The Part of Coaching We Don’t Talk About

Most players don’t need more information. They don’t need ten different swing thoughts. They need things to be simple, clear, and consistent. I’ve seen it from the coaching side too. There are times where everything feels easy—you’re clear, you’re locked in, everything makes sense. And then there are times where even simple things, like communicating, feel harder than they should. Same game, same job—just a different feel.

So keep it simple. Be clear. Be consistent. Give players something they can actually hold onto. Most development isn’t about some perfect drill—it’s about showing up and stacking good days over time.

Nobody’s perfect. Players aren’t. Coaches aren’t.

But if you can create some level of consistency, that’s where real progress starts.

A lot of players deal with those ups and downs and don’t really have an explanation for it. That’s why routines matter. In a game built on failure, players need controllable actions they can rely on every day—positive self-talk, how they respond to failure, breathing, focus, effort. Things they can actually control.

The more “wins” a player can create within a game of failure, the better off they’re going to be.

Failure Isn’t Part of the Game — It Is the Game

 Failure isn’t something that occasionally shows up in baseball.

It is baseball.

It’s inevitable, constant, and unavoidable. Yet most players never truly prepare for that reality. They train their swings, their arms, and their bodies — but they don’t train how they will handle failure when it shows up. And it always shows up.

The real question isn’t if you will fail.
It’s how you will respond when it happens.

Every player needs a plan for failure:

• How will I act?
  
  

• What will my body language look like?
  
  

• How quickly will I adjust and move forward?
  
  

As you move up in levels, the failure only increases. The competition gets better. The margin for error gets smaller. This is where failure becomes the separator. Talent may get you in the door, but mental toughness determines how long you stay.

The players who continue to develop are the ones who master the moments after things go wrong — the strikeout, the error, the hard-hit out. They flush it and move forward.

Negative body language is wasted energy. Your teammates see it, and they feel it. They know failure hurts — they’ve all been there — but they respect players who handle it with composure. Coaches notice it too. When evaluating players, they aren’t just watching what happens on the field; they’re watching how players respond when the game punches back.

Baseball is a game where very little is truly in your control. You can’t control the umpire, the bounce of the ball, or whether a perfectly struck line drive finds a glove. But you can control your response to failure.

That’s where perspective matters. Ask yourself: What’s the worst that happens?
You fail? Welcome to the club. Every player who has ever played this game has stood in those same shoes.

Failure reveals who you are.

One of the most underrated offseason goals is learning to visualize failure — not just success. Picture the strikeout. Picture the error. Then visualize your response: calm body language, clear self-talk, and a locked-in next-pitch mentality. Positive visualization matters, but ignoring the reality of failure leaves you unprepared when it inevitably arrives.

Stack days where you handle failure the right way, and your development accelerates. You conserve energy. You stay present. You grow faster.

Because the truth is simple:

Failure isn’t part of the game.
Failure is the game.

Get better at playing it.

Locking It In: The Mental Battle Between Pitches

 

Baseball culture loves to talk about reps, mechanics, and confidence—but kids don’t just need more swings. They need classroom-style instruction, video breakdowns, and honest discussion. They need mental reps. They need to learn how to think between pitches.

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How Do You Lock It In?

Think like a sniper.
Use deliberate, controlled, pitch-to-pitch focus:

• Assess the environment
  
  

• Commit to the present moment
  
  

• Breathe
  
  

• Execute with accuracy
  
  

• Reset
  
  

• Prepare for the next shot
  
  

When you master this routine, it becomes a lifelong skill—not just a baseball skill. The same ability to lock in on a 2–2 pitch with runners on becomes the same ability to lock in during a senior thesis presentation, a job interview, or any moment that demands your full attention.

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Failure Is Part of the Mental Game

No one is mentally perfect on every pitch.
You will think about the error you just made.
You will think about the bad swing you just took.

The difference between average players and elite competitors is simple:
the best players have a flush tool.

You’re not trying to avoid negative thoughts—you’re learning how to handle them productively. Evaluate your mental performance every day. Baseball gives you plenty of time to relax, but once the game starts, you have to operate pitch to pitch.

And here’s the hidden advantage: the more mentally present you are—even in the dugout—the easier the game becomes. If you’re paying attention, pitchers will show you their patterns. Most players miss it because they’ve never been taught to respect the mental battle happening in front of them.

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Coaches Need to Teach the Real Mental Side

Not confidence clichés.
Not forced positivity.
Not “fake it till you make it.”

