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,

From Coach Aaron Weintraub: Humility Breeds Consistency

Here's another look from Coach Traub at a key ingredient to have the consistent performance that we all want:

"I look for role models. I've met or studied many high achievers who appear to have earned the right to be satisfied with what they already know. However, the highest achievers are consistently the people who are the most eager to learn more. For example, Michael Johnson didn't stop improving when he became a World Champion sprinter. It was his continuous drive to be the best he could be that allowed him to set World Records and stay on top for his entire professional career (all 19 of his medals in the Goodwill Games, World Championships, or Olympics are Gold Medals). It's an interesting fact of life that the people who need the most humility usually have the least, while the people who seem to need it the least usually have the most.

Life really is, as author of Peter Pan Sir James Matthew Barrie says, a "long lesson in humility." I've been learning... Experience teaches that when I am performing great and I get over-confident, something will happen very soon to cause me to lose my "flow." If I am not open to criticism, someone else will surely learn what I missed and pass me on the way up the ladder. If I am not respectful of others, I will forfeit my chance at the teamwork it takes to approach my own potential. Even in individual sports, I am much more powerful with the support of others. If I am not intense in my approach because I start believing this won't be that difficult, I will not give a best effort performance. If I lose my sense of urgency because I don't think the opponent is capable of humbling me, I sometimes get lucky - or I often pay a hefty price and lose when I easily could've (most would say "should've") won. Why take that chance?

Does the importance of humility defy the importance of confidence or interfere with aggressiveness? Not at all. Great athletes are confident, aggressive, and humble. They respect that giving a best effort performance is always difficult. Life and performance are balancing acts, but champions don't fall over because they maintain a hunger to learn and an eagerness to work. It is their preparation that allows them to consistently perform at a high level. Performance will always have ups and downs because people, by definition, are imperfect. However, with a disciplined, humble approach, great athletes achieve superior consistency because their dips in performance are shallow declines, not deep "slumps" while their peak performances occur more frequently and last longer. Their humility breeds their consistency!"

Put another way ... Selflessness breeds consistency. Humility is closely related to losing one's self in a cause greater than one person. Think about it.

To be the player you want to be ... to have the team you want to have ... be THAT guy.

Stay humble. Stay hungry. Make it about a mission larger than simply yourself.

And then watch where God takes you.

See you on the field,

Coach Rut

ESPN.com on Trevor Bauer

"Bauer performs a long toss in the outfield shortly before his starts, can be seen stretching with a javelin-like device in the bullpen ... "

Yes, that "javelin-like" device is the shoulder tube that we use. Trevor Bauer, the NCAA strikeout leader, is now in the CWS final series vs. South Carolina. What do both Bauer and the Carolina teams have in common? Both have been influence by Ron Wolforth and the Texas Baseball Ranch.

The entire SEC has bought into training explosiveness and its member teams are employing Coach Wolforth's methods in one form or another. As for Bauer, he has trained at the ranch for years, yes, coming all the way to Magnolia, Texas from California.

We've been doing our share here, as well ... in our stretching, training, bullpens, ladders, sprinting instead of long-distance running, long-toss, developing athleticism, etc., etc.

So ... maybe we are primed for a World Series run of our own ...

The full blog entry from ESPN.com is here.

See you on the field,

Coach Rut

John Wooden is still teaching

I just finished a great little book -- Wooden, A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections on and off the Court by the late John Wooden with Steve Jamison. I think Coach Wooden was the greatest coach of all time, in any sport, and this book reinforced that opinion.

Coach Wooden was, in many ways, way ahead of his time. He was talking and teaching the mental game before modern sports psychologists knew what the mental game was. It's funny, because a lot of the foundation of his unparalleled coaching success is rooted in old-fashioned American values and wisdom. I was struck by both how profound and simple he was.

The following are excerpts of some of my favorite quotes from this book, which I highly recommend that you check out:

"Be more concerned with your character than your reputation. Character is what you really are. Reputation is what people say you are."

"Early on, I came to believe you should learn as if you were going to live forever, and live as if you were going to die tomorrow."

