Pitchers; Fast Arm, Slow Body

A fast arm, slow body is actually tied together. Meaning, your arm actually drags if your body takes off too soon or rushes. Result, your velocity drops and your pitches move up in the zone. A hitter’s paradise!

With coaches [some parents] yelling, “will you please throw strikes,” inadvertently cause this situation [check out earlier blog regarding “Strikes; A Result of Good Mechanics] where the pitcher is more focused on throwing strikes versus pitching. Just by focusing on the outcome versus their mechanics a pitchers backside/lower half comes through first because the pitcher is aiming the ball, hoping to throw strikes.

However in most cases I have found most pitchers who throw with a Slow Arm and Fast Body are doing so because they are trying to increase their velocity. They want to throw harder, so hard they can taste it, allowing, almost forcing the biggest muscles of their body to take over. Their backside rushes through, almost believing the faster they open up the harder they will throw. WRONG!

Once they have opened up, giving up the majority of the torque from their mid section, all that is left is their shoulder and wrist torque. With their arm dragging most pitchers sadly will begin to lead with their elbow, which adds stress [a subject for another blog], and drop their wrist back, falling underneath the baseball.

Disregarding the potential for future arm problems, the pitch is usually flat and actually slower. Not only are they giving up their midsection torque, most pitchers are losing the torque from the wrist snap by falling underneath the ball. Worse, falling underneath the ball creates an inconsistent release point reducing velocity and accuracy.

Realize our physical movements are controlled by our thoughts. What we want our body to do. So it is simple. Tell yourself “which you want to go first.” Left unsaid your backside, the more dominant muscle, will take over. The fix is simple, focus on “A Fast Arm” and it will take the lead. Allowing you to take full advantage of the torque created by your midsection and with a proper release point, the torque of your wrist snap.

Consistency and an increase in velocity, it’s a beautiful thing.

Not sure, let’s set up an Evaluation, either in person or over the Internet. It’s critical, but once you know you can become your own coach. Don’t fool yourself and leave velocity on the table or possibly pitch using mechanics that will hurt you in the long run. Let Most Valuable Player help you help yourself this game is easier than you think.

Most Valuable Player is an organization designed to help players and their families help themselves.

Thank you for the opportunity,

When You Graduate, The Questions End

Ah, the summer before you enter 9^th grade. All’s quiet, but yet the whispers begin. Adrenalin stirs. The words, suppressed somewhat by the fact our athlete is only a freshman. Yet as each day goes by we can either define our athlete’s future, or we can let their destiny be defined by what others say, or the incorrect deductions based upon things that seem to be true.

Much like a disease, the questions begin subtle, and at times maybe something you never thought about. Another parent innocently asks, “Will your athlete play JV or Varsity?” Which is nothing more than an opportunity to let you know theirs has an opportunity to play Varsity their freshman year!

Walking away we say it does not bother us, yet we wonder? You are infected. Infected with a disease creating symptoms of a rose colored film over your eyes, your thoughts become clouded yet focused on one-upmanship at the lawn chair convention found at every game, and a belief you have failed if your athlete is not playing Varsity their freshman year.

The disease spreads based upon the success or failure of our athlete. If they make Varsity their freshman year, we go on the offense and become that parent asking, “Is your athlete playing JV or Varsity?” A question asked even if you know the answer, with the sole purpose to ensure they know yours is playing Varsity.

A consoling justification or a case of transferring blame becomes systematic for those whose athlete did not make Varsity their freshman year. “They were given a choice, but we preferred they stay down and play all the time,” or “It’s political, such-n-such’s parents handle all the fundraising, the field, the list goes on-and on. We didn’t have a chance!”

Not sure if it is anger, ego, or uncertainty, but the disease seems to affect our ability to make any sense out of anything. It doesn’t matter if the letter is a meaningless “shake-n-howdy” letter or one showing true interest. Quantity is more important than Quality. We need to have more than the other families in the lawn chair convention at every game.

