So, what are you working on this off-season?

By now, I have been in touch with all of our Varsity returning players with areas to work on during the off-season.  I hope you are getting to it.  


I am committed to being better than ever in 2013.  What about you? 


I get asked a lot regarding what players need to be doing.  The short answer is ... it depends.  I know, there I go again. 


Most all of you need work on at least one (if not two or all) of the following:  1) arm strength; 2) core work; and 3) speed work.  Before addressing some of the individual elements of these three areas, let's talk about some general principles.  


First, make sure that you are alternating work in each area.  As an example, do sprints and core work on M/W/F and heavy throwing work (long toss) on T/Th/S.  You can certainly throw, run, or do other work on a more frequent basis, but your muscles/related muscle groups need time to heal and rebuild in order to get better.  


If you are working a weight, weighted ball, or other strength/conditioning program, adjust your other work accordingly.  Weights certainly have their place in baseball training, but bear in mind, that there is really no substitute for throwing in terms of building arm durability and strength. A lot of guys can throw every day because ... golly, they throw every day. 


If you are working on all three of the areas below (as many of you are), then consider mixing in two on one day, i.e., core exercises in between sprints.  


Throwing Work -- I would encourage you to consider long-tossing at least a couple of days per week.  For those wanting to improve your off-speed pitch, I would suggest spending the better part of at least one day doing off-speed long toss (where you throw your off-speed pitch at about 90-120 feet and work on the feel and grip).  Pitchers, at least one of the days that you throw either a bullpen, play 21, or work hitting your spots/target.  Make sure that you also are long-tossing to a target, as well, and only backing up when you have hit your target within a few feet a couple/three times before backing up.  We are training to throw, rather than simply chunk.  Make every throw purposeful. 


Speed Work -- You will note that I said speed work.  Whenever you are running, make sure you are sprinting or striding hard.  Keep it short and explosive.  I would recommend keeping your sprints at/under the farthest you will run on a baseball field.  I know that some other teams (there are fewer all the time) are jogging around slowly, but such work really benefits players little, if at all.  The only reason to be doing distance running if if you need to drop weight.  But ... think about it ... do you ever jog during a baseball play? We train like we play, and baseball is a game of controlled explosions with short rest intervals in between.  We are training baseball athleticism (rather than football, cross-country, etc.). Really, for our purposes, sprinting at 60 yards and under will work just fine.  For those needing to work on your quickness, practice exploding out of a ready position at 20 yards.  Work in core exercises between sprints for a workout that will really kick your tail.  


For exceptional results (particularly if you want to drop weight), run sprints with a weighted vest.  You absolutely can get faster ... maybe even a lot faster.  We have seen it done, so go do it again. 


Core Work -- The core essentially is the body minus the arms and legs.  It's where your center of gravity is located, and it is also the foundation for all the major movements necessary to succeed on the baseball field. Throwing, hitting, and running explosiveness and power start in the core.  Thus, it is vital to strengthen your core.  


There are myriad ways to this.  Here are some:  All manner of push-ups -- i.e, diamond, knee up (both after each pushup); squat run with weights, lunges (reach with weights), squat x-reach, leg lifts and bananas (reverse leg lifts, try holding for a minute), sit-ups and crunches, mountain climbers, towel hops (set of 50), steam engine (set of 50, with right elbow to left knee and vice versa).


And, oh, by the way, our ladder work is great for your core.  But you have to push it.  No coasting.  


Bonus Work:  Yes, bonus work.  Train your mind.  A lot of you I have addressed specifically about this, that is, to get better understanding certain aspects of the game.  But let's take it another step.  We talk a lot about the "mental game" but we still have a lot of work to do in this regard.  Each of you must own  it to make it yours ... to make it work for you.  


So, I'd like to challenge/encourage each of you players to read "The Mental Game of Baseball," by H.A. Dorfman.  If you have yet to read it, try it.  It will change your game and maybe your life in the process.  You will under stand the importance of having a routine and plan like never before.  


Also, I would like each of our high school pitchers to read "The Mental ABC's of Pitching," by Dorfman.  This book is a practical guide to addressing all manner of issues/challenges/situations that pitchers face.  This is a great book that for all pitchers to read ... and apply. 


Finally, if you plan on swinging a bat on the Varsity level next season, read "The Mental Game of Hitting," also by Dorfman.  This book marries up a mental game and "Moneyball" concepts and will help you better understand hitting so that you'll have a better chance to succeed in the batter's box in 2013.  


