Gale Van Rossem

Sr Software Engineer @BoardOps_ | Dev Bootcamp Grad | Entrepreneur | Drake Relays Champ & 5 Time All-Am. @NCCMensXCTF creator of @wxsw_react

[Jermaine Curtis @JermaineCurtis]

The biggest mistake I made as a hitter...

I used to take the first pitch fastball.

I told myself I needed to get my timing.

"See one first."
"Time the pitcher."
"Get comfortable."

At the time, it sounded like a smart strategy.

The problem?

It wasn't strategy.

It was fear.

Fear of swinging and missing.
Fear of making an out.
Fear of looking stupid on the first pitch.

But I disguised it as "getting my timing."

What changed everything was a hitting journal.

Throughout pro ball, I tracked everything.

Every pitch I saw.
Every pitch I swung at.
The count.
Pitch location.
What I was thinking.
What I was feeling.

After a full season, I sat down and started digging through the numbers.

One stat jumped off the page.

On 0-0 fastballs...

I was hitting .367.

Not only that, a huge percentage of my doubles, triples, and home runs came on that pitch.

I couldn't believe it.

The pitch I was letting go by was one of the best pitches I'd see all at-bat.

It completely changed my perspective.

That's when I learned a lesson I'll never forget:

Don't confuse fear with strategy.

A lot of hitters do it.

They pass on good pitches because they're "getting their timing."

They become passive because they're "being disciplined."

They play careful because they're "trying not to do too much."

Sometimes that's true.

Sometimes it's fear wearing a different uniform.

My journal exposed it immediately.

From that day forward, I stopped trying to get comfortable.

I started preparing to hit from pitch one.

If you're someone that is unsure of swinging at the first pitch...

Here's my "first pitch crusher plan" I'd Do Tonight to help you:

1. Front Toss (10 Swings)
Treat every pitch like it's 0-0. Be ready to attack your pitch immediately.

2. Short Box (10 Swings)
Every pitch starts 0-0. Compete from the first pitch instead of easing into the round.

3. Batting Practice (10 Swings)
Look for a first-pitch fastball you can drive. Train yourself to be ready from pitch one.

One thing I've learned from baseball:

The best hitters don't wait to get comfortable.

They prepare themselves to compete from the very first pitch.

Thank you for reading,
Jermaine Curtis

P.S. - If you enjoyed this and found it helpful, please share it.

(This tells me you want more content like this.)

[Lucas Ace Van Rossem @aceforcevr]

Shoe came off on step 1 but kept going 😅

Official 7.09 with 1.65 at 10 (tied fastest). Top 10 in 60.

Crazy run.

[Gale Van Rossem @GaleForceVR]

15yo • 6'3" • Incoming Soph (Class of 2029)

Bought size 15 cleats last night… lost one on the first step today Still ran hand-timed 6.95 → Official laser 7.09 (1.65 at 10 yards, tied for fastest) 60 was top 10 at the showcase.

Wild one.

#BaseballRecruit #ClassOf2029

[Jim Koenigsberger @Jimfrombaseball]

"I love baseball and I was never afraid to work hard.
When Davey Lopes got hurt, I got an opportunity to play second on a daily basis and I took advantage of it.
He was getting up there in age, so everything lined up for me.
Early in my career, I did have a problem throwing to first base.
To this day, young people come up to me all the time and tell me, hey—they have the same problem.
Parents call me and ask me how can they help their child from overcoming this problem?
It’s more common than you probably realize.
In 1983, I made an error and then I made another one, and pretty soon I let doubt and fear creep into my psyche.
And when that happens, you’re a goner.
I just lost my confidence, it’s that simple.
I am proud of the fact that I am one of the few athletes who overcame this problem.
It’s also prevalent in other sports, like tennis and golf.
Showtime is doing a documentary about it right now.
It became embarrassing after a while.
‘There’s the guy who can’t throw,’ I kept hearing and, sure, it started to affect me.
People were trying to bet on me to screw up in Las Vegas and I even got some death threats, so it was crazy until I beat it.
At 24 years old, it was pretty scary and tough to handle."
Steve Sax.
In 1983, the second baseman committed 30 errors for the Dodgers.
His throws were so wild, that fans sitting along the first-base line began wearing helmets.