I’m talking about what actually happens in the mind between pitches—the part of the game cameras don’t show.

Control what you can control:

• You can control your actions until release point.
  
  

• You can control your tension level.
  
  

A tense muscle is a slow muscle—and your eyes are muscles. The best hitters “see a bigger ball” because their mind is quiet, focused, and creating an environment where execution becomes easier and more repeatable.

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To Summarize

• Maintain a tension level that keeps you relaxed, focused, and calm
  
  

• Prioritize accuracy over brute force
  
  

• Remember: big thoughts create long, inaccurate swings
  
  

• The result is irrelevant during the game—reset and return to your routine
  
  

• You’ll have plenty of time to break things down after
  
  

• Be where your feet are—every pitch

The Mental Edge: What Great Players Do Differently

 Baseball is a game built on failure, adjustment, and relentless self-belief. Anyone can look confident when things are going well — but real competitors are the ones who stay composed through failure. 

At the end of the day, success comes down to one question:

Can you keep your mind working for you instead of against you?

Every athlete faces frustration, doubt, and fear. The difference between average players and elite competitors is how they respond. The mental game is a trainable skill — and great players master one principle:

Never too high. Never too low. Win the present rep.

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1. Me vs. Me: Controlling the Noise

Baseball exposes you. One bad swing, one missed pitch, one error — and your mind can spiral fast. That negative voice shows up immediately:

“What are you doing?”
“You can’t hit today.”
“Don’t mess up again.”

Great players don’t pretend that voice isn’t there.
They acknowledge it — then take control of the moment.

When something goes wrong:

• Don’t react emotionally.

• Don’t replay the mistake.

• Don’t judge yourself mid-game.

Your only job in competition is the next pitch.

Reflection is for after the game. During the game, stay where your feet are. That’s how you enter a flow state — when the game slows down, your focus sharpens, and execution feels effortless.

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2. Breath, Calm & the Hunter Mentality

Breathing isn’t a cliché. It’s a weapon.

When your heart rate spikes, everything slips — timing, pitch selection, vision. A controlled breath resets your system and brings you back to neutral.

The best athletes play with what I call the Hunter Mentality:

• Calm

• Precise

• Explosive

• Fully locked in

A warrior fights with emotion.
A hunter wins with accuracy.

And baseball rewards accuracy more than anything else.

Your breath keeps you calm enough to react fast and execute with intent.

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3. Confidence vs. Fear: The Battle Every Pitch

Every pitch is a battle between two forces:

Confidence — the warrior

Fear — the demon

That battle happens on every swing, every pitch, every play.

Your job is simple:
Choose confidence — not because it guarantees success, but because it gives you the best chance to compete.

Ask yourself:

“What’s the worst that happens? I fail?”

If failure is the worst outcome, then you’re free. Failure is part of  the sport. Once you accept that, pressure fades and performance rises.

Confidence isn’t arrogance.
It’s preparation + belief.

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4. Adjustments: The Reality of a Baseball Season

Here’s the truth most players never hear:

• You’ll be great in 5 games.

• You’ll be bad in 5 games.

• The other 20 define who you are.

You won’t always feel good.
You won’t always see it well.
The zone won’t always be fair.

Great players perform anyway. They:

• Simplify their thoughts → W.I.N. (What’s Important Now?)

• Control their breath

• Compete with consistent confidence

• Accept that discomfort is normal

Being bad for a day is part of the sport.
Showing negativity is a choice.

Your body language tells teammates, coaches, and opponents whether you can handle adversity. And it’s honest.

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5. The Standard: Next Pitch, Every Time

A true competitor brings the same standard to every rep:

• Present, not replaying

• Calm, not chaotic

• Competitive, not emotional

• Adjusting, not complaining

• Always moving on to the next pitch

You don’t control outcomes.
You control your response.

That response becomes your reputation.

Enjoy the moment.
Compete with everything you’ve got.
Focus on the rep in front of you.

Then?

Next pitch.

Make Aggressive Mistakes

 Baseball is a game of failure, hardest game in the world, learn from your mistakes, don't get bitter get better. Those are all just ok. A more positive mindset helps you play better.  "Screw it baseball." "If mistakes are inevitable, I might as well be aggressive, trying to execute my job on this pitch. If I fail, whatever, it's part of the game. Refined Indifference. It's how you play baseball the best. Focus on seeing the ball well and being quick/accurate then onto the next pitch. "Getting the outcome you want increases when you let go of the need to have it." Play in the present, be where your feet are for that pitch and try to execute. Review the results after the game, that's the time to learn from them. Know the count and the outs the whole game for every pitch. Best way to stay playing in the present. 

