Good Trade for the Braves??? Time will tell...

Yesterday, I was very surprised to learn the Braves had traded Javier Vazquez (who, if you need to be reminded, finished fourth in the N.L. Cy Young Voting this past season and won every game he pitched down the stretch) to the Yankees for basically, with all due respect, a Career .269 Hitting Outfielder in Melky Cabrera. 

However, the more I study the trade, the more I think GM Frank Wren might have made another terrific move in the Braves favor for three reasons. 

1) Vazquez's salary was $11.5 million a year...Cabrera's $1.4 million...Hocus Pocus...The Braves just created an extra $10 million dollars to re-sign Adam Laroche at first , and replaced the old man in left, Garrett Anderson (who by the way, made $2.5 million last season...Add this money to the mix and you have $12.5 million to re-sign Laroche with...if you maintain last year's salary numbers), with a switch-hitting pair of very good defensive, 25 year old legs in Cabrera. 

2) Arodys Vizcaino and Mike Dunn...These two power arms reportedly stay well in the mid-90's with their fastball and help the Braves maintain their organizational approach of running as many arms as you can to the bump so one or two can eventually become great (see the 1990's if you question this approach).  In other words, there is strength in numbers when looking for pitching.

3) John Smoltz...I'll never forget when the Braves traded away Doyle Alexander to the Detroit Tigers in '87 and he went 9-0 with a 1.53 ERA to help the Tigers win the A.L. East Title, and the Braves just continued to suck.  Little did I know, patience is a virtue at such a young age, and the GM for the Braves at the time (a guy by the name of Bobby Cox) knew exactly what he was doing in acquiring a AA Righty in that trade who would become the all-time winningest pitcher in post-season history named John Smoltz.

In other words, trades are very hard to read right away.  Like a fine wine, give them a little time, and then the truth will be known.  Frank Wren deserves that...as does Melky Cabrera, Arodys Vizcaino, and Mike Dunn.   

  

Bryce Harper's Swing!

If you haven't had an opportunity to see Bryce Harper's amazing swing in action, check out this clip from the Home Run Derby earlier in the year in the 2009 Power Showcase at Tropicana Field (P.S. This is where he hit a ball 502 ft.!!!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liS3kGvQ9Bk&feature=player_embedded#

Life to the Max!

Check out this terrific clip from a TV Show in Minnesota called "Life to the Max!"


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFmZCCiawkA


The clip outlines my good friend (and host at the Winter Meetings) Jim Anderson and his partner, Paul Johnson, and their terrific bat company, Max Bats!

P.S. If you look closely, I make a cameo appearance in two of the clips from the Metrodome.  (Luckily, I didn't break the camera (LOL)!!!

Technorati Today!

"You never stop learning."

Apparently, Technorati is the place to be in the blogging world (NMZ7YKYKCTJT), which is good to know since I'm working on a learning curve.  (A big thank you to Claire Druga of HHB Advertising for all the help she continues to provide me with!)

When I went to college, we had to go to the library and read books to do research papers.  We had to know the Dewey Decimal System and the "computer room" was that...A room full of computers.

I don't know if technology has made everything better in our lives (I do miss the days before cell phones invaded our privacy, and before GPS, when getting lost meant stumbling across something new that you never would have seen otherwise), but I do know the fact I can share my thoughts on the great game of baseball with so many people across this great nation is absolutely mind-boggling and amazing. 

A Hall of Famer Returns.

The Voice who described such October Miracles as Kirk's Drive into the Night, the Ball Through Buckner's Legs, and Larsen's Perfect Game is returning to the microphone in Los Angeles.

On Tuesday, the Dodgers announced that 82-year-old Broadcasting Legend Vin Scully will return to the booth next year to begin his 61st season with the club.  With a voice that paints a masterpiece with each passing inning I, for one, am so glad he decided to continue in the Broadcast Booth.

When I was playing in the Cal League in '96, occasionally fans would have the Dodger games on the radio while we were playing.  (The reason I could hear it...Because I was sitting in the Pen!)  One night, I heard Vin describe a play at the plate.  His voice never rose in excitement.  It never became shrill as the runner raced to the plate and he casually told us (who were sitting hours away from Chavez Ravine) that "the runner was out from you to me."  A smile eased across my face as I could picture the image in my head.  An image created by one of the best (if not, the best).  An image created by the ebb and flow of a performing artist singing a song about the summer game I love so much.

Welcome back, Vin.  Here's wishing you many more.

Cuban B.P.!!!

Kirk Quasebarth wrote me on http://www.checkswing.com/ with the following question:  "What drills do you have your hitters repetively do in order to acheive understanding and mastery of hitting the inside of the ball? Do you do anything different as you teach older players? (high school... college)?"

Do I have drills??? (LOL) Absolutely, Kirk.  Here are two you will really like.

1) When your hitters are doing tee work, have the ball always turned with the "horseshoe" facing the hitter.  In this manner, the hitter will focus on the inner half (or to simplify it, I like to say the part closest to him or her...), rather than the "back" or the "top".  For smarter/older kids, (and this relates to the part of your question referring to older players), have the hitter picture a "Dot" on the inside of the baseball.  (or if you would prefer, just draw a dot inside the horseshoe on your cage balls.  That way, the dot is there and the kids will have a visual aid to reinforce the technique you are teaching.

2) Cuban B.P.  (One of my all-time favorites!!!)  If you are performing front flip or regular B.P. with your hitters, take the L-Screen and turn it where you are located between first and second base for Rightys and between second and third for Leftys (a severe opposite field angle to the hitters).  This is the way the Cuban National Team regularly takes B.P. and it really works! This severe angle makes it very easy for your hitters to learn how to "stay inside the ball" because, due to the angle, they have no choice!!!  The inside of the ball becomes the only part of the baseball the hitter can make direct contact with (in other words, he or she can't "cast out" and "hook around" the baseball.) 

Also, Kirk.  Please remember to remind the hitter to hit the part of the ball closest to them, and as a result, you will see their hands follow a truer path to the ball, you will see the hitter accomplishing "fade" on the ball as it carries into the gaps and you will see your hitters create more line drives due to the fact they regularly hit the inside half...Side benefit, once you return B.P. to the mound area/middle of the field, you no longer have an angle on the hitter (which is BTW, as I'm sure you well know, one of the secrets to being an effective pitcher...Creating angle) and the ball will look HUGE to your hitters!  (This makes this drill extremely effective in Pre-Game B.P.)

Try it out with your club and please let me know if you have any other questions.  I'm always ready to help.

What is Bat Lag and what is the easiest way to teach it?

The simplest definition of Bat Lag is that the hitter’s hands go through the zone first, thus causing the barrel to lag or follow the hands throughout the zone. The complex part is teaching your young hitter how to establish Bat Lag and incorporate it into a consistent short, professional-type swing.


Usually, when I begin teaching Bat Lag to young hitters, I get the look. You know the look. The one where their head is nodding yes, but their eyes are saying no. Or to be more exact, the look that says, “You might as well be teaching me Chinese Arithmetic in Latin, because I don’t have a clue what you are talking about”. This is where you, as a coach, cut to the chase and ask a question most young hitters have never considered. “What part of the ball are you trying to hit?”

Most young hitters will say (albeit incorrectly), “the back of the ball.” A few will even tell you, “the top of the ball.” The answer you want to hear in order to establish bat lag and as a result, a short, professional-type swing is “the Inside Half of the baseball.” (Quick Side note: Many Big Leaguers actually focus even more specifically on the Top-Inside Quarter of the ball, rather than the Inside Half, but remember, these are Big Leaguers!!!)