No, I am not related to the late H.A. Dorfman ... no commissions, either.  But he is the father of the modern mental game in baseball.  Pretty much all successful teams at the higher levels are employing the mental game.  If you want some other mental game or baseball reading, let me know.  


Besides reading the foregoing, I 'd also like to encourage you to watch as much baseball at all levels in the off-season.  I mean, what else are you going to do in your free time?  It's a great way to learn.  But ... watch as a student.  Watch aspects of the game that you need to learn.   You can learn something every time you are on a baseball field or watching a game. 


So, train your body.  Train your mind.  Accept nothing from yourself other than excellence.  Trust your teammates to take care of themselves.  Concentrate on being the type of teammate you want to be. 


If you have questions about any of this, let me know.  Ultimately, each of you has to decide how good you want to be.  As for me, I want to be excellent and I want players who want the same. 


See you on the the field ... 

"Wherever I Wind Up -- My Search for Truth, Authenticity, and the Perfect Knuckleball" by R.A. Dickey -- My Review

A busy season has led to busy off-season and now our summer schedule in the Cooper League.  The Astros are falling back, so my focus on all things MLB has been a little, let's say, unfocused of late.  I had the TV on in my office Monday night when I heard the crew of my favorite show -- "Baseball Tonight" on ESPN -- talking about who they believed was the best pitcher in baseball right now.  The consensus was that baseball's best pitcher at the present is the guy who had just thrown his second consecutive one-hitter.  That would be R. A. Dickey of the N.Y. Mets.


For those who don't know, R.A. Dickey's main pitch (he throws it 85% of the time) is the knuckleball.  So, yes, baseball players and fans, the best pitcher going right now is R.A. Dickey, the knuckleballer.  His fastball, which he occasionally uses to surprise hitters or disrupt their timing, tops out at about 86 MPH. That would be a big enough story itself.


But there is more.  Actually, there is much more.


While perusing Facebook the morning after Dickey's latest one-hitter, I come across a book review by Eric Metaxas, the author of Bonhoffer, Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy.  My wife is reading Metaxas's book, and I recently watched the video of his amazing keynote at the National Prayer Breakfast.  So, I am an instant fan.  Metaxas is an authentic Christian, a real man with a sense of humor.  He is an English major from Yale, too, and he knows good books.  Metaxas's review that catches my eye is of the autobiography of R.A. Dickey:  "Wherever I Wind Up."  This post is Tuesday morning, June 19, the day after Dickey's one-hitter.


I am intrigued, and now I feel compelled to read this book.  So, I adjust my lunch plans and go get it at Barnes and Noble.  I read through the lunch hour, pick it up again at night.  Then,  I read some more the next morning and the lunch break on June 20.  By 6:30 p.m. on June 20, I am finished with this 325-page book.  I have finished it in 36 hours.  And I am a slow reader.


I stopped to underline in a few places, too.  I underlined less than I usually do when digging into a book, though, because frankly a lot of the book was so consequential that it seemed to be writing notes in my mind ... and heart.


Wherever I Wind Up is one of the most powerful books I have read.  Note, I didn't say most powerful baseball  books. I said most powerful books. The two works that come to mind that are close are The Shack by William P. Young and So You Don't Want to Go to Church Anymore by Wayne Jacobsen.  But this book is different that those two for two key reasons.  First, it is non-fiction, and two, it is a baseball book. Thus, this book -- the compelling story of R.A. Dickey's incredible journey to the top of the baseball pitching heap in New York, New York -- deeply resonates with me.


Wherever I Wind Up masterfully chronicles Dickey's journey from the risk-taking son of an alcoholic mother and aloof father to a remade, top of the rotation guy (and probable NL starter in the 2012 All-Star game) for the Mets.


A number of readers may already be familiar with Dickey's remarkable journey.  The twists, turns, staggering adversity, and serial setbacks are amazing.  But more stunning still are Dickey's perseverance, the love of his wife and family, and ultimately God's grace and plan for his life.


As one reads how Dickey's journey unfolds, the fingerprints of God are everywhere, down to the smallest detail.  For instance, while he was a 95-MPH fireballer leading the University of Tennessee to its first College World Series berth in more than 50 years, Dickey majored in English Literature and developed a love for the printed word and communicating well.  And so ... the story-teller was trained and prepared along the journey before he even knew there was a story to tell.