Use the Velocity in Machine Work

 Train your eyes to be accurate at a speed that you will never see in the game. If your machine can't go that fast then move closer to machine. Our body will naturally swing quicker when training above the swing speed. Just relax, focus and try to be quick and accurate with the barrel. Try to pull it if you can. My best player Graham Roberts does our machine at Dbat as fast as its goes. He has great top hand path and is short to the ball. He is still working on seeing the ball more out front and making contact more out front with a strong wrist at contact but it's great for a 12 year old. The ball travels longer and faster to the pull side.The perfect swing is in the pull side gap, not up the middle. We can be more accurate on the ball up because it is closer to our eyes and barrel. We have to be short to the ball to get there on time. Up are mistakes by a pitcher most of the time. Do damage on mistakes. Learn how to drive balls pull side and you can play. Learn how to hit velocity and you will never go to the plate without your confidence which is the most important thing in hitting. Train off the machine going fast, use that tool and you will see the results in the game when it counts. SEE IT UP.

Cage Work

Most of cage work should be spent focusing on trying to hit the ball on the barrel. Doesn't matter the drill the coach makes you do just try to hit the ball on the barrel. Strong Top wrist at contact, straight to the ball. Start with the drill below in the cage if you have the choice.

Important to strengthen your wrist. Squeeze a tennis ball until you are strong enough to squeeze a baseball. Build up your hitting muscles in your wrist. Do pushups, a lot of them, they help with your load and controlling your body.

Until your top wrist is strong use a toddler bat to work on your mechanics of your path with your top hand. Still try to be accurate with your barrel even though the bat is light and small. 

Finish with Velocity off the machine that is faster than you will face in the game. The results won't be great but it's good for you. Try to relax, see it well, and be quick/accurate with your barrel with a strong top wrist at contact.  

Homercoach

 The stronger your top wrist gets the farther the ball will go. Most hitters make contact with a weak TOP wrist so the ball makes the bat move back at contact. Swing the bat with a strong top wrist, squeeze the bat tight quickly when you want to swing. This will start the forward move. Its not "hips before hands" It's TOP HAND FIRST! The rest of the body should follow the direction the top hand leads to the ball. The eyes and body set itself up different behind the top hand based on location and speed of pitch but the STRONG TOP HAND LEADS THE WAY. This move is not hard to learn but then you can focus on being more accurate with your barrel. Where did the ball hit my bat. AIM SMALL MISS SMALL. You're not trying to hit the ball. You're not trying to hit it with your bat you're trying to hit it on the barrel because it goes faster off your bat. There is an art and craft to hitting. The calm and accurate dudes are the best players. 

Make sure to do a lot of TOP hand swings in the cage. Your top wrist can't get too strong. 

If your ego lets you CHOKE UP! Being accurate with the barrel becomes easier because the top hand is closer to the barrel. CHOKING UP  is a cheat code that only some guys use like the 2022 NL batting title winner or the best hitter of all time, Bonds. 

Choke up and catch the ball with the barrel with a strong top wrist at contact. Please try this, its fun to high five your player rounding third after a homer. 

Your players need to do a lot of pushups and squeeze a baseball with their top hand  In practice put the machine where the pitcher your age would release the ball. Now put the machine on the hardest velocity you will see. Then play a game. Hit in the cage during game. Get another machine for the cage, if not just flip and throw to each other, a lot of top hand swings. Focus on accuracy of barrel. When players throw to each other they should throw different pitches but still try to throw strikes. Good for both guys. Pitcher is working on being accurate and his stuff. Hitter sees different ways the ball moves. Youth players struggle with off speed because they don't get a chance to practice hitting it. Offspeed are easy to hit when they are a strike because they are slow, learn to hit the off speed if you want to hit bombs. Amateur baseball is hanger central because no-one swings at it. Be the team that crushes hanging breaking balls and never worries about velocity because they hit it everyday in practice, SEE IT UP. 

Your Career.

                                                                   Get Better Today

1. Being accurate playing catch is the most important thing you do on the field. Every time you have a chance to throw a ball, focus and try to execute a good throw. Firm and accurate around the infield after a groundball out, strike out. In the outfield make a good throw to the cutoff man after an out. Be accurate but if you make a bad throw so what, it doesn't count, it's just practice. Take those practice chances you get serious so the throw shows up when they are keeping score.