Even showcases. We begin to define the quality of a showcase by the Quantity of College Coaches attending. Totally losing sight of the fact we just spent $800 and none of the schools have any interest in our athlete. It did get us more letters though, [forget the fact the letters were nothing more than inviting us to their camp/clinic] providing us conversation within the lawn chair convention at the next game.

The disease intensifies when the first athlete commits, creating a need, a need to do something, but because we have been so pre-occupied with what everyone else was doing, we don’t know! Quietly we listen, but now that our athletes are Rising Seniors we listen differently. The Wasted $3000-$5000 on Showcases and Fall Showcase Teams, immunized us with a dose of reality.

It does not have to be this way. Your athlete is YOUR Focus and it should not be a surprise, “You know your athlete better than anyone.” Forget the “Where’s Waldo Showcases” and focus on making your athlete better. It truly is Quality not quantity, because in the end your athlete will only go to ONE College based upon one key point, “YOUR ATHLETE HAS SOMETHING A COLLEGE COACH NEEDS!”

Get your athlete evaluated. Through another person’s eyes, find out what they are good at, what they need to work on, and find out what drills they can do to reduce their weaknesses. As a family gain an understanding of the college recruitment process, and working with the evaluator [NO EXTRA CHARGE] solicit the schools where they can play. Nothing more, nothing less! Which is why Most Valuable Player organized The REAL Deal, a program to help families help themselves. Each family receives a copy of the College Recruitment in a Box for FREE, each athlete gets a Detailed Written Evaluation identifying what they are good at, what they need to work on and what drills they can do to reduce their weaknesses. In addition, and for FREE, Most Valuable Player will provide coaches with a positive excerpt of your evaluation where we believe you can play.

Most Valuable Player wants the families of Rising Seniors to not look back in disappointment, but we would rather help you look forward. For those about to enter your freshman year, the Real Deal is for you. Get educated on who you are as an athlete as well a complete understanding of the college recruitment process.

Know this, once you graduate from high school no one asks any more. In fact they do not even care where you go to college, they just wonder if you are good or not. Imagine that!

Most Valuable Player is an organization designed to help players and their families help themselves. We would be honored to help you.

Thank you for the opportunity,

Create College Coach Interest, Don’t Wait

We can blame our trust in Showcases to find a place to play in College, or we can do something about it. The difficulty is not in the doing, it is understanding what is the right thing to do, then doing it.

First and foremost every athlete has to realize, “they have something a college coach needs, and not the other way around!” Make sure you absorb what the last sentence said. So many families are so focused on scholarships they lose sight why a college coach gives a scholarship.

Where to start? Find out where you fit. It has nothing to do with the fact you were or were not All County, All State, it has everything to do with are you good enough to play at a particular school, is that coach aware of who you are, and does that coach have a need for your position. Nothing more, nothing less!

Instead of continuing to throw $800 a showcase [fee plus hotel/food] and participating in what I term the “Where’s Waldo of baseball,” get yourself evaluated. You have to realize the greatest factor in a coach’s decision is based upon whether you are good enough or not. Which is why I recommend an athlete to get evaluated once a year starting at the age of 12.

If you have never been evaluated, do so right away. The evaluation should be very specific and detailed in what you are good at, what you need to work on, and provide you with drills you can improve on. In fact the evaluation should help YOU see what you are good at, help YOU see what you need to work on, and should be very thorough in explaining the DRILLS they are recommending you do to improve.

It is through the evaluation process the Evaluator should establish who you are as an athlete, as a person, and be able to determine where you project based upon on quickly you adapt to the drills. It is not just about making the change immediately. It is about the mental approach to the change.

Some athletes do make changes on the spot, but most have to work on it. Some even fight it, claiming, “I feel more comfortable doing it their way!” So the key to an evaluator is to assess; will this athlete work on it and be able to make the change or not? Combined with where the athlete is today and how hard and whether they believe the athlete will make changes dictates where they can play.

Remember the key is to find a school where they can play, then, it is the athlete’s job to PLAY Well.

Finding the right school is as simple as finding the right person to perform your evaluation. The Evaluator should be very knowledgeable about the position you play as well, connected with college coaches and willing to contact them on your behalf for FREE! Not as a middleman, but more as someone who college coaches believe and will stimulate coaches interest to contact YOU.