The climax of the book occurs when Dickey, while on a road trip with his teammates five years ago near the end of his minor-league career (Note: 2012 is Dickey's 16th professional season, and he has spent all or part of 14 of those seasons in the minors), decides to swim the mighty Missouri River.  This effort, though, turns into a metaphorical baptism of sorts.  Indeed, when Dickey emerges from the river, he is humbled to the point where he can turn the corner both personally and professionally.


I have been going over the various things that make this book so meaningful to me.  It's hard to nail down entirely, but I think that it particularly meant so much because I know the feeling of being doubted (both by myself and others), of being knocked down and struggling to get up, of working through my parents divorce when I was seven, and of experiencing tremendous pain and loneliness as a kid.  And I know the power and joy of God's grace, of redemption, and of finding His purpose in my life.


Also, as a coach, I really enjoyed learning how this great pitcher became great.  Here is what I saw:  A willingness to be honest with himself and do whatever it takes to succeed (Dickey was remade as a knuckleballer in the middle of his minor-league career); support from his friends and family, especially his godly wife;  a deliberate, uncommon work ethic and a competitive fire; the help of mentors along the way (knuckleballing greats Charlie Hough, Tim Wakefield, and Phil Niekro all helped Dickey's development); a tried and true routine, plan, and solid stay-in-the-moment approach; teammates who were willing to go the extra mile and work with him; and also coaches and managers who believed in him when others had given up.  Buck Showalter and Orel Hershiser are notable in this regard.


Ultimately, though, it is Dickey's authentic faith -- his honesty with God and others -- that becomes his greatest asset to take his game and life to the next level.  He sees his development as a player and man as connected.  He writes, "... [I]f I have it in me to be fully present in one realm of my life, it will overflow into the other realms."


My principal takeaways from this book are:  1) Keep believing in what God is doing in your life and never let go of what He has placed before you as your calling; 2) Be open to do whatever is necessary to get the best that God has for you because His plan is greater than any fiction book you could imagine; and 3) God's grace is more powerful than the mighty Missouri River and any other force in the universe. 


And really, there is a fourth takeaway, and that is, "A righteous man may fall seven times ... but he rises again." Prov. 24:16.  R.A. Dickey would probably quibble with the description of him as a "righteous" man, but indeed, the core of the true pursuit of God is to keep at it ... always ... keep striving ... to get up.  As much as any figure in sports today, R.A. exemplifies this.  


So, who is this book for?  Baseball people, people who know baseball people, Christians, people who are not Christians but might need or want a reason to believe, people who wonder how one deals with dark secrets and the worst adversity imaginable, people who think they have blown it so bad that there is no hope for them, people who want to hope again that something good can happen after so many things have gone wrong, and people who have been deeply hurt and want to get better, to name a few.


I give it my highest recommendation and look forward to hearing your reviews.


See you on the field ... 

My Underlines ... "Wherever I Wind Up"

When I read a book ... a really good book that I am reading to learn from ... I underline, circle, and make notes.  Here are the passages from R.A. Dickey's "Wherever I Wind Up" that I noted (lots of plan, routine, deliberate practice, hard work, and good thinking below, you will see):


"The best pitchers are the guys who have a plan and know how to execute it -- who know how to compete and never stop doing it."    

"The mental is to the physical as four to one."


"I keep throwing, and keep thinking of Larry Bird in his number 33 Boston Celtics uniform as I throw. Bird did an interview once where he talked about never letting himself be outworked, about being haunted by a fear that somebody, somewhere, was taking shots while he was resting.


"I don't want anybody to outwork me, either.  I may not make it as a big-league knuckleballer, but it won't be from lack of effort.  So I keep throwing against the cinder blocks, picking out a particular block to hit with every pitch, knowing that whatever happens, I will never regret not putting in more time.  Even when I'm not in Uncle Ricky's gym, I am working.  I keep a baseball in my car and drive around Nashville with only my left hand on the wheel so I can practice my knuckleball grip with my right hand."


"It's another one of Charlie's [Hough] suggestions.  There's no substitute for having the ball in your hand.  I still keep a baseball in my car.  You never stop working on your grip."


"I am not obsessing about how good I have to be to get back to the big leagues, or what numbers I have to put up, or about the time pressure because of my age.  I am focusing not on the next month or year or uniform but on the next pitch, putting all my energy into the process of pitching."