2. When you are throwing, you need to get your arm loose first but then as you separate from your partner, throw it harder and still try to be accurate. David Price told me, "if you want to throw hard, you have to practice throwing hard." It's simple but true, most guys lack velocity because they have never trained their arm to go fast. There is no consequence to making a bad throw in practice. Have the courage to push the envelope with your skills and they will develop faster.

3. With hitting, until two strikes, swing hard just in case you hit it on the barrel. Hard contact. Ruin the pitcher's day :) You can swing and miss 0-0 and still set the tone for the AB. Play offense when you hit and then battle with 2 strikes. Short and quick but explosive with your barrel. Great hitters have quick, short, and accurate moves when they hit. You should choke up on your bat to make your top hand move closer to the barrel to be more accurate, just like Barry Bonds. 

4. Less is More. Breathe. Everyone feels tension and different levels of emotions during the game based on result, that's normal. Just focus on your breathe to get back in the present moment. If you need a reset or flush breathe, it's breathe in for 3 seconds hold for 2 and out for 3. Breathing is a skill you should practice. A tense muscle is a slow muscle, before you try to execute, calm your body with your breathing routine to prepare to be quick/accurate. 

5. Fight or Flight. Every pitch we have to decide what we are going to do. "The warrior is CONFIDENCE and the demon is fear and they battle it out every pitch."-Augie Garrido Trust yourself, and just go play hard, control what you can control. What's my job on that pitch?  Check the score at the end, because it's the only time that it matters. 

6. Play with a self confidence mental edge. Positive self talk. Mentality that whatever I got today is good enough to find a way to help us win. If you're not getting any hits that day then go make plays so they don't get any hits either. Hit with confidence even when you fail, play offense when you hit, set the tone, be calm, quick and accurate. FYIB

7. You never get it back, it's your career, someday someone will tell you that you can't play baseball anymore, it happens to everyone. At what level is up to you and your work/development. Good Luck!

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. 

Perspective

 A lot of, if not all of the thoughts you feel during the game that are negative are artificially created in your mind. Control what you can control. How many outs, whats the count and whats the score? @BrainCain WIN "What's Important Now?" Do your job on that pitch. Over and Over. Check the score and your numbers after the game. Have the perspective that, "it doesn't matter, its just a stupid game, but its fun." Baseball is a great game BECAUSE! its hard as shit. Enjoy the success, but recognize that failure is inevitable, its going to happen more times than you are good. Baseball is a war of attrition and a marathon. One pitch at a time. FYIB, enjoy competition against someone else, where the results are there forever in your numbers. 

It's Just a Game

 I love baseball. I know how to play and coach it but the best perspective, which allows me to enjoy the game way more and just have fun. NO ONE CARES. It's a stupid game. If you win or lose it doesn't matter unless you are getting paid and want to make more money. If you hit 4 home runs or strike out 4 times, the world continues to rotate. You only get to Lace them up for a limited amount of time in your life. Control what you can control and have fun competing. Be present on the field. Whats the score, count and number of outs? As Bill says, " Do your Job" on that pitch. 

Change Timing in the cage

We create "5 o'clock hitters" guys that are great hitters in batting practice but struggle to adjust in the game. In practice coaches tell the hitter to "be on time" and congratulate them when they execute a "timed up swing." However, the way to be a great hitter is having the ability to be early or late and still make solid contact. In practice we need to mix pitches and speeds so the hitter can learn how to adjust when he is early or late. The reality is in the game you are not on time very often but in a normal batting practice you are. Your players will initially be very uncomfortable with you mixing pitches and speeds but continue to remind them that we are not trying to be the best cage hitter, we are trying to get our swings ready for the game.

Balk No Seriously Balk

If you want to pick off runners the best way is to balk. Now there is a way to do this. Baserunners are told two key things with pitchers. Right Handers: when you raise your left heal. Left Handers: Once the pitcher's right foot crosses the rubber he has to go home. That just isn't true. They never call balks for this. The only time they call balks is if you don't come to a stop and if a lefty steps to home and then throws it to first. That's it.

WS 2009 Gm1: Lee makes two plays look easy

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One of my favorite clips of body language. Talk about being confident and in the moment on baseball's  biggest stage. Most players do not appreciate the significance of the message you send to your opponent during a game.