, and it's also great for underclassmen to get experience in a tryout setting.  Here's what makes this showcase different:

First, we announce who will work the camp.  On Sunday, December 5 at Eastfield College in Dallas, it is:

•   Dusty Hart, Head Coach at Grayson
•   Mike Martin, Head Coach at Eastfield
•   Marty Smith, Pitching Coach at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
•   Kyle Shipp, Recruiting Coordinator at Southwestern University
•   Coach Traub

The following weekend includes coaches from A&M Corpus, Texas State, Hill Community College, Northwood University, and Southwestern University. Details on the brochure.

Second, we have a full day's schedule (In fact, it takes most showcase camps 2 days to do all of this):

1.   Pro-Styled Tryout (Run, Field and Throw, Hit on the field)
2.   Scrimmage
3.   Instruction - Hitting or Pitching
4.   Instruction - Hitting or Infield or Outfield or Catching
5.   Mental Skills Training
6.   Recruiting Workshop
7.   Cuts
8.   Scrimmage again

Third, the coaches are actively instructing all day.

Fourth, we provide written feedback one week after camp with 60 and H-1B times, velocity from the field (and mound if applicable), hitting notes, pitching notes, etc.

Fifth, camp is strictly limited to 48 guys.

Finally, satisfaction is completely guaranteed or we'll give a full refund!

If I can support your work in any way, I hope you will not hesitate to ask. Best wishes for making today your masterpiece.

-Aaron

Sports Vision

A couple of informative sites...
http://shapirolab.net/IllusionScience/CurveBallShapiroIC2009.swf
Scientifically Speaking
http://www.hightechvisiontraining.com/scientifically.htm
Hitting, broken down physiologically, is a series of ocular and brain based actions that in turn cause a physical reaction. The goal of our conditioning process over time is to create an automatic, solidly conditioned reflex of the muscles that swing the bat which is triggered by a visual stimulus of the retina and is instantaneously interpreted by the brain as correct (a strike), to accurately contact the ball. Thought is totally bypassed. As the players’ repetitions increase, the brain is adjusting and creating stronger and quicker neurological pathway between the eyes, brain and muscles.
You must keep the ball in your central vision to accurately follow the ball into the hitting zone. When the ball travels out of your central vision plane to your peripheral vision, an optical illusion occurs making you think that the ball is curving when it is actually going straight. Here is a link to an optical illusion to illustrate the principals, courtesy of Professor Arthur Shapiro & Illusionsciences.com

Chuckle Time

 

Hospital regulations require a wheel chair for patients being discharged. However, while working as a student nurse, I found one elderly gentleman already dressed and sitting on the bed with a suitcase at his feet, who insisted he didn't need my help to leave the hospital.After a chat about rules being rules, he reluctantly let me wheel him to the elevator.
On the way down I asked him if his wife was meeting him.

"I don't know," he said. "She's still upstairs in the bathroom changing out of her hospital gown."

USA BASEBALL ANNOUNCES 2011 COLLEGIATE NATIONAL TEAM COACHING STAFF

From Jake Fehling, USA Baseball
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 18, 2010
Contact:  Jake Fehling – jakefehling@usabaseball.com, (919) 474-8721 x225
Manager Tim Jamieson joined by pitching coach Rob Walton and assistant coaches Dave Van Horn and Scott Stricklin

DURHAM, N.C. -- USA Baseball announced the four members of the 2011 Collegiate National Team coaching staff on Thursday.  Missouri’s Tim Jamieson will manage the club next summer, and he will be joined by pitching coach Rob Walton (Oral Roberts) and assistant coaches Dave Van Horn (Arkansas) and Scott Stricklin (Kent State).

Jamieson and Walton made their Team USA debuts together on the 2005 Collegiate National Team coaching staff, serving as an assistant coach and the pitching coach, respectively, for manager Steve Smith of Baylor.  Van Horn and Stricklin will both be wearing the red, white and blue for the first time.

“We are thrilled to announce Tim Jamieson as our 2011 manager,” said Eric Campbell, USA Baseball General Manager of National Teams.  “His experience from 2005 -- coaching players like David Price, Matt Wieters and Matt LaPorta -- will serve him well, and teaming him with Dave Van Horn, Scott Stricklin and Rob Walton will provide our athletes with a unique opportunity to learn from some of the best college coaches in the game.  Once again, the college coaching community has rallied around the Collegiate National Team program.”

Tim Jamieson enters his 17th season as the head coach of the Missouri Tigers in 2011.  He is the second-winningest coach in Mizzou baseball history and will begin the 2011 campaign with a career record of 544-382-2.  In 2009, Jamieson passed legendary head coach John “Hi” Simmons on the university’s all-time win list and trails only Gene McArtor’s 733 victories.  While with the 2005 Collegiate Team, Jamieson helped lead Team USA to a 16-4 record, which included games played in Japan and Taiwan.  He was accompanied that summer by Missouri players Max Scherzer and Hunter Mense, the first Collegiate National Team representatives for MU since 1991.

ORU’s Rob Walton returns for his third stint with Team USA.  In addition to his time with the 2005 club, Walton managed the 2008 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team, which, in finishing an undefeated 24-0, is widely considered one of the greatest U.S. Collegiate Teams of all time.  Known as one of the top pitching minds in baseball, Walton helped lead an ’08 staff that featured the likes of Stephen Strasburg, Mike Leake, Mike Minor and Kyle Gibson.  Walton will be entering his eighth season as manager of the Golden Eagles in 2011.  He owns a 290-120 (.707) record over that span, and he is a four-time Summit League Coach of the Year.