If you take a young hitter and do a simple side flip toss drill with him, with emphasis on where the point of contact is established on the baseball, you will see the fallacy of a young hitter making contact with the back of the ball (and the subsequent lean-back, lazy fly ball or ground ball with top spin) and/or the top of the ball (and the resulting lunging chopper/hard ground ball into the turf, or lazy line drive settling harmlessly into the netting of the cage), and the benefits of establishing contact on the inside half of the ball (and the consistently hard line drives which will ride through the back of the cage one swing after another!)

At the conclusion of this drill, sit down for a moment with your young hitter and ask him, “Now, if you could take all your ground balls and your fly balls from last year, and instead create line drives this year simply by hitting the inside half of the baseball, how much higher do you think your batting average would be?” Trust me. The look of confusion will disappear and instead, it will be replaced by a new look; the look of a young man who is dreaming about having a great season at the plate!

Tim Lincecum's Recipe for Success!

Yesterday, Tim Lincecum won his second straight N. L. Cy Young Award, narrowly beating out the Two-Headed Ace from St. Louis, Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright.  "The Freak" twisted and lunged his way into a repeat of last season's award, despite still only standing 5'11" and weighting 172 lbs (Side note:  There are probably still Major League Organizations today that would not draft him because he doesn't "Project".)  So how does he do it, you might ask?  And is he an arm injury waiting to happen?
Tim Lincecum's recipe for success is based on two very important factors that all pitchers can learn from (not just guys who throw 94 mph).  Lincecum's repertoire includes a two-seam fastball that he throws predominantly for movement, rather than radar gun numbers, mixed with a devastating change.  He does possess a good curve.  However, he tends to only use it against the very best of major league hitters, (and sparingly at that.) 

Why is that recipe so important, you might ask?  All great pitching coaches (and I have to put his Dad in this class...That's who taught him to pitch) understand "develop the fastball first, then the change up, then the curve."  There is much less stress on the arm in throwing fastballs and in essence, in throwing the change, due to the fact, you use the same arm action as the two-seamer, with a adjusted grip.  And yet, if you turn on the Little League World Series every August, you see one young boy after another throwing curve after curve in an effort to win at all costs...including the long term development of their arms.

By utilizing a pitching style that stands in complete contrast to the yearly spectacle in Williamsport, this recipe for success has served Lincecum well.  I had the opportunity to see him pitch in person in July, and was amazed at the amount of Big League hitters who were reduced to Guessing Changeup at the plate because it was a facsimile of his two-seamer with a 10 to 15 mph differential, and how very few breaking balls he actually threw over the course of a game.

And it is for this reason alone, I predict Lincecum will pitch relatively free from arm injury for many years.  His pitch selection puts very little wear and tear on his arm.  He uses his lower half better than most (if not all) of Major League Pitchers.  And he understands over the course of a game when to get the strikeout, when to get the groundball, and this time of year, when to collect another Cy Young Award.




   

Hot Stove: Atlanta Braves.

What would you do if you were Frank Wren this off-season?  The Braves are close (evident by their wild finish in '09), and there is no reason to dismantle the group of great players they have.  So what do you do?

And hold on, Cowboy.  First, you have to think Payroll.  A GM's job is not only to put the best team possible on the field, but also to make money for in this case, Liberty Media (Current Owners of the Braves...Oh, for the days back when it was ole' Ted.).

You need a first baseman.  You need a Outfielder (at least until Heyward is ready).  And you need a Closer.  With the re-signing of Tim Hudson, you have a bit of SP depth (a luxury in today's world).  You have one of the best in the business in McCann behind the plate.  You have a solid keystone combo with Prado and Escobar, and a Hall of Famer in Chipper at third.  You have a former All-Star in McLouth in Center, and Pure Grit with Diaz in Left (and people in the South, love grits).

And on top of everything else, it's Bobby's last year.  You need to send the old man out the right way (which is on top of the baseball world!)

RF:  Although there are attractive RH hitting options out there, (mainly Bay and Holliday) their price tag is "too rich for my blood."  I think the perfect alternative for the Braves would be Xavier Nady.  I think he would add a much needed RH power bat to the middle of the lineup, and I don't know if you remember or not, but when this guy was healthy (he is recovering from Tommy John surgury...Something that won't affect his swing in the least), he had serious thunder in his bat (especially the opposite way!)

1B:  I'm a loyal guy, and I believe the Braves will do the right thing here and re-sign Adam LaRoche.  He did a terrific job for the Braves after coming over from Boston and his improved play was very evident.  Case closed, he deserves to come back.

Closer:  This is very things get sticky.  I don't feel re-signing Gonzalez or Soriano would be good moves.  Letting both go, frees up the necessary money needed for LaRoche and Nady.  So a possible trade could be in the works here.  We do have pitching depth (something other clubs would love to have), so this is where the wheeling and dealing comes into play.  Last year, Wren got Vazquez from the White Sox (and looked like a genius doing it).  Let's see what rabbit he pulls out this year!

Let me know what you think.  What would you do if you were Frank Wren?





  

Cliff Lee's Mechanics.

Another interesting post on Pitching Mechanics by Chris O'Leary.  (www.chrisoleary.com/projects/Baseball/Pitching/ProfessionalPitcherAnalyses/CliffLee_001.html).  Check it out.

Food for Thought...

Last week, a very good friend of mine, Chuck Franzago, forwarded me this article to review,   (http://www.chrisoleary.com/projects/Baseball/Pitching/RethinkingPitching/Essays/DeathToTheInvertedW.html),  and after reading the article, I think there could be something to this.

In studying (and teaching) fundamentals, you could not produce a more perfect prototypical pitcher than Mark Prior.  Unfortunately though, Mark has had nothing but arm injuries since becoming a professional.  His one bright shining season of '03 has been overshadowed with one injury after another and a career that never lived up to expectations.  But again, with fundamentals a smooth as silk, a million dollar arm, the makeup of a champion, and the label of a "can't miss" prospect, how could this happen?

Perhaps it is the Inverted "W" position of his arm action...I don't know.  But I do know if I had a young son who was learning to pitch, I would pay special attention to this. 

Let me know your thoughts. 
    

The Best Team Money Can Buy!

Late in the summer of 2008, Yankee fans and Columnists from all over New York were screaming from the rooftops for Brian Cashman to "tear the Yankees apart!"  (www.nysun.com/sports/these-yankees-need-to-be.../84323/).  Deemed old and overpaid, the Yankees missed the playoffs for the first time since '93 ('94 doesn't count due to the Strike).  And yet, despite their disappointing finish, Brian Cashman had the insight to instead build up, rather than tear down.

Armed with an open checkbook, Cashman (have you ever noticed the irony in that name?) went wild in the market finding upgrades at first base (Mark Teixeira to the tune of $20 million a year + a $5 million dollar bonus), a #1 starter to replace the retired Mike Mussina (C.C. Sabathia for the surprising low total of only $14 million a year...oh, but don't forget the $9 million dollar bonus) and a Strong #2 Starter, A. J. Burnett (for only $16.5 million a year...No bonus...Sorry A.J.)

Cashman also made a very shrewd move acquiring Nick Swisher from the White Sox to replace Bobby Abreu in Right, (and giving the Yanks a little personality or "flavor" in the process).  And 2009 saw a healthy return of two of the best clutch hitters in baseball and RBI producers in postseason history, Jorge Posada and Hideki Matsui.

