Baseball Articles & News
Skill Based Division Of Talent In Recreational Youth Leagues
Participation in youth sports serves many needs and teaches great life lessons. Nobody can argue the benefits of participation: making new friends, learning to play as a team, developing coordination and fundamental athletic skills, exercise, sportsmanship, winning, losing, performing under pressure and so much more. However, what is the best way to set up a league that will be best for the kids so that they can all garner these lessons? This month, I’ll let you know why I feel a skill based ...
Chicago Cubs Baseball – Why the Chicago Cubs are Not a Winning Baseball Team
The Chicago Cubs have dominating starting pitching, a possible Triple Crown winner, and a former batting champion shortstop. So why are the Chicago Cubs a losing ballclub?
An Introduction to Baseball Bats
Whether you enjoy the crack of wood or the ping of aluminum, baseball bats are designed for players ranging from Little Leaguers to professionals. Baseball bats are crafted out of specialized woods, composites or alloys, and aluminum, depending on the league. Bats can be forged out of various woods, ash and maple being the most popular.
A Brief History of the Baseball Glove
Baseball has long been praised as America's favorite pastime. Baseball gloves have been used for nearly as long as the baseball game has existed are a very integral part of the sport.
A Guide to Batting Cages
Batting cages are enclosed or partially enclosed pieces of sporting equipment that act as a “catcher,” in effect, for batters practicing hitting baseballs or softballs. Batting cages help to keep balls in a contained space so that the batter can continue hitting without having to continually retrieve them. Different types of batting cages can be located outdoors or in a gym or activity center.
Rafael Palmeiro: Steroids and Baseball, Deceiving the Public
Rafael Palmeiro had us all believing that he never took steroids. Being a former major leaguer, he had me convinced as well. He also fooled the American public into thinking that he was one guy who abstained from it's use.
Around Major League Baseball
San Francisco: Pitcher Kirk Reuter was upset that he was placed on the DL because of a case odf gout in his big toe. Reuter claimed he'd be ready to pitch this week, but GM Brian Sabean felt otherwise. It's no secret Reuter has been wanting out of SF for awhile, in hopes he can help a contender. But, his $6 Million contract made it hard for the Giants to move him.
Steroids and Palmeiro Why Rafael Palmeiro Should Be Allowed In The Hall of Fame
Rafael Palmeiro has had an outstanding career; he is one of only 4 members in the entire history of Major League Baseball to have over 3,000 hits and 500 homeruns. He is 15th all-time in RBI’s with 1834, and 10th all-time in total bases with 5385.
How To Choose a Pitching Machine
Before we start, let me just add one thought on how I believe ballplayers are made. FIRST… you must learn the proper mechanics! SECOND… you do it over and over and over again! The player that has the privilege of being able to hit just by walking out his back door is at an unbelievable advantage when compared to the player who can't. He is as fortunate as a player can ever be for this is the absolute number one tool that a player can have to become the best ...
Successful Hitters Always Have a Plan!
Successful Hitters Always Have a Plan! Here are some thoughts on the above topic from a buddy of mine. The guy’s name is Steve Springer. “If baseball is 90% mental, why do we work on it less than 10% of the time?” "You cannot control getting a hit, but you can control hitting the ball hard!" Who Is This Guy? Springer isn’t just another “dry jock” (a not-so-flattering term given to many broadcasters who never played the game). No, this guy logged over 7,000 pro ...
Fall Baseball – A Great Time To Really Coach
A few random thoughts on making Fall Ball a bit better experience! *You may want to read the note at the end of this article
Tips On Running A Baseball Tryout
If you need a tryout format for your league, All-Stars, or for an individual team, here are some good guidelines that are flexible and give coaches a good idea of the players' abilities.
Why Hitting a Small Ball Leads to Big Results
In all of sports hitting a round ball with a rounded bat is said to be toughest thing to do. It might be true, it might not, but I can tell you that the difference in Major League Baseball between $2 million per year and pumping gas at a Texaco station could be as little as 30 more hits a year. So, it sure is not easy!
Teaching Your Boy the Game!
For those who “coach your son” (or those players who are coached by Dear Old Dad), lend me your ears. Here are some quick and easy thoughts to answer the common problems that surround coaching your own kid.
Plan to Succeed
If it's so easy to coach youth baseball and do it well, why do you see so many poor coaches? In my years as a player and as a coach, I can tell you that my opinion of poor coaching can be simply boiled down to: A LACK OF KNOWLEDGE AND A LACK OF PREPARATION! Simply stated... NO Game Plan! The great news is...both can be taught and both can be learned! And please don't say that you don't have the time. You do!