Next spring will mark Dave Van Horn’s ninth season as head coach of Arkansas.  In 2010, the Razorbacks made it through to their second consecutive super regional for the first time ever, and they later advanced to Omaha for the sixth time in program history.  Four Arkansas players were drafted in the first five rounds of the 2010 Major League First-Year Player Draft, including Zack Cox who went No. 25 overall to St. Louis.  Van Horn holds a career record of 319-179 (.641) at Arkansas and an overall record of 904-419 (.683) in 22 years as a head coach.

Scott Stricklin enters his seventh season as head coach of the Kent State baseball program in 2011.  The Kent State alum and 2006 Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year has guided his alma mater to a 222-128 overall record, including five MAC championships and three NCAA tournament appearances.  The Golden Flashes closed out the 2010 regular season with their fourth MAC East Division crown in five years, and they won five elimination games in three days to capture the MAC tournament title and earn a trip to the NCAA Los Angeles Regional -- its second consecutive NCAA berth.

The Collegiate National Team is coming off a 16-3 2010 season which ended in a heart-breaking loss in the gold medal final of the FISU World University Championships in Japan.  The U.S. lost 4-3 in extra innings to a Cuban team featuring several players from its top-level National Team.  The 2011 schedule is highlighted by five games against Japan, marking the 38th time the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team has met the Japan Collegiate All-Stars in an international friendship series.  The complete 2011 schedule has yet to be announced.

About USA Baseball

USA Baseball is the National Governing Body of amateur baseball in the United States and is a member of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).  The organization selects and trains the World Baseball Classic Team and World Cup Team (and all other USA Baseball Professional Teams); the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team; the USA Baseball 18U, 16U and 14U National Teams; and the USA Baseball Women’s National Team, all of which participate in various international competitions each year.  USA Baseball also presents the Golden Spikes Award annually to the top player in college baseball.  For more information, please visit www.USABaseball.com and www.GoldenSpikesAward.com.

Cal Ripken Jr. launches nationwide math challenge

From the ABCA Press via ERICA GREEN, Balt. Sun

erica.green@baltsun.com

Orioles 'Iron Man' promotes computer game to improve students' math skills

November 09, 2010|By Erica L. Green, The Baltimore Sun

Orioles legend Cal Ripken Jr. announced a nationwide education challenge Tuesday that is geared toward helping students knock their math skills out of the park.

Through his organization, Ripken Baseball, the Baltimore "Iron Man" launched a Grand Slam Math Challenge, which will ask students in grades kindergarten through 12 in every state to play the online and board game TiViTz to improve their math skills.

Ripken said Tuesday that he was inspired to launch the challenge — which uses math skills on a video baseball field — by the youths in his Ripken Baseball program.

"As you get in the business of teaching kids, you find yourself talking about education quite a bit," Ripken said. "If you help one kid, it's a success, but if you help millions, you're really doing something across the country."

"I just think it's so important that a simple concept of playing a game really results in learning," he said, adding that his program stresses that even baseball requires the skills of calculating averages, distances and the Pythagorean theorem.

Ripken said he chose to partner with the creators of the game, SAS Games Inc., because TiViTz has a track record of increasing math scores on standardized tests.

Students "are really learning, without even realizing it because it's fun," Ripken said of the game.

The six-month challenge is open to students across the country, who can vie to be one of 50 to receive a trip to Washington to compete in the national TiViTz championships. Five grand-prize winners will win trips to the 2011 MLB All-Star game as a guest of Ripken.

A grand prize valued at $350 million will be awarded to the state with the most online games played per capita. The prize is a premium online membership to the TiViTz games for every K-12 student in the winning state.

The challenge began Tuesday and will run through May 15. To play the game and for complete rules, go to tivitz.com

BIOMECHANICAL ANALYSIS OF HITTING

Recent discussions on CheckSwing regarding linear movement not being part of a positional slot rotational swing prompted me dig this out of the blog archives. Enjoy.

Yuichi HIRANO, Japan 
It's not Dr. Coop DeRenne, but it might be interesting to you die hard bio-mechanic types out there.
Addendum: Remember the hips are ball and socket joints...step and land with a 45 degree angle on your linear, timing stride to help the hips open and shift 20% of the weight from the balance point toward the front side...(40% backside/60% front side)
http://w4.ub.uni-konstanz.de/cpa/article/viewFile/1535/1440

Where is Paul Prinz, the master at teaching front side blocking, when you need him for biomechanic input? : )

Winter Hitting Routine For Winter Ball

On Deck Circle

Begin mental prepping while reinforcing your muscle memory with the MP30 Training Bat

NEXT

Repeat before the 1^st pitch and after each sequential pitch...

Outside box if league rules allow:

      Situational Awareness:

          Know outs and base runners' locations

      Depth Perception Tune Up:

          Focus on 2B’s cap logo, then shift focus to Pitcher’s cap logo

          Begin Pre-Pitch Personal Hitting Mantra (See Hitting Mantra/Mental

          Routine Blog)

          Night Game… Close eyes for 5 seconds for improved vision  (See

          Retina/Vision Trick)

In box or “half and half” if league rules allow:

      One Deep Breath…In through the nose; out through pursed lips

      Look to third base coach, receive signs, square up to the pitcher, and re-focus

      mentally

      Begin Fine Centering-Soft Centering (Focus on Pitcher’s Logo & then re-focus

      visually to the Release Point  (Avoid being hypnotized by watching the Pitcher’s

      Windup

      Gently shift your weight from back to front repeatedly over your center

      point (40-60) as you are fine centering and soft centering visually. Continue the

      rhythm rocking breathing in through the nose going back and breathing out  

      through a slightly open mouth going forward. This keeps the jaw relaxed to

      prevent teeth clinching which can lead to blurred vision. Plus, on contact

      keeping the internal organs compressed through breath control helps to optimize

      power. (Key emphasis is to do this simultaneously with a controlled, calculated

      rhythmic weight shift.)

