Great Fall in the books ...

It's hard to imagine, but a great fall has come and gone ... wow. Things seem to pick up speed as we get older, I tell you.

But we had a blast wrapping up our Fall Training with a first-ever "All Mustangs Scrimmage." You just never know around here. And we also had a great camp put on by former pro players Kevin Castleberry and Chris Burton ... along with current Minnesota Twin Danny Lehmann.

I learned some great new stuff, and I saw players learning, too.

I've had some great discussions with a number of our players and parents about the nuances of hitting mechanics, instruction and the like, after our camp. For sure, there is a certain degree of "art" (as opposed to science) in teaching this game. Of course, there is "science," too, if you will. But there are shades of gray.

Later on, we'll discuss some of these, and why we teach certain things the way we do.

But for our players, here is an important mindset to take with you whereever you go (in and out of baseball): The learning never stops. You can learn something from every one. Work hard to find what works and then work some more. None of us has a lock on all knowledge in any field; accordingly, it behooves us to stay hungry and stay humble. Most high achievers in any field are continuing to grow; they are transforming from students of others into students of themselves as they mature and grow.

It's "more than baseball," you might say.

So, stay hungry and humble. Such an attitude will serve you well on your mission in life.

Tryouts are Sat., 11/13 at 9 a.m. (Spring-Klein Rothwood). Directions are on our website.

See you on the field,

Coach Rut

Courage's Cousin: Adversity

Courage's cousin ... that is adversity. Adversity brings forth an opportunity to display courage. Will you? I believe you ... and we ... can.

I learned a long time ago that adversity is akin to a fire. When it comes, it burns away all that is perishable, and you are left with those things that are truly valuable -- namely, your character.

Put another way, rather than making us adversity reveals who we really are. So ... are you experiencing a little adversity on the way to a particular goal? Injury? Illness? Something even worse? Has some one changed their plans to where you are no longer a part of them, or at least the way you thought you were? Have you discovered that fallible people will let you down ... and maybe, just maybe an umpire will blow a call? I just, but you get the point.

That's life, and life is often unfair. But God is just, and He has a plan. I take comfort and draw strength from this truth when I encounter rough waters. I know God is working out his plan in me.

And He also has His hand on the Mustangs. I am excited to see what He is going to do.

Remember ... everything you may experience today, whether on the field or off, He has undergone in some form or fashion ... and in truth, He has gone through far worse ... and for you. He loves you more than words can say. And He believes in you.

So, get up. Dust off.

Let's roll.

See you on the field,

On Courage ...

From Coach Aaron Weintraub, who gets and teaches mental game concepts as well as any one:

"You display amazing courage in many circumstances. Let us not downplay it's importance, though, in everything we do. Courage is the strength of will to do what is difficult. When courage and motivation are combined, mountains will be overcome one step at a time, and then look like molehills in the distance behind you. Without courage, even a molehill is insurmountable. With courage, an ingrown toenail is irrelevant during a performance. Without courage, the injured athlete loses intensity, focus, and balance. Without courage, adversity is bad and represents the end of the road. With courage, adversity is actually sought out because mistakes are viewed as critical components for growth and happiness. With the courage to admit mistakes, weaknesses become strengths. Without it, weaknesses continue unabated or even grow until they blow up in your face. With courage, we can create new habits and make excellence second nature. Without it, we can make excuses. Without courage, the fear of failure can debilitate. With it, fear helps us push our own limits and reach new heights of personal or human achievement. This is because courage reveals fear and pressure for what they really are: the shadows of great opportunities.

This is why Winston Churchill said, 'Without courage, all other virtues lose their meaning.' If motivation and courage are sufficient, you will find a way!"

Take a deep breath: R-E-S-T

I'd like you players to get the R-E-S-T formula, as we have discussed, and get it into your bones -- your DNA, if you will. Let's more than memorize it. Let's play it on each play.

Here goes:

R (Defense) =

Realize the situation. Where are the runners? Where is the play? How many outs? What is the count? The hitter? Is it a bunt or a steal situation? The score? What are you going to do when the ball is hit to you? Get that news ticker in your brain going and check it.

Repeat yourself ... which is another way of saying: Communicate! Talk to each other about the situation, changes in coverage, your intentions, important reminders that you see on the field ... and, oh yes, CALL for balls in the air and let fielders know when you are taking charge of a play, i.e., an unassisted double-play.