But Cashman's best move (and without a doubt, most efficient) has been the building of a $840,225 bridge.  The signing of Sabathia and Burnett allowed the Yankees to move Joba Chamberlain ($432,575) and Phil Hughes($407,650) into the pen, and in essence, create a bridge to the best closer in baseball, Mariano Rivera ($15 million a year and worth every penny) and that bridge (as well as $208,097,414 total greenbacks) is the reason the Yankees are the best team money can buy!

Bob Chandler.

I just found out that an old friend of mine passed away this week.  Bob Chandler was 73 years young on Tuesday when God decided He needed him more in Heaven than we did here on Earth.  Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend the funeral, but I'm sure it will a worthy rememberance of this wonderful man.  A moment in time where his family, his friends, and his lovely wife, Tookie, of 51 years can pause and reflect on all the goodwill, laughter, and positive energy this wonderful man created in his short time here with us. 

I wish I could be there to say thanks for the memories.

You see, way back in 1994, I was playing for the Erie Sailors and Bob Chandler threw out the first pitch one night.  As I caught the pitch and jogged out to the mound to give him the ball, he shook my hand and told me "You're going to hit a Home Run for me tonight!"  Modestly, I laughed, and replied, "Well, that would be great, but I wouldn't bet on it."  At that point in my career, I still did not have a Professional Home Run to my name, and I didn't see any reason for that to change on that particular night.  But again, this older gentlemen patted me on the back as we walked off the field towards the dugout and said, "Trust me.  Tonight, you are going to hit a Home Run for me tonight!  Just watch and see."  Needless to say, later that night, I hit my first Professional Home Run.  I still have the ball to prove it.

Some people in life have the ability to inspire, lead, and "get more" out of others.  Bob Chandler was that type of fellow.  He always saw the glass as half-full, and it usually was, because he was the one who had poured the water in.  He would have made a terrific Coach, but God saw fit to put him in a suit and tie rather than spikes, where when I met him, he worked tirelessly for the Erie Chamber of Commerce, always the promoter of the city he loved so dear.

I will miss Bob; his smile, his laughter, and his presence.  And I know many others who will too.

Thanks again for the memories.   



 

    

Baseball Tonight, Today, and Tomorrow.

All things in life have a Ying and a Yang.  When ESPN debuted Baseball Tonight way back in 1990, being a life-long student of the game, I thought I had died and gone to Heaven.  I'll never forget because at the time, I was playing American Legion ball in Albany, Ga. and every night when I came home from my game, I could catch up on what happened that day in the Big Leagues.

Within a few minutes I could find who won their game, who made a great defensive play, and of course, who hit a bomb that night!  ESPN had found a way to compress a 3 hour game into a 3 minute highlight and it was perfect, (or so I thought).  It was only years later before I could first see the damage this "briefing of baseball" was causing.

Today, kids play more baseball games than any other time in history.  With the continued growth of travel ball, it is not rare for a kid to play anywhere between 75 to 100 games a season.  And yet, if you talk to these same kids, you will learn that even though their skill level/ability is better than ever, their Baseball I.Q. is unfortunately, (in my opinion) lower than ever.

It is very rare for a kid to sit and watch a Major League Baseball Game in it's entirety.  I don't know if you know this or not, but Baseball is a 2 and a 1/2 hour game with 20 minutes of action.  And now that we have become a culture of quick, our kids are not learning the ebb and flow of pitching in early so you can pitch away late, the ying and yang of a lead-off walk (which scores 90% of the time), and the give and take of trading a ground ball for an out with the infield back in the fifth.

The solution...I don't know.  I just know it makes websites and forums like http://www.checkswing.com/ that much more important because the little things have to be passed on for our game to survive in a world full of Ying, and not enough Yang.

Wanted: Tablesetters!!!

When is the last time you saw a truly great Lead-Off Hitter in action?  I'm not talking about a guy batting in the lead-off spot.  I'm talking about a Brett Butler.  I'm talking about a Lead-Off hitter who bunts, runs, takes pitches, draws throws, uses his legs as a weapon, turns walk into doubles and keeps the ball out of the air.  Anyone...Anyone...Bueller...Bueller...

Exactly.  Kids don't want to be this player anymore.  They all want to DROP BOMBS.  Unfortunately though, if you talk to scouts, power is a precious commodity (especially left-handed power)(in other words, not everyone has it).

A great tablesetter can change everything.  Did you know most pitchers lose 2 mph off their fastball as soon as they go to the stretch?  Did you also know it takes most pitchers 2 pitches to make the adjustment from moving from the windup to the stretch?  (check this out the next time you're watching a big league game...the first hitter once the pitchers moves to the stretch almost always has a 2-0 count)  Did you know most pitchers tend to rush to the plate causing their pitch to move from the unhittable "high rent" district (meaning they'll make lots of money if they pitch down there) to the "low rent" district (waisthigh...the place where extra base hits are born) once a base-stealing threat is on base? 

There are college scholarships out there for kids like this.  Only this kid, like the bald eagle, became an endangered species many years ago.  And the main culprit...ESPN.  I'll explain more tomorrow.

Congratulations and Good Luck to Grayson Ivey and Team USA!

Yesterday, Grayson Ivey, one of the kids that I have been lucky enough to coach this fall for Team Elite, was named to the 2009 Team USA 14U's Squad!

Grayson, a 6'1, 175 lb. third-baseman, from Winder-Barrow High School in Winder, GA, was the only player selected from the state of Georgia (that's quite a statement considering the talent level in our great state!) and now heads with the other 17 young men selected to Portoviejo, Ecuador to play in the 2009 COPABE Pan Am A Championships this weekend (Oct. 17-24)!

You can learn more about Grayson and Team USA at (http://web.usabaseball.com/teams/index.jsp?team=2496&content=roster). 

Go Grayson and Go Team USA!
 

What Makes Someone a Great Coach?

There are many theories in the World of Coaching.  One that I have found to be true is the Three Run Theory.  This theory is based on the belief that if your team has a great coach, your team will begin the game winning 3-0 based on preparation, practice organization, teaching methods, etc.  If you have a good to average coach, 0-0, and if you have a bad coach, your team will start the game down 3-0, which we all know is a very difficult starting point to overcome.

But what makes someone a great coach?  Is it experience?  Is it his or her ability to communicate well with their players?  Is it their innate ability to motivate, both through hugs for some and a kick in the rear for others (and knowing when and with who to use both methods)? 

The truth is in order to be a great coach, you only have to accomplish three things.  1) Always prepare your team for any and all situations that could arise in a game, 2) Always put your kids in a position to succeed, and 3) Always be fair and honest.  If you accomplish these three things, wins will follow and your reputation as a coach will grow.

We are all products of our environment, which basically means in the baseball world, we coach the way we were taught.  If you were fortunate enough to play for a Hall of Fame Coach, odds are you understand the game on a totally different level than someone who didn't.  I would be willing to bet your practices are well planned, your teams are prepared, and your won-lost record is impressive.

Unfortunately though, most parents, players, and coaches are not able to draw on experience beyond the high school level. Their heart is in the right place, but they may not know tips and drills which can be both fun and educational.  As a result, I wanted to recommend a product for those parents who want the best for their sons and daughters, but again, may have limited experience in the Coaching Box.

http://www.coachdeck.com/ is a 52-card collection of excellent drills that any coach from Little League to High School would consider an asset.  You don't have to be Tommy Lasorda to correctly teach swing fundamentals, how to turn a double play, or how to be a great coach.  You just need to be willing to adapt, willing to listen and willing to understand that in this game, we can always learn something new.      

The Three Tee Drill!