"You get the best results not when you apply superhuman effort but when you just are -- when you let the game flow organically and allow yourself to be fully present."


"I'm just pitching knuckleball to knuckleball and surrendering to the results."


"You have lived your whole life as a survivor, doing what you need to get by, to flee from pain, to seek safety.  Now I want more.  I want much more.  I don't want my life to be about settling.  I don't want it to be about avoiding pain.  I want it to be about pursuing joy."


"I learn from Tim [Wakefield] that not every [pitch] has to be perfect.  I drive myself batty trying to make every one perfect.  They just have to be good enough to get an out, Tim says."


"Ichiro's routine is calibrated to the minute, from the time he gets to the park every day to when he uses the bathroom before the game.  He takes the same amount of swings in the cage during batting practice.  He eats the same pregame meal (a salmon rice ball) at the same time (ninety minutes before game time).  His stretching routine is so thorough and intricate, you wonder if he moonlights as a contortionist for Cirque du Soleil. ... Ichiro's approach over 162 games never varies.  Nothing changes regardless of the results.  The man is so vigorously regimented that all you can do is simply surrender to the fact that you can try to match his discipline, but you never will."


" ... if I have it in me to be fully present in one realm of my life, I know it will overflow into the other realms.  The only way to prove it is by showing up every day and being someone who is worthy of trust."


"The effort, it occurs to me later that night, is really what matters the most, isn't it? Outcomes can get completely convoluted, buffeted by all manner of forces and factors.  You honor yourself and your game when you pour all you have into it, when you live in the athletic moment."


"You manage them [regrets] by forgetting them as soon as the ball leaves your hand, or leaves the park, and turn 100 percent of your intensity and your competitiveness to the next pitch.  It's the only pitch you can throw, after all."


"I like to keep a very specific routine before I pitch, because it helps lock me in for the competition to come. ... This is my routine and I don't deviate from it."


"If you aren't willing to face your demons -- if you can't find the courage to take on your fear and hurt and anger -- you might as well wrap them up with a bow and give them to your children.  Because they will be carrying the same thing ... unless you are willing to do the work."


"God, you've blessed me in so many ways this year, and I am so grateful for that.  As I prepare to take the ball for the last time this year, please help me to be trustworthy one more time and to be in the moment every pitch, to glorify you in in everything I do.  Amen."


As you can see from the foregoing quotes, this book is full of wisdom about baseball, about faith ... about life.  I encourage you to read the whole thing and get on with the hard work in your life and game.


See you on the field,

Florida Redux ...

Greetings All,

I am back from the Sunshine State and I have (as I usually do) Mustangs baseball on the brain.  It was a fun, rewarding, exhausting ... very good trip.  Of course, we always want to get into the higher divisions and compete for a championship, but on the whole, I was pleased with how we played and especially how we finished with two good wins on our last day.  

There is a lot to be gleaned from our third trip to Auburndale.  Here are some of my thoughts in that regard: 

1) With such a young roster (we had a number of players making their first trip to the HWS and another group who were making their first appearance as starters), we held our own and resisted the temptation to be overwhelmed.  We were a little-bit wide eyed vs. Memphis in the first game, but we settled down after that.  In 2013, we will bring an experienced roster and be prepared from the first pitch. 

2) Overall, we played well in Auburndale.  This is what we have come to expect.  Our challenging schedule and practice routine have us prepared when we come here.  Thus, we generally play some of our best baseball here, and that was again the case. Once again, we saw nothing that was surprising to us, or that we were unprepared for.


3) Our conditioning was good.  We played double-headers in the Florida sun twice during the week.  Normally, we would play two only once but we were up to it.  I thought we played hard and pretty well in the second games on both occasions.  We rallied late against Tulsa, and we played a complete game against Hendersonville.  In both games, I thought our opponents were dragging late, and we were still strong.


4) Related to 3), we used our whole roster, thus allowing our team to be prepared to play in each game.  Utilizing courtesy runners, pinch hitters, and rotating starters, we go to Florida with team goals and this helps us in the end.   This is why it so important for players to buy in to sacrificing individual desires for team goals.  In the end, it's a lot more rewarding and fun for all when we do so.


5) We have a long way to go to get where we want to be.  We have work to do in building arm durability, athleticism, and command, running the bases, making solid decision in the field (consistent with the "R's"), and also in becoming a more complete offensive team that can win any type of game.  We will get to work ASAP on doing these things.


