Baseball Ideas

Defending the Squeeze

The hardest play to defend in baseball is the suicide squeeze play. It fact, if the squeeze bunt is executed perfectly it is almost impossible to record an out at the plate. Over the years, our team has tried a number of techniques to guard against squeeze. Even though many worked in theory, none of them worked in the game.

Last year, an old friend provided a bunt defense his team ran to prevent the suicide squeeze bunt in tight situations. Michael Gomez, the head coach at Central Catholic in San Antonio, Texas, explained how his team would bring in their slowest outfielder to stand ahead of the pitcher. He would push the other outfielders to the gaps, narrowing the distance left by the absent outfielder. The rest of the infield plays on the grass, guarding against the slow roller generated by the hitter.

As the pitcher goes to the plate, the outfielder who is guarding against the squeeze prepares to field a bunt. If the pitch is bunted, the outfielder will field the ball and check the runner at third base. If the runner stays at third base, the outfielder will record the out at first. If the runner tries to score, the outfielder will defend home plate. If the hitter picks up two strikes during their at-bat, the outfielder will move behind the mound and guard against a ground ball up the middle.

The biggest question about this play is "Does it Work?" The answer is "YES!!!" We recorded outs using this defense in key spots throughout the summer season. Not only does the defense prevent the bunt, but the outfielders movement literally distracts the hitter into fouling off or completely missing pitches.

Check out the following websites for 2006 information on the gyroball. As you know, the pitch is coming to the US when Daisuke Matsuzaka finally makes his MLB debut. Last year, I researched ways to throw the pitch and hit a dead end at every turn. It seems, Will Carroll, is the only teacher in the United States that can instruct the pitch. Hopefully, with the arrival of Matsuzaka, the pitch will gain popularity.

http://www.npl.uiuc.edu/~a-nathan/pob/

http://www.popularmechanics.com/blogs/science_news/4201430.html

A Website to Review

If you have a minute, check out the following website if you are into statistical information of the game of baseball:

http://baseball1.com/bb-data/bbd-bj1.html

The website provides conclusions Bill James, the famous baseball researcher, as founded over the years. One interesting deatil is James's defensive chain:

[ - 1B - LF - RF - 3B - CF - 2B - SS - C - ]

The importance of the defensive position is based from right to left. This has been a source of debate between myself and a assistant coach over the years. Our debate centered on the importance of having a sure handed third baseman and how important the position really was compared to the other defensive spots. I would have thought that the first baseman was MORE important than the third baseman. According to James, my theory is incorrect. Take a look at the other facts on the website and explore the material.

Goal Setting: Helping Players Achieve at a Higher Level

Every year, coaches spend their off-season setting goals. Each goal is based on the expectation that players should improve their skills from one year to the next. How is this achieved? Formulating goals for the season, coaches must be specific on what they want their team to achieve. For instance, if a coach wants to improve their win total, a goal should not be,"Our team will win 22 games this season." Why is this not appropriate? This goal is too general and does not address the specific areas that will contribute to victories. Another problem coaches have with setting goals is that there is no documented plans to achieve yearly goals. If a coach sets a goal, there must be a documented plan of implementation. If no plan is created, there is little chance any of the yearly goals being achieved. Below, I have listed our offensive goals for the upcoming season. Usually, our team has 3-4 objectives for each area of the game including pitching, defense, and offense. In the goals provided, I have also listed a baserunning goal for the season. I have included this goal because it falls under the offensive catoreory. Each goal includes an action plan of how the objective will be mastered. Any coach's input is welcome on how each goal process can be changed to help players meet the objective.

2006-2007 Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln Baseball

2007 Offensive Team Objectives

Objective #1 To record 90 team walks during the summer.

1. Improved Plate Coverage
- Firm Front Side Finish
- Own the Batter's Box Mentality
- Pitch Attack

2. Disciplined Approach to Hitting Breaking Balls
- No Swing Until 2 Strikes
- Shorten Bat
- Daily Exposure to Breaking Balls

3. Shoulder-to-Shoulder Tracking Model
- Movement of Chin
- Daily Usage of Model on Tee Work and Batting Practice

Objective #2 To record less than 80 team strikeouts during the summer.

