WHY YOU CAN'T HIT?

HAS YOUR HITTING GONE INTO THE TANK?  HERE ARE SOME THOUGHTS ON WHAT IT TAKES TO MAINTAIN YOUR HITTING SKILLS.  SOMETHING TO CONSIFER.

THE AVERAGE BASEBALL PLAYER PRACTICES HITTING ONLY 33 SECONDS PER DAY!  BASEBALL SEASON LASTS 16 WEEKS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL.  IF YOU PRACTICE 5 DAYS A WEEK, 2.5 HOURS PER DAY, THIS WOULD TOTAL 80 DAYS OF PRACTICE PER SEASON OR ABOUT 200 HOURS TOTAL.  HALF OF THIS TIME (100 hours) IS SPENT PLAYING SCHEDULED GAMES.  OF THE REMAINING TIME (100 hours), 50 HOURS ARE SPENT PRACTICING DEFENSE, AND 50 HOURS ARE SPENT PRACTICING OFFENSE.  GENERALLY, 15 PLAYERS DIVIDE THE 50 OFFENSIVE HOURS, GIVING EACH PLAYER 3.5 HOURS OR 200 MINUTES OF HITTING PRACTICE PER SEASON.

IF THE PLAYER DOES NOT PLAY OTHER SPORTS, THE PLAYER ACTUALLY PRACTICES ABOUT 33 SECONDS PER DAY PER YEAR.  A MUSICIAN PRACTICES NO LESS THAN 3.5 HOURS PER WEEK OR 182 HOURS PER YEAR.

BASKETBALL PLAYERS PRACTICE SHOOTING THE BALL AND TENNIS PLAYERS PRACTICE HITTING 40 TIMES AS MUCH AS BASEBALL PLAYERS PRACTICE HITTING.  MOST OLYMPIC ATHLETES PRACTICE 4-6 HOURS PER DAY, 300 DAYS PER YEAR, OR 1200-1800 HOURS PER YEAR.  THE AVERAGE BASEBALL PLAYER PRACTICES HITTING ONLY 3.3 HOURS PER YEAR!  KEVIN SEITZER, FORMER 3rd BASEMAN FOR THE KANSAS CITY ROYALS, WORKED OUT 6 HOURS A DAY IN HIS OFF-SEASON, AND HIT AT LEAST 300 BALLS A DAY.  JIM LEFEBVER, FORMER HITTING COACH FOR THE OAKLAND A's SAID, "AT SPRING TRAINING, TONY LaRUSSA AND I GOT TOGETHER AND DECIDED THAT THE ONLY WAY FOR OUR TEAM TO BE SUCCESSFUL WOULD BE FOR OUR PLAYERS TO SWING A BAT 200 TIMES A DAY.  WE DIDN'T CARE HOW THEY DID IT---LIVE PITCHING, MACHINE PITCHING, TEE, SOFT TOSS, OR DRY CUTS.  JUST GET THE 200 SWINGS IN."

SO, GRAB A BAT AND GET IN THE CAGE.  GET THOSE SWINGS IN!!  OR BETTER YET, GET A TEAMMATE AND BOTH OF YOU GET SWINGS IN.  IT WILL BE MORE FUN AND MUCH EASIER WORKING TOGETHER,  YOU CAN TRADE-OFF FEEDING SOFT TOSS AND LIVE PITCHING.   FOR YOU HIGH SCHOOL PLAYERS, IF 200 SWINGS SEEMS EXCESSIVE, THEN START WITH 100 SWINGS A SESSION.  BE CONSISTENT IN YOUR WORK AND YOU SHOULD SHORTLY SEE IMPROVEMENTS IN YOUR HITTING SKILLS.
    PORTIONS STOLEN FROM TBS (TRAVELBALLSELECT.COM)

ONE OF THE CONCERNS IN DEVELOPING YOUNG PITCHERS IS THAT THEY ALWAYS WANT TO JUMP AHEAD AND TRY PITCHES THAT THEIR  BODY JUST MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY HANDLE.  LIKE THE CURVE AT AGE 10.  THIS IS A BIG NO, NO!!  AT THIS AGE THE STRESS AND STRAIN ON THE ELBOW AND SHOULDER IS MORE THAN THE YOUNG BODY CAN CARRY.  IT MIGHT SEEM COOL AND LOOK IMPRESSIVE, BUT THE LONG-TERM BENEFITS DO NOT JUSTIFY ANY SHORT-TERM GAINS.