Would you like to learn a drill that can automatically create more line drives for your young hitters? Of course, you would! What hitting coach wouldn’t? The drill I’m referring to is what I like to call, the Three Tee Drill. Now, even though most people would think I’m suggesting you drag three batting tees out to the cage today and line them up accordingly, you actually only need one in order to do this drill properly.


One of the quickest ways to becoming a better hitter is to learn to stay in the zone longer. Now, what does that mean? Basically, that is Hitting Coach mumbo-jumbo for “keeping the barrel of your bat on a level plane through the strike zone for as long as possible.” And one of the most effective ways of learning this skill is called the Three Tee Drill. This one drill (which I first heard of being used by Alex Rodriguez) is terrific for teaching your young hitter how to keep their bat in the zone longer. To begin the drill, set up a batting tee with the ball placement directly over the front edge of the plate. Have your young hitter drive the ball through the back of the cage a few times to get the feel of going to the ball and staying through the ball. If your young hitter is not hitting the back of the net consistently in this ball placement position, then they are “rolling over” (i.e. letting the barrel beat their hands to the ball.) Please make sure they understand the term Bat Lag and how to lead with their hands, rather than with their barrel.

Next, move the batting tee forward about three inches, but do not allow your young hitter to change their foot positioning. They should stay in the exact same spot in the box. However, now your young hitter will have to extend their hands even further to make sure they can still drive the ball through the back of the cage. Do this a few times until again, your young hitter can drive the ball through the back of the cage with some consistency.
Finally, (and this is where the drill becomes really difficult) move the ball three more inches away from its original placement (six inches in total) with their foot positioning still remaining the same. Now, your young hitter really has to stay in the zone with their hands leading the way in order to hit the ball through the back of the cage. Coaches, this is also an excellent time to reinforce the previous discussions on Bat Lag and how it can help your young hitter develop that short, professional-type swing we all wish to possess.

This one drill is terrific for correcting so many Swing Plane issues and I can’t recommend it enough. It’s also an excellent drill to use with young hitters who have trouble with off-speed pitches. If he or she can keep their swing plane consistently level throughout the entire zone, they will be fooled less. They will be able to create more line drives, and ultimately, they will become better hitters!

Torre's Troops!

Miracles do happen!  Last night at Chavez Ravine, when the Dodgers seemed as good as dead, a dropped fly ball breathed life in their ninth-inning comeback.  Then in order, a Casey Blake Great AB, a Ronnie Belliard Frozen Rope, a wild pitch on the way to loading the bases and a Mark Loretta vintage "hit it where they ain't" chinker proceeded to give the Dodgers their (pardon the pun) "Hollywood Ending"! 

I can tell you from spending so many nights in dugouts, this loss will cost the Cardinals more than just a Game Two loss.  Nobody understands momentum, until they either gain it or lose it.  In a game where Adam Wainswright dominated the Dodgers and the Redbirds outhitters the Bums 10-5 (with 2 of the hits coming in the ninth), Ryan Franklin, Matt Holliday, and the rest of the Red Army lost momentum in this series (and their post-season quest) last night.
 
Now up 2-0 over the Cardinals, It is my opinion that Torre's troops will march into St. Louis Saturday night and continue to "Part the Red Sea" on their way to the Fall Classic! 

Metrodome Magic!

Turns out, the Dome wasn't ready to be done after all!  Game #163 (as it will forever be known) will be, without a doubt, an Instant Classic to be shown and shared for many years to come.  The emotional tug-of-war finally ended in the bottom of the 12th as Carlos Gomez raced around third to score on Alexi Casilla's base hit to right, but Twins fans (and Tiger fans) will tell you that was just the tip of iceburg on a night that will never be forgotten.

The line-drive double play in the Ninth.  Nic Punto's running throw Home.  Brandon Inge's diving stop at Third.   Cuddyer's Triple.  Ryan Raburn's throw to the Plate.  All incredible moments that will forever be a part of baseball lore.

And now, the Second Season starts.  11 wins.  That's all it takes to be a World Champion.  11 wins on a path that winds directly through the hills of Hollywood, the bright lights of Broadway and right past a Dome that refused to go quietly into the night.  

Dome, Sweet, Dome!

Tonight, the final post-season playoff spot comes down to two teams, one game, and quite possibly, a Dome-field advantage. At 5:07 ET, the Detroit Tigers will battle the Minnesota Twins in a game where if the Tigers were to win, would be the last Twins game ever played in the Dome. Next season, the Twins will run around in the outfield of Target Field, but today...Today (for maybe one last time) the Twinkies will race around in front of the Baggie, take their positions on the Turf, and create deafening decibles of sound as their fans beg for a first-round trip to New York.

34 Kirby Puckett Place has always provided a distinct home-field advantage for the Twins. Just ask the '87 Cardinals. Or my own beloved '91 Braves. Or perhaps after tonight, the '09 Tigers. The '09 Tigers are only 7-11 against the Twins this season and an even worse 2-7 in the Dome. The Twins are 48-33 at home this season, while the Tigers...a lowly 35-46. And on top of everything else, Detroit's starter tonight, (a rookie)Rick Porcello, is 0-2 with a 6.30 ERA in his two starts in the Dome.

But the pitches still have to be made. The runs still have to score, and the outs still have to be recorded. That is one of the many beautys of baseball. What should happen often doesn't. What is clear on paper isn't always the same in person.  But no matter what, one thing is for sure.  What we will see tonight between the Twins and the Tigers is baseball at it's highest intensity, it's highest level, and it's highest volume. (on a stage that I'm hoping is not hosting it's final act.)

More on Don Larsen's Perfect Game.

Little did I know as I wrote my blog last Friday that there is a brand new Baseball book out which details everything I saw during Don Larsen's Perfect Game and more!

"Perfect: Don Larsen's Miraculous World Series Game and the Men who made it happen" by Lew Paper just came out and if you are interested, a review by Chuck Klosterman with Esquire Magazine is on-line (http://www.esquire.com/features/the-game/perfect-don-larsen-book-review-1109).

Any book that can help us to peek inside the long-lost world of Willie, Mickey, and the Duke and listen to the stories behind the story of Don Larsen's Perfect Game is a book worth considering if you are a true baseball fan.

Don Larsen's Perfect Game

Imagine my surprise as I flipped through channels this afternoon and found a replay of the only no-hitter (let alone a Perfect Game) in World Series History!  For those of you who don't know, on October 8, 1956, journeyman pitcher Don Larsen threw a Perfect Game in the 1956 World Series for the New York Yankees against their archrival Brooklyn Dodgers and thanks to the MLB Network, today I had a chance to watch the beauty unfold for myself.

Even though I had a pretty good idea of the outcome, it was still amazing to watch history in the making.  Complete with a generous strike zone (you think today's umps are bad), a Diving Catch by the Duke, a Homer through the shift by the Mick (he later also ran down a sure double in the left center gap for an out), and of course, Larsen's famous No-Wind-up Delivery (makes you wonder why pitchers don't try it today?), being able to watch all this happen in real time was a truly amazing experience.

A young Billy Martin backpeddling out there at second.  Yogi and Campy behind the plate.  Jackie Robinson down at third.  Hall of Famers everywhere, and Larsen on the bump.  Did you know Joe Torre was also there?  It's true.  He was sitting in the left field upper deck as a 16-year-old spectator! (you can look it up on Wikipedia)

It's always amazing to see the heros and legends of my youth racing around the diamond enjoying their day in the sun. Thank you so much MLB Network for replaying this game heading into October for all of us who never had the chance to see such an unbelievable moment in World Series History!     