"Seek individual opportunities to offer a genuine compliment."

Regarding the desire to win, the correct question is: "Did I give my best effort?"

Regarding those who don't perform well under pressure, "They're thinking about living up to the expectations of everybody else instead of just doing the best they can."

"Mix idealism with realism and add hard work. This will often bring much more than you could ever hope for."

"The team is the star, never an individual player."

"We're all underachievers to different degrees."

"Understand that the harder you work, the more luck you will have."

On playing aggressively and to win, "The team that makes the most mistakes will probably win."

"I valued a player who cared for others and could lose himself in the group for the good of the group."

"I think neatness and courtesy make you feel good about yourself. I think individuals who feel good about themselves are more productive."

"Promise yourself to let your friends know that there is something special in them and that you value."

"Success is the peace of mind that comes from the knowledge that you did the best of which you are capable."

"You respect every one. You simply make the strongest effort to prepare to the fullest extent of your abilities. The result will take care of itself, and you should be willing to accept it."

"In great attempts, it is glorious even to fail." -- Wilfred A. Peterson

"I consider it (coaching) a sacred trust."

"I believe when an individual constantly works under pressure, he or she will respond automatically when faced with it during competition."

"Develop a love for details. They usually accompany success."

"If you get caught up in things over which you have no control, it will adversely affect the things over which you have control."

"You're just as good as any one, but you're no better than anybody."

"Industriousness and enthusiasm are the cornerstones of the pyramid of success."

"Enthusiasm ignites plain old work and transforms it into industriousness."

"In the many years before we won a championship I overcame the disappointment by not living in the past. To do better in the future, you have to work on the 'right now.' Dwelling in the past prevents you from doing something in the present. Complaining, whining, and making excuses just keeps you out of the present."

"You can't have poise and confidence unless you've prepared correctly."

"What is competitive greatness? It's being at your best when your best is needed. It's enjoying the challenge when things become difficult, even very difficult."

"It takes time to create excellence. If it could be done quickly, more people would do it."

"Earn the right to be proud and confident."

"Don't permit the fear of failure to prevent effort. We are all imperfect and will fail on occasions, but fear of failure is the greatest failure of all."

"We are many, but are we much?"

"Make each day your masterpiece."

See why so many revered Coach Wooden? He will be missed, but his wisdom lives on ... and continues to make an impact.

See you on the field,

Coach Rut

THAT Guy

Here is the excerpt* I read to our team before our last summer ball games:

"On some teams there is a guy who leads. A guy who makes everybody better.

A guy that can bring everybody up.

There are MANY different ways to be THAT guy and it doesn't always involve having to be a "rah rah" guy.

But what it DOES require is being able to rise above yourself and your needs as a single player.

If you are STUCK on you ... you can't be THAT guy.

You must play and respond bigger than just a highly talented, gifted, self-absorbed prima donna.

Barry Bonds is not THAT guy. Jason Varitek is THAT guy.

Alex Rodriguez is not THAT guy. Derrick Jeter is THAT guy.

After a teammate's mistake ... THAT guy ... finds a way to pull him back in and help get his mind right.

After a personal mistake... THAT guy accepts full responsibility ... and says ... THIS WAS MINE ... NO ONE ELSES ... I'm OK ... I'll battle through this ... Right now I need your help ... Let's rally the troops, circle the wagons, blow the bugle ... and all pull on the same rope, the same way ... at the same time ... I'll start ... follow me.

THAT guy ... is constantly celebrating things he wants to see more of.

It doesn't have to be a big celebration ... it could be nothing more than a nod ... a wink ...

THAT guy ... is constantly reminding his teammates of their unique gifts, skills or abilities and that the time is NOW to execute them ... especially if things are heading south.

THAT guy is the first to recognize or notice the small contributions or sacrifices made by others ... and shows his appreciation for such.

When THAT guy is given credit ... he offers a sincere THANK you for the compliment and then proceeds to credit all those around him that lead to the accomplishment.

