Score! - FUNdamentals

Fingers to the mitt

Tue, 18 Jul 2006 22:13:27 -0500

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

Overcoming a lazy glove arm

Sun, 16 Jul 2006 22:08:21 -0500

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.

Location, location, location

Tue, 06 Jun 2006 07:15:55 -0500

Pitchers can improve their pitch location with this simple drill.

Gain the advantage with a step back

Sun, 04 Jun 2006 14:45:53 -0500

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.

Hit the cut-off man

Sat, 27 May 2006 10:50:02 -0500

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

Staying in baseball shape

Wed, 24 May 2006 10:46:37 -0500

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

Protecting base runners

Thu, 20 Apr 2006 08:36:14 -0500

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

A way to become a better baseball player!

Wed, 19 Apr 2006 13:18:37 -0500

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.

Improve fielding with the short-hop and backhander drills

Wed, 12 Apr 2006 01:34:24 -0500

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

Learning the push groundstroke

Tue, 04 Apr 2006 00:00:01 -0500

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.

Positions by numbers!

Mon, 03 Apr 2006 09:42:52 -0500

There are many people who do not know what the positions of baseball are by their numbers. Here they are …

Problems with your swing? Your bat length and weight might be holding you back

Thu, 30 Mar 2006 05:20:26 -0600

Bats. They cost anywhere from $16 to upwards of $400. They come in wood, aluminum, graphite, titanium and sometimes steel. But the only place you’ll see these bats taking flight is on a baseball diamond.

A fun way to improve hand-eye coordination

Mon, 27 Mar 2006 11:05:09 -0600

This may sound crazy, but it works!

Hitting out of the sand

Mon, 20 Mar 2006 22:17:56 -0600

You just hit what you thought was a good shot and it comes up a little short and lands in the bunker. When you get to your ball you find it buried in the sand.

Don’t panic — the shot is not as tough as you think.

Sliding 101

Fri, 17 Mar 2006 07:24:42 -0600

Sliding is a technique that sometimes goes neglected in coaching. A baserunner needs to be aggressive and be smart. You need to take chances, but not to the point that you run yourself out of a baseball game.