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"My responsibility is leadership, and the minute I get negative, that is going to have an influence on my team."
--- Don Shula
"Coaching is a profession of love. You can't coach people unless you love them."
-- Eddie Robinson
I wanted to start out the newsletter this month with a couple of coaches' quotes since many of you have either started or about to start your season. I'm coaching two teams this year and as I prepared for the season the main concern I had was a personal one. Simply put, is this going to be a positive experience for me? That question meant more to me this year because I'm taking on more than usual but I think it's an important question to ask every season. Think for a moment about your goals for the season. Go ahead take a minute. Really, the newsletter won't go anywhere.
What are your goals focused around? Probably most of them are about the kids, the team, skills, practices and game strategies. Obviously those are all important to a successful season, but what about your personal satisfaction and enjoyment level? I've found over the years that the more I'm enjoying myself, the more the team responds, the better they listen, and it ends of being a more positive experience for everyone involved. If you have found the same thing, then planning for your enjoyment makes as much sense as planning out other team and player related goals.
So what can you do to improve your chances or having a good experience?
This is not a complete list of all the items you could do to prepare yourself for the season but I think it covers some good basics that if done can help you improve your chances of having a rewarding season. Over the years I've had very few problems with parents. When I look back at the two situations that I remember well, they both happened in the same season where I forgot that I was supposed to enjoy the experience of coaching the team. When I'm clear on my goals and expectations and when I'm having a good time coaching, things have gone well, whether we finish in last place or win the championship.
Until next time,
Don Edlin
QCBaseball.com
What is the Quick Hitter? You can think of the Quick Hitter as a replacement for your soft-toss stations. It's a light weight pole that has tongs on the end to pick up a baseball and a handle at the other end to control the tongs and allow you to pick up the baseball and release it when dropping or tossing the baseball.
I use this product for both of the teams I coach and I find it to be an easy training aid for any parent or coach to use. What's even more important is that it provides more consistent and better batting practice than my old soft-toss stations. Learn more about this product.
At all levels you see extra bases being taken on throws to third and home from the outfield where the ball sails over the cutoff man on the way to the base. What you usually hear from the dugout is a complaint about the inability of the outfielder to hit the cutoff man. Many times the criticism is directed at the correct person but often the criticism should also be directed at the cutoff man and possibly the coach whose only instruction may have been to "hit the cutoff man".
Let's think for a moment about the purpose of the cutoff because it serves a slightly different purpose depending on the situation and where the ball is hit. We're really looking at 2 different situations:
This distinction must be made not only to the outfielder who's making the throw but to the cutoff man who is lining up for the throw. Think about it from the outfielder's perspective. Other than making a great catch what's the most exciting thing that can happen to him defensively on the baseball field? The answer is simple, throwing out a runner trying to advance.
Let's look at a common game situation. Runner on first, base hit to center. The center fielder comes up and fields the ball, he sees the runner rounding second and heading for third. As he gets ready to throw the ball he looks at the cutoff and guess what, he's standing halfway between the centerfielder and third base. If he hits the cutoff man, the cut will have to be made because the ball will never make it that far at that trajectory. If he throws higher and misses the cutoff man, he has a chance to throw out the runner. I know what I would do if I had that chance and it wouldn't involve hitting the cutoff man. It's the same choice many outfielders are forced to make because the cutoff man is in the wrong spot.
Positioning the Cutoff Man
On a ball hit deep or fairly deep with an outfielder that has an average arm, the cutoff is necessary to get the ball to the intended base. Without the cutoff man the ball may not get there or roll the last fifty feet toward the base. In a case like this the outfielder really has no excuse for not hitting the cutoff. The only chance to get the runner at the base he is throwing to or to get another runner at a different base is to get the ball to the cutoff man. The main advice I give my team on any throw from the outfield, is to let the outfielder make the longer throw. I want the infielder to make a shorter and as a result (most of the time), more accurate throw to the base. It also makes it much easier for the outfielder to make a throw that can be caught by the cutoff man.
On a ball hit in front of the outfielder, the cutoff man may not be there as a required ingredient of getting the ball to the intended base. The outfielder may have plenty of arm strength to throw the ball to the intended base and a good throw from him all the way to the base would be preferable to having the ball cut. In this case the cutoff man must back up towards the intended base and be in a position to catch an errant throw or cut the ball if a throw needs to be made to another base. He should position himself so a throw from the outfielder that goes through his arms would make a nice one hop to the intended base. The reason I have the infielder position for a one hop, is it helps to keep the outfielder focused on keeping the ball down and doesn't get the infielder too close to the intended base.
When working on cutoff situations in practice it's important to teach each position involved in the cutoff. The main point of this article is to emphasize the importance of the cutoff man. Where does the cutoff man go? Most kids understand that they need to get in a direct line between the outfielder and the base the outfielder is throwing to. What is usually missing is the distance between the base and the outfielder. Watching youth baseball has given me the undocumented and unscientific belief that players will naturally try to split the difference. The cutoff man almost always will go out too far when setting up. So when working with your team, you must constantly remind the cutoff man to not go out too far. You'll reduce overthrows and be in better position to make plays if your cutoff men remember to let the outfielder make the longer throw. It's better to be too close to the intended base than to be too close to the outfielder.