      From Release Point:

         Identify pitch and velocity

         Begin Tracking  Mentally…Yes, Yes, Yes, YES* or Yes, Yes, Yes, NO.

         *(At contact, squeezing the handle in the palms helps add more power

         as a result of a neuromuscular response)

Post Hit:

       In the dugout, enjoy the congratulations and the pats on the back. Reward

       yourself with a cup of water. Funny as it sounds, you should do this. (behavioral 

       conditioning)                  

When Baseball And Vehicles Collide

At My Analogies' Garage...
THE SHOW(MLB): Runs the gamut from Top Fuelers, Funny Cars, Pro Stock, and Cycles to classic antiques. On average, they make the plays 90% of the time, defensively.
AAA: The "flaw" league, have players that usually have problems to overcome even though they are highly polished skillwise. Defensively, they make the plays 75%-89% of the time. Car analogy: no-go showboat.
AA: Players are less polished(make the plays 50%-74% of the time). Car analogy: AA Fuel Dragster that needs a tuneup. However, players on this level can make the jump to the show over the AAA player-believe it or not.
A, High A: Rookies and semi-inexperienced youngsters...mostly. Sometimes it seems as if they never make the plays. Car analogy: Still on the assembly line.
Independent League: Made up of a few "has beens or once was's" and lower tier filler players. Car analogy... DeLorean (interesting idea, but...)

Don't Overhaul A Good Swing

Or Why Good Intentions Can Spoil The Broth

Over 20 years ago I saw the top HR hitter in JUCO pass on the draft to attend a division 1 school. The head coach at the university was an excellent pitching coach, and had a very successful side business with youth camps, books, etc. Most of his skill drills and methods were sound. Although, I have issues with a few minor things that were taught by him.

In this case he couldn't leave well enough alone back at the university with his new power hitting recruit that he'd been able to land. He was bound and determined to have him learn to go the other way. It wasn't an effort in trying to improve his contact on a hit and run or teach him to go with the pitch (outside pitches, breaking pitches, etc.) It was more of a "he'll be a complete hitter with an inside out swing" type of thinking. It turned out to be the epitome of paralysis through analysis. This power hitter was never the same after the swing tampering. Sometimes this type of mistaken thinking shows up in pro ball, too.

In the past, a couple of Major League hitting coaches and minor league developmental people got into this pitfall of trying to make some pretty good hitters perfect as well. One of the coaches in particular has screwed up, not one, but two hitters' swings over a period of time by over emphasizing their hips instead of the the slot position. Believe me, they were already good power hitters, but in an effort to add even more pop this hitting instructor accomplished the opposite. Those hitters were never the same either after the experimenting was done. My conclusion...

If it ain't broke-don't fix it. Work with hitters that actually need help.

myspace COMBAT HITTING™ Blog Reaches 25,000+ Views

http://www.myspace.com/dpbi/blog?bID=540267275

Humbled and appreciative to those that helped me achieve the number of views so far. Thanks for helping me to reach what I consider to be a mini-milestone.
For better hitting,
Del

Spend Less Time Lifting And More Time Watching Video

That goes for ML'ers on down and is related to this question I received...

Q: I have a 10 yr old son that plays tournament ball.One coach tells him wait on the outside pitch or hit the inside out front. The other says step toward the pitch (out for inside, in for outside).Who's right?

A: Step towards the pitcher with the front foot(on the ball of the foot) landing at a 45 degree angle. Getting the hands and barrel through the zone a la slot position are what's important mechanically to drive inside pitches. I have drills posted on my bsbl blog for hitting inside pitches.
Also, I covered a few points on the stride, including direction, from another post on my myspace blog below:

Final Chapter: Bio-Mechanics Software Experience

As stated in the previous blog, the experience was a blast and a real eye opener. To not put you to sleep, I'll keep it brief, and stick to the high points of what I like about the software program.

What stood out to me was the information received from analyzing the measurement of TIME that it took the hands to go from the launch position, getting into the slot position and then to contact, and also the measurement of the length of hitters' strides & landing points of the ball of the front foot on various types of pitches. Luckily for me, I also had access to the bio-mechanic information on the best hitters in the American League at the time so I had the ideal bio-mechanic hitting models to reference to as well. Stride lengths and contact time among the best hitters were consistently better than the rest.

Strides, ofcourse, are the timing device that the hitters use in making contact...i.e., timing the pitch. Everyone knows that, but what I didn't know at that time was that the great hitters had consistent stride lengths on every pitch and landed in the same spot regardless of the type of pitch. What's important about that is that other hitters(mostly.290 and below...way below) were all over the place as to where they landed and the length of their stride. The best hitters were consistently the same. That speaks volumes about their tracking (dynamic visual acuity) and ability to keep a still head which results in the optimal amount of eye muscles to use when hitting (refer back to the soft centering-fine centering blog).

From the bio-mechanic tracking of the hands from the launch position to contact, there was a distinct difference in the quality of hitting and productivity of the great hitters as compared to the others. The best hitters are consistently efficient with their hands, getting in the slot position, and putting the barrel of the bat on the ball. The others ranged from minutely inefficient to 'how in the heck did you get out of AAA?!!' One of the hitters, who had pop, had such a big swing and a huge hole from his hitch that he would have led the league in broken bats if the pitchers would've pitched him up and in. Ofcourse, pitchers are pitchers and kept pitching to his strength (low and away) instead. The next season they wised up and pitched to his flaw. It wasn't long until he was traded to the NL, and didn't fair any better there either. He was out of the game at a fairly young age. One side note with this player was that he spent a tremendous amount of time lifting heavy weights improperly in the wt. room near the clubhouse. And that only increased scar tissue in his rotator cuff which decreased his arm strength (throwing) and his bat speed as well. Not a good formula for a player that had hand problems (flaw) to begin with. Take note-you hitters that are seeking the buffed look...you could also be destroying a major tool or two in your wt. training routine. Learn the best way to help yourself in the wt. room...lift less; watch more video.

