Hitters
The only time striking out is somewhat acceptable is with a 3-2 count and an expanded strike call.
Expand the zone with 2 strikes.
Choke up, spread out, take the plate away and compete like a JYD.
When the count goes full you shrink the zone and make him throw a real strike.
Full count walks fuel offenses and destroy pitchers.
🚨Mike Trout: Outfield Reads
• No dead feet
• Timing the release of the pitcher
• 1st step is the most important
⭐️ BP is the best time for outfielders to get game like reads. Don’t take shagging for granted those are your reps!
Want to handle elite pitching? Start with the right approach.
Your swing should be “on” the moment the pitcher releases the ball. If it’s not a pitch you can do damage with, turn it off and take it.
We call it:
“YES, YES, YES… NO.” (Take)
If it’s your pitch:
“YES, YES, YES… CRUSH.” (Swing)
Great hitters are ready to hit every pitch. They simply have the discipline to say no to the wrong ones.
Example👇
“The more relaxed the muscles are, the more energy can flow through the body.”
-Bruce Lee
The hardest thing for a player in games isn’t throwing or swinging harder, it’s to relax and Flow!
Mental toughness is not the absence of doubt. It is the ability to recover from doubt quickly. 🎾
Fear, worry, and anxiety are part of being human. Even @DjokerNole and all of the best performers in the world experience them.
The difference is not that they avoid negative thoughts, but that they have trained themselves to return to the mindset that serves them and their mission.
Mental toughness is a skill. Like any skill, it improves with repetition.
You cannot control which thoughts enter your mind, but you can train how quickly you return to what matters.
The goal is not to never get knocked off course.
The goal is to shorten the time it takes to get back on track.
In the outfield if you open up to one side of a hard hit ball & the ball is on the opposite side just rotate your head to the ball verses trying to turn your entire body back to the ball. Taking your eyes off the ball briefly & having body control is more efficient than watching the ball all the way & not be in control of your movements.
Pitchers:
Walks are our enemy!! Sure there may be times later in a game where we might pitch around the batter to set up a DP or force situation but in general they aren’t good. At the end of the day if I’m throwing multiple “ball 4’s” I’m putting myself and my team in unnecessary and unwanted situations. One of our main goals as a pitcher should be to limit them as much as possible. Try focusing on these to help:
• Focus better on mechanics and location during catch play. Throw all your pitch types during catch. If you’re all over the place in catch there’s a great chance you’re all over the place on the mound.
• BREATHE!! Stay relaxed out there. Don’t let the game speed up on you. The situation is what it is. Remain forward focused and be present in the moment. “What’s the goal with this pitch right here, right now?”
• Throw regular weekly bullpens to focus on feel, repeating your delivery and repeating your pitches.
• Avoid “3 ball” counts by being better in 2 ball counts. Have an attitude of ending the at bat right now. Force action. Eliminate walks by eliminating 3 ball counts.
• Every day is different out there. On the days you’re not as sharp as you would like to be, use the bigger part of the plate. Be careful of trying to pitch to the corners when you don’t have that ability that inning or game.
• If your FB command is off, use your other pitches. That’s one reason why we have multiple pitches. Throwing a couple/few in a row can act as a distraction from the negative feelings around our FB in that moment and also act as a reset for our FB release.
• Stop giving the hitters too much credit. Hitting is hard!! Yes, sometimes they will win but on average they won’t more often. Challenge them!
Pitchers, we need to stay away from those walks. Keep learning and figuring out the little things to help you walk less, throw less pitches and stay in the game longer.
Hitters
As much as you want to swing at the 1-0, 2-0, 3-0 pitch with nobody in scoring position.
The other team wants you to swing at it even more.
Percentages say you're going to get yourself out.
Infielders at the Highest Levels trust there training! They prepare during the week. They make plays in the biggest moments and games. Why? Because they practice with purpose. They play High Level Elite Catch and they make plays with athleticism and fearlessness!!
Tough topic but it needs to be talked about…
When young players have the habit of looking to the stands at Mom and Dad to see if they are watching, we know their minds are distracted. Whether they are looking for approval, looking to see how they react to a negative moment or maybe even looking to be told what to do, it’s a distraction and a sign of insecurity.
We want players confident. We want players all in. We want players so focused on the task at hand, there’s not even a thought in their mind on who’s watching (or not watching). The inconsistencies in their thought patterns (mom, game, dad, game, mom, game, dad, game) will absolutely lead to inconsistencies in their performance.
Parents, if this describes your player, it might be time for a talk about this bad habit.
Very simple BHB technique here.
1) Earlier turn
2) Bat pointed to 1B coach.
3) Catching the ball on the bat.
4) Seeing the ball down before running.
5) Direction good enough if speed is right. IMO “base hit or foul ball” is a cue that produces too many foul bunt attempts.
This needs to be said.
Parents
If your son is undersized as a kid (little league-youth age) and is a tireless worker and competitive by nature.
Be patient.
He's going to pass the majority of early bloomers.
It can actually be a big time advantage in the long run.
Puberty, the weight room and caloric intake are game changers for competitive kids.
High School Hitters: There is ZERO excuse for not knowing the umpire's zone! They aren't perfect. They're human. Your job is to figure this out on the bench or in the on-deck circle/hole. Communicate with your teammates. Let them know what you saw. Don't complain. Be prepared. Make the necessary adjustments!!!
#TheMoreYouKnow💫
HS baseball truth ⚾️ 👇
~7% will play in college
<3% will play D1
That’s not meant to discourage you. It’s meant to wake you up. ‼️💯
• Get stronger
• Get faster
• Get explosive
• Throw/Hit harder
• Compete
Because hoping you get recruited, isn’t a plan.
Lets work 💪
Pregame matters!! How you prepare before a game is a huge evaluation time for coaches/scouts. You may not get a ball hit to you during the game! Work with intent, at game speed and under control. Spoke to a college coach today, told me he stopped recruiting a player because his pregame was lazy. It translates!! You’re always being evaluated!!