The Relay
In addition to being in the correct position the actual cut and relay to the intended base is another place where precious time can be lost. Too often the cutoff man faces the outfielder with both hands raised and as the ball approaches he will catch it from that same position. Then he must turn and throw the ball. The big waste of time is the turning part. Teach your cutoff men to move their feet and position themselves to make the throw before the ball arrives from the outfield. If they can catch with their body already turned to their throwing side, the relay throw to the base can be made very quickly. The image below shows a player getting in position to make a relay by turning his body prior to the throw arriving.
Cutoff Drills
Relay Throwing Race
Team Cutoffs
by Dave Hudgens - article provided by HittingWorld.com
All Major League hitters can hit a fastball, but only the best have a solid plan to hit the curveball. No one can hit the great curveball - the curveball low and away, the hall of fame pitcher's pitch. Even the best hitters don't swing at that pitch until they get two strikes. So why then would anyone provide instruction on how to hit a pitch that no one can hit? Because even the best pitchers cannot consistently throw their off-speed pitch in a great location for a strike. Therefore, you don't have to hit the un-hittable curveball. Your job is to be prepared and to be in a good position to hit the pitcher's mistakes and take advantage of his weaknesses.
With all of that in mind it may surprise you to find out that the easiest pitch to hit in baseball is a hanging curveball, or an off-speed pitch up in the strike zone. This is true however only if you are in the right position to hit it. Thus the secrets to conquering the curveball are:
It is that simple. You will never be able to hit the un-hittable curveball, but don't worry, no one can. You will however be able to hit the hittable curveball consistently if you do your homework and practice your techniques. A word of caution - if you find yourself out front, off balance, and not recognizing the pitch, you will consistently have problems with the breaking ball. Without a solid foundation, you will not have success with this pitch or any other pitch for that matter. From the viewpoint of either a parent or a coach, there are two key points you want to look for as you view your hitter:
Preparation
The first key to mastering the curveball is for you to learn how to prepare for it. You need to have a definite battle plan, your personal curveball strategy. You need to know:
This preparation should start before the game even begins, depending on your situation. If you have scouting reports it is an obvious advantage. However scouting reports are not always correct. You need to see what the pitcher has that day. When you go to stretch before the game begins, position yourself in a place to where you can see the opposing pitcher warming up in the bullpen. At this point you should be thinking:
You should remind yourself:
Since recognizing a curveball is so difficult to do, you must get into a routine to practice it. My suggestions for your routine:
The Proper Keys to Hitting the Curveball
Here are the vital tools for success against the curveball:
The pitcher wants you to swing at the curveball that starts in the zone and breaks out of the zone. It is no secret that most hitters get themselves out on curveballs that are out of the strike zone. Pitchers have success when the curveball breaks late, and this pitch is a very difficult pitch to lay off, especially with two strikes. Again that is why preparation and knowing what type of breaking ball a pitcher has is so important. If you know you can't hit someone's curveball, don't swing at it until you get two strikes.
If you find yourself out on your front foot, or pushing forward, don't swing! The only time you want to swing when your weight is forward is if you have two strikes and you are trying to battle. The reason you don't want to swing from this position is that when your hands are forward, your weight is forward and this is a poor position from which to hit.
A curveball that starts at the knees or slightly above will generally break down and out of the strike zone. The curveball that starts a little bit high will generally break into the strike zone. It is critical that you don't go up to hit the breaking ball, but allow the breaking ball to come down to you. That is why it is so important to know what type of break each pitch has, and what kind of command the pitcher has of these pitches.
It is also important when you are facing the same side pitcher that your approach is to the opposite field gap. This will keep your front side in, which is critical to having any success with this pitch. If the ball does hang inside, get the bat head out and pull it - don't try to guide the ball to the opposite field. When we talk about your approach being to the opposite field, that doesn't mean you are going to hit everything to the opposite field. A hanging curveball is one of the easiest pitches to hit. This is a pitch you can really do some damage with.
You can look for the fastball and still hit the curveball - all good hitters are able to do this. But it is almost impossible to look for a curveball and hit a fastball. If you are at the level to where you can sit on a curveball, and by that I mean looking for nothing but the curveball, remember mechanically now you can get into the position of power a little bit later. Many hitters look for the fastball and adjust to the off-speed pitch. Usually you get started back early and easy. If you are sitting on a curve ball you are going to get started back a little bit later. You want the curveball to come to you. You don't want to go out to get it!
It is very important that you wait for the curveball to come down to you. The curveball that starts up and out of the strike zone breaks down into the strike zone. You must make sure to keep your body down. If you go up to hit the ball, and it breaks down, you will not be a successful off-speed hitter. As a hitter you not only want the curveball to come down to you, you also want to stay down and wait for the ball to come to you.