Routine plays. Make them. Do this and we'll be fine. Play good defense. Our defense needs to be good rather than perfect. Web gems are great for ESPN but not required.

Remind yourself of the situation again. Check the ticker one more time. A good defensive player and team has the mind working always. We can rest after the game.

E (Hitting) =

Expect your pitch and hit it where it wants to go. Know exactly what you are looking for and expect to see it, a la Al Oliver in "The Mental Game of Baseball." If you think our approach is passive, you have yet to understand it. We are aggressively hunting for the pitch we want to hit and then hitting that pitch hard where it tells us it is meant to be hit hard. Do you think an ambush is passive? We are planning an ambush at the plate, and it builds throughout the game.

Every one has a two-strike approach, which is both a mental and mechanical adjustment. That is, our hitting zone with two strikes becomes the strike zone + 2-3 inches. We also make a mechanical adjustment -- every one of us -- to enable ourselves to be quicker and be able to cover the whole plate.

Eyes -- Always remember to use your eyes -- broad to fine focus. This is a slump buster and the most important element of hitting.

Expand your approach if/when the pitcher has shown that he is able to deny or alter our ability to find our pitch. Make an adjustment -- it could be physical or mental -- to get to your pitch and remain the aggressor on offense.

Remember: Our goal at the plate is to have a Quality AB (6 or more pitches, a hard hit ball, and/or get on base) each time. Following our approach helps us get there.

S (Baserunning) =

Situation -- Know it. How many outs? What is the count? Where is the force? What am I going to do when the ball is hit? Consider the options.

Sign -- Get it. No conversation with the 1B. Get it quick before the opposition zeroes in on the coach.

Stretch your lead. Rather than simply happening, leads are worked for. Getting an extra step could be the difference in a stolen base vs. and out or a run. Work on the field. Always.

Say it again. Keep the ticker going. Develop a habit of self-talk re: the situation and what is happening in the game. Use positive self-talk to coach yourself as to what you are going to do before it happens. A prepared runner is an effective runner.

T (Pitching) =

Three-pitch approach. Our goal is by the third pitch to achieve the following: We want the runner ON, OUT, or the count at 1-2. We do this because we want to throw strike one, make the hitter hit our pitch and then get hitters into pitchers' counts. We also want to manage our own pitch counts and keep the number of pitches seen by the opposition as low as we can under the circumstances. The odds are in the pitchers' favor, so we use these odds. At two strikes, we either throw a pitch to get the hitter out or we are setting up a pitch to get him out on the next pitch. Remember ... and think ... tournaments. Here, we are seeking to have our opposition do the opposite on offense as we are doing (see "Expect" above).

Tempo -- We keep the game moving, pitching at a reasonable pace (albeit our own) so that our fielders stay ready and engaged. "Human rain delays" are hard on defenses. Also, when runners are on base, we keep our minds on the hitter but we get to the plate quickly and also vary our tempo to give our catcher a better chance on steal attempts.

Target -- As with the hitter and his eyes, the pitcher must remember to use his eyes to locate the target and remember to throw at it. Sounds simple, but if you are struggling throwing strikes (as with hitting), go back to using your eyes and focus. You'll be amazed at the results.

Task-at-hand -- A lot happens on the baseball field that is outside a pitcher's control. All a pitcher can do is focus on the task-at-hand, that is, throwing the next good pitch. Our pitches need not be perfect; good will do. Once the pitch is released, the pitcher has done his job. Now, it's on to the next pitch. Rather than umpires, fielding miscues, the on-deck hitter, or coming out of the game, the pitcher must stay on task. As he does so, then the results get easier to attain.

Remember ... As pitchers, our goal corresponds to our goal as hitters. That is, our goal is to prevent the hitter from getting a Quality AB. Following our approach helps us attain our goal.

So, there you have it ... R-E-S-T. Got it? Now you can relax.

See you on the field,

It's Labor Day, which means ... it's Baseball Season!!

Greetings, all.

I am super excited to get going on 9/7 ... 5:30 @ Barton ... as we kick off Fall Training and begin preparations for the 2011 season in earnest.

You'll see some old and some new. You'll see some changes, some new drills, some familiar concepts, and some new ones, too. That's what growth is all about -- taking what works and employing it again, tweaking and improving always, and implementing new ideas to get to the next level.

That is what we've been doing around here for some time, and now we are poised to have our best year ever. We are going to have three good teams, with a solid foundation in place to sustain a level of excellence on the field in the coming seasons.