Are Today's Hitters Better Than Yesteryear's?

This is a question I often ask myself.  As a student of the game, I have no doubt, today's hitters are better athletes, have better instruction, better technology, and better swing fundamentals.  But are they better hitters?  

Hitting is more than just the swing.  It's having a plan at the plate.  It's understanding when to pull the trigger on what pitch and when to shut it down.  It's relaxing while the whole world is watching.  It's competing and winning a battle of one vs. nine.

Young hitters today understand terms like "hand load", "toe down", "short to long" and "inside half".  But does that make them better?  I argue old timers knew better how to relax at the plate, how to guess on the pitch, and how to be the hitter (style-wise) God intended for them to be.  (lead off, line drive/gap, or power...Everone falls in one of these three categories.) 

With technological innovations like Don Slaught's RightView Pro, a young hitter can now study their swing vs. A-Rod or Jeet's.  With videotape analysis, a young hitter can see if he or she "chicken winged" between at-bats.  Nike even developed contact lens a few years back that helped hitters pick up the ball better at the plate!  But even with all these advances, one piece of advice is always heard out of the dugout. 

"Hey kid, relax up there, pick out a good one, and be quick..."

Advice which is no doubt just as useful in today's world, as it was in 1845 for the New York Knickerbockers.
    

Tigers and Twins Mano-a-Mano Tonight!

The Playoffs start tonight!!! (Not really, but close to it.) The Tigers and the Twins match up tonight at Comerica with a trip to October on the line. Four games head to head, with only seven total left to play.

It’s Rick Porcello against Nick Blackburn in the opener. Blackburn is 1-1 against the Tigers this year and Porcello is 1-2 against the Twins.

And here's the math.  Game one tonight...Tigers up by 2 games...If the Twins win, you have a one game lead (in other words, serious sweating can commence in Motown)...If the Tigers win, three game lead with six to go (in other words, make your hotel reservations for a first round showdown at Yankee Stadium Oct. 7th.)

I had an old coach in the minors who used to say "There's nothing better than baseball when the leaves are changing."  And going into tonight, the air will be crisp, the jackets will come out, and the baseball will definitely be intense!!! 

Remembering Mike Coolbaugh.

I never had the good fortune of meeting Mike Coolbaugh, but from what I hear, I would have liked him alot.  You have to admire guys who grind in the minors and one day get to reach up for that cup of coffee.  To finally be able to say they made it and eat from the crumbs at the edge of the table we as ballplayers all yearned to eat at.  And even more so, even though I am sure it is no consolation to his family, to die doing something he loved.

Mike Coolbaugh was coaching first base one mid-summer's night in the Texas League when a line drive off the bat of Tino Sanchez hit him in the neck, killing someone who was known ironically in the baseball world as a "lifer".  This is his story...His wife and three young son's left behind story...And Tino Sanchez's story. 

Heart of the Game: Life, Death, and Mercy in Minor League America, by S. L. Price is a baseball book we all should read.  Please check out the terrific review by James Bailey, former associate editor at Baseball America, at http://www.hardballcooperative.com/?p=1546.  And help honor a man who gave his life to the game by never letting us forget who he was.

10 Things that didn't exist before Bobby's reign!

Here's a list of 10 things that did not even exist when Bobby Cox took over as Braves manager back in June of 1990! Check it out!!!

10. Disposable Contact Lens.
9. DVD's.
8. GPS.
7. Wii/Playstation/XBox.
6. Hybrid Cars.
5. Facebook/Twitter/Blogging/Social Networking.
4. Viagra. (LOL)
3. Google/Ebay.
2. The Florida Marlins/Tampa Bay Rays/Colorado Rockies/Arizona Diamondbacks.
1. Cell Phones!!!

See if you can think of some more!!!

Thanks for the Memories, Bobby!

When I was a young boy, I can remember listening through static on a transitor radio to the Braves running off a 13 game winning streak to lead off the '82 season. I also remember learning as I grew older that the same group of ballplayers that I idolized that summer (who went on to win the 1982 N. L. West title) were put together and developed by a gentlemen by the name of Bobby Cox.

As you all know, he later returned to the Braves dugout (in 1990, shedding his G.M. tie for his own Skipper's spikes), and made winning a way of life for the Bravos. World Series appearances in '91, '92, '95, '96, and '99. Four time Manager of the Year (three times in the National League, once in the American). A remarkable 14 Consecutive Divisional Titles, and of course, one World Championship Ring ('95).

Of course, Bobby also has one infamous record. He has been ejected more times (159) than any other manager in the history of the game. But is that anything to be ashamed of? That he backs his players. That he has a passion for the game and that he demands the ump make the right call. Certainly not. It is that same fire and brimstone which has made him the fourth winningest manager of all-time, and the winningest manager in the Braves long history.

Ultimately, we, as fans, have been the fortunate ones to be able to be a part of his long run. His professionalism is and will remain unsurpassed and his ability to get his players to respect the game and play it the right way will be missed.

Thank you so much for the memories, #6. I have no doubt, your jersey will be the next to never be worn again with a Tomahawk emblazened across the chest.

Astros fire Cecil Cooper with 13 games to go in '09.

If you've had an opportunity to watch the Astros this season, you would know they haven't really been a factor in the N.L. Central Division all year. And on Monday, General Manager Ed Wade added to this season's misery by firing Manager Cecil Cooper. Now, one has to ask, is this season's underachievement ultimately Coop's fault or G.M. Ed Wade's fault?

There is no doubt the Astros needed to make a change. Coop was no managerial genius and could not be described as a "people person". And how can we forget the night he posted the wrong lineup in the dugout back in May, causing Michael Bourn to be called back to the plate after leading off the game with a hit!
However, there's an old saying, "you can't win the Kentucky Derby with a Donkey", and Houston has one of the oldest rosters in the Big Leagues and has had to deal with injuries all season (something that does hand in hand with having an older team). In other words, you've got to have the players to win.

The Astros are in a rebuilding phase. Everyone can see that. And someone with the credibility and history of Cecil Cooper deserves more respect. The Astros only have 13 games left to play and then it's curtains on this miserable season. And while agreeing with the Houston Astros decision to make a change, I wish the calendar had read October, rather than September.

Little League Elbow.

It amazes me that more can't be done in limiting the amount of curve balls young men throw in Little League All-Star Competition! Basically, if you can throw curve balls for strikes, you have a ticket to go far in All-Star competition. However, you also guarantee yourself limited velocity in the future and first hand knowledge of who Tommy John was and why his surgery has become so prevalent.

Did you know Rick Knapp, pitching coach of the Detroit Tigers, does not even let his pitchers throw curves for three weeks once they report to camp in February? And that all great pitching coaches will tell you it is better to learn how to "spot up" your fastball and throw a change-up for strikes before learning Uncle Charley and his deceptive ways. But time and time again, as I watch the Little League World Series, I see one young man after another in the process of ruining their arms.

The rule used to be "don't throw a curve until you are a teenager." I think the rule should actually be "don't throw a curve until you can shave." (the reason I say that is I've seen teenagers who don't need to shave!!! I should know, I used to look at one in the mirror!) Ultimately, if you wait until you can shave, you are more advanced physically and you are further along in your development as a young man (puberty) and can handle the workload a curveball demands of your arm.

Dr. Andrews addressed the major problems with pitch counts in Little League back in 2007. (the whole presentation can be found at www.littleleague.org/learnmore/rules.) And now that Little League has learned to abide by those rules, I recommend Dr. Andrews take it one step further and limited the number of curves a young man below the Little League Age Limit can throw! In my opinion, deciding quality rather than quantity should be without a doubt, the next step in youth pitching development!

