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.