MLB Scouts Focus On 50+ OFP Prospects And Not Fillers

      A scout must avoid lack of confidence, other organizations' scouts pumping him for information, having a favorite team or players which is a deterrence to objectivity, zero prospects which are prospects with an OFP of below 50, and choosing poor associate scouts in order to meet the number one goal of an organization...winning a world championship.

     Once the prospect has been been graded, the scout should stand by his OFP and belief in the prospect and himself. The Scouting Bureau's report may not be as accurate as yours. I knew a scout that changed his report for that reason alone...the MLSB had this prospect graded 13 points higher. It turned out the prospect was just as he originally graded and reported. The Bureau had missed the mark, but this territorial scout didn't have conviction in his own abilities and changed his grade on a new report to match theirs. This is another one of the 90% failures because he had a lack of confidence in his scouting abilities. The other pitfall is the opposite extreme and giving out information to other scouts when they pump you for information. Besides being arrogant, this smells of a lack of loyalty to your own organization. The pitfall of having a favorite team or players falls into the category of "deterrence to objectivity" which was previously alluded to. The final pitfall for a scout has to be picking poor associate scouts. This happens, but not often. It did happen to a certain territorial scout that relied heavily on his associate scouts for reports in order to get more playing time on the golf course. I will say that he did put together a decent network of associate scouts overall, but a few turned out to be incompetent, and one, an M.D. in is day job, was brought to the attention of the MLB Commissioner's Office by a fairly well known collegiate coach for offering players PEDs and soliciting to be an agent for the prospects he carded. Both were brilliant men, but lacked common sense, good judgment, and moral ethics.

   The goal of finding prospects that will help the organization to win championships has not changed, but the methods used to do so are in a continual change. The modern scout has to familiarize himself with techniques to improve time management, adapt to changing technology, staying current with sports psychology as well as baseball strength training, and bio-mechanics. All of these must be combined with the absolutes of scouting: being objectively subjective, aggressive, an ability to not pre-judge prospects, knowing the up-to-date needs of the organization, an unending patience and avoiding scouting pitfalls.

   Time management includes more than just managing time in the scouting department and by each individual scout. The concept of business time management includes four functions and is already in use by some general managers. The functions are production, organizing, directing, and controlling when adopted by the scouting director can facilitate the organization's scouts to be more productive which as a result would reverse the past problem of only 10% of their scouts being successful.

   Today's scout should be computer literate to help keep the flow of information moving. Being knowledgeable in computer applications should be a goal of the scouting department  for each scouting director scout in the 21st century.  The speed of communication necessary to build a successful, championship organization requires it. A wireless laptop and printer will soon become tools for the scout and will be as valuable as a radar gun and stopwatch.

   Staying current in the latest thinking in sports psychology, strength training, flexibility, nutrition, and bio-mechanics are necessary for the scout of today. The need to provide correct information to prospects is now a part of the job. The old saying that "sports medicine changes every six weeks" also can apply to almost all areas of baseball and can become frustrating, but the modern scout must accept that staying current in his knowledge base is integral in helping his organization reach its yearly goal of winning a championship.

   Not following the absolutes of scouting is why there is a 90% failure rate among scouts. A successful scout has to avoid being subjective without including objectivity. The two must go together 100% of the time to help make an accurate OFP and determine signability.  That being said... a deterrence to objectivity is the scout allowing himself to pre-judge prospects because he reminds him of past unsuccessful prospect X, etc. The scout must eliminate the prejudice and rate tools with focus and not emotion.

   Lack of patience can actually be lumped into the pitfalls found in scouting. It just happens to lead the pitfall league in problems that scouts must deal with. Impatience with the scouting director is one problem when there is a lack of interest in your prospect. If the prospect is drafted by your organization, then there can be impatience with the player development department in taking their time moving the prospect up the ladder, and if you are a successful scout, the lack of moving up the ladder in your own career can become a detriment. All the behaviors related to impatience are part of human nature and that a successful scout needs to overcome. To become a patient scout requires some stress management techniques or you'll never have peace of mind. Finding a healthy way to unwind and clear the mind, is key to surviving and thriving in the scouting world. Developing a hobby can be one process in helping you to relax and will take you a step closer to mastering patience.

   Other potential pitfalls in scouting include marital stress, and signing immature prospects. As to marriage and marital stress, a scout must realize that he'll be on the road...often. Sometimes the time out away from home can be up to three weeks. From my experience, I know of many divorced scouts for just this reason. Maybe this is why for many years the average age of scouts was where they were in their sixties.  In short, a scout need to be aware and should address this issue with his spouse and work at his marriage to maintain it. Wives can be understanding is the positive side of this issue.

   The signing of immature players can be a pitfall, but usually doesn't happen often thankfully. I have seen a couple of players signed that had no business being signed due to poor make up. Sometimes players can have their attitude righted after signing, but I rarely see that with those that like to sip suds in high school, etc. A prospect that has a drinking or drug problem in high school is immature cannot handle the life and pressure of a minor league player. Point being- a scout must use common sense and good judgment as to what's best for the prospect and the organization.

    In conclusion, baseball is a business...first and foremost. There is no room for thinking otherwise. Being a successful scout means that he's helping build championship teams by choosing championship caliber prospects objectively with all the tools available to him. That is the bottom line for a scout. If a scouting director requires his scouts to familiarize himself with techniques to improve time management, adapt to changing technology, staying current with sports psychology as well as baseball strength training, nutrition, bio-mechanics, and combine this with the absolutes of scouting, that scouting department, along with the organization's player development department, are well on their way to building a successful baseball franchise.