Remember “Luck is just being ready when the opportunity presents itself!” Evaluate all the schools, the coaches, the teams, their conference, and cost. Not only will this help you make a more educated decision, it gives you something to discuss when the coaches call. A lot better than, “a huh,” “okay,” “yep,” with the longest sentence being, “thanks for calling.”

Most Valuable Player’s The REAL Deal is designed specifically for the purpose of helping families understand the process [FREE College Recruitment in a Box] and create the College interest through an Evaluation. Don’t fret, give us a call and we will organize an Event near you. Let’s set it up. Check out THE REAL DEAL today.

Most Valuable Player is an organization designed to help players and their families help them selves. Discover all our valuable products designed to assist with Player Development all the way through to the College Recruitment Process.

Thank You for the Opportunity,

A “Pic” in the Media Guide is NOT GOOD ENOUGH

A scholarship to play a sport is exactly what a scholarship is for. The operative word is “play.” Find a place where you have a chance to start as a freshman. Remember you are a freshman academically. Athletically you are there to play it does not matter what age or year you are!

I agree when you see a beautiful facility, hear from the coach all the companies they are sponsored by, the fact they won the college world series it is easy to become infatuated. None of that is real if you are not playing. Sadly, I know a family where their son was so in awe of a particular school he gave up a 70% scholarship for an opportunity to be a “recruited walk-on” at a big name institution. Like most walk-ons, he did not make it.

A an old boss once told me, “Spending time up front will reduce the severity of the mistakes near the end.” Use this adage when selecting a college to play a sport also.

Investigate the school [weather, location, degrees offered]. You do not need to know what you are going to major in, but look for a school which has a couple you may be interested in down the road. I agree most athletes coming out of high school do not know what they want to major in.

Investigate the coaches. Where are they from, where did they coach before, what did they major in. Are they winners where they played, where they coached or are they mediocre at best. I believe it is important to be associated with a winner. They do not have play in the college world series every year, but I want my athlete associated with someone who wants to be there. As the NCAA advertisement says, “Most Athletes go Pro in something other than the sport they play in college!” I want my athletes to have an internal attitude of wanting to win versus accepting mediocrity.
Lastly, check the statistics over the past few years. Identify the freshman and check the number of bats, the number of innings. If they are token innings, this might not be the place for you. “Redshirt” or playing backup is not an opportunity it is accepting mediocrity.

A picture in the media guide is not good enough! If you want to play a sport in college, find a college where you can play. It is simple as that!

Let Most Valuable Player assist you in HELPING YOURSELF. Check out The REAL DEAL, a program where we help

•    You as a Family Gain Control of the College Recruitment Process,
•    You as an Athlete understand what You are good at, what You need to work on, and provide you with drills so You can get better
•    You gain exposure to colleges throughout the country FREE. Save money by eliminating worthless showcases or hiring college recruitment services.

Most Valuable Player organizes The REAL Deal Events throughout the country. Contact us and we will set one up in an area near you.

Most Valuable Player is an organization designed to help players and their families help themselves. Check out our website and discover other valuable events to assist your athlete with Player Development.

As always, Thank You for this Opportunity,

Take CONTROL of the College Recruitment Process

Being honest I believe three factors play into turning the college recruitment process over to other people.

1.    Fear of the Unknown/Fear of Doing the Wrong Thing
2.    We put too much emphasis on What Division
3.    Dealing with the Lawn Chair Convention

The “Fear of the Unknown,” or the “Fear of Doing the Wrong Thing” is created by the overwhelming feeling a family receives by waiting until their athlete is a junior in High School to begin the College Recruitment Process.

Initially finding the right school seems like a simple decision. “The schools like our athlete, we make a decision, everyone is happy!” TRUE, but the key point most families miss is the fact it is something THEY MAKE HAPPEN. The excuse, and it truly is an excuse, is created by waiting until your athlete is a junior in High School. Life is calm, playing high school and summer ball, then BLAM! It all starts when one player everyone knows starts receiving letters, then the emotional domino effect takes over.

