DM

⚾️|🐲

[Jermaine Curtis @JermaineCurtis]

I just worked with this college player this morning.

We had a short window before it started raining again in Nashville.

The key today wasn't his swing.

It was what he said before every swing.

I had him say out loud:

"I have the best swing in the world."

Every time he hit the baseball hard, we reinforced it.

Every time he didn't, instead of beating himself up, he immediately said:

"That's not me."

Then we moved on to the next swing.

No negative self-talk.
No dwelling on mistakes.

Just confidence... and the next pitch.

The result?

He hit more line drives than I had ever seen from him.

He drove balls all over the field and even hit one 390 feet with a wood bat to the warning track.

Try this at your next hitting session:

• Before every swing, say:

"I have the best swing in the world."

• When you hit it hard, reinforce it.

• When you don't, immediately say:

"That's not me."

• Then move on to the next swing.

Your brain believes what it hears repeatedly.

Make sure it's hearing something worth believing.

Thank you for reading.
- Jermaine Curtis

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

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

[The Hitting Vault @TheHittingVault]

Separation at launch position = yep
Hips first = yep
Then torso = yep
THEN hands & barrel

[Trosky @NateTrosky]

Infielders spend the least amount of time working on plays in the forehand lane and this is why we see so many errors in the mlb on balls hit to infielder's left. The 5 hop drill is a great foundational drill that teaches infielders how to dominate the 5 different hops on plays to their left.
@judahshirlen

[DM @deanmerc12]

@hr_sportscards FS??

[Matt Lisle @CoachLisle]

If your coach has to constantly come to you to ask you to work hard, don’t be surprised when you get replaced by someone who constantly comes to your coach asking for more work.

[3 Lefts Baseball | Coach Big Mike Fuchs @3leftsbaseball]

Most infield errors happen before the ball is hit.

College infielders know that.

Runner on first.

Less than two outs.

What are you thinking before the pitch?

Most players think:

“Make the play.”

Smarter players think:

• Where’s my throw if it’s hit hard?
• Where’s my throw if it’s slow?
• Do I need one or two?
• What can’t happen this inning?

College defenders decide before contact.

High school defenders decide after it.

That’s the gap.

If you’re reacting to the ball,

you’re late.

If you’re anticipating the situation,

you’re ahead.

High school rewards athleticism.

College rewards awareness.

That’s Baseball IQ.

Built at 15.
Proven at 20.

Routine Over Flash.

#3LeftsBaseball
#BaseballIQ

[Mikey Corsillo @Corsillo11]

Love this swing right here.

Specifically, follow the front foot through the entire swing.

At the top of the load, the front foot is closed and almost on the batter’s box line. That’s where the coil happens. He’s building tension and storing energy into the rear hip.

Then as the foot travels forward into foot plant, it opens towards the direction of the shortstop. That move is everything.

That movement pattern out of the load:

- Creates rotational acceleration into foot strike.

- Opens the pelvis while the torso resists.

- Builds hip shoulder separation and stretch.

By the time he lands, he’s already created the stretch needed to fire immediately at foot strike.

[Anderson Miller @AndersonLMiller]

If you wouldn’t say it to your teammate, don’t say it to yourself.

Negative self-talk is your #1 enemy

[Matt Lisle @CoachLisle]

Early this season with my college hitters, one thing keeps coming up: Plate Discipline and Swing%.

Here is a simple decision tree you can use with your hitters in season:

If Chase% is high → fix approach.

If Chase% good but Zone Contact% low → fix bat to ball skill.

If both good but production/results low → fix contact quality.

If everything good but SLG low → optimize swing plane or launch profile.

[Greg Berge @GregBerge]

5 things every athlete can control:

1. Attitude
2. Effort
3. Body language
4. Preparation
5. Response to adversity

You can’t control refs.
You can’t control playing time.
You can’t control opinions.

But you can control how you show up.

[Kama @CoachKama]

Want to know what impresses me regularly,..

Grit.

Someone, who doesn’t quit:

Makes an error, rebounds.

Gives up a bomb on the mound, responds.

KO looking w runner on 3, sprints to their posn.

You are who you are, after the hard.

Always believe in yourself.

Never quit .

[Troy Silva @TroyPSilva]

Coaches love TALENT
Coaches love ABILITY
Coaches love SKILLSET

But…
Coaches absolutely love
TALENT + EFFORT
ABILITY + GREAT ATTITUDE
SKILLSET + BASEBALL SMARTS

Baseball talent gets you opportunities…
Baseball talent + work ethic, character and intellect helps you make the best of those opportunities!

#BaseballTruth

[Coach Swit @CoachSwit]

11–14U parents talking about “exposure tournaments.”
Exposure to who? Who told you college coaches are recruiting middle school players?
11–14U isn’t for recruiting.
It’s for learning to throw strikes, barrel balls, and handle failure.

[Stance Doctor @StanceDoctor]

Hitters, Season is here.
DON’T STRESS, DON’T PRESS. It’s a long season, it doesn’t matter how you start.
1- Be on time (start and deliver)
2- Swing at Good pitches
3- Be a tough out (low k%)
Good Shit Will Happen ⬆️⬆️

[Next Level Baseball @nextlevelbb]

Your Phone.
Doesn't belong in the dugout.
Doesn't belong in the weight room.
Doesn't belong in the locker room.
Doesn't belong in the cages.
Start acting like baseball is more important to you than your phone.