THAT guy doesn't throw others under the bus ... instead he pulls people out from under the bus.

THAT guy is infectious in his optimism and his belief about himself and the others around him.

THAT guy plays the part of the older, wiser brother.

THAT guy respects the game.

THAT guy plays the game with joy.

My advice to you ... learn to be THAT guy.

It will change your life."

Be THAT guy -- today.

See you on the field,

Coach Rut

*Special thanks to my friend and mentor Ron Wolforth for sending this along

Any one like to honor their teammates?

Then get to work ...

See you on the field @ Cooper vs. the Houston Power on 6/7.

The Centex Miracle: Character Rewarded

Have you ever needed to see something, but you didn't know it until you saw it? And then the joy of the experience just enveloped you? I have.

Let me tell you about the "Centex Miracle".

First we'll talk about the game, and then I'll tell you about what the Mustangs and I talked about before this game started to get the full picture.

In the first round of Gold Division play, we faced the Central Texas Chargers. We were in the Gold Division as a result of our disappointing loss to HCYA, 12-2. We did not play well, and the Eagles whipped us. We knew we could win, but we didn't. The disappointment hung in the air.

We took the field against a team that was pretty good. The Chargers had narrowly lost to the Raleigh Warriors, 4-2, in their qualification game. Their lineup contained three regular players from the West Houston Thunder (added to enable to the Chargers to compete in Florida). These were good players, and they also provided valuable scouting intel to Centex. So, we had our work cut out for us, probably more than our players realized.

We started off the game strong, jumping to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Then, the wheels began to fall off in a difficult second inning. After a combination of strange plays and mistakes, the Chargers capitalized, going ahead, 4-2. A great catch in left by Gomer kept the damage from being much worse.

The stands were pretty quiet during the middle of the game. I heard my wife cheering consistently, but I could tell our fans were down. I understood. I was disappointed, too. A day that had started with so much promise and excitement was going inexplicably badly. Our players looked lifeless. The Chargers' pitcher continued to pitch well and keep the ball down. Having established the strike zone, he got calls, too. Our fate looked bleak.

It got worse as the Chargers tacked on several more runs late. Reagan came in and stopped the bleeding in the top of the 6th. The inning ended on a double-play, with a Charger being called out for interference. We needed all the help we could get. We were down, 8-2.

We came to bat in the bottom of the 6th. I don't remember what I said in the huddle, but I was pretty much at a loss for words at this point. I went out to third base and looked at my phone for the time. We had about 14 minutes left in the 2:10 time limit.

Our first two batters went quickly, so I thought I would not have to deal with the difficult decision of asking a player to take a quick out/strikeout to run the clock out and start over in the 7th.

But then, funny things started to happen.

Krush came up and hit a grounder to SS. It looked like he was going to be out, but the SS bobbled the ball. Krush was hustling to first and he beat the throw. We were under 10 minutes, but I was still a ways off from having to decide which way to go. Then, Foxy had a great AB and walked.

Centex started to stall. I was, let's say, mildly upset. They made a couple of trips to the mound, etc., etc. Passed ball and runners were now on second and third.

Ian came to the plate, and I looked at my phone. He had missed the first half of the tournament with an academic commitment and was about to get his first World Series AB. We still had time to take an out and get to the next inning. But we had runners on second and third.

Then ... practically fresh off the plane to Florida, Ian lined a single into right-center and it was 8-4. Then, the 9 hole was due up. It was Crumbles. I thought it would probably be wrong to ask him to take three cuts to get to the next inning. Uncertainty and I were well-acquainted at this point.

Then, we had another mound visit, throws to first, etc., etc. I got more agitated. Some one forgot to tell Crumbles to be nervous or whatever, because he then shot a single into right, and we had runners at 1st and 3rd.

The time went under 5 minutes as the top of the lineup rolled back around.

I didn't know what to do but keep us going. I have learned that when it's fuzzy to stand pat. Usually, this is the right way to go. But the truth is that I wasn't sure what to do. But the team seemed to know.

The Mustangs wanted to finish this rally.