So, I am pumped. But actually, I am always pumped to work with and, really, just be with the Mustangs. There is no other baseball program like it in the world.

So, enjoy each day. And be ready. It's still hot outside, but ... fall is upon us. And that means it's baseball season. And that means it's time for the Mustang Nation to shine once again.

See you on the field,

Coach Rut

"Remember the Ice" by Bob Nicoll

Just finished a great little book -- "Remember the Ice and Other Paradigm Shifts" by Bob Nicoll.

In a lot of ways, the book reminds me of "The Mental Game of Baseball", in that "Remember the Ice" is really the mental game of communicating.

Learning to communicate better can improve your life and the lives of every one you with whom you come in contact. It's that important. So, what will you do about it? I highly recommend this book as a great place to start. Open your mind to some new and powerful ideas about how to communicate more effectively.

What follows are some excerpts and takeaways -- some are paraphrased and direct quotes from the book are noted -- that I hope will give you a taste of the power of saying what you mean clearly:

If you want to remember something, tell your self to "remember." Sounds simple, right? It is, and it works.

Here are the seven "knotty" words that tie up speech and are to be avoided: Not, Don't, Won't, Wouldn't, Can't, Couldn't, and Shouldn't.

Note: People fail to hear "not, " so when you say it, you are in actuality communicating the opposite of what you intend.

"'Will' and 'would' are empowering words."

"Positive reinforcement is a much more productive and powerful way to inspire some one to achieve."

When you describe a situation as something "we" are facing, "you put yourself in the bullpen with them."

"When some one who is trying to be helpful says, 'I couldn't find it,' and you find it irritates you, it's because it sounds like they were saying, 'I could have found it (if I tried).'"

"'Should' traps people in bitterness and disappointment. ... It has little to do with intention; it has everything to do with projecting your judgment onto some one else." My comment: Wow. Ouch. We in the Christian community "should" a lot, I think.

"'Fail to' is a good temporary fix-it, as is 'unable to.' ... Later, 'I fail to understand (instead of 'I don't understand') will evolve into 'Could you please explain that another way?'"

"Your word choice has the power to persuade some one to your point of view."

"Dump the word 'should' from your vocabulary, your dictionary, your thoughts, and your feelings."

Try this instead (of "should"): "I would like things to be different."

"Everything in your life is exactly as it should be because it is."

"If you want to change behavior, drop the 'shoulds' and try again."

"There are many ways to play the 'should' game without saying the word 'should' ... i.e., "if you really wanted to do X, you would do (what I want you to)."

Beware of absolutes such as "never," "always," and and "every."

"Using 'never' wipes out the times when he has [gotten the job done]."

"Be especially alert around verbally negative people."

"There is power in every word you say to yourself. Use that power for good instead of evil."

"As you physically move toward what you want, you actually foster a pattern of attracting more of what you want in your life."

Respectful elegance in your speech ... "Start with 'please,' and 'thank you,' and 'excuse me' and the other polite phrases that demonstrate respect."

Try saying 'thank you' instead of just 'thanks.' My comment: This is a profound little change. Try it and be blessed with the results.

"Be mindful of your tone of voice."

"It is extremely important that you stop, think, and choose the best possible words that describe how you feel."

Being clear and specific demonstrates respect.

Our physiology communicates, as well. If our body language communicates something different then our words, problems ensue.

"As human beings, we dislike these false displays of emotion. It only takes one encounter with a person playing this game to embed a deep mistrust of their character in both our conscious and subconscious opinions of them."

"Faking it will get you nowhere."

Check out this gem: "There is power in the congruency of your articulation. When your beliefs, values, thoughts, physiology and words all support the same message, it is the most empowering way to communicate. It is so empowering that it is actually contagious. You can influence and even change the beliefs, values, thoughts, physiology and words of the people with whom you are speaking. Throw in anticipating good things, and you can move mountains."

Your own smile lightens the mood. Raising your line of sight and posture make you more positive.

"The simple act of controlling your breathing holds tremendous power."

"If you dedicate yourself to improving your conversation skills, the rewards will be enormous. You will find that as your ability to hear, thoughtfully interpret and appreciate what is being said increases, your ability to be truly heard will also increase."

"If you understand that [your] request comes with an equal opportunity for a 'yes' or 'no,' then you are fine."

"Say what you mean, and mean what you say, and above all, employ respectful elegance when you say it."

"You choose whether you will dread Monday morning, or whether you will look forward to waking up to a fresh week full of energy and purpose."