Santa Claus, The Tooth Fairy, and Williamsport.

Tomorrow, the Dog Days of Summer become a little brighter with the start of the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA. Fathers and Sons alike look forward to the yearly event where a group of children are crowned World Champions and memories are made for a lifetime.

My wife has such a hard time with the little ones crying when they lose...I'll let you in on a little secret...I cried too when my team lost it's final All-Star game...It's hard to let go...That's part of growing up and part of the magic of the years you get to play Little League Baseball...Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, and Williamsport.

I would like to congratulate each and every team on making the 16 team field (including our own sister city representative, Warner Robins American). Best of luck to all in Williamsport. A very special place deserving of a World Championship!

International Baseball Holds It's Breath!

Tomorrow is a very big day for International Baseball. In Berlin, Germany, the IOC Executive Committee will announce which two of seven sports (which also includes Golf, Karate, Roller Sports, Softball, Squash, Rugby) will be put forward for a vote for inclusion for the 2016 Olympics. That vote will then later take place in Copenhagen, Denmark (Charlotte's hometown!) in October, but all indications are that the two sports put forward tomorrow will be the only ones considered for 2016.

Sounds great, right??? Wrong. First of all, Tiger Woods has promised to play in the '16 Olympics if Golf is included. This is like having Frank Sinatra promise to sing at your wedding even though he is dead!!! Translation: Star Power. In other words, a done deal.

Golf also has another very important benefit of great value to the IOC Executive Committee. It is a sport also played by women, and Gender Equality is extremely important to the IOC. (Let me explain...The IOC Executive Committee is mostly made up of Europeans and politically correct inclusion takes on a whole new meaning if your country flies under the banner of the blue and gold circular stars...

And for that reason and that reason alone, I look for Karate to gain the other recommendation. Men and women practice Karate alike, over 10 million people in the world participate in the sport, and it almost achieved Olympic Status in the most recent vote held in 2005.

Side note of interest that all fans should know: Softball chose to petition the Committee alone, shunning the International Baseball Federation for a joint bid. It seems they felt a joint petition would have made them appear to closely aligned with Baseball, and the United States. In response, the International Baseball Federation announced it would include Women's Baseball in their bid (something that really hasn't been done since WWII and immortalized in the film starring Tom Hanks, Rosie, and Madonna, "A League of Their Own". And that's sad really. I think this decision alone will cost both Baseball and Softball ultimately. The IOC Executive Committee are no doubt, Shakespeare fans, and as we all know, a house divided against itself can not stand.

The Passing of the Guard.

2009 has been hard on died-in-the-wool Braves fans. First, the travesty of not resigning John Smoltz, to the releasing Tom Glavine and now, watching from afar as John Smoltz is designated for assignment in Boston (aka, released). Two of the most amazing hurlers in history, who are still trying to show they can pitch on the Major League level because their competitive spirit tells them they can but their arm shows them they can't, are riding off into the sunset to join yet another former Brave, Greg Maddux, to eventually also have their number retired and their day in the sun in Cooperstown.

It's really sad to realize, but at some point in time in every young man's life who plays the great game of baseball, eventually they come and take the ball away. In other words, it's time for someone else. For many, it's after High School. For others, College. For myself, after struggling for years in the minors. But it will eventually happen to everyone. From Babe Ruth to Barry Bonds, and now, John Smoltz and Tom Glavine. Calendars continue to turn and fresh arms and legs replace (in this case) legends.

It has been a joy to watch those two work over the years, and I feel lucky to have seen them in their prime. Dane (my 5 year old son) even got a chance to meet Tom Glavine last year in the Braves dugout during Pre-game one Saturday afternoon, and Tom was such a great guy to Dane and treated my son wonderfully. And for me, that's the memory I'll always carry with me of Tom Glavine. Not his World Series Winning effort in Game Six of '95 (although I could never forget that), but the way he made my son smile hanging around with him on the bench. Now if Dane and I could only be so lucky as to meet John Smoltz in the future as well. From what I hear, he's just as much a Hall of Famer off the field than he is on! Congrats John and Tom, on a terrific career, and thanks again for the memories!

Brandon Inge's All Star Appearance.

Watching the All-Star Game and Home Run Derby over the past two nights, I couldn't help but think back to when I had the chance to meet Brandon Inge this past February at Spring Training. He was sitting next to Matt Treanor getting dressed for a day at the park, when Matt introduced us and showed him my hitting aid. Jim Leyland, (the skipper), then came over to me and said, "Hey, did you invent this thing?" And after gulping, I said, "Yes sir." He then looked at me and said something I'll never forget. He looked over the lockerroom and said, "Hey guys, this thing is awesome! One of the best things I've seen in years. You all need to hit with it." And then he turned to Brandon and said, "Hey Brandon, you need to hit with this thing. It will help you." And Brandon looked up and replied, "Sure, skip." and the rest is history.

The Detroit Tigers later ordered seven Pitcher's Nightmare Swing Trainers from me and instantly became my favorite American League team (sorry guys, the Braves will always be my favorite team overall, but you guys definitely rule in the A.L.) and Brandon became one of my favorite players. Check out this great story on him from his Home Town newspaper, the News and Advance, http://www.newsadvance.com/lna/news/local/article/lynchburg_buzzes_over_brookvilles_all-star_inge/17660/.

And here's hoping he keeps tearing 'em up in the Second Half!!!

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Chris Coste.

The other day as I was eating breakfast, I happened to notice Chris Coste was picked up on waivers by the Houston Astros, or in other words, was no longer a Philadelphia Philly. (Old habits die hard. Ballplayers always check the transactions as you eat breakfast, because you never knew when your own name was going to be in there!)

I had the pleasure of meeting Chris this past Spring Training. The perennial back-up Catcher, who after spending 11+ years in the minors finally got the call up to the Bigs back in 2006, is an inspiration to all who never, ever give up! In fact, he wrote a book about his exploits, "The 33-Year-Old Rookie", which is available through Amazon.com, or through his website, http://www.chriscoste.com/.

Undrafted out of college, Chris began his minor league career in Independent ball, in a league that folded before even completing one season! After that, he kicked around for four more years in Indy ball, before finally signing a minor-league deal with the Cleveland Indians in 2000, and making it to the Bigs with the Phillies in 2006.

When I met Chris, I asked him, "why didn't you give up?" Was I asking this rhetorically? Probably...Because I remember the struggles of being a back-up catcher...Of watching the other guy play while catching bullpens...Of batting once in a while and catching Day games after Night games, so the other guy could rest...

And his answer was simple. "Chance, I never had a Plan B." Amen, brother. "Burn the boats. That way, you can never go back!"

Best wishes to you, Chris Coste. Here's hoping this unusual twist of events in life which have now made you a Houston Astro turn out to be a wonderful blessing. You deserve it.

Don't Ever Give Up!

The other night, I got a phone call from one of my students. He had just participated in the first of two games after being named to the Top 100 Underclassman by the Georgia Dugout Club, and unfortunately, to put it in his words, he had done "awful", "embarassed himself" and "wasn't going back." Now how many times do we all feel like that? I know there are times in life when I do.

My student had struck out twice, and popped up on the infield in three at-bats. He also committed the cardinal error of not hustling down to first on the popup, due to his digust with himself (something College Coaches will write you off quickly for). He also played briefly in the outfield, but luckily, with the night he was having, no one hit a ball to him.

