What's the difference between "Wrap" and "Curl"?

"Wrap?"  "Curl?"  You may be wondering what in the world I'm talking about, (and no, it's not a new hairstyle!)

"Wrap" and "Curl" refers to a hitter's positioning of the bat prior to the swing process initiating.  Or in English, where the barrel of the bat is once the hitter is ready to swing.

Almost all Major Leaguers use "Curl" to encourage what is known as "hinging" the wrist.  This creates whip through the zone and creates power in the process.  (See above pic of Ryan Howard.)

However, many young hitters misinterrept this action in imitating their favorite MLB Hitters and in trying to create "Curl" actually create "Wrap", which quite simply means the barrel assumes a position behind the hitter's head.

In other words, from a side view, you can't see your young hitter's barrel at all times (i.e. "wrapping" around your young hitter's head.)

In coaching your youngster, please take a moment to teach the difference in the two.  It could be the difference between night and day!

   

 

When should I try to pick a guy off at First?

Sunday, one of my catching students asked me, "when is the best time to try and pick a guy off at first?" 

The answer is actually three-fold.

The very best time for a Catcher to pick a guy off at first is when your pitcher is in trouble, the bases are juiced (which would cause your first baseman to be behind the runner) and you need to do something to help him get out of the inning.  In college, my first baseman (Todd Wodraska, now Vice-Mayor of Jupiter, Florida...And one of the best first basemen I ever played with) and I could look at one another and "just know" when he would creep in behind the runner to set up the pick.  However, if you don't possess this higher level of communication, a simple "open glove" sign from the first baseman, followed by a rub of the cleat by the catcher should do the trick.

The second thing you should look for is you should identify the "slowest" guy on the team (meaning, more often than not, he is a poor baserunner) and the "fastest" guy on the team (meaning, he'll take chances trying to get a big jump) immediately.  Both of these types are excellent candidates for a pick, and should be noted by the catcher and first basemen as possible targets.  Normal, middle-of-the-road type runners are usually very conservative on the basepaths and as a result, very hard to pick.

And the third and perhaps most important thing you should look for (pay attention:  this is more advanced, professional type instruction) is a "Bunt and Miss", or a "Swing and Miss" with a Left Handed Hitter at the plate.  In these two situations, the baserunner will "lean" setting up the quick pick from behind the hitter due to the fact his sightline of the catcher will be blocked by the hitter at the plate.  This situation, (with respect to the score, the inning, the dominance (or lack thereof) of your pitcher) is the perfect situation for a pick.  And both Catcher and First Baseman should anticipate the moment, and once it happens, "carpe diem" or "Seize the day!" and pick that runner off!

When should my son begin to throw a curveball?

This morning, a reader asked me, "when should their son begin to throw a curveball?"  The kid in question is 14, and had just attended a pitching clinic in which he was taught how to throw a breaking ball correctly.  As a result, his Dad wanted to know, "did I feel he was ready to begin throwing this pitch regularly or should he wait until a later age?"

My general rule on when to begin learning a breaking ball is based on the physical maturity of the youth. And the basic rule is "if they are shaving, they can learn and throw a breaking ball."

However, I'm a much bigger fan of the slider or a cutter (which is a pitch with an arm action very similar to the fastball) rather than the curve (which puts a lot of torque on the elbow.)  But if you/he do decide to begin working on a breaking ball, bear in mind, I recommend he only throw it with two strikes for now (that way, he will continue to develop his fastball/change early in the count), or bookend it (meaning throw it as the first pitch and last pitch to their best hitters).  This way, he can learn the breaking ball successfully, pitch well, and still continue to develop his fastball (extremely important to long-term development) and his change-up.

The ABCA Convention in Dallas, TX.

Here's a clip from the ABCA Convention in Dallas, TX with Terry Pendleton signing autographs and speaking with other coaches about the features and benefits of the Pitcher's Nightmare Swing Trainer!

http://sharing.theflip.com/session/33f661a3d48660b510fd07340f7c6ba2/video/9218014

Check it out and be the next to add the PNST to your team's pre-season hitting workouts!

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)!!!