HOLISTIC HITTING DEFINED

Holistic hitting is taking a mental, spiritual, emtional, and physical approach
to hitting your pitch and driving it.
Physically, I'm on board with
everything that good hitting coaches teach. One of my identifiers of a good
hitting coach is that they are teaching a mechanically sound swing which
includes a balanced energy line toward the pitcher, blocking off a firm
frontside on contact, and NOT teaching squishing the bug with the back foot
which takes away from the energy line in the swing. One of the fine points that
I teach is to start/load slow to overcome inertia to a fast finish line with
proper barrel projectory through the hitting plane. Specifically at the start, I
teach my hitters to make a small C slowly with the middle knuckle on the middle
finger of the lead hand as they begin their path to explode through the
ball.
The slow start enables the hitter to keep their head still and
maintain positive tracking of the pitch. I won't use this forum for specifics,
but I adhere to Dr. Bill Harrison's Vision Training for teaching proper visual
acuity for hitting...a.k.a. fine centering/soft centering.
Mentally, I
teach a form of recycling made famous by Tim Galwey years ago. My hitter's
develop a personalized hitting mantra with my assistance that they'll load
mentally before each pitch. In case of the yips, I endorse the Crowley Method
developed by psychologist Dr. Richard Crowley combined with an acupressure
called TAT.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rDF_qUntDg&feature=related
Most importantly, it's my
belief that the component that will determine a hitter's success as to whether
or not they reach their potential is that they believe they are better than they
think they are and that their purpose is for a betterment of mankind and
baseball. This is also personalized and becomes the last thought in their
hitting mantra that's mentally loaded pre-pitch.
My answer to the few
nay-sayers that think that including a spiritual aspect to hitting is too
meta-physical would be that they are in denial that we are powerful spiritual
beings first and foremost.

Kudos To Josh Hamilton

He needs to be congratulated for making mechanical adjustments this Spring to correct the timing flaw he developed compensating for his hitch that began in the 2009 season. Josh still has a bit of a hitch, but doesn't start his swing early anymore which means he's no longer vunerable to the fastball up and in and off speed stuff away. Now, if Chris Davis would make adjustments of not throwing his hands, staying torqued, and getting into the slot position, he can be on his way to being the next Adam Dunn. : )

Gone Batty Looking For Sales Reps

Passing this along...
Do you know anyone in your area who could help me market a surplus of Wood Bats?

Seeking reps who will are in tight with leagues and teams as well as training Academies and such.

Regards,

Walter

reply to: gonebattybats@gmail.com

Nitro Methane Thinking For Hitters

Making Your Brain See Green (As in GO... A Personal Mental Hitting Traffic
Light)
Hitting is an aggressive act of throwing the barrel of the bat at the ball, but
if you don't have the correct pre-swing thoughts (what I call a Hitting Mantra)
to gear yourself up for driving the ball & visual reference points for
identifying and tracking the pitch- you'll be a frustrated hitter.
An important key in the mental process involved in hitting is recycling. Refuel
and recycle your focus with the hitting mantra for a 20 second duration after
each pitch. This is to prepare you for a conrolled attack of the next pitch.
Perhaps you're now thinking that this repeated thought control process of
recycling after each pitch is not your cup of tea. Ultimately, it comes down to
being part of the discipline required to be a successful hitter. The old cliche
rings true here, "If it were easy, then everyone would be doing it." Ask
yourself truthfully,"What kind of hitter do I want to be?"
On Deck Prep and In Box Attitude
It's been said by many and multiple
times that you get your hits in the on deck circle. If they can't qualify that
statement, then it's only noise. Again, as stated in previous blog posts, a
disciplined mental approach using a hitting system that works is a major
component to being a successful hitter. If you employ such a system while on
deck and in box, you'll be ripping line drives until the world looks
level.
Preparing to hit on deck and in box means, as picky as it may
seem, that proper hitting mechanics and an aggressive approach are important to
maintaining hitting mechanics integrity and having successful at bats. To
accomplish this in the Combat Hitting system, destructive muscle memory killers
are removed and forbidden. The top of the throw out list is the softball
swing... at anytime. If it doesn't look like a line drive swing, don't do it.
Also, the pre-load bat waggle is not conducive to retaining a still head or the
correct hitting muscle memory. Although it is not an uppercut swing or a swing
of any type, it leads to problems. As an ex scout, I can tell you the problems
with the feet and hands are the hardest to overcome. Feet and hand problems make
you a "NP", a no prospect also known as a Zero in the OFP. You may argue that a
waggle helps you in getting your hands started, but I've seen that it's of
little or no benefit. The thought that it is useful in overcoming inertia in the
launch stage is debatable. It does have a high propensity to lead to a
hitch...especially if your hand and wrist strength can't handle a waggle. The
end result will be the barrell dropping below the hands creating a hole in your
swing. Expect to be pitched up and in routinely with this flaw.
Another
case for eliminating the waggle is the probability of causing innervation* and
blurred vision.
(Innervation* is an ugly beast in baseball. It likes to show
up when there's blurred vision caused by tracking pitches with more than 4 eye
muscles in each eye when hitting, and occurs after 10 minutes of repititious
drills)
More ON DECK Prep
In the Combat Hitting system you're
taught to desensitize your nervous system in your pre-at bat prep. Not only have
I borrowed strength and stretching techniques from the Russian Sports Program,
but I have incorporated many aspects from the Martial Arts as well...hence the
name Combat Hitting was derived.
Desensitizing the nervous system by
breathing techniques followed with the toe to head slap down, will have a
positive physiological hitting effect. Additional on deck prep, which includes
the hitting mantra with muscle memory work, a quick depth perception drill and
fine tuning your visual acuity.
Forget the bat weight. Overloading
changes your hitting mechanics and the lighter bat feel only lasts for 20
seconds before the bat feels heavier than it is. In essence you're causing
yourself to be weaker during your at bat.
Once in the box, you're ready
to start your IN BOX routine to sharpen your focus.

