A historic night for Ridgefield Raptors baseball ⚾
With last night's victory, head coach Chris Cota has earned his 200th regular season win with the Raptors. He becomes just the third head coach in the 21-year history of the @WCLBaseball to reach the 200-win mark 💪
Most pitchers try to get every hitter out. That's the wrong way to think about it.
There are two types of at-bats: ones where you're trying to get the guy out, and ones where you're letting him get himself out — or just flat-out giving him a base.
I'll bounce four curveballs in a row if I have to. Walk the guy. Don't care. Because I already know who's on deck and I like that matchup better.
Here's how I actually think through a jam:
First and second, nobody out. Most guys panic. I don't see three outs to get — I see four hitters to work through to find three outs. That's a completely different frame.
Say three, four, five are coming up. The five hitter is my worst matchup. So I go hard at three and four. I need two outs before I get to five, so I can put him on with the bases loaded and attack the six hitter instead.
I'm essentially choosing who I want to beat me. And then I'm making sure that guy never gets a real chance to do it.
Most hitters and fans think pitchers are just reacting pitch by pitch. Some are. The good ones are three batters ahead, already deciding who gets a free pass and who gets attacked.
Knowing the lineup isn't optional. It's the whole game.
When we go to Sacramento A’s games @athletics , I bring a few autographed Jacob cards to give to any kids we see wearing A’s #5. Today, Sister Jaidyn got her first assignment of the season
Peel your back foot off the mound like Velcro.
Front foot down, then throw, is the feeling you want.
Allow your delivery to happen, get to a strong position at foot strike, then bring down the house.
Well timed intensity.
Stay sideways as long as possible.
Build rhythm into foot strike, get violent after. Resist early shoulder rotation, rotate late in a hallway, be patient.
Here’s a counting method to try,
2-3-4
2 peak leg lift
3 foot down
4 throw
Big leaguers judge bullpens by execution. College guys judge them by velo 📝
You’ll see a college arm light up the gun and call it a good rep, even if the ball missed by two feet. A big leaguer throws the same pitch, misses the spot, and he’s pissed.
They have different goals.
Cole Richards (27 CA) Turns the barrel hard behind him and this ball finds some grass for a knock. Solid lower half with with great B2B. @California_PG@PG_Uncommitted#UCAAGames
I have massive respect towards Coastal Carolina Coach Kevin Schnall for answering my question thoroughly and using the postgame platform to explain his side of the story.
“As an umpire I feel like it’s your job to manage the game, the National Championship game, with some poise, some calmness, and a little bit of tolerance.”
Bryce Harper’s Dad was ALL about CONFIDENCE 🧠
“He would go buy the best baseballs in the store” (Didn’t have much money but thought it was worth it)
“I wanted to instill the confidence that you could hit it out of any park you were at”
Building EVIDENCE THAT HE COULD DO IT
Coaches—save this for your bulletin board.
Tough teams:
•Don’t make excuses
•Win on the road
•Dominate the boards
•Take pride in defense
•Play together
Print it and post it!
Because toughness is a choice.
#BasketballCoach#CMDCoachingLab
🚨 Wainwright - Holding on Runners @ 2nd
1. Be aware of your "tells"
2. Stop the forward momentum
3. Cue your delivery on the runner's movement back
⭐️There's WAY more to pitching than throwing hard... knowing how to shut down the running game is vital.