"Have you noticed that good things seem to happen to people who look for good things in everything that happens?"

"Word choice will only be effective if it is congruent with your beliefs and values."

"Circles have no sides, and neither do facts."

Label something a situation rather than a problem. Situations can seemingly be approached from more angles.

"Since it is a privilege to be here (on this earth), it just makes sense that you have a responsibility to be a contributor, and these are the only seconds you get to do so. What kind of mark do you intend to make here? How are people going to remember you?"

Good stuff, huh? It's more than baseball. Think about how you talk to your teammates, coaches, friends, parents, family, and yes, even umpires. Even umpires.

Check out Bob, send him an email ... or better yet ... order his book at www.remembertheice.com.

See you on the field,

When is it time to steal?

Well, let's make it simple ... it depends ... or, it's when you get the sign.

So, what am I thinking? I'll tell you. A lot of it is hunch. Hunches are knowledge in raw form, and a lot of mine are formed after watching and studying you players and our opponents intently.

First of all, we are assuming that we have a runner on base that is stretching his lead, is engaged and working to get a good jump, and has enough speed to steal the base.

But what specifically am I looking at and for? First, I am looking at the catcher. What does his throw down look like? Is he quick? Is he accurate? I am always looking at the opposing catcher throwing down between innings. And I encourage you to do the same. And you catchers ... I encourage you to mean business on your throwdowns, both to build good habits and send a message. No time for playing, tempting or decoying. I want the opposition to be counting the cost. The opposing coaching staff is watching.

Also, I am looking to see what the pitcher's move looks like. Is he quick to to the bag? How quick is he to the plate? Is he predictable in his move pattern, looks, etc., and/or his pitch pattern?

What is the count? Usually, the first pitch can be risky, unless we have seen the pitcher for a number of hitters. We are looking for a good running count, and what is that? This always used to perplex me, because it's one of those things that baseball people talk about but don't explain. Plus, it's different in MLB than high school. So, what is a good count to run? In high school baseball?

I think a good count to run is one in which -- in our judgment -- the pitcher is going to give us a pitch that gives us a reasonable opportunity to take the bag. Does that help? Let me explain further.

One thing I am looking for is a count when the pitcher is likely to throw a breaking ball. A lot of high school pitchers have predictable patterns in this regard, so you know the drill. Sometimes, a pitcher will make a move (or two) to the bag before throwing a curve to hold the runner close.

We also are looking for a count where it's unlikely the opposition may pitch out, although the pitchout is used infrequently in high school baseball.

A couple of counts that can work to steal second ... 3-1 and 3-2. In either case, if the pitcher misses we are there, any way. Also, both are hitters counts so a good pitch is likely to be swung at, as well, and create another visual obstruction for the catcher.

Yes, there are a number of factors. And yet, there's more.

What about the situation? Are we stealing second or third? How many outs are there? What's the score? Where are we in our lineup? Is our hitter a lefty (makes it easier for us to steal 2B) or a righty (makes it easier for us to take 3B)? Is the pitcher struggling, i.e., is he likely to walk our hitter and get us to the next base for free?

Let's break down a few of these variables ... who is up for us? Are we at the bottom of our order? All things being equal, we want to start innings with an ideal situation, i.e., our leadoff hitter starting the inning as compared to #8 or #9.

Also, consider ... is the hitter at the plate ... and maybe the one on deck likely to knock in the runner from where he is now? Do we need to move up? And ... here's another one ... is the catcher a weak receiver and/or the pitcher wild such that he might give us the opportunity to move without risking a stolen base?

On the other hand, getting to a position where we can score on one of those passed balls/wild pitches can be big, too.

Wow, can you tell there is a lot to be thinking about and absorbing? That's why we are paying attention when we are in the dugout. On deck. On base. Everywhere.

Moving to second when we can is almost always advisable. Why? Well, a single is going to score most runners from second. If we have two outs in the inning and we are in a good spot in the order to begin the next inning with the hitter on deck ... and our runner on first has some speed ... it's an opportunity to take second. Consider, too, that taking second removes both the double play and the easier force play in the middle of the diamond on a ground ball. It forces the defense to go all the way across the diamond to first for the out.

But what if it's a lefty on the mound? What if we can't get a good jump? What if the catcher is excellent? Well, we factor in all of that, too.

Third base presents a different set of circumstances. As a general rule, we want to avoid making either the first out (slowing a rally) or last out (ending a rally) at either third or home.