6) The Mustang Nation was great.  Our fans did their part, and they kept the Mustang tradition of great support and sportsmanship alive.  Of note, I appreciated how our fans were so supportive, regardless of how the games were going.  And the horns were ... fun ... and nice touch.


7) We grew up a lot this week as a team, I think.  That's good, because we need to bring a more businesslike approach to Florida in 2013 both on and off the field, and you have my word that we will do just that.  Our team will return with the goal and plan to have our fun on the field ... and complete our work on late Saturday afternoon.  

See you on the field ... 

From Coach Aaron Weintraub: Initiative Breeds Success

Guys like Aaron Weintraub, Tom Hanson, and H.A. Dorfman have really influenced and encouraged me to be a better coach. Check out the following advice -- pure gold in my opinion -- that I recently got from Coach Traub in an email:

"Success, according to John Wooden, is 'the peace of mind that comes from knowing you did your best.' It's not a result of merely thinking about doing well; action is required. Unfortunately, watching TV, being lazy, procrastinating, and 'just hanging out' seem to be pretty popular in our society. This provides you and I with a great opportunity to get an edge over average people. With initiative, we will try and try again. Then, if we can manage to keep what's working and change what's not working, we'll have a fail-proof formula for success.

"Harvey Dorfman said that the three levels of mental toughness are: 1) Want it; 2) Know what to do, and 3) Do what you know.

"First you need to figure out what you want. This can be difficult for everyone, but is particularly challenging for young people who are still learning about themselves and exploring the many opportunities that life has to offer. Next, figure out what to do. Great young teams consistently come from a culture where the kids are constantly watching, talking about, and playing their game. This is not the norm! Everyone can learn what's right and what's wrong in this information age. When the pupil is ready, the teacher will appear. This is so because the person who urgently wants to learn what to do to get what he or she wants will take the initiative to look for this information. If you wait for an outside force to throw the answers in your lap, they may never come. Constantly asking WHY and HOW breeds greatness! Whether from trial and error, other people, books, the internet, or elsewhere, a person with the initiative to persistently ask the right questions will find the right answers.

"The top level is doing it. Take action. Give it your best effort, because the reality is that this step will define your self-esteem (the reputation you acquire of yourself) and your success. You cannot fake peace of mind -- you've either earned it or you haven't. Doing what you know as best you can also maximizes your chances for superb outcomes (the stuff outside your control that many people call success). The gap between good and great is wide, but the work it takes to make that huge leap is often a very small increase over what you are already doing. Small differences made consistently over time separate high achievers and the first source for these difference-makers is initiative. So, initiative breeds success."

So, go take the initiative and another step toward being everything you were created by God to be -- today.

See you on the field,

A Season is a Time ... and a Process

I am reminded this time of year every season how we start to see our team take shape. We see guys fitting into roles. We always have some surprises and some twists and turns along the way. Through our scheduling, preparation, and deliberate work, we invariably improve and are playing about our best baseball when we get to the end of the season.

However, this year's team has had to battle through more injuries than any I have seen in my nine years of coaching the Mustangs. So, it makes embracing the process that much more important.

With a lot of young players ... new players .... and players recovering from injuries ... players playing new positions ... broken bones in multiple players ... it's been a little topsy-turvy around here.

But we are making it and I see us getting better.

When I see adversity like we have, I see a real opportunity. I really do. I see us on the precipice of doing some great things.

And we get there one day ... one game ... one practice ... one pitch ... one play at a time.

See you on the field,

Principles of Effective Hitting

Mustangs and Mustang Fans,

What follows is a short piece by Coach Matt Breuer in his own words outlining how to apply an effective approach at the plate. As with everything, your own approach may have some tweaks around the edges, but the basic outline here is outstanding ... and effective.

Matt is as smart as any hitter that has ever played for us. So, pay attention ... and apply the knowledge:

"Something I've noticed in our team so far this year, is a lack of uniformity when it comes to batting and how we go about doing it. It's good to identify these sorts of things early in the season so that we have time to work through them and become better players because of it.

"Below is a list of things that will improve your approach at the plate and make you much better hitters. I will be harping on you guys about these things because, if followed, they'll make you all better, smarter hitters.