1. Shorten Hitting Approach
- Practicing Proper Bat Shortening
- Total Body Momentum
- Lead Arm Extension

2. Disciplined Approach to Hitting Breaking Balls
- No Offering Until 2 Strikes
- Practice Proper Bat Shortening
- Daily Exposure to Breaking Balls

3. Shoulder-to-Shoulder Tracking Model
- Movement of Chin
- Daily Usage of Model on Tee Work and Batting Practice

Objective #3 To record 80 team extra base hits during the summer.

1. Over/Under Weight Swing Training
- Daily Usage of Weighted Bats
- Forearm Resistance Exercises
- Daily Medicine Ball Explosive Drills

2. Lead Arm Resistance Training
- Off-Season Use of Dumbbell vs. Gravity Exercises
- Off-Season and Seasonal Tricep Development

3. Linear Hitting Model
- Off-Season Teaching of the Linear Hitting Model
- Daily Use of the Load, Stretch, and Fire Method
- Daily Use of Linear Progression Reinforcers

Objective #4 To record 350 team hits during the summer.

1. Use of Wood Bats in Training
- Off-Season Use of Wood Bats
- Season Training with Wood During All Practice and Pre-Game Hitting

2. Daily Lead Arm Batting Practice
- At Least One Round Of Lead Arm BP Per Practice/Pre Game
- At Least One Drill Isolating Lead Arm Per Practice/Pre Game

3. Emphasis on Hitting the Ball to All Fields
- Incorporating Linear Hitting Model
- Improve Plate Coverage
- Daily Emphasis on Hitting Ball Middle or Away

Objective #5 To record 60 team steals during the summer.

1. Daily Baserunning Stations
- Situational Running in Practice
- Emphasis on Pitcher’s Cues and Moves
- Improvement of Times From 1st to 2nd
- Improvement of Times From 2nd to Home

2. Improve Acceleration From Start
- Lower Body Resistance Training
- Daily Emphasis on Groin Flexibility
- Daily Emphasis on Core Strength

Playing Continuous Defense in Threes

Objective:

To promote an up-tempo practice, incorporating all elements of defense and baserunning.

Procedure:

Stage I.
During the first defensive cycle, all outfielders will be stationed in right field. All infield positions will be played by defenders. Three different baserunning groups will be stationed at each base. The coach, standing at home plate, will begin the drill by hitting a ball to right field. The baserunner, stationed at second base, will try and score. The right fielder will throw to the plate, using the first baseman as the relay. The baserunner will try and avoid the tag, while the catcher tries to record the out. As the play finishes, the coach will roll a bunt to the next catcher, who should jump out right after the previous play. During the roll, the baserunner at first base will try and reach second base. The catcher and first baseman will converge to field the bunt. When the ball is fielded, the catcher or first baseman will try and record the out at first or second base. Immediately after that play finishes, the coach will hit an infield pop up. All infield players will communicate and record the out.

Stage II.
During the second defensive cycle, all outfielders will be stationed in centerfield. All infield positions will be played by defenders. Three different baserunning groups will be stationed at each base. The coach, standing at home plate, will begin the drill by hitting a ball to centerfield. The baserunner, stationed at first base, will try and advance to third base. The centerfielder will throw to third base, using the shortstop as the relay. The baserunner will try and avoid the tag, while the third baseman tries to record the out. As the play finishes, the coach will roll a bunt to the catcher, who should jump out right after the previous play. During the roll, the baserunner at second base will try and reach third base. The catcher and first baseman will converge to field the bunt. When the ball is fielded, the catcher or first baseman will try and record the out at first or third base. Moving on the play, the second baseman will cover first in case a throw is made to the base. Immediately after that play finishes, the coach will strike a shallow pop up to the centerfielder. Using the first baseman as the relay, the centerfield will fire home, trying to record the out.

Stage III.
During the third defensive cycle, all outfielders will be stationed in left fielder. All infield positions will be played by defenders. Three different baserunning groups will be stationed at each base. The coach, standing at home plate, will begin the drill by hitting a ball down the left field line. The baserunner, stationed at first base, will try and score. The left fielder, working with a tandem relay of shortstop and second base, will throw to the shortstop. The shortstop will try and keep the runner from scoring. As the play finishes, the coach will hit a groundball to the third baseman, who throw the ball to first base. After the out, the coach will hit a final ball to the second baseman will turn a double play with the shortstop and first baseman.