Another key to hitting the curveball is what I call hesitation. As a hitter, you should feel some sort of hesitation after your stride foot comes down. You have to find a way to keep your hands and the majority of your weight back. So what happens when the pitcher throws you a curveball and it is a hittable curveball? The feeling you should have is one of hesitation.
5 Curveball Drills
Here are 5 curveball drills taken straight from our Conquering the Curveball DVD (the second DVD in the Hitting for Excellence series).
1) Underhand Recognition Drill
This drill is designed to help differentiate between the speeds of a fastball and an off-speed pitch. I like this drill very much because it will help you recognize where the weight of your body needs to be. To do this drill:
2) Bounce Drill
This drill reinforces the hesitation that needs to take place when hitting a breaking ball. For example if you are looking fastball, and the pitcher throws a hittable breaking ball, if you continue on as if it were a fastball, you will be way out front. That is why it is so important to recognize early and hesitate until the ball gets to you.
To do this drill seated:
To do this drill standing:
3) Underhand Lob Drill
Since a major key to hitting the curveball is to allowing it to come down to you, this drill is designed to practice waiting for the ball to come down to you. To do this drill:
4) Drop the Ball Drill
The purpose of this drill is to teach the hitter to stay down on the ball. It also helps to develop quickness in the hands.
To do this drill:
5) Back Toss Drill
It is very important when hitting a breaking ball that you stay inside the ball. This drill will help develop that habit as well as practicing the hesitation.
Know Your Strike Zone
Where many hitters get into trouble is swinging at offspeed pitches out of the strike zone. The best hitters command the strike zone. They know what pitches they want and where they want them. Your batting average and on base percentage will jump dramatically if you command the strike zone. This is what I call being selectively aggressive.
Your Goal
The best pitchers in baseball can not throw their offspeed pitch in a great location for a strike consistently. So don't be intimidated. Even if the pitcher has a great curveball, it may not be good that day and it won't be un-hittable every time. There is one important question to ask: Is anyone's curveball consistent outing after outing? The answer is definitely NO.
Your goal as a hitter is to have a good approach on the hittable curveball. This is just one of the pieces of the puzzle to becoming a master hitter. Success doesn't come overnight and only the most dedicated players will achieve their goals. It is my hope in putting this article together that you will have the same solid information at your disposal that the best hitters in the world have. 95% of players don't have a plan when they see a curveball - aren't you glad you do?
- Dave Hudgens has been involved with the best of baseball for over 30 years. He is currently the Minor League Hitting Coordinator for the Cleveland Indians. Prior to that he was a longtime hitting coach in the Oakland Athletics' organization.
A fly ball is hit to left-center, who calls for it? How do the two fielder's determine who has priority? This situation can occur in many places on the field and can sometimes result in a collision or more often having two players looking at each other as the ball drops to the ground between them.
In order to prevent these situations it's important to teach your team:
1. The priorities for a fly ball start with the center fielder having complete control over everyone on the field and then moving in. The basic premise is to have the
player moving in on the fly ball have control and the ability to call off the other player. If you look at the diagram below you'll see the arrow pointing from each player to the other
players that he can call off. All outfielders have the ability to call off all infielders. The shortstop has the ability to call off all other infielders but not outfielders. Basically if he
is moving back into the outfield he no longer has priority. All infielders have the ability to call off the pitcher.
You'll notice in the diagram that I have the pitcher being able to call off the catcher. This really is an age/skill thing. In higher levels of baseball the pitcher will rarely catch a pop fly, but for younger players the reality is that the pitcher will often have a much better chance than the catcher to catch any pop fly hit in front of him. It's a difficult skill for the catcher to learn to catch a fly ball out in front of the plate, so until you know you have a catch that can do it, I would give the pitcher priority.
2. Having each player yelling "I got it" doesn't really help determine who has priority when there is more than one fielder who can catch the ball. To reduce that confusion you can teach the players who have priority to use a different call. I use "Get out" for the
fielder who has priority. So if a ball is hit into shallow left field, the shortstop going back on the ball would yell, "I got it". The left fielder coming in would have priority and would yell, "Get out". Anyone who has called for the ball and hears "Get out" should immediately give way to the other fielder.
Another useful call is to confirm to the other fielder that he has it. So, using the same example the shortstop is going back on the ball and calls "I got it". As he is getting close to the ball he hears the center fielder running hard towards him. His natural reaction will be to worry about the center fielder running into
him. He may catch the ball or he may slow down and have it drop behind. The chance of this happening can be reduced if the center fielder can give a call to confirm that the shortstop is the one who is going to catch the ball. We do this by having the other fielder confirm with "You, you, you". When a player that has yelled
"I got it" or "Get out", hears "You, you, you" from the other player, he can be confident in making the play.
© QCBaseball.com, 2008. All rights reserved.
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