FUNdamentals

We all already know how important good balance is in pitching. Another important part of throwing strikes is “putting your fingers in the mitt.”

Most pitchers do not know what to do with their glove arm. Since that is the case, most have a “lazy” glove arm. This means that the pitcher is not using that arm in their mechanics, and it is probably limiting them to the amount of strikes that they throw.

Pitchers can improve their pitch location with this simple drill.

When running bases if the runner is at second base with two outs, he should take a step behind second base before getting his lead. This helps the runner round third base better when trying to score.

Outfielders need to learn at a very early age how important it is to hit their cut-off men from the outfield.

There are plenty of exercises baseball players can do to stay in shape.

There are two situations where a hitter must protect base runners: the hit-and-run and the suicide squeeze.

I remember to this day watching the 1985 World Series with Kansas City and St. Louis.

Being left-handed, my favorite player immediately was Danny Jackson.

Jackson holds the current record for 20+ wins in a season for a left-hander for my favorite team, the Cincinnati Reds, which he accomplished in 1988.

Work on fielding and improve hand-eye coordination with these two simple practice drills.

Start with “mini-tennis,” i.e. with both players standing at the service line rather than at the base line. When you can hit several consecutive shots across the net, take a couple of steps back and hit from there until you can hit several in a row. Then take a couple more steps back and repeat, keeping in mind that it may take several trips to the courts to become adept at this.