But this is a general, not an absolute, rule. Also, we generally want to steal third with a right-hand hitter at the plate, rather than a lefty. Why? The lefty affords the catcher a clear view of third base.

Pitchers will forget that runner at 2B and create an opportunity for us. Be ready.

Then again, if the pitcher is allowing the runner to get a huge lead off of second, then ... that's another factor.

Getting to third base in high school baseball is more valuable than getting to 3B in MLB or college ball. Why? Defensive lapses (opportunities for us) are more common, and a tag play at the plate can be challenging for a high school defense. Also, passed balls and wild pitches -- great scoring opportunities for us -- are much more common, as well.

Keep your head on straight ... Situation, Sign, Stretch (your lead), Say it again ... keep that ticker going ... as well as the parade around the bases.

And if you ever get the green light ... keep it to yourself. You know what I mean.

See you on the field.

Training Like We Play

Just like practice. Ah, you remember that. Just like practice ... one pitch at a time ... have fun. We'll say and do that again ... and soon.

Regarding this concept, I was thinking about how we may be doing tee work. What do I mean? Well, if you are working on hitting a pitch in an "unsweet" spot ... say, you like it up-and-in, but the low-and-away pitch is tough for you ... then what should your swing look like on that l0w-and-away pitch?

What do I mean? Well, let me ask this: What is your pitch? If it's not low-and-away (few hitters are looking for this pitch, although some are), then you will probably only be swinging at this pitch when the count gets to two strikes.

So, what should your swing look like? It will be your two-strike approach and swing. So, you are working on making your adjustment and hitting this pitch hard where it wants to go.

In other words, you are training like you'll swing the bat in a game.

So, when you have two strikes and we are in a game, you be just fine.

Just like practice.

Coach Traub: What is Discipline?

"It's hustle and sweat and fighting through pain. It's eliminating excuses. It's attention to details. It's consistency. It's hard work without having to be asked. It's more... I am afraid that too many teenagers lack a clear concept of what discipline really is. I was well past my teen years when I discovered Dr. M. Scott Peck's book, The Road Less Traveled. In it, Dr. Peck suggests that discipline is scheduling painful things now to enhance pleasure later. It is accepting responsibility for the results I am getting, and dedicating myself to reality so that I can figure out what's working and what isn't. This requires stringent self-examination, a willingness to be challenged, and relentless honesty. Then, choosing one course of action over another requires flexibility, good judgment, and courage. With discipline, I will work hard and smart. 'Life is difficult' claims Dr. Peck, but with discipline, he believes we can 'transcend the difficulty of life.'

"Red and Me" by Bill Russell

I recently finished "Red and Me" by Bill Russell; the book chronicles Russell's friendship with the longtime coach with the Boston Celtics, Red Auerbach. It was a Father's Day present from my wife. Principally due to the rough language, I can't endorse the book or recommend it to you players. However, there was some interesting thoughts from the book that provides insight into the best coach-player tandem in professional team sports history.

I found some great insights as a coach. For one thing, Auerbach was really ahead of his time, in a lot of ways ... for instance, in embracing the role of black players in the NBA. He also was a basketball "Moneyball" guy, in that he was most concerned with production rather than aesthetics and/or conventional wisdom.

Here are some of most noteworthy quotes:

"A man has to draw a line inside himself that he won't allow any man to cross."

"He (Auerbach) was willing to buck current conventional wisdom to suit his own vision of how to win. Also, he trusted and respected the advice of his friends and had enormous confidence in his own instincts."

"He (Auerbach) was a mathematician of the highest order. He understood the efficacy of equations, especially in terms of problem-solving."

"My ambition as your friend is that my friendship has a positive influence on your quality of life. If I am able to accomplish this, it will enhance my quality of life."

"It is far more important to understand than be understood."

"We recognized that disagreements were not obstacles to our mutual respect, but rather stepping-stones to understanding."

"Let the first thing out of your mouth be your second thought. It will greatly reduce the number of apologies you have to make ... "

Red didn't care what other people thought of him. "All he did was stay true to himself and try to do good work."

His methods were "always geared to the team over any one player."

"Good friends must be confident in their own skin."

"In a true friendship, nothing about your principles is up for debate."

"My attitude, in difficult situations, is to keep moving forward positively."

Funny, but I wasn't crazy about reading a basketball book. But I found it to be "more than basketball", if you will.

See you on the field,