Metal Bat Disease

At the levels where aluminum or alloy bats are used, I'm seeing more and more big
swings. Big swings mean that you are using a longer radius which results in less
bat speed. The sweeper in turn notices he has trouble getting his barrel on the
the inside fastball and tries to remedy this by starting his swing a little
earlier. The catcher, pitcher, and the opposing team coach notice that you're
sweeping and starting your swing early and start feeding you off speed and
breaking stuff because you're now vulnerable to these pitches. Scouts see the
hand problems and lable the sweeper as a NP...No Prospect.

Hitting is an act of throwing the barrel, and the object is to get the top
hand to its strongest throwing position when loading. Another way to see this is
to think of a boxer or MMA never loading up a punch past his shoulder. Just like
hitters in baseball, they have to keep a short radius to be effective. Try going
wood in practice to teach yourself a short, compact swing and save your H2 for
the game.

Why You Shouldn't Give A Flip About Flip

Playing Flip instead of Pepper before a
game or during practice has about as much value as a sack of

salt...especially for hitters. Pepper gives you repeated opportunities to
work on tracking, the upper body muscle memory, and the bio-mechanics of a
grooved swing. The fielders can work on reactions, one hoppers, squeezing the
ball in the glove, rolling to a grip, and a quick release...basic fielding
fundamentals. I recommend playing Pepper 10 minutes a day for at least 6 days of
the week. If the fieldyou’re on doesn’t allow Pepper, find a place that’s near
the field to play. Add some Pepper to your game, and let the pitchers develop
their Flip skills.
Using the lower case c and starting at launch will keep
your head still. Overcoming inertia correctly will ensure visual clarity at the
release point. Remember the brain will help slow the ball down and make it look
larger on the way to the plate if you minimize the amount of eye muscles used in
tracking.Using the middle knuckle on the lead hand to draw a small c as you rock
and breatheinvolves two areas of the
hitting drivetrain: the physical
(bio-mechanics/physics and vision) working in harmony. It's high on the hitting
totem pole musts. Due to the laws of physics of motion (a.k.a. laws of motion),
if you can get your hands moving early prior to launch, it's easier to throw the
barrel at launch (body at rest requires more
force to get it moving as
opposed to a moving body can be moved easier, etc.). The tip and rip hitters are
overcoming inertia with a pre-launch tipping of the barrel towards the pitcher
slightly, but have to be strong enough to control the barrel as it returns
towards the back shoulder. Since there is a 1' to 12" correlation (which is
discussed in my blog) between the knob and top of the barrel, strength is
required to avoid dropping the barrel below the hands and/or looping. Nothing
like a big hole flaw for a smart pitcher to use as an out pitch or jam you up.
From my experience the younger hitters that tip and rip usuallyend up blurring
their vision when they can't keep their head still in the process. Dr. Harrison
has been generous in helping me with the vision connection in overcoming
inertia, but I've been asked to not post certain information. Since he and his
son are in the hitting and vision business and have competitors, I will respect
his wishes.

To connect early bat speed, the newest
"buzz word" for the hitting bio-mechanic linking process that Dr. Coop DeRenne
published in 1992, to the overcoming of inertia with the pre-launch movement of
the hands is a bit of stretch. Forgive me for being old school and not using the
term linking as much as I do the 1970's term torquing. For some coaches torquing
turned into slang like tightening the coil or winding the spring, but this term
still means the same thing as linking. From the ground up through the bodyr
otation linked stages unwind like a string of firecrackers through blocking
contact and follow through.

On Deck Bat Weight?

First, the good news is that the weighted bat in the on deck circle makes your bat feel lighter to provide more bat speed. The bad news is the effect only lasts 20 seconds. After 20 seconds, you actually become weaker than before you started swinging the weighted bat. See kinesthetic function and overloading on my blog.
For added strength, you’re better off by taking advantage of the neuro-muscular response provided by squeezing the handle at contact. It’s the body’s way of enabling a natural strength boost.
The not so good news is that overloading alters your hitting mechanics which plays havoc on muscle memory. Can you say, "Self-induced slump?" Conclusion: Nix the bat weight.

My comment on Eric Johson's PAP effect article on http://www.mlstrength.com/on-deck

"Nice information. Always liked the idea of kinesthetic overload for the PAP effect for shot and discus. Since I’m a hitting instructor, I’ve always stayed away from promoting it in the on deck circle after a college professor, Dr. Simpson, told us that the effect wears off after 20 seconds and the hitter actually becomes weaker than he was before…temporarily. My hitters are taught to recycle after each pitch and work the count so they’re in the box a while. Del Pittman"

Eric's Article...

Most rituals are born the same way as legends, from their great performances. Just think of your last accomplishment. You probably know your exact actions before getting that clutch hit, landing that overdue raise, or raising the bar for a new personal record. Those same actions, in some way, probably have become a part of what you do before attempting your next accomplishment. In the sport of baseball, superstitions and rituals are as big a part of the game as the seventh inning stretch, cracker jacks, and lucrative contracts. From never stepping on the foul lines to lucky hats and gloves, the most unique of them all may be a batter’s routine while on deck.

