Daniel Baucom, EdD.

Faith, Family, Teaching! Heb 5:12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers.... husband of @jamierayebaucom #churchofChrist Elementary School Principal

[KFVS Weather @kfvsweather]

HEADS UP! Flash flooding is impacting some roads in Cape Girardeau. Here's a look at Broadway Street near Kingshighway.

[Jermaine Curtis @JermaineCurtis]

When I was with the St. Louis Cardinals, we had a team meeting about hitting with two strikes.

Albert Pujols was leading it.

At the time, he was hitting something ridiculous with two strikes.

I want to say it was around .265.

Naturally, everyone wanted to know how.

So somebody asked:

"What's your two-strike approach?"

Albert's answer surprised me.

He said:

"I think fastball inside and hit it back through the middle."

That was it.

No complicated mechanics.

No secret formula.

Just:

Fastball inside.

Back through the middle.

I remember sitting there thinking:

"Why would you think fastball inside with two strikes?"

So somebody asked him.

And Albert said something I'll never forget.

He said:

"If I can hit a fastball inside back through the middle..."

"I can hit the fastball away."

"I can stay on the changeup."

"I can stay on the slider."

"I can stay on the curveball."

Then he paused.

And said:

"The ball gets deeper."

That's when it clicked for me.

He wasn't trying to pull the inside fastball.

He was using one thought to cover everything.

The more I thought about it...

The more it made sense.

So I started trying it.

And it changed the way I thought about hitting with two strikes.

Instead of worrying about every pitch...

I focused on one.

Fastball inside.

Back through the middle.

See it DEEP.

If you're struggling with two strikes, here's what I'd do tonight:

Round 1: Short Box

(Set the distance somewhere between front toss and batting practice.)

Have a coach throw only fastballs inside.

Your only thought:

"Fastball inside."

Drive the ball back through the middle.

10 swings.

Round 2: Mix Speeds

Now the coach mixes:

- Fastballs
- Changeups
- Breaking balls
- Sliders

But your thought never changes.

You're still looking:

"Fastball inside."

10 swings.

Round 3: Two-Strike BP

Every pitch starts 0-2.

Compete.

Battle.

Use the same approach.

"Fastball inside."

Back through the middle.

10 swings.

That's it.

30 focused swings.

One thought.

One approach.

One goal.

Drive the baseball back through the middle.

One thing I've learned:

Most hitters get worse with two strikes because they add thoughts.

Albert got better because he removed them.

With two strikes, simplicity is a weapon.

Thank you for reading,
Jermaine Curtis

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

(When you share it, it tells me you want more content like this.)

[Daniel Baucom, EdD. @SCFB8299]

@dish_answers But still tells me I can’t direct message you because you don’t follow me. 🤷🏻‍♂️ I guess I will just call tomorrow

[Daniel Baucom, EdD. @SCFB8299]

@dish_answers are you going to have the #stlcards games on dish network this year and if so, what channel? I’m trying to help my mother figure out what channel she can watch the games on.

[Daniel Baucom, EdD. @SCFB8299]

@dish_answers Yes!

[Daniel Baucom, EdD. @SCFB8299]

@dish_answers

[Daniel Baucom, EdD. @SCFB8299]

@dish_answers It won’t let me because I’m not verified.

[Daniel Baucom, EdD. @SCFB8299]

We are like 5 days away from the Cardinals home opener and @DIRECTV haven’t said when they will add https://t.co/7Luh7KWNOm to the lineup channel

[Bob Nightengale @BNightengale]

Venezuela manager Omar Lopez on potential pitching restrictions after heavily using his bullpen Monday night: ‘I woke this morning, three text messages from different organizations trying not to pitch guys back to back.’’’
He called them back trying to convince them to change their mind.

[PragerU @prageru]

NEW RELEASE: Sex: What If the Bible is Right?

What would the world be like if everyone followed the Bible’s teaching on sex? Should anybody care? | @Sean_McDowell
https://t.co/QqMmXmIXmo

[LeoTerrell @TheLeoTerrell]

RT if you will watch #KidRock instead of #bugsbunny

[Daniel Baucom, EdD. @SCFB8299]

@PotterWorldUK Books by far

[Dr. Richard Sullivan @RsullivanUs]

Congrats ECC JV!
1st Place BRL win!

[Daniel Baucom, EdD. @SCFB8299]

@lady_valor_07 Mae

[Daniel Baucom, EdD. @SCFB8299]

@Excellentsalvic Amen

[Daniel Baucom, EdD. @SCFB8299]

@insidemanifest 111

[Daniel Baucom, EdD. @SCFB8299]

@indicatorfn Hi

[Foul Territory @FoulTerritoryTV]

Wednesday edition of Foul Territory!

• MLB insider @BNightengale
• Guardians RP @SArmstrong90

Today's hosts: @AJPierzynski12, @ErikKratz31, @ScottBraun.

Watch LIVE on YouTube from 1-3 ET!

[BaseballHistoryNut @nut_history]

Greg Maddux talks about how velocity will get you drafter but movement and location will help you in the long run. Really good listen from one of the best to ever do it.

[Daniel Baucom, EdD. @SCFB8299]

@DiamondNutsGuy Thanks for the opportunity and your willingness to change someone’s life forever.