BELOW IS DATA FROM A SURVEY CONDUCTED BY THE AMERICAN SPORTS MEDICINE INSTITUTE (AMSI) FOR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE AGE AT WHICH A PLAYER COULD LEARN DIFFERENT TYPES OF PITCHES.

    PITCH: ........................ AGE:

FASTBALL.......................8-10
CHANGE-UP...................10-13
CURVE BALL...................14-16
KNUCKLE BALL................15-18
SLIDER..........................16-18
FORK BALL.....................16-18
SCREW BALL..................17-19

SOME ADDITIONAL ASMI SURVEY CONCLUSIONS:

..IMPROPER TECHNIQUE IS A MAJOR FACTOR IN INJURY POTENTIAL.
..CONDITIONING OF THE THROWING ARM AND ENTIRE BODY CAN REDUCE A YOUNG PITCHER'S RISK OF INJURY.
..WHILE THE NUMBER OF PITCHES SHOULD BE LIMITED, THE YOUNG ATHLETE SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO THROW.  THIS INCLUDES PLAYING CATCH, PLAYING OTHER POSITIONS BESIDES PITCHER AND PRACTIING PITCHING.

A LOT OF BASEBALL EXPERTS HAVE SHIFTED THEIR THINKING REGARDING PITCHING LIMITS.  PREVIOUSLY PITCHERS WERE MANAGED BASED ON THE # OF INNINGS THEY PITCHED.  (AND THE OSSSA DOES IMPOSE A DAILY MAX & WEEKLY MAX PITCHING BASED ON INNINGS PITCHED).  MANY EXPERTS NOW BASE PITCHING LIMITS ON THE GAME PITCH COUNT AND APPLY A REST-DAY POLICY BASED ON THE AGE OF THE PITCHERS.  THIS NEW PHILOSOLY IS DESIGNED TO HELP PROTECT YOUNG PITCHERS FROM OVER USE AND ABUSE BEFORE THEY FULLY DEVELOP AS ADULTS.  THERE ARE TOO MANY STORIES OF YOUNG PHENOMS WHO ARE PITCHED OUT BEFORE THEY EVEN FINISH HIGH SCHOOL.  BELOW ARE RECOMMONDATIONS FROM THE AMERICAN SPORTS MEDICINE INSTITUTE (AMSI).

PITCH COUNTS:

 AGE:         MAX PITCHES PER GAME      MAX GAMES PER WEEK

 8-10              52                                  2
11-12             68                                  2
13-14             76                                  2
15-16             91                                  2
17-18            106                                  2

RECOVERY TIMES:  (BASED ON PITCH COUNT)

 AGE:        1-DAY REST      2-DAY REST        3-DAY REST       4-DAY REST

 8-10          21                34               43                 51
11-12         27                35                55                58
13-14         30                36                56                70
15-16         25                38                62                77
17-18         27                45                62                89

WE WOULD ENCOURAGE ALL PARENTS TO MONTOR THE PITCHING ACTIVITY FOR THEIR KIDS.  UNFORTUNELY NOT ALL COACHES WILL ALWAYS DO THE RIGHT THING WHEN BALANCING THE INTERESTS OF THE TEAM VERSUS THE BEST INTEREST OF THE DEVELOPING PLAYER.  HIGH SCHOOL IS NOT YET THE PROS.  PERSONALLY, I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE THAT THE TEAMS MY SON HAS PLAYED ON UNDERSTOOD HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS IN PROTECTING THE PITCHER FROM OVER USE.  A SORE ARM TODAY CAN TURN INTO NO ARM FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON.  THE PC PIRATES HAVE QUALITY COACHES WITH GREAT INTEGRITY.  NOT ALL HIGH SCHOOLS DO.