After listening, I asked him, "Ok. So how were they pitching you?" He said "inside." And my reply was "Perfect. Now you know what to look for." So many times in life, we get lost in the moment, and we have trouble stepping back and seeing what we can learn from the situation. I also told him, "Remember, if a hitter strikes out four times, but hits a home run to win the game in his final at-bat, what does everyone remember?" Of course, the home run.

Finally, to reenforced my thoughts with him and said, "Now remember, if you don't go back, it says volumes about you. And if you do go back, it also speaks volumes about you in another way." Luckily for him (and me), he went back the next day, and played a much better game.

Rashad Eldridge's Demotion

Yesterday, Rashad Eldridge texted me to let me know he had been sent down from Durham to Montgomery. Starting today, he will be a Biscuit again. I know the Montgomery Biscuits fans will be glad to see him again (He was a 2008 Southern League All-Star), but the ultimate goal of a ballplayer is to play in the Big Leagues.

At the time of the demotion, Rashad was hitting .301 with 25 hits in only 21 games. Unfortunately though, the Tampa Rays are Outfield Heavy, (which means they have a ton of outfielders in their system). He also had an OBP of .731 and was playing a solid outfield for them. However, the minor league system is such that with limited time and limited resources, certain players are going to be pushed (or lifted) to the Big Leagues. Rashad does not appear to fall in that category.

His demotion pulls at my heartstrings in two ways. 1) He is also a user of the Pitcher's Nightmare Swing Trainer and I'd love to see him play in the Bigs, but more importantly, he is a very, very good friend. And I understand his frustration with the game we all love so dear. It is part of being a professional. Trust me, I know. I was demoted, shifted, benched, and ultimately released several times. Unfortunately for Rashad, as the Manager from Bull Durham says before releasing Crash in the 1988 movie Bull Durham (required movie watching for ballplayers...of a certain age..., "this is the toughest job a Manager has". It's also the toughest part on the players.

Notes on Game One of the CWS Finals.

Watching Game One of the Finals tonight. ESPN: Take Note: Orel Hershiser is worth every penny for his analysis on Coleman's (the LSU pitcher) problems in the stretch. He is absolutely right, and without a doubt, the best pitching analyst who is not sitting somewhere in a dugout.

Just saw a Home Run float out to left. Not a big deal except for the fact, the ball was MISS-HIT off the barrel opposite field!!! Omaha is a very bad combination for pitchers: Normal fence lengths on top of a hill (FYI, most Mid-western ballparks are much larger in terms of distance to the fences, due to the thin air), space-age aluminum bats, nobody pitching inside, hitters looking just as comfortable as they do in B.P...Did I mention the Thin Air? In other words, Home Run Derby.

Quick note: the announcers keep discussing the heat and how the umpires are dripping with sweat, the pitchers are cramping, etc. Next year, the tourney has been moved back even further into the month (June 19-30). Think it's hot this year, wait 'til next.

Fun Off the Field in Omaha.

Looking back on my time in Omaha, there are so many things going on that you, the viewer on TV, can't see that make this place so much fun. Example: There are so many beach balls being bounced around in the outfield that in between innings they often fall on the field. At which time, a security guard will race as hard as he can to grab it and pop it (before one of the players can run over and throw it back up in the stands), with a shower of boos being rained down on him from the crowd. This tug of war goes on the whole game, with balls being bounced all around throughout the outfield stands, as the people laugh and cheer when the frustrated security guards just can't quite seem to grab the ball before it bounces back into the crowd, or booing crazily when they do somehow manage to catch one.
Another fun feature of Rosenblatt is the ballgirls behind the plate (again, something you can't see on TV). When a foul ball goes back, it will more often than not (unless it goes over the roof and outside the stadium) roll back down the protective netting and fall back onto the field. If you look carefully on TV, the ballgirl is inside a door right behind the plate. As soon as a ball is fouled back, she will race out of the door and run full-speed to where she believes the ball will fall. At which time, people in the front row will start pulling on the net to change the trajectory. Needless to say, in front of 25,000 people, wearing no glove, on a full sprint, with people pulling the net, this is not an easy task. However, as a fan, it is so much fun to watch! The girls will make routine catches to a nice golf clap, but more often than not, they will miss the ball, and get booed and teased incessently by the fans as they make their way back to the door behind the plate. Side note: During the LSU game, one ballgirl made a running one-handed catch just in front of their on-deck circle and it drew the greatest applause of the night! There is no doubt, it would have made the Top 10 Plays for that night on ESPN!
Finally, and who knows how this tradition started, but during the games, one group of outfield stands will begin to compete with the other to see who can tell the other group which one sucks the worst. Left field will yell, "one, two, three, RIGHT FIELD SUCKS!!!" At which time, right field will regroup and yell even louder, "one, two, three, LEFT FIELD SUCKS!!!" And this goes on the entire game. In fact, there are some times when they yell, it catches you by surprise because it is SOOO LOUD!!! There are even T-Shirts for sell in the souvenir stands that you can buy that read "Left Field Sucks" or vice versa. All the more fun if you are there.
I hope all of you readers who have read these blogs get a chance to one day see these things for themselves. There is no doubt I consider myself lucky to have had a chance to experience Omaha and Rosenblatt for myself, so tomorrow, I will give you some tips on travel should you ever get a chance to see the College World Series for yourself. Until then.

The LSU Faithful

Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler! Or Let the Good Times Roll! LSU fans did just that last night as their beloved Tigers steamrolled through Arkansas 9-1. They came early (some Tiger fans were standing in line down the hill at 1:00 in hopes of getting tickets for the 6:00 game) and no doubt, stayed late! Lucky for them, a few brought their own crawfish in a cooler for everyone to suck on while they waited to climb the hill!

Their campers line the parking lot of Rosenblatt, and their fans start chanting "L-S-U" long before the first pitch is thrown. They have on their Tiger gear (check out the guy wearing the Tigger suit) and all are decked out in Purple and Gold. This makes Rosenblatt feel just like a SEC Saturday in the fall, only without the changing leaves and the tossing around of the pigskin.

Funny thing is, residents of Omaha told me last night that even on the very rare years LSU does not make the CWS, their fans still come on to Omaha anyway! Their campers roll into town and they still spend their vacations in the parking lots of Omaha and the bleachers of Rosenblatt. Amazing!

You really grow to love the Tigers after seeing their fans in person (unless of course, you are rooting for the opposition). They have a intense love for their Tigers and they know how to cheer their boys on to victory. And the way their boys looked last night, they could be cheering them on all the way to the CWS Finals!

Omaha!

Tailgaters gathered around the grill. The smell of burgers and bratwurst in the air. Roadside stands full of souvenirs. Open debates on who's the best. Welcome to the College World Series. Welcome to Omaha.

Rosenblatt is not a place. Rosenblatt is an event. The atmosphere is electric. Two and 'que hangs over the day game participants. The Driver's Seat awaits the night game participants. And the Diamond Vision continuously reminds everyone year after year, dreams can come true.

But unfortunately, Rosenblatt and what it represents is coming to a close. I found out today that next year is to be the last for this majestic place. The City of Omaha is building a new stadium (the trade off was the NCAA agreed to continue to play the CWS in Omaha for 25 more years) and will be moving the CWS downtown. Rosenblatt will be leveled and the zoo will be able to expand (the big bubble you see on TV behind the fence is part of the zoo). And one of the most amazing championship tournaments in the world will no doubt for all, be different.

There was not one person I spoke with today who is looking forward to Rosenblatt moving into extinction. And after drinking in the moment for myself, I wholeheartedly agree. Each and every Coach, Player, and Fan who enters this sacred place makes memories that last a lifetime. And today that happened for me.

