Blake McCullers

Special Education Teacher @ Monroe Area High School. Assistant Baseball Coach

[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

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[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!!

[Troy Silva @TroyPSilva]

10 things that will ALWAYS get a ballplayer noticed:
👍🏼Hustle
👎🏼Bad effort
👍🏼Humble confidence
👎🏼Cocky arrogance
👍🏼Energy & excitement
👎🏼Laziness
👍🏼Being a great teammate
👎🏼Being pouty & selfish
👍🏼Mental toughness
👎🏼Bad body language
Oh, you will get noticed for your actions…But make it for the good things you do, not the bad!
#BaseballTruth

[Pedro Martinez @45PedroMartinez]

When in the minors I focused on working my ligaments; I never lifted heavy weights. Time has changed, and so has training, but if you want to become a pitcher, you should strive to learn the feel for pitching and the knowledge of what to do with the ball rather than throwing hard

[Trey Hannam @TJHannam10]

The #1 skill I'll teach my son is..

In baseball and in life:

Self-Belief + Confidence.

- Don't be in the batters box, own it.
- Don't hope you'll earn a scholarship, be undeniable.
- Don't show up to practice, set the tone and lead by example

[Trey Hannam @TJHannam10]

I heard an INCREDIBLE quote this morning

In response to.. "What do you bring to the table?"

"I bring whatever the table needs."

What do you NEED me to bring?
What can I bring to make this table better?

[Atlanta Falcons @AtlantaFalcons]

DRAFT DAY!!!

RT for a chance to win this year's #NFLDraft Hat

[Greg Berge @GregBerge]

Coaching isn't a job.

It is a calling.

One that few will ever understand.

Here are 10 Truths of Being a COACH.

1: Spousal Support is Crucial - Coaching can strain family life. A supportive spouse is a must. There is no other way.

2: It's a 24/7 Commitment - Coaching is more than a job; it's a way of life. You'll spend tons of time planning, analyzing, and strategizing. It will consume your mind and thinking. But when your team succeeds, it's all worth it!

3: Critics Will Come - It is unfortunate, but it is what it is. No matter how well you do, there will always be critics. Accept it; you know your team best.

4: There will be Highs and Lows - It is guaranteed. But the highs will be some of the best memories in your life. And the lows will be great learning opportunities for everyone. It prepares everyone for life.

5: Don’t do it for $$$ - High School Coaching doesn't pay much, but it's not about that. It's a calling, a lifestyle driven by love for the game and helping young athletes grow and develop to be their best. It is about building a TEAM.

6. Success Takes Time - Building a great team requires patience. There will be ups and downs, but stick with it, and you'll see results. Building a positive team culture is the #1 job of a coach. Do not forget this.

7: You Will be Humbled - I promise. Coaching is a very humbling profession. You will have very tough losses, and you will wonder how it happened. Never assume anything. Working with 16-17-year-old kids promises many surprises!

8: You Won't Please Everyone - Tough decisions come with the job. Not everyone will agree. Remember, you're working for the team's benefit, not just one person. Make yourself happy. Don't try to please others.

9. Players Need to Want It - As a coach, you can inspire and motivate, but players must want success. Encourage hard work, commitment, and goal-setting; let them own their success.

10. It is Always Worth It - Despite the challenges, coaching is incredibly rewarding. Seeing your players become strong, confident individuals is priceless. Watching your team win when the odds are stacked against you is inspiring. Winning a Championship is incredible!

Choose to Coach.

We need you!
_____

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[Trent Mongero @CoachMongero]

Baseball is not an equal opportunity sport. The best players play. Want more playing time? Get better. Consistently barrel balls up in practice/scrimmages, improve your defense/arm strength, increase your strike throwing percentage with two quality pitches. Become the best choice

[Dylan Hamby @Dylancatcher24]

Looking forward to finishing up the Summer the right way!! Had a good week at WWBA hitting .455 so far. One more game tomorrow then it’s football full time on Monday!! Let’s get a W tomorrow!! @aquasoxbsb @PG_Uncommitted @MonroeCanesFB @Hughcrew07

[Netting Pros Chat 🎧🎙️ @NettingProsChat]

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[Blake McCullers @MackMan2424]

@coachkkirk7 Box seats? I hear ya!!!

[Blake McCullers @MackMan2424]

@CoachCrumbley23 Good luck bud. Hope all goes well

[Blake McCullers @MackMan2424]

@irishchitown It should happen more often. I dont think people really understand what yall have accomplished

[CoachFlow @TrevorFlow]

PEOPLE DON’T WANT TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE...

We WANT OUR WAY without the possibility of accountability and someone is ruining our “life” by doing so.

In sports, life, work, social aspects, etc. accountability IS NOT FAVORABLE.

Leaders AREN’T scared of doing the RIGHT thing!

[Coach Kirby Smart @KirbySmartUGA]

Best of luck to @MarkRicht in retirement. Proud to have worked with a great coach and an even better man. Go Dawgs!!

[Monroe Area Football @MonroeCanesFB]

Canes and Dragons clash in 12 hours...two teams, one region championship, and fall has finally arrived. If that doesn’t get your morning going right, check your pulse. #Stormsurge18

[Monroe Area Football @MonroeCanesFB]

Thank you Monroe for showing up in force. What an atmosphere, tonight is what high school football is all about. This team is just getting started. See you in two weeks at the PIT for Franklin County. #stormsurge18 #packthepit

[Aaron Murray @aaronmurray11]

Dawgs on Top! That feels good