Summary:
Today, many players find baseball's playing tempo very slow. To hold their attention, coaches must look for ways to enhance practice tempo. Incorporating drills with more than one ball, challenge players to stay involved with a play and not lose concentration. Also, it helps to make practice fun and exciting. If players get some enjoyment out of practice, they will continue to find joy in the sport.

Catching: Baseball's Lost Art

In a three man coaching staff, catchers are often forgotten about as the attention focuses on infield, outfield, and pitching performances. Catchers are left in the dark, catching bullpens and flipping balls to their coach during groundball sessions. This year, one of our coaching goals was to improve the play of our catchers. By doing this, we wanted to be able to play two catchers on a regular rotation. With this method, one catcher would always be fresh and ready to go. That way, each catcher could play another position, thus becoming more versatile and less one dimensional. To be fair, our pitchers had to be comfortable throwing to each backstop. Also, each catcher had to have the ability to control the opponents running game as well as be a field general. To help enhance our catchers performance we operated a drill progression that help improve lower body durability, side to side movement, and stance explosion.


Point Drill: A few years ago, I saw LSU run this drill during a CWS workout. Our catchers start in a regular crouched stance. A coach, standing out front, points a direction. The catcher reaches out and frames an imaginary pitch. With the glove arm extended, the catcher waits for the coach to point a different direction. The coach can point left, right, up, or down and the catcher will proceed to frame different pitch locations. The catcher should remember to causally move their upper body to the center of each pitch, making the ball look as good as possible. Coaches should start out conservative with the time for this drill, but gradually extend each period. This is an excellent drill to promote strength and durability to the lower body.

Half Circle Drill: Catchers start in a regular crouched stance behind home plate. The coach should draw a half circle in the dirt, right in front of the catcher. The half circle should look like it is swallowing the plate. Standing in front of home plate, coaches should short hop balls for the catchers to block. The catcher should try and move their torso so the blocked ball drops in the half circle drawn by the coach. Players must be able to move laterally, keeping the ball in front of them.


Four Corner Drill: With four cones evenly spaced forming a square, a catchers will crouch behind them. Each cone will act as a home plate. With a coach's signal, the catcher will explode out of stance. Catchers should use a jump turn, using quick feet rotating the shoulders powerfully toward second base. After footwork completion, catchers will rotate to the next cone. Coaches can use this drill to condition catchers and prepare them for the season's long duration.

Two Knee Throwing: Catchers start in a regular crouched stance behind home plate, with a player standing on the mound. If the entire infield is available, a player could stance at second base. A coach standing 5-10 in front of home plate, throws balls to the catcher. Upon reception, catchers should drop to two knees and fire toward second base. The drill works faster if the throw goes to the mound, but throwing all the way through really challenges the catcher to gain momentum during extension toward the ball. If the catcher is just throwing to a mound target, the still need to put second base force on the ball. Coaches can really evalute arm strength when performing this drill. Also, players can improve arm strength by this drill's arm isolation.

Catch and Release: Catchers start in a regular crouched stance behind home plate, with a player standing on the mound. If the entire infield is available, a player could stance at second base. Coaches, standing in front of the plate, will throw balls to the catcher. Upon reception, catchers will step and throw toward second base. Quickness in the glove transfer should be the main focus of this drill. Catchers should not concentrate on anything but catching and throwing as fast as possible. If the catcher is just throwing to a mound target, the still need to put second base force on the ball.

Jump Turn and Throw: Catchers start in a regular crouched stance behind home plate, with a player standing on the mound. If the entire infield is available, a player could stance at second base. Coaches, standing in front of the plate, will throw balls to the catcher. Upon reception, catchers will concentrate on turning glove shoulder toward second base and throwing in a straight line. Turning and pivoting the body as fast as possible should be the catchers focal point during this period. If the catcher is just throwing to a mound target, the still need to put second base force on the ball.