We were at about 2-3 minutes left with Reagan at the plate when it happened. I looked up and Crumbles was trying to steal second. Then, a million crazy thoughts went through my head. Was he or Coach Fox trying to get thrown out and get us to the 7th? But wait ... that would have been my call. Turns out we had a miscommunication and, let's just say, I was scratching where Crumbles was itching. He thought he had a steal sign. So he ran for his life ... and made it.

Now we had runners on 2nd and 3rd. Reagan had a great AB, and drew a walk on a 3-2 pitch.

Ben was on deck. The Chargers changed pitchers. At some point during all of this, the time expired. So, this was going to be it after all. I guess the right call was to press ahead with the inning, after all, or at least, we would find out.

As Sauce, Ben and I watched the new pitcher warming up, we looked on the next field over. HCYA, who had dealt us our disappointing loss earlier that day, had just defeated Raleigh to advance in the Platinum Bracket. "Wow, HCYA won," I said. Sauce looked at me and said, "We are about to win, too." Ben smiled.

Indeed, Ben went to the plate and absolutely crushed the first pitch thrown to him. It was a liner down the left-line, and it rattled around in the corner some 325 feet away. With Reagan on 1st, I knew we had three runs. Ben ended up on 2nd with a bases-clearing double, and the score was 8-7. The fans were making some serious noise, I do recall.

Sauce then came up and then drew his second intentional walk of the tournament. The Chargers elected to pitch to Matt. But Matt was up to the challenge. He was exceptionally patient in taking off-speed pitches off the plate and drew a walk on 3-1. Gomer went in to run for Matt at first.

With Matt's walk, the tying run was on third and the winning run was on second.

Then Zig came to the plate, and I remember thinking ... "Even if we don't do it here, it's been a great rally. I am really proud of them for continuing to battle. But wow, wouldn't it be something if ... " I almost dared not think it.

Zig was looking for his first hit on the night. The first two pitches were off-speed and apparently off the outside corner, but they were called strikes. The next pitch was in the dirt, and Zig laid off ... the fans were amped.

I saw the Centex catcher calling for the ball up, apparently to change Zig's eye level after three low pitches. The pitch did come in up, and in, but not very ... Zig hit a chopper toward the middle with incredible topspin. Each time the ball hit the ground it increased in speed and bounced seemingly higher. The shortstop got close but didn't have a chance to stop it. Once the ball bounced into center, it was clear Sauce would score from second.

And he did ... Mustangs 9, Chargers 8. Ball game.

As Michael slid home, a wild celebration ensued. I made merry myself, moreso than any time before. The wild, emotional ride of the day made it fun, but what had happened before the game is what really got to me.

You see, I've been doing this a while. I've seen lots of Mustangs teams with great players and young men who I wanted to see rewarded for their efforts on the field with a great result. But life doesn't always work out that way.

This night it did.

Before the game, we sat by the gate to the field and talked. Actually, I talked. I talked turkey about how I was disappointed at how we had played against HCYA, but it wasn't the end of the world, either. Adversity is not so important, but how we respond to it reveals our character. It bothered me to see players moping around in the dugout about subpar performances rather than picking themselves up and getting after it. I wanted individual concerns to fade away and see us pull together like never before.

Nothing that happened on the field on Saturday was life-or-death. We needed a perspective check. I challenged them to see what they were made of. I told them that I was going to be watching to see who was sticking with it until the end of the next game. I reminded them of the definition of success, which is doing your best with what you have.

Specifically, I told our team, "I know you are disappointed about the last game. I am, too. But we have to move on. I don't care about the result of this game. I really don't. But what I do care about is how you play, and that you keep after it until they tell us this game is over. How you respond and play this next game will tell you a lot about where you are as a man right now."

So, as exciting as the game was, what happened before the game and how the Mustangs responded to adversity and their disappointment with heart and character -- and finished -- is really why I was so pumped afterwards.

It brings tears to my eyes thinking about it, even now. That one is locked into the ol' memory bank, and I will treasure it always.

I am just honored to be their coach.

See you on the field.