Next time you are at a ball game or watching from the convenience of your home, check out a batter’s routine when on deck. Beyond their mental preparation and focus, finding the pitcher’s release point, and getting their timing down, you will see many players go through their own individual routines. Within that circle, each player has own way of warming up, analyzing the current situation, and preparing the mind and body for the task at hand. From little to major league, many players love taking some practice swings using a weighted sleeve or baseball donut. This phenomenon where the bat feels lighter when stepping up to the plate from their warm up swings is called postactivation potentiation (PAP). Through heavy loading, the central nervous system is stimulated to a higher degree and translates to greater motor unit recruitment and force. In simplest terms, the muscles are primed and prepared to function at that level of intensity when a lower stimulus is presented.

So to break some of those same routines you have had in your training for the last year and still haven’t made any progress to show, take these same principles of the batter on deck and hit a home run with your next work. Here’s one way of taking a piece of America’s pastime into your next training session.

Try This: Add some volume while still increasing your intensity and building strength. With one of your core test lifts, whether it be the bench press, deadlift, front squat, perform two to three sets of the respective movement with a heavy weight and low reps (i.e., 3 sets of 2 to 3 reps). After the completion of those sets, perform two more sets with a slightly lower load for two sets of five or six reps.

Create a new ritual for yourself with your next breakout performance by incorporating postactivation potentiation into your training. “Remember kid, there’s heroes and there’s legends. Heroes get remembered but legends never die, follow your heart kid, and you’ll never go wrong.”

By Eric Johnson, CSCS

New Additional Information ...YouTube Sport Science Video
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_vR8U_KrhY&feature=player_embedded

OUTSIDE THE BOX DRILLS

Double entendre? Most assuredly.

Sometimes You Have to Love Boring...NOT!

The thought that, "sometimes you have to love boring" has been said by more than a few coaches over the years because it can take some players up to 16 weeks to develop a skill depending where they fall on the Bell Curve. So many coaches adopt overkill drilling to get in the reps needed to get the skill developed before 16 weeks. To accomplish this, drill time lasts a good deal longer than 10 minutes.

You know if it's boring, the drill is probably taking more than 10 minutes to complete. Innervation and boring go hand in hand. Innervation is the brain's way of escaping. My apologies to the Japanese coaches and the infamous 1,000 ball drill, but innervation and fatigue lead to slop. This will happen with any prolonged drill past 10 minutes.

In the Combat Hitting system NO drill is practiced for more than 10 minutes. There is no need to overcome mental fatigue with reps in your training. Hitting is not marathon running. The goal is to remain sharp by keeping our concentation and focus. Remember fatigue is detrimental to quality in hitting. Fatigue has its place in training for some movements for pitchers and position players and in other sports, but not in the fine motor skill of hitting. Plus, you can always come back to the drill and for as many times needed in 10 minutes sessions, barring joint stress and injury from high or excessive reps. Emphasis should be placed on alternating 10 minute drills and muscle groups to be worked.

Additionally, I developed the frisbee T Drill to improve getting the lead hand through the zone faster on inside pitches. Poly balls work great with this drill. A special angled T had to be made to allow for contact off the hips. The was designed to simulate where the lead hand should be on inside pitches. A regular T can be used to simulate outside corner pitches when there a 2 strikes in the count and a need to protect the plate. 20 years ago during my college coaching stint we'd wrap a newspaper with tape or a thick broom handle covered with pipe insulation & then taped over with either athletic tape or duct tape, and threw it with the lead hand at a baseball on a T. Both drills are still viable today.

The speed bag station has caught on with others! I've had the speed bag among my stations for hitters for some time now. It's great for eye-hand coordination and building forearm strength. This station also fits in well with the Combat Hitting philosophy...controlled aggression. 

In an effort to have a variety of stations, I now use the Wii and its Table Tennis game. The one exception is that you have to add wrist weights while you play. To have the endurance to play this 10 minute drill will take some practice to accomplish, but well worth it.

Successful Hitting 101

The Combat Hitting Formula for Success

Mental: 70%

Visual: 15%

Physical: 15%

These percentages equate to the time and effort required to be a successful hitter and are aquired through 10 minute drills. Drills that run past 10 minutes lead to innervation and poor mechanics. You can always come back to a particular drill later. Keep the mind fresh.

Leaping At The Opportunity To Hit
On Deck Prep and In Box Attitude

It's been said by many and multiple times that you get your hits in the on deck circle. If they can't qualify that statement, then it's only noise. Again, as stated in previous blog posts, a disciplined mental approach using a hitting system that works is a major component to being a successful hitter. If you employ such a system while on deck and in box, you'll be ripping line drives until the world looks level.

Preparing to hit on deck and in box means, as picky as it may seem, that proper hitting mechanics and an aggressive approach are important to maintaining hitting mechanics integrity and having successful at bats. To accomplish this in the Combat Hitting system, destructive muscle memory killers are removed and forbidden. The top of the throw out list is the softball swing... at anytime. If it doesn't look like a line drive swing, don't do it. Also, the pre-load bat waggle is not conducive to retaining a still head or the correct hitting muscle memory. Although it is not an uppercut swing or a swing of any type, it leads to problems. As an ex scout, I can tell you the problems with the feet and hands are the hardest to overcome. Feet and hand problems make you a "NP", a no prospect also known as a Zero in the OFP. You may argue that a waggle helps you in getting your hands started, but I've seen that it's of little or no benefit. The thought that it is useful in overcoming inertia in the launch stage is debatable. It does have a high propensity to lead to a hitch...especially if your hand and wrist strength can't handle a waggle. The end result will be the barrell dropping below the hands creating a hole in your swing. Expect to be pitched up and in routinely with this flaw.