Real Players Hit With Wood
Let me say this up front… I do not like aluminum bats . . . but I’ll win with them. Practice with wood . . . and you’ll win with aluminum.
Boston Red Sox The Best of the Best!
Boston is having another very good year. Even though they fell to second place when they lost to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 3-1 victory and sent Boston to its sixth loss in seven games. When New York beat Texas later Monday night, the Yankees moved into first and the Red Sox fell into a second-place tie with Baltimore, one-half game back.
Does the Home Run Chase Really Matter Anymore?
The year of 1998 was a banner year for Major League Baseball. It was the year where the fans returned and embraced Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa's chase of Roger Maris' single season homerun record that had stood for 37 years. It was the savior of the game at the time, but 7 years later, that chase "exposed" baseball as the game of performance enhancing substances (steroids).
So You're The New Coach
So you’re the new coach. Ok, now what? Coaching a team sure seemed like a good idea, maybe even easy…until you started thinking and getting into it deeper. All those players, parents, the draft, practices…and those game decisions…ugh. Maybe coaching 3rd base might not be so easy... What were you thinking? SOLUTIONS: Rule #1 – Relax, It will work out! You’ll probably even turn out to be good at it. How do I know? Why would I think this? Well, first you are ...
Check Out the Teva Mountain Games
Televised sporting events have been common place for sports such as baseball, basketball, and football. However, other lesser known competitive sports are making their mark on cable television. Cable television networks such as the OLN are a welcome sight for passionate kayakers. OLN was proud to broadcast the “Teva Mountain Games” this past June. Kayakers, bikers, and rafters were among many adventure athletes that were showcased.
MLB 2nd Half Outlook
American League: East: The Yanks and Red Sox will battle it out (again) for the East title, but with a twist this yr. The team that finishes 2nd doesn't get the Wild Card. Yankees take the division in the final weekend of the season.It'll be a longjam with The Twins, Indians, Rangers, and possibly Oakland in the WC race. The O's will continue to fade and finish under .500 Central: White Sox will hang on to the division, but not before getting a scare from ...
What Baseball Could Learn From A Former Skinny Kid!
The baseball season is here and the game’s greatest players are in the news. They have hit the headlines not for their prowess on the field, but for alleged steroid abuse in the locker room. Baseball’s greatest stars could have taken a body building lesson from a former out-of-shape 135 pound weakling.
Cycling
Cycling is a great activity that can be enjoyed by the very young to the not so very young. In fact many middle age adults are discovering the health and social benefits of cycling.
The Youth Sports Coach
Coaching youth sports is a challenge. Most of our kids are really happy to have us step up to the plate and coach and, despite the time we give up, most parents find the experience equally rewarding. However, there are some major things that every coach needs to do and understand before they start the season: 1) coach with the proper attitude; 2) coach with the proper fundamentals; and, 3) learn and teach the difference between the “Dad Hat” and the “Coach Hat”.
Top Ten Things I Would Like To See Regarding Baseball
1 Put the designated hitter in the National League or remove the DH in the American League. Let’s create some uniformity.
I Can't Wait! We Are Going to Cooperstown!
My heart soared. We were going to take another trip to The Baseball Hall of Fame. One of my favorite places on earth.
My Office Behind the Plate
I loved catching - I had the whole game in front of me. I could see everything. Placing the fielders was my job. Seeing whether long fly balls were fair or foul. What the pitcher had or lacked, I saw, as well. Did the pitcher need a break in the action because he was tired? If he did I would pay a little visit to the mound. The general on the field is what I was. A direct link to the coach.
A Classic World Series : 1975 Cincinnati Reds vs. Boston Red Sox
The 1975 World Series was aniously anticipated as a battle between two of baseball's greatest teams. The Boston Red Sox featured a unique mixture of true greatness and quirky individualism. Carl Yastrzemski, Calton Fisk, Freddy Lynn, and Jim Rice. Quirky individualism manifested in Bill "Spaceman" Lee. And, "El Tiante" Luis Tiant showed signs of both attributes.
Baseball's First World Series
Baseball's first World Series was played in 1903. The contest to decide the World Champions of baseball resulted from player raids by the fledgling American League. This brand new league had declared itself to be a major league and contested with the senior National League for baseball talent. A bitter player war replete with lawsuits, dishonored contracts and much bitterness had raged across the baseball landscape for two years.