It reminds me of the exercise we did in elementary school. Everyone lines up and the first kid whispers something in the ear of the person next to them, and they do the same to the person next to them, and so on and so on. The same goes for the college recruitment process.

Not sure how many years ago when it all started, but I know DISTORTION of the “college recruitment process” is perpetuated by “players talking to other players” and “parents talking to other parents.” Sadly, the majority of what is being said is incorrect. Yet most families act on what is being said and only realize it is wrong when it is too late.

The biggest mistake most families and athletes make is based upon what Division and what school they play at. A couple years ago Lewis and Clark, a NAIA school had more kids drafted than any other school in the Nation. Two years ago, Mount Olive, a DII school in North Carolina, had more kids drafted from their school than any other school in their state. That alone should make you stop and realize, “It is not where they go to school, it is the fact they need to play and play well at whatever school they attend.”

Lastly, we do care what other people think. Think about it. Telling all the parents sitting in their lawn chairs at the ball game your athlete just signed with University of North Carolina sounds better than saying Mount Olive. It’s almost as if we have to justify the name of the school and why our athlete chose a particular school. WRONG!

The fact most families have a narrow view of what colleges are out their when it comes to athletics is why I recommend a player get Evaluated several times beginning no later than their freshman year. The evaluation will not only help them find a school when the time comes, the evaluation should identify weaknesses and provide them with drills they can do to reduce them.

Between the athlete’s junior and senior year, the evaluator should, for FREE, contact colleges where they can play. The evaluator should be dynamic enough to help your athlete find the right school anywhere in the country. If not, find another evaluator.

Forget Showcases! Forget College Recruitment Services! They just take your money. Get your athlete evaluated, get better, and let the Evaluator create the Exposure. Check out The REAL DEAL, a program to help you as a family Gain Control of the College Recruitment Process, help your athlete GET BETTER, and for the junior/senior it will provide you with all the EXPOSURE they will need.
Most Valuable Player is an organization designed to help players and their families help themselves. Please take time to visit our website and discover other valuable products to assist with Player Development.

Thank you for this opportunity.

Missed Foul Ball Equals Increased Pitch Count

Every positional player on the field has to recognize defensively it is there job to help the pitcher reduce their pitch count.

We have all seen, or maybe participated in a game where the error on the routine play turns into a rally for the other team. Worse, how many times have you seen the good hitter pop one up in foul territory only to hear “circus music” as the fielders run in circles. Most it is because their “inner self” is saying, “I hope the other player calls it!”

Worse is the foul pop near the fence where the player seems to go in S-L-O-W MOTION. First they go left, then they go right, then they pull back in anticipation of running into the fence. Only to find they are 10 feet away from the fence and the ball drops between them and the fence. Next pitch, the hitter hits a bomb. “DRATS!”

See the ball in the air, then, SPRINT to the fence. Grab the fence with your throwing hand, turn and find the ball. Remember this is a pop up, which means, once you get to the fence no need to panic. You have time to relocate the ball and react.

Once you find the ball, decide:

1.    Stays put and catch the ball right at the fence.
2.    Under control come off the fence and make the catch
3.    Climb or reach over the fence making a spectacular catch

In every case you are in control both mentally and physically. Most of the times the player’s mind seems to race a million thoughts per second [mostly about how they are going to miss it], reducing their physical ability to a point some of the best players no longer look athletic.

BREATH! If the ball is not heading towards the fence, slowly position yourself as if you are going to catch the ball with your chest. With confidence walk to line your self up [remember I am talking about the major league pop-up] and once in position, don’t forget to breath. Then do your job, catch the ball!

I believe a big part of the hiccup surrounding “pop-ups” has to do with dealing with “success” as much as dealing with “failure.” They are truly related. The more success some athletes have the more they are afraid to fail. To a point, they convince themselves they are going to fail. Check out Glenn Moore’s “Handbook for Success.” Every athlete needs to learn how to deal with both! Purchase it today.

Most Valuable Player is an organization designed to help players and their families help themselves. Please check the website and discover other valuable tips to assist with Player Development. Programs dealing with all aspects of the game on through to helping help themselves with the college recruitment process using College Recruitment in a Box.