PROBABLY EVERYONE HAS HEARD SOMETHING ABOUT A  5-TOOL PLAYER, BUT WHAT EXACTLY DOES THAT MEAN?  PLAYERS WITH THE 5-TOOL DESIGNATION ARE HIGHLY COVETED AND AS PROS WILL BE AMONG THE HIGHEST PAID PLAYERS IN THE GAME.  MOST PLAYERS POSSESS AT LEAST 1 OR 2 OF THE TOOLS, BUT A PLAYER WHO HAS ALL 5 IS A RARE GEM INDEED.  THESE ATHLETES ARE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN.  A PLAYER WHO EXCELS IN THE FOLLOWING SKILLS WILL BE CONSIDERED IN POSSESSION OF THE HALLOWED 5-TOOLS:

1.  HITTING FOR AVERAGE.

2.  HITTING FOR POWER.

3.  SPEED AND BASERUNNING SKILLS.

4.  GREAT THROWING ARM.

5.  FIELDING ABILITIES.

HERE ARE SOME TIPS TO HELP YOU IMPROVE YOUR GAME IN EACH OF THESE AREAS.

1.  BECOME A GOOD CONTACT HITTER.  PUT THE BAT ON THE BALL AND GET ON BASE.  AS A CONTACT HITTER, YOU'LL BE THE GUY YOUR TEAM WANTS UP TO BAT IN A HIT-AND-RUN SITUATION OR IN A LATE GAME BASES LOADED SPOT.  YOU WON'T STRIKE OUT OFTEN.

2.  HIT FOR POWER.  IN ADDITION TO BEING ABLE TO PUT THE BALL IN PLAY, YOU'LL NEED TO HIT THE BALL WITH AUTHORITY,  OPPOSING TEAMS FEAR A PLAYER WHO CAN CHANGE THE GAME WITH ONE SWING OF THE BAT.  AS A POWER-HITTER, YOU'LL BE A GUY YOUR TEAM CAN COUNT ON TO DRIVE IN RUNS.

3.  LEARN TO RUN THE BASES WELL.  MAKE THINGS HAPPEN ON THE BASE PATHS IN ADDITION TO AT THE PLATE.  SPEED HAS A LOT TO DO WITH IT, BUT YOU ALSO NEED TO BE A SMART BASE RUNNER.  MAKE SMART DECISIONS AND ALWAYS PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE OPPOSING FIELDERS WHEN YOU'RE ON BASE.

4.  DEVELOP GOOD ARM STRENGTH.  FIELDING IS MORE THAN JUST CATCHING THE BALL;  OFTEN TIMES YOU NEED TO THROW THE BALL TO COMPLETE A PLAY.  IF YOU HAVE GOOD ARM STRENGTH TO GO WITH GOOD FIELDING ABILITY, YOU CAN BE A REAL FORCE ON THE FIELD.

5.  FIELD YOUR POSITION WELL.  WORK ON AND TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE IN YOUR DEFENSE SO THAT YOU WILL BE A PERSON YOUR TEAM CAN COUNT ON THE MAKE THE TOUGH PLAYS WHEN NEEDED.

NOT EVERYONE CAN ACHIEVE THE 5-TOOL DESIGNATION; ACTUALLY VERY FEW DO.  BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN'T BETTER DEVELOP YOUR SKILLS IN THE AREAS THAT BEST CONFORM TO YOUR ABILITIES.   GOOD LUCK.

Who Needs a Left-Hander?
  
IN LAST YEAR'S MLB DRAFT, 4 OF THE TOP 10 PITCHERS WERE LEFT-HANDED PITCHERS.  7 OF THE FIRST 15 WERE LEFT-HANDED.  IN THE FIRST ROUND AND SUPPLEMENTAL ROUND, 13 L-H PITCHERS WERE TAKEN.  ONE SCOUT ONCE TOLD ME IF HE HAD THE CHANCE TO TAKE AN EVERYDAY PLAYER OR A QUALITY L-H PITCHER, HE WOULD GO WITH THE LHP EVERY TIME.