[DM @deanmerc12]

🗣️110%! As a former D3 baseball athlete, I played with some absolute dawgs at Wilson College. It is very important for an athlete to find the right fit in order to develop on and off the field.GAME-LIKE COMPETITION BREEDS DEVELOPMENT!🗣️

[Coach Swit @CoachSwit]

Having D1 goals as a H.S. player is great — aim high.
But if it’s not happening, don’t sit around waiting for a label that isn’t coming.

D2. D3. NAIA. JUCO.
There are dudes there who can flat out play.

Pride doesn’t get you on a roster. Performance does.

[DM @deanmerc12]

Culture speaks volumes 🗣️

[Shawn Siemers @Siemers_XC_TF]

Kid showed up 10 minutes late to practice last Thursday.
Freshman.
Third week on the team.
Still learning how everything works.

I didn't say anything.
Just moved the practice forward without him.

He jogged up, quiet, and slid into the back of the group.
Everyone kept moving.

During the cool-down, I saw two of our leaders pull him aside by the fence.

Couldn't hear what they said.
Didn't need to.

Just watched them talk — calm, serious, no raised voices.
The kid nodding.
Listening.

Thursday afternoon, 4:47 PM, my phone buzzes:
"Won't happen again, Coach. My bad."

I never tell new coaches this is what's possible because they don't believe me.

They think you have to enforce everything.
Make the call on every situation.
Be the one who holds the line.

But when your architecture is clear — when everyone understands what the goal demands — the team regulates itself.

Those leaders weren't doing me a favor.
They were protecting something they built.

I don't police alignment.
The standard does.

[Shawn Siemers @Siemers_XC_TF]

Kid showed up 10 minutes late to practice last Thursday.
Freshman.
Third week on the team.
Still learning how everything works.

I didn't say anything.
Just moved the practice forward without him.

He jogged up, quiet, and slid into the back of the group.
Everyone kept moving.

During the cool-down, I saw two of our leaders pull him aside by the fence.

Couldn't hear what they said.
Didn't need to.

Just watched them talk — calm, serious, no raised voices.
The kid nodding.
Listening.

Thursday afternoon, 4:47 PM, my phone buzzes:
"Won't happen again, Coach. My bad."

I never tell new coaches this is what's possible because they don't believe me.

They think you have to enforce everything.
Make the call on every situation.
Be the one who holds the line.

But when your architecture is clear — when everyone understands what the goal demands — the team regulates itself.

Those leaders weren't doing me a favor.
They were protecting something they built.

I don't police alignment.
The standard does.

[DM @deanmerc12]

@JesseLitsch @GoMaconBacon Hey Coach, hope all is well! Sent you a DM, thank you🫡

[Baseball Dudes Inc. 🇺🇸⚾️ @BaseballDudes48]

Free Bases

During my years coaching in the Angels organization we would keep track of these every game. FREE BASES. Our goal was to have 5 or less per game. Our analytics department told us if we did this we had a 72% chance of winning that game.

FREE BASES are…

Walks
Balks
Wild Pitches
Passed Balls
Errors
Stolen Bases
HBP (Hit By Pitch)

The best way to accomplish this goal game after game was through discussion, taking it one pitch at a time, being intentional in our preparation and to slow the game down mentally. “You control the game, don’t let it control you.”

Walks: Whether there is no runners on or the bases are loaded, slow it down, analyze the situation you are in and execute a quality pitch. Make them earn their way on base, give them something to hit and don’t GIVE them that FREE BASE!

Balks: Again, slow the game down. Balks usually happen when we let things speed up on us. Make sure you are ready before you put your foot on that rubber. Develop a relaxed intensity that allows for you to be locked in and focused but also prepared for chaos. Don’t panic when your opponent tries to get in your head.

Wild Pitches: To prevent these, it takes two players. As pitchers, first we need a controlled consistent delivery that allows for a consistent release point. As a catcher, we need to be confident in our ability to block the baseball. Work hard and become one of the best at it. It does a lot mentally for a pitcher knowing that they can throw an 0-2 breaking ball in the dirt and their backstop has their back and will do their part.

Passed Balls: Catchers, this is on you. Focus on every pitch. Watch the ball all the way to your glove. Give hard focus when catching bullpens. Focus on receiving. Develop your fast twitch.

Errors: The more we limit these as a team, we will always have a better chance at getting that W. Work your butt off to be a fundamentally sound player! Coaches, never ignore the importance of your team being able to take care of the baseball. Defensive fundamentals must be a weekly focus.

Stolen Bases: This is on the pitchers. We NEED to be experts at controlling the running game. Learn what counts they like to run in. Vary your hold times. Don’t fall into patterns (don’t hold for the same count every pitch). Develop quality pick-off moves. Have a good inside move to second. These all take practice. This is a must if you want to be the best at this game!!

HBP: For me, this one could go both ways. Yes it is counted as a FREE BASE but this FREE BASE can work for us as pitchers too. If we are good at pitching inside, this WILL happen. When this does happen, not only will that hitter remember that the next time they come up but when we pitch in (and happen to hit a couple batters), every guy in the other dugout will start to notice. They all might start backing off the plate opening up the outer half for us. Pitchers, develop confidence on pitching inside. That is YOUR plate!!

Limit the FREE BASES we allow as a team and our odds of winning that game go way up!!