"I. Know the Pitcher Before You Go to the Plate

"This means you need to observe the pitcher during his warm-up and throughout the game. The time you have in the dugout is an excellent opportunity to study the pitcher and learn everything you can about him. A player that goofs off or doesn't pay attention while in the dugout puts himself at a disadvantage by failing to learn everything he can about the pitcher. Think of it this way: If you were going into battle against a formidable opponent, would you want to walk into the fight blind, or would you try to learn everything you possibly could about the person who you're about to go to battle against? By observing the pitcher, you give yourself a fighting chance by familiarizing yourself with how he throws.

"Ask yourself questions like: What sort of patterns does he follow? Does he throw a specific pitch on a certain count? Does he show his pitch early? What does his delivery look like?

"II. Breathe

"You would be surprised how essential this is. It's also a very underused tool. It allows for increased bloodflow to your brain and to your muscles, but more importantly it helps clear your mind and allows you to act on instinct instead of letting your mind become clouded by thoughts and distractions. Excessive thinking is a hitter's worst enemy.

"While on deck, begin taking deep breaths and letting them out slowly. It's an excellent thing to add to your routine in between pitches.

"III. Have a Routine

"As mentioned at the retreat, a routine is something that you do repeatedly and become used to doing. A routine is essential to becoming a good hitter because as you go through the motions before, or during, an at-bat, it puts you in a state of mind to hit. If done consistently, a routine helps your brain make the connection between that routine and the fact that it's time to hit.

"If you don't already have a routine for in-between pitches, get one. I would recommend something involving a deep breath or two, a shrug of your shoulders, or maybe something to help you get mentally prepared. Do whatever feels most comfortable to you. If you have a question about something to add to your routine, ask a coach.

"IV. Use Broad to Fine Focus

"IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS TALK TO ONE OF THE COACHES. It is an essential part of hitting and will benefit you greatly if you use it. I don't think I can explain it very well through text.

"V. Have a Plan

"It amazes me how many people go up to the plate without the slightest idea of what they are going to do or how they plan to hit the baseball. Truly, it does. Getting in the box and swinging at the first thing you see is not a plan of attack. Look at the stuff below and learn it well, because this is the approach you should take to the plate every time you step in the batter's box.

"If the count is 0-0, 1-0, 2-0, or 3-0 (No strikes on you, the batter) :

"The only reason you should ever swing at a pitch at this point is if you see your pitch. When I say "your pitch" I mean the pitch that you like to hit the most, your favorite pitch. Personally, mine was up and in. If it was any of the above counts and I saw a pitch that wasn't "my pitch", I didn't swing at it. Even if it was a strike. This is because you still have strikes to give up, and if you wait instead of hacking at a pitch that you don't like, you're more likely to see a better pitch. However, this is NOT an excuse to be passive at the plate. If you see your pitch, beat the living tar out of it.

"Also, if you have a 3-0 count and you swing at anything but a beach ball served to you on a silver platter in your EXACT favorite spot, I may never speak to you again. Just a heads up.

"If the count is 0-1, 1-1, 2-1, or 3-1 (One strike on you):

"The spot where "your pitch" is gets a little bit bigger. What I mean is, if you see a pitch that's close to the pitch that you like, go ahead and swing. What I mean by "close" is about 6 inches around wherever you like the ball. This will commonly be called expanding the zone. All it means is that you are taking your favorite spot for a pitch, and making it a little bigger.

"When you have this kind of count, it is important to realize that expanding the zone is necessary. You don't want to be quite as picky here because though a pitch may not be exactly where you wanted it, if it is close to your pitch it may be the best pitch you get. Be aggressive, but also be smart. If you like it up and in, and the pitch is down and away, don't swing. You still have one more strike.

"If the count is 0-2, 1-2, 2-2, or 3-2 (Two strikes on you):

"At this point, this is when your pitch should expand to the entire strike zone. You need to know the umpire's strike zone (you learn it while observing the pitcher, step one), and you need to be ready to pull the trigger at a strike. This is when it's vital that you be an aggressive, yet smart, hitter. Something I would repeat to myself when I had two strikes on me was "I'm swinging at a strike, I'm swinging at a strike." This allows for instinct to take over instead of excessive thoughts. If you're not sure, always load early to prepare to swing. That way, you're ready if you need to be.

"Something I feel I should say is don't be afraid of having two strikes on you. A lot of people are scared to have two strikes because all they can think about once they step in the box is striking out. I used think that all the time. You know what happened? I froze and ended up striking out looking more often than anything else. Instead of thinking negatively(striking out), think positively (If it's a strike, I'm swinging).