Another case for eliminating the waggle is the probability of causing innervation* and blurred vision.
(Innervation* is an ugly beast in baseball. It likes to show up when there's blurred vision caused by tracking pitches with more than 4 eye muscles in each eye when hitting, and occurs after 10 minutes of repititious drills)

More ON DECK Prep

In the Combat Hitting system you're taught to desensitize your nervous system in your pre-at bat prep. Not only have I borrowed strength and stretching techniques from the Russian Sports Program, but I have incorporated many aspects from the Martial Arts as well...hence the name Combat Hitting was derived.

Desensitizing the nervous system by breathing techniques followed with the toe to head slap down, will have a positive physiological hitting effect. Additional on deck prep, which includes the hitting mantra with muscle memory work, a quick depth perception drill and fine tuning your visual acuity.

Forget the bat weight. Overloading changes your hitting mechanics and the lighter bat feel only lasts for 20 seconds before the bat feels heavier than it is. In essence you're causing yourself to be weaker during your at bat.

Once in the box, you're ready to start your IN BOX routine to sharpen your focus.

"Cs" The Benefit, etc.

Make a small C slowly with the middle knuckle on the middle finger of the lead hand as your hands begin their path to explode through the ball. The reason for doing this in a slow manner is because a slow start enables the hitter to keep their head still and maintain positive tracking of the pitch. I won't use this forum for specifics, but I adhere to Dr. Bill Harrison's Vision Training for teaching proper visual acuity by limiting the number of eyes muscles used in hitting which in turn prevents blurring the hitter's vision during pitch tracking...a.k.a. fine centering/soft centering.

Hitting is an act of controlled aggression. To be a good hitter that can consistently drive a pitch, you must put yourself into the role of being the aggressor in a confrontation with the pitcher.

I teach a form of recycling made famous by Tim Galwey years ago. My hitters develop a personalized hitting mantra with my assistance as part of a hitting routine. Once the hitting routine is in their subconscious, they'll recycle their HM (hitting mantra) before each pitch. Recycling the HM in the hitting routine can provide you with an effective system in your hitting development.

Wake Up Call For The Rangers' Chris Davis

I wonder if Chris Davis realizes that he's just a couple of swing adjustments away from being the next Adam Dunn? Fortunately, he's just minutes away from metroplex pro hitting instructor Jaime Cevallos over in Grapevine, and I know he knows the fixes needed for his swing. Hopefully, someone will get the word out to Chris so he can turn his career around *now*... at a young age. 

Also, I'm in no way connected to Jaime Cevallos or his Swing Mechanic business, but I wouldn't be complaining if I were connected. He certainly has a track record with all levels of hitters...especially pro hitters...pretty impressive.

Visualize Yourself in Action

The best results come from looking out and not by looking in. Seeing yourself from another person's viewpoint is not helpful and can be counter productive.

To enhance your experience of viewing inside out(like your eyes are a camera lens), increase the effectiveness by including your 5 senses. "Feel" the visiualization to make it a real as possible.

2011 California Winter League

Passing along an email from Kevin...

Good Afternoon,

 

I have received your information through the American Baseball Coaches Association, as our organization just became a new member. I wanted to reach out to you in an attempt to spread the opportunity of the California Winter League to any player who may be interested. Whether you are a scout, college coach, high school coach, or participate in baseball in another way, chances are you may know a player who would benefit from an opportunity like as this one.

If you have already received this email or information on the California Winter League, we apologize and hope you take this as a friendly reminder as we are attempting to help as many players as possible.

This upcoming winter will mark the 2^nd season of the California Winter League in Palm Springs, California.  The 2011 season will begin on January 18th and continue through February 19th. The California Winter League is an instructional league that provides players with the opportunity to receive instruction from former Major League players and current professional league coaches. A player must me at least 18 years old to participate and have the intention of playing professional baseball. Participation in the California Winter League will not have any effect on college eligibility as long as the player does not sign a professional contract after the conclusion of the league. Generally, players who attend are current/former professional players, or future rookies, who are looking for a professional contract in 2011.

We will have many Major League scouts in attendance as well as coaches and representatives from many Independent leagues and their respective teams. Currently we are in negotiations with teams from independent leagues such as the Atlantic League, the Northern League, the Can-Am League, the American Association, the Frontier League, the Golden Baseball League, and the newly formed Pecos League. They all have shown heavy interest in being a part of the CWL as coaches and scouts, as they are in search of talented players who may have slipped through the cracks, blossomed late, or players that have previous professional experience that could help them win a 2011 league championship.

Former MLB slugger Darrell Evans is our league Commissioner and lead instructor overseeing all instruction and designating coaching responsibilities. Darrell had a 20 year MLB career with three different organizations and hit over 400 big league home runs. Along with major league instruction, players will be provided housing, meals, equipment, gym memberships, plenty of playing time, and a chance to play baseball in the beautiful Southern California desert.

Last year was the CWL’s inaugural season, and through the help of the great individuals who make up the league, over 60% of the league’s players signed 2010 spring training contracts with professional organizations. We had one player who signed with the A’s organization and just wrapped up the season with their Short-A affiliate leading his team in triples and steals. With the amount of feedback we have received from players as well as the many professional organizations that support us, we are looking forward to an even more successful 2011 season with more professional opportunities. 

For more information please visit our website at www.CaliforniaWinterLeague.com or call our offices at (760) 778-4487. You may also contact us by emailing me at kmanfred@palmspringspowerbaseball.com, or our league President, Andrew Starke at astarke@palmspringspowerbaseball.com. I have attached two documents that have much more detailed information about the league as well as a registration form. Please pass this information along to any current or aspiring professional baseball players that you may be in contact with. Thank you for your time and good luck with your 2011 season.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Kevin Manfred
Assistant General ManagerPalm Springs POWER Baseball/ California Winter League
KManfred@palmspringspowerbaseball.com

WK: (760) 778-HITS (4487)
FAX: (760) 325-7206www.PSPBB.com
www.CaliforniaWinterLeague.com