EVERYONE WANTS A LEFT-HANDER.  MOST SCOUTS SAY THAT A LEFT HANDER HAS TO PROVE THAT HE CANNOT PITCH.  MOST MLB CLUBS HAVE A LH SPECIALIST JUST TO GET L-H BATTERS OUT.  SO WHAT MAKES A LHP SO SPECIAL AND WHY ARE THEY SO COVETED?  CONSIDER THESE IDEAS:

1.   IN MOST LEAGUES AND SCHOOL TEAMS, SELDOM DOES A LEFT-HANDED PITCHER THROW BATTING PRACTICE.  THINK ABOUT THE FIRST TIME YOU FACED A LEFT-HANDED PITCHER.  IT WAS PROBABLY IN A GAME UNLESS YOUR FATHER WAS LEFT-HANDED.  HITTERS JUST DO NOT FACE LEFT-HANDERS AS OFTEN AS THE DO RIGHT-HANDERS.  THE PERCENTAGES SAY THAT ONLY ABOUT 10% OF THE POPULATION IS LEFT-HANDED.  HITTERS GET USED TO FACING R-H THROWERS FAR MORE OFTEN THE L-H THROWERS.  (THERE IS A OLD MLB SAYING:  10%  OF THE PITCHERS GET 50%  OF THE JOBS).

2.   SELDOM DO LEFT-HANDERS THROW ANYTHING STRAIGHT.  THEY DON'T HAVE TO THROW AS HARD TO BE SUCCESSFUL.  THEIR BALL SEEMS TO TAIL AWAY FROM RIGHT-HANDED BATTERS.  MOST NOVICE HITTERS ARE NOT ADEPT AT HITTING THE BALL THE OTHER WAY AND THEY OFTEN PULL OFF THE BALL.

3.   LEFT-HANDED PITCHERS USUALLY DO A GOOD JOB OF CONTROLLING THE RUNNING GAME.  IN YOUTH LEAGUES AND SCHOOL BALL, HAVING ONLY 2 UMPIRES IS THE NORM.  A GOOD, LEFT-HANDED PITCHER CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SEEING THE RUNNER AND WITH THE UMPIRE BEING IN A DIFFICULT POSITION TO CALL A BALK, TO CONTROL THE RUNNING GAME.

4.   LEFT-HANDED PITCHERS SEEM TO BE FAR MORE ADEPT AT GETTING BOTH LEFT-HANDED AND RIGHT-HANDED HITTERS OUT THAN RIGHT-HANDED PITCHERS.  RIGHT-HANDED PITCHERS SEEM TO STRUGGLE WITH LEFT-HANDED HITTERS FAR MORE THAN LEFT-HANDED PITCHERS STRUGGLE WITH RIGHT-HANDED BATTERS.

SO, THE NEXT TIME YOU HAVE A LEFT-HANDER ON YOUR TEAM, MAKE SURE HE IS GIVEN EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO PITCH.  HE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE A STEVE CARLTON OR SANDY KOUFAX TO BE SUCCESSFUL.     STOLEN FROM TBS. (TRAVELBALLSELECT.COM).

For those parents and coaches who want to help the long-term prospects for those players who pitch, the following info should be an aid in protecting those arms.

KEEP THAT ARM WARM!
IN BETWEEN INNINGS, A PITCHER'S ARM TEMPERATURE CAN COOL RAPIDLY, ONLY TO BE ASKED TO UNDERGO THE STRESS OF PITCHING AGAIN ONCE THE MUSCLES HAVE CONTRACTED DUE TO THE COOLING EFFECT.  THIS IS WHY YOU SEE MAJOR LEAGUE PITCHERS ON TEVELISION WEAR A JACKET IN BETWEEN INNINGS, EVEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SUMMER.   FOLLOW THEIR EXAMPLE.  IF YOUR PITCHER WILL BE PITCHING AGAIN, MAKE SURE THAT HE KEEPS A JACKET ON;  IF ONLY ON THE ONE ARM.   THIS WILL RESULT IN LESS SORENESS THE NEXT DAY, AS WELL AS A LOWER RISK OF INJURY.