"The approach at the plate I have outlined above does a couple of things. 1) It allows you to be more selective with your pitches. Instead of simply swinging at strikes, you swing at your pitch. When you swing at your pitch, good things are much more likely to happen. 2) It forces the pitcher to throw more pitches. This is good not only because it wears him out faster (and believe me, it does), but it also gives your teammates an opportunity to view the pitcher and see what he throws like (step one).

"That's pretty much all I got, fellas. If you come in the dugout wondering what went wrong, this is the kind of stuff I'm going to be inquiring about, because it's what separates the great hitters from the rest. It requires dedication and perseverance to follow, but the rewards will be more than evident. With that being said, don't focus on the results. If you do everything right, you still might ground out occasionally. That's just part of the game. Instead of worrying about what happened, think about the process and how you are working to improve. If you focus on the process instead of the results, the results will come naturally."

Opening Day ... from Hope to Confidence

There is something almost magical about the Opening Day of a baseball season ... on any level.

All things are new. Every one gets a fresh start. Every one has high hopes. It's a great day.

But most every one's hopes are unrealistic. Sorry to be a party pooper, but it's true. It's true because hoping is different than believing.

To the prepared, Opening Day is an opportunity to finally start putting it all together. We are excited because we are ready. We are confident. It's the beginning of a long journey, but we know in our gut that we have what it takes to get there. We know because we have developing that "it" for a long time.

Confidence comes primarily from preparation ... then then from previous successes ... which, in turn, were based upon preparation.

As for us, we've been preparing for Opening Day since June, back in the summer Cooper League. We've been building, conditioning, selling, working, sweating, learning how we play and why, addressing the truth about where we are ... all in preparation to be better than ever in 2012.

If the foregoing paragraph describes some one other than you (and let's be honest, it describes none of us perfectly as we all miss the mark at times) then it's time to take stock and see where you are. You can start over right now.

The beauty of baseball ... and life ... is that each day is, in a sense, it's own Opening Day. We have the opportunity to prepare for and live each day and game to our absolute best. Prepare smart. Learn from mistakes, and work deliberately on those things we need to improve. We can, and will, continue to grow and improve greatly both as individuals and as a team in 2012. I love watching this process come together each year.

The key to our success will be the following: Keep your eyes on your personal progress each day. Shrink your areas of weakness and deepen strengths by working on your own. Keep the mindset of a learner. Stay humble and go above and beyond expectations of you personally each day. Decide that nothing will keep you from getting better each day and having the baseball season of your life. Nothing. If we do this as individuals, our team results will take care of themselves.

Remember the Championship Path.

If we do this, then we can (and will) go from hope to confidence.

And remember ... a baseball season is indeed a path, a journey. It's one step, one day at a time. There will be times and days when you are tempted to give in, or where it looks like the journey is heading south. That's baseball, and that's life. But keep at it. Keep focused on what you can personally do, this hour, this minute, this play. Then do it. Then do it again ... but better this time.

Time to get started.

It's Opening Day.

See you on the field,

The Championship Path

We had a great time at our 6th Annual High School Retreat. The theme of the weekend was "The Championship Path." It's the qualities that teams possess to go from good to great.

The H.S. Retreat is sort of like Vegas. What happens there stays there. That is, what individual players say/share is up to them to disclose. But our theme and such is open to all of you and beyond. We keep pressing on.

It works better with the visual of of a mountain, but here are the elements of The Championship Path ... from the foundation up:

1) Mental Toughness ... Responding to adversity and the truth. Nothing is too much for us;

2) An Uncommon Commitment to the Welfare of our Team. We will each embrace our roles -- whatever we are called upon to do -- and make them a key part of our journey together;

3) Ownership mentality – It’s our team. We all have a stake and we do the things -- big and small -- that owners do.

4) Deliberately practicing to minimize weaknesses and turn them into strengths (this requires self awareness). We do whatever we need to do.

5) Resilience/Perseverance. Nothing keeps us down or stops us.

6) Courage. Nothing scares us off of completing our mission.

7) Destiny. Finally … like the great Sir Winston Churchill was kept going in his darkest days by a sense of destiny ... we likewise have a a mission … a explains the foregoing and makes it doable.

See you on the field,

Retreat this Weekend ...

I am excited to get our preparation in full gear as we head into our second week of practice. The second week historically means retreat week.

I will have an update from our time together, including more on the Championship Mindset next week.

In the meantime ...

See you on the field,