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Hitting a Curve Ball is Easier Than You Think

If a hitter swings correctly it is true, “the curve is a homerun pitch!” Unfortunately so many coaches today convince players to not swing at a curve.

On one side I agree, most summer select and high school pitchers do not have control of their curve. More times than not it will get called a ball, even if it cuts across the plate correctly.

The question you have to ask, “When are you going to learn to hit a curve? When the pitchers the pitchers become better overall?” A perfect example of, “winning the battle and losing the war.” You won games early in your career, but limited the length of your career because you could not hit a curve.

A friend of mine answered the question, “Why did you leave your last job?” on an application for a new job, “I couldn’t hit a curve ball!” It is easier than it may appear, but I argue waiting to swing a curve until the pitchers become better is crazy.

Most suggestions on how to hit a curve ball sound right, in fact they sound very baseball, but are very general. In fact when put to the test, have no meaning at all.

The common statement is, “Wait and let it get in on you,” followed by “take it the other way.” Both are incorrect and quite frankly cause a hitter to do things that make them miss-hit the ball or miss it completely. I would almost rather have you follow another meaningless statement, “hit it before it breaks.” More than likely you will miss it completely and if you have less than two strikes you will still have an opportunity to get a hit.

Provided you turn the hitting process over to your brain, start your swing AFTER The BREAK. Before you panic, if you keep your hands up high your brain will drop the barrel of the bat onto the same plane of the curve and make contact out in front of your body and on the sweet spot of the bat.

Yes there is more, but turning your swing over to your brain plays a major role, especially when you eliminate all the meaningless statements a player hears and accepts. To find out more, I have a Chapter in my book, “Hitting is Simple…Have You Figured It Out Yet?” on hitting the curve. Load it onto your I-Pod and you will understand why hitting is truly simple and you will become your own hitting coach.

Most Valuable Player is an organization designed to help players and their families help themselves. Check out my website and discover other valuable products to assist with player development and the college recruiting process. After all you know your athlete better than anyone.

Thank you for the opportunity,

Run Downs; The Easiest Things To Screw Up

You pick the runner off. You throw behind the runner, or the runner attempts to go too far only to find the ball waiting for them. You now have a runner in a “Run-Down.”

Excluding errant throws, which may be a result of one of the options identified here, it seems there are three different scenarios a team goes through.

1.    Approach the Run Down Emotionally
2.    Complacent during the Run Down
3.    Approach the Run Down Mentally

It starts off slow, but once the runner realizes they are in a Run Down, let the “Cat-N-Mouse” games begin! The runner takes off in one direction only to come to a screeching halt, turn, and take off in the other direction. The fans are on the edge of the seat, heads moving back and forth as if they are in a tennis match, the coach moves to the top of the dug-out in anticipation something is going to go wrong.

Approaching the Run Down Emotionally is a result of the fielders turning control of the outcome over to the runner. Their hearts are racing in an attempt to guess where the runner is heading next with hopes they will get their throw there before the runner decides to go there. An emotional approach usually ends up in a errant throw, or the run down which never seems to end [increasing the odds of an errant throw], a wrong guess throwing right and the runner is safe by going left. There have been times the runner gets out, but it is more a result the runner is tired and gives up.

A Complacent approach to a Run Down usually results in interference [runner collides, either on purpose or accidentally, with one of the fielders failing to get out of the way in the run-down], or someone forgets to follow their throw and no one is covering the base so they have no one to throw too. Sadly I have seen this between third and home and no one was covering home. Talk about one that got away!

Mentally is the only way to approach a Run Down! Regardless of what the runner does [fake right, fake left], YOU ARE IN CONTROL because you have the ball. Walk don’t Run [I love bringing back the old songs] at the runner in an angle forcing them back to the base they came from. The best of the worse is they are safe at the base they started from. Never let them advance.

Remember, they got picked off, you didn’t. Calmly walk at the runner showing them the ball, up high and in a position to easily wrist the ball accurately. If they take off towards the next base, throw the ball IMMEDIATELY to the fielder covering that base. Otherwise walk slowing in an angle between the runner and the base the runner was attempting to advance to.

