Barrel Accuracy=#1 Always

 "Timing, Approach, Mechanics, swing path, exit velocity,"=WHATEVER. Hit it on the barrel and you can play. Start with Barrel accuracy always. AIM SMALL, MISS SMALL. You are trying the hit the middle of the ball with the middle of the bat. Now you will be productive if you invest time in the cage to work on your swing. Your work will never get boring, because you can always be more accurate. Hit it on the barrel in the air, stay away from the end of the bat. If you have this focus your mechanics will develop on their own. Just think, "be athletic and hit it on the barrel" Social Media is great but these platforms are creating robots. We have primal instincts that you can use when you play. When a Caveman saw a rabbit running by, he grabbed a rock and tried to be accurate so he could eat. We have pretty much that same brain. Major Leaguers are just the most accurate in the world at throwing the ball where they want and hitting it on the barrel. 

 

Its not how you Start, It's how you FINISH

     Baseball is a marathon, filled with failure, with some success mixed in. Always remember that you are never as good or bad as one day. The game will humble you when you get over confident. The best players/ teams stay consistent with their work. Practice should be harder then the game. Make yourself uncomfortable because that means you are working on your craft in the areas that need it. Work to play your best at the end of the year. Take care of your body and do the work consistently. Rome wasn't built in a day.

     In 2019, the Washington Nationals won a ring. They were sick to watch at the end but most forget how it started:16-25.  Baseball is an individual sport in a team setting but when your squad learns how to win and trust each other then other teams are in trouble at the end. The Nationals could of packed it in at 16-25 but its not how you start its how you finish. 

 

    By the end, Washington had learned how to win. They finished the regular season 10-1, is that good?  In the playoffs, they were a different team, locked in. They had learned how to win and used their early season failures as motivation to keep going. They played hard and confident.

In game 5 they got smoked and everyone was already giving a good Stros team another ring. Backs against the wall, but the Nats had bad dudes on their team that knew that they still had it. Down 3-2 in the series against the best team in baseball.......... 7-2, 6-2, Game, Set, Match. Rolled them back to back nights for their ring because its not how you start, its how you finish, always. 

    

Swing to the Count

     In the box you should have a plan for each pitch. Count, score, number of outs are important but #1 is always see the ball out of the pitchers hand with both your eyes. Most hitters turn their head at release point so they see the ball with one eye. That's a huge advantage you give to the pitcher. Fix it. 

     0-0, 1-0, 2-0, 2-1, 3-0, 3-1 bases empty=Do Damage(extra base hits). You are in a position to swing hard. It's not your most accurate swing but if you square the ball up you should hit it hard. Try to get the ball in the air. The worst AB is an easy out on a roll over ground ball on an 0-0 pitch. "Thanks for nothing meat, doesn't help us win at all" Everything changes with guys in scoring position. If I can hit it on the barrel in the air I'm swinging at it to get my STEAKS=RBI. Be aggressive and see it up. The pitcher locks it in because those guys in scoring position effect his ERA. Ruin his ERA and his day. Bad dudes love hitting when the pitcher is trying the most, go to work.

        Early in the game I think 0-1, 1-1 are takes, unless there are guys in scoring position. You want to know how the pitcher is going to try to execute on you all day. Pitchers pitch in patterns almost always, find out his game plan as a lineup. Work as a group, talk to each other about what you see.  Gain info early. Talk about how his pitches move and the umpire's zone. If the 1-1 pitch is a strike, tap in and go to work. If the 1-1 pitch is a ball, you're in a great position 2-1. Listen to what Johnny College pitching coach says to his pitcher. If he gets super pissed when his guy walks people, thats good for you to know. 3-0 is a Gangster hack if you get the green light. I think if the game is close it should be a take but if you are up, 3-0 is a good spot to let it eat. 3-1 is a good count but I like to take with guys on base, because you can start the runner(s) 3-2 and open up holes for the hitter. If you are taking for sure you don't have to load much but stand right on the plate and see the ball out of the pitchers hand. Gain info that you can use later in the game. A Strike out is an out, it's the same thing as grounding out to SS. It's a part of the game, just like every other failure that's inevitable. Coaches, stop over emphasizing the K. It makes your kids say "Don't Strike Out" every time they get 2 strikes. Your brain can't process the NT so it says "Strike Out" Instead, encourage them to relax and having a quality AB.

Pitchers are taught to throw strikes. Walks are the worst thing a pitcher can do. WAIT WHAT? A HOMER scores a run, a walk could be a double play 2 pitches later. Pitch to win the game. At the plate, a K is looked at as a bad out however grounding out to the pitcher because "you put it in play"is a better out. The worst out is a double play. Be patient early, make the pitcher prove to you he can throw strikes. Tap in and go to work with 2 strikes early so you can see how the pitcher and the Johnny College Coach calling pitches are going to try to get you out. Foul off executed pitches with 2 strikes. Love hitting 0-2, it's usually going to be a ball, especially if the pitching coach is calling pitches. 0-2 is the best time to steal. See it up, if the ball bounces before the catcher, the ump can't call it a strike. If you are 0-2, work the count back to 2-2 and you win. Get drilled, walk or get a 2 strike knock and you crush the pitchers Soul, yup! You need walks and HBP to win games. Take pride in finding ways on base. 

    Stand on the plate with 2 strikes. You won't because you are scared of the ball but trust me it doesn't hurt that bad even if the dude is bringing it. When you stand on the plate with 2 strikes and choke up you are taking half the plate away from the pitcher. 

Have consistent good abs. A lot more on this but the result doesn't matter. Control what you can control. Have a plan for this pitch. Practice your different count swings. Be a tough out. Make the pitcher say to himself in his head, when you are walking up to the dish. "Not this Dude again."

https://youtu.be/AwlnGMMI_MM

https://youtu.be/BT7e5flzCw4

Slide Feet First

 Feet First always, unless you are diving back into first on a pick off from the pitcher. You can slide harder and faster. I would love to hear the analytics on the head firs slide. I know it is more dangerous for sure. I see more and more infielders blocking the base. You play baseball with your arms. Protect them, learn how to slide early and hard. It's important. You need to practice it consistently. I argue that you should learn how to slide with your left leg extended. Safest slide because you can turn your upper body at the base. If an infielder tries to block the base, ruin his day. I miss playing contact sports, but you can be physical and set the tone for the game with a hard aggressive slide. Stay in the baseline but aim for their ankles. This slide below was little dirty but their pitcher hit a couple of our guys on purpose so Hangwitem. Run the bases hard with the right angles and slide feet first and touch the base as fast as you can. Bring back playing the game to Win, not trying to showcase your tools all summer to Johnny College Coach. Play to win the game. 

Play The Game

 Know the rules: outs, count, score. WIN "what's important now?" The game changes every pitch. You never know the pitch that is going to change the game. You have to prepare for every pitch like it's the game changer. Control what you can control. Play in the present the whole game. That is impossible but try to flush negative thoughts from the past and move on to the next pitch. You can't change the past, Hangwitem, move on. Only thing you can control is your focus on the next pitch. Baseball is hard, failure is as much a part of the game as 3 strikes is an out. Deal with it. Players react to failure like they are surprised. WAIT WHAT? Be a man, deal with the negative result, learn from it and move on. What's your job on this pitch? OVER and OVER. Check the score at the end of the game, its the only time it counts.

Growth Mindset

 Get Better Everyday. Do a good job. Monday is the most important day of the week. Play with the lead, get your week going in the right direction. Get organized on Monday morning and plan out your week. Now get to work. What's next? Don't let anyone ever tell you you can't do something, if you want something go get get it, period.