[Gale Van Rossem @GaleForceVR]

@soncharm @DoubtfulAcct It's a fair point, and im sure there was a debate about that when the rule was written. I would guess that the rule was meant to prevent injuries to players. You don't want a player to have to risk a fall from a 9 foot tall fence, or more dangerous situation to catch a ball

[Gale Van Rossem @GaleForceVR]

@soncharm @DoubtfulAcct Let me revise that slightly. In baseball rules, the fielder must have at least one foot in play. They cannot scale the wall and land beyond tge fence in the act of catching the ball. It would be a HR

[Gale Van Rossem @GaleForceVR]

@soncharm @DoubtfulAcct Nope. Thats an out. Its an exceptional defensive play

[Gale Van Rossem @GaleForceVR]

@soncharm @DoubtfulAcct The fence isn't there just for spectators though, because why would they ha e built so many HS stadiums with a fence? Most don't have seats out there

[Gale Van Rossem @GaleForceVR]

@soncharm @DoubtfulAcct Yes, we are in pretty much full agreement, and from a business perspective, why spend money on that extra 200 feet of real estate when its just going to catch HR balls anyway? You couldn't sell seats 600 feet away. Fans wouldn't be able to see the batter

[Gale Van Rossem @GaleForceVR]

@soncharm @DoubtfulAcct Thats generally gonna be a HR, and its a hell of a hit. Reward tge batter for the hit with a HR, and don't male the OF chase a ball for 500 or 600 feet that is just going to result in a HR anyway

[Gale Van Rossem @GaleForceVR]

@soncharm @DoubtfulAcct The fence is just there to limit how far the fielders have to run on a ball that is hit so far that its likely to be a home run anyway. After about 400 feet in carry distance, the ball is generally over the heads of most OFs and a ball thay far away, with no fence to stop it ...

[Gale Van Rossem @GaleForceVR]

@AndersonLMiller @PhilSanchezTV Its a balance of both practice and games, though. Playing games against high level opponents can't be simulated in practice. You need to play games to inform what you need to work on in practice.

I agree that there needs to be more time spent on practice and development, though

[Gale Van Rossem @GaleForceVR]

Proud of my son Lucas! Played a great tournament and brought home his first #GameDayUSA All Star ring!!

[Lucas Ace Van Rossem @aceforcevr]

Repping @il_hawks in the @GameDayUSA All-Star Weekend in Crown Pointe, Ind.

My 13U Braves team got it done this weekend! Brought home the All-Star ring!!

[Elon Musk @elonmusk]

@veespike @HillaryClinton @Twitter You are absolutely correct. That tweet is a Clinton campaign hoax for which their campaign lawyer is undergoing a criminal trial. https://t.co/avtjEdthmA

[Gale Van Rossem @GaleForceVR]

We're waiting @paraga and @vijaya

[Elon Musk @elonmusk]

@veespike @HillaryClinton @Twitter .@paraga and @vijaya, what say you?

[Elon Musk @elonmusk]

@TheCryptoDaddi @Block0nex @Jim_Jordan I am indeed out for blood

[Elon Musk @elonmusk]

@Jim_Jordan All true.

Bet most people still don’t know that a Clinton campaign lawyer, using campaign funds, created an elaborate hoax about Trump and Russia.

Makes you wonder what else is fake.

https://t.co/avtjEdthmA

[Gale Van Rossem @GaleForceVR]

@GiordanosPizza @MadeOnBraid The only debate is who is second to @GiordanosPizza!

[Gale Van Rossem @GaleForceVR]

The height and knee drive says this guy is a HJ/LJ but the leg action is all TJ. If he's not on the track team he will be as soon as March Madness is over! Who is this guy?!?

[Barstool Sports @barstoolsports]

This man flew through the air

[jack @jack]

damn