Align your partner’s glove side to your throwing arm side keeping the runner in the base path and allowing a clean an accurate throw. As the gap closes [either because your partner closed the gap or the because the runner was running back towards your partner] your partner should let you know when to firmly toss them the ball. Immediately after tossing the ball, follow your throw; taking a wide semi-circle approach [avoiding the runner] and position yourself in line with the player you threw the ball too!

In most cases the runner will be out in two throws, but the maximum should be three. Just remember to STAY CALM, position yourself [glove side/throwing arm side] and avoid the runner.

Most Valuable Player is an organization designed to help players and their families help themselves. Discover the Most Valuable Player Way to Player Development and the College Recruitment Process.  After all YOU Know Your Athlete Better Than Anyone!

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Slumps Are A Figment of Our Imagination

Which definition of slump do you want to buy into?

1.    Fall or sink heavily
2.    Fall heavily or suddenly
3.    A noticeable deterioration in performance
4.    Go down in value

I say none of them! The moment you do we are back to the “My Bad” theory of justification. I spend more time justifying what is happening versus fixing anything. Feel sorry for me because I know I am in a slump.

Stop! Quality athletes don’t look for sympathy they look to get better. The moment an athlete starts feeling sorry for them self is the moment they are standing still. In some cases, because time is still moving forward, you may be missing out and therefore getting worse.

The old adage, if you do not change anything, nothing changes is more true when use general terms, like “I am in a slump,” to define how you are feeling. Success is not determined by how you feel! Success is granted by what you accomplish!

Take a deep breath and determine what you know. It is true to fix anything you have to recognize you have a problem, but “fix” is the operative word here. Do not use words that sum up what has happened over time, use words that identify specifics during each event. Assess every at bat, every misplayed grounder or fly, or difficulty making a particular pitch effective. Then fix it!

If you have trouble identifying what is wrong, Most Valuable Player will gladly help, but with the understanding you will take our knowledge and apply it. Do no confuse movement with accomplishing anything! Consider an Evaluation, a one-on-one lesson, or even a Video Analysis to identify the hiccup and recommend the appropriate changes to make.

As hitter I highly recommend “Hitting is Simple…Have You Figured it Out Yet?” As one player put it, “I loved the fact I could listen to it while I follow along with a hard copy. It is so clear, it is like having my own personal coach!“

Do it today.

Most Valuable Player is an organization designed to help players and their families help themselves. Discover valuable ideas to assist with Player Development and when the time comes, the college recruitment process.

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To Improve, Learn to Feel Comfortable Feeling Uncomfortable!

I believe it was Lou Pinella [Coach of Chicago Cubs] who stated, “Learn to Feel Comfortable Feeling Uncomfortable,” when describing what it takes to improve as an athlete.

It is the little things that help players improve, but it is the little changes that make some players feel “uncomfortable!” Whether it is hitting, pitching, or dealing with their positional play some refuse to make the little changes because it is not how they are use to doing it.

Again, SUCCESS IS RELATIVE! I am not advocating you make a change just because someone tell you to, but I am suggesting if the change improves your game, “feel comfortable feeling uncomfortable.” The key is to understand what the change to your game does for you, and how it improves you as a player.

It’s the understanding aspect of the change and how you will improve that will increase the importance of the change reducing the uncomfortable feeling. Remember your brain is a success driven organ and if this change to your game is something you want to accomplish, with practice it will do everything in its power to make you feel comfortable doing it the new way.

Uncertain of what little things can improve your game? Set up an Evaluation with Most Valuable Player. We will let you know “what you are good at,” “what you need to work on,” and “define the little things you can do to improve.”  We can do it in person, using video, or even via the Internet. Sign up Today.

Most Valuable Player is an organization designed to help players and their families help themselves. Discover our Player Development Techniques designed to help players from age 12 up through the College Recruitment Process. All organized to help families and teams organize ways to save money helping themselves. After all you know your athlete better than anyone!

Thank you for the opportunity!