RUN BOY, RUN!
AS SOON AS YOUR PITCHER LEAVES THE MOUND AT THE END OF HIS OUTING, HE NEEDS TO RUN SEVERAL WIND SPRINTS.  THIS HELPS BRING MUCH NEEDED OXYGEN VIA INCREASED BLOOD FLOW TO THOSE EXERTED MUSCLES.  IT'S ALSO AN EXCELLENT IDEA TO HAVE A COACH OR ANOTHER PLAYER HELP THE PITCHER STRETCH HIS ARMS AND LEG JOINTS, TO PREVENT THEM FROM TIGHTENING UP.

OF COURSE, IN TRAVEL BASEBALL, PITCHERS ARE USUALLY AMONG THE BEST FIELDERS ON THE TEAM, SO THEY WILL FREQUENTLY BE PLACED AT ANOTHER DEFENSIVE POSITION WHEN LIFTED, RATHER THAN SENT TO THE DUGOUT.  IN THIS CASE, HAVE THEM RUN AT THE END OF THE INNING.

ICE, PLEASE!
WHEN THE OUTING IS OVER, WE NOW WANT TO COOL THAT ARM DOWN - THIS STOPS THE MICROBLEEDING IN THE MUSCLE TISSUE OF THE ARM.  OF COURSE, YOUR PARK'S CONCESSION STAND PROBABLY HAS PLENTY OF ICE, AND WILL PROBABLY PUT IT IN A ZIPLOCK BAG FOR YOU.

MOVE IT AGAIN!
ESPECIALLY IF YOU'VE ICED DOWN YOUR MUSCLES, YOU'LL NEED TO RESTORE BLOOD FLOW.  A NICE JOG OR BRISK WALK WILL HANDLE THIS FOR YOU.

FEED THOSE MUSCLES!
MAKE SURE THAT YOUR PLAYER GETS A GOOD HIGH PROTEIN/HIGH CARB MEAL 1-2 HOURS AFTER PITCHING.  THE BODY NEEDS TO REPLENISH THE USED ENERGY, AND NEEDS TO TEND TO THOSE EXERTED MUSCLES.  BANANAS ARE ALSO AN EXCELLENT CHOICE.

IF YOU FOLLOW THESE GUIDELINES AND  EMPHASIZE GOOD MECHANICS WHILE PITCHING, THIS CAN MINIMIZE THE CHANCE FOR INJURY TO YOUR PITCHERS.
STOLEN FROM TBS. (TRAVEL BALL SELECT).

Ya just never know who's watching! Just a comment for some of the players that might soon be drafted or college bound. I was at a game a couple of weeks ago watching and I was suprised at what I saw from some players that get a lot of press either here, locally or in print. What suprised me was some of them dogged it on the bases, during warm-ups before the game, and also between innings, quite honestly some didn't look like they wanted to be there. I am not sure what some of the HS, travel, legion players are told, but I think many scouts watch you the entire time they are there. They see a lot more balls to the shortstop during warm-ups than during some games. They also see how you react when you fly out as well as go deep, is it always run out thinking double or do they jog to first base in disgust. How do they act with their coaches? If some of these kids think a college or pro coach would want someone that yells back at their coaches or players, they better think again. My point is you never know who is in the stands and who they might be watching. Heck they might be looking at another player and they find you, but I think you can rest assured they won't look again if you are the one doing any of the items I mentioned. I just thought I would make mention of this, as I saw this happen more than once over the last couple of summers and I was shocked that their coaches didn't correct it, but then again it isn't going to effect their coach down the road. By the way at this particular game a couple of weeks ago there were 2 scouts in the stands, I don't think they went away very impressed. (jah) 
stolen from TBS (travelballselect.com)
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