A Royal Beauty!

Today, when I landed in K.C., I decided to catch the Cincinnati Reds/Kansas City Royals Sunday afternoon matinee. Growing up as a baseball nut, I used to wear my George Brett White "#5" cleats with pride (as did everyone else my age in Little League). I remember him charging out of the dugout during the Pine Tar game. I remember him swaying back in the box, and ripping line drives. I remember him playing the game the right way. And I remember the Royals being winners.

Needless to say when I walked in today, I saw a photograph of him kissing home plate after a game at Kaufmann Stadium (the Royals home), and I knew I was in a special place. I have always heard that Kaufmann Stadium is one of the most beautiful stadiums in baseball, and the new "K" (it has been renovated this season) did not disappoint me. From the water fountains in the outfield, to the statue of ole' Georgie boy loading up (see my pics), this stadium is an absolute gem. And if you look real carefully down the left field line, you can't help but notice the flag reads "World Champions 1985".

Twenty-four years ago...Where in the world does it go? It only seems like yesterday George Brett and Bret Saberhagen were hugging and celebrating their miraculous upset of the St. Louis Cardinals in the I-70 Series (that's what it was called). But that flag doesn't stand alone. Others include American League Champs, 1980. Divisional Champs 1976,1977, 1978. 1984. Memories of Whitey, the Quiz, Smooth, and the turf. Unquestionably, a very rich tradition of winning from a long, long time ago. One of which I hope will soon be revived by another group of talented home-grown young stars (Billy Butler, Mark Teahen, Mike Jacobs, Zake Grinke, and others) who are trying in their own way to revive '85 in what is in my opinion, a stadium worthy of a champion.

More Reflections on the Draft.

Well, now the draft is now officially over. From Stephen Strasburg (the first pick) to Alibay Barkley (the last pick), I would love to wish each and every player picked all the luck in the world and I hope to see you all play in the Big Leagues! But the reality of the situation is entirely different.

In my very first meeting after reporting to Mini-Camp in 1993, our manager, Norm Sherry, walked into the room and shouted "Congratulations! You are the draft class of 1993 for the San Francisco Giants! Give yourselves a big pat on the back!" And as we all strained to pat ourselves on the back like a bunch of class clowns, he said, "Two of you will play in the Big Leagues. The rest of you are here so those two will have someone to play with as they develop into Big League Ballplayers."...You could have heard a pin drop in that room as we all looked around and realized THAT really is the reality of the situation.

Looking back, Norm was right. There were two future Big Leaguers in that room. Bill Mueller, 2004 A.L. Batting Champion for the World Champion Boston Red Sox that year (he has since retired with leg problems) and Chris Singleton (who enjoyed a solid Big League career and is now best known as one of the analysts on Baseball Tonight (ESPN)). And the rest of us, although great ballplayers, were there so they would have teammates, games, crowds, and coaches to learn and play with as they became Big Leaguers.

Folks, I'm here to tell you it's tough to make it. Professional Coaches call it "attrition". In other words, life gets in the way. Some guys get homesick. Some guys can't adjust to playing everyday. Some guys just eliminate themselves through bad habits. But when all is said and done, the cream of the crop rises to the top. And that is who gets the honor of wearing a Major League Uniform.

Tomorrow morning, I leave to go to Omaha! So make sure you log on and see what's going on at the CWS!!!

Reflections on the Draft.

Following the news about the 2009 MLB Amateur Draft reminds me of the day when I was drafted. The phone rang about 1:30 in the afternoon on that fateful Saturday and the voice on the other end asked, "Is this Paul Reynolds?" Now, for those of you who don't know me so well, my legal name is Paul Reynolds (although I go by Chance). My Dad is also Paul Reynolds (Jr...I'm the III, or turd, as my Mom used to say), so when people would call our house and ask for Paul Reynolds, the call was usually for my Dad. So I asked in return, "are you looking for Paul Reynolds, the Dad or Paul Reynolds, the Son?" And the unknown voice on the other end said, "I'm looking for Paul Reynolds, the Catcher." Once I heard that, I knew my dream of playing professional baseball had come true.

I looked at my Mom and gave her a thumbs up and listened to the voice on the other end of a phone call I had waited my whole life to hear say, "Paul, this is Bobby Gardner and I'm calling to tell you, you were just picked in the 54th round by the San Francisco Giants." The rest was a blur as my Mom cried, and I tried not to. My mind raced with excitement. I was to catch a plane the very next day and report to Everett, Washington, where I would be joining my new teammates and we would all begin an even crazier journey to one day try to play in the Big Leagues.

Draft Day is a very emotional moment in a ballplayer's life. Some guys never get the call, and their dreams usually end with the silence. But the ones that do, can always say "I was drafted." And it's a small fraternity of ball players that can say that. We all ran around on a Tee-Ball field together, but eventually the bottle has a neck, and the MLB Amateur Draft is the beginning of that neck.

Congratulations to each and every player who was drafted. I wish you all the success in the world!

What Not To Say!!!

I'm watching the Braves game tonight and the first base coach for the Pirates, Perry Hill, got to take an early shower due to something he said. Reminds me of a funny story. The very first game my oldest son, Dane, ever got to see me coach...I got tossed!!! Long story short, there was a pickoff play at second in which the ball got away and rolled into center. My baserunner jumped up and got interfered with by the shortstop as he started to run to third. The umpire did the correct thing in immediately calling "Interference!" and then he did something I did not quite agree with. He said, "The runner gets second."
Now, I called time, like a nice guy, and proceeded to make my way to second to explain to this older gentlemen how entirely wrong he was. Unfortunately for me, it turns out the umpire was right! After I got an early exit from the game, turns out the ruling was correct. The rule book reads that on such a play, the umpire awards the base that he feels the runner would have been safe at. The ump told me he awarded second to my runner (of which he already had) due to the fact, he felt my runner would have been thrown out at third. And long story short, I told him that he was full of something else that I'm sure you can figure out! (LOL)
Needless to say, the ump didn't change his call. I got thrown out at my son's very first game watching Daddy coach, and Jack Leggett, Head Coach for the Clemson Tigers, who was at the game recruiting my shortstop, also told me later, he would have gotten tossed over that call too!!! I guess it's true what they say. We're always learning something new in this game!

My Bio

Chance Reynolds, the inventor of the Pitcher's Nightmare Swing Trainer(http://www.pitchersnightmare.com/) and author of (http://www.pitchersnightmare.blogspot.com/) has dedicated his life to studying the science of hitting and the beauty of baseball. Named American Legion Coach of the Year in 2003 and 2000 for the State of Georgia, Chance is well respected as a clinician and an expert teacher of the game. Chance spent six years of his life as a Professional Baseball Player. He was drafted by the San Francisco Giants Organization in 1993. He spent a season and a half with the Pittsburgh Pirates Organization (1995-1996) and the Milwaukee Brewers Organization (1996). Chance also spent two seasons with the Canton, Ohio and the Erie, Pennsylvania Independent Organizations (1994, 1998) where he was a two-time Frontier League All-Star Selection. Chance also spent a season in Europe with the Paderborn, Germany club (1999 European Champions). Prior to his minor league experience, Chance played collegiately at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Florida under legendary coach Dusty Rhodes. Chance has also worked as an Associate Scout with the Florida Marlins, Seattle Mariners, and the Philadelphia Phillies Scouting Departments. When asked how and why he has become such an excellent coach, Chance is quick to say, "I've been lucky enough to be around some of the best teachers of the game and God has blessed me in so many ways."