Baseball Parent – Make Your Kid a Major League MVP
I know that the title got your attention. Everyone knows and respects the Major League Baseball players like Derek Jeter, Albert Pujols, Alex Rodriguez and Manny Ramirez. Many parents dream of having their little league player growing up to play college baseball, becoming a college all-American, going to Omaha and play in the College World Series, being drafted in the 1st round of the MLB draft, signing for a 2.5 million dollar signing bonus, being voted to the MLB All-star team, going 3 for 4 in the All-Star Game, having their team win the pennant, wining the league championship, playing in the MLB World Series, leading MLB in RBI, Homeruns, Stolen Bases, Pitching Wins and also being selected as the Cy Young award winner, being named MVP of the MLB World Series, signing a deal with Nike Shoe for 2 million a year to endorse their new line of baseball shoes, and finally getting voted into Cooperstown Hall of Fame on his first vote. That is the ultimate dream of a baseball parent. But, do you know and realize how small the actual percentage is of little league baseball parents that ever see that dream come true? Now, I need to get to the point. Just helping your kid become a solid little league player that loves and enjoys the game of baseball should be the goal of every baseball parent. Here I discuss what I feel are the major requirements for big time baseball success at every level.
Odds are stacked against the little league baseball player and the youth baseball player when it comes to playing college and major league baseball. Less than 1 out every 15 kids playing little league and youth baseball ever make their high school baseball’s varsity team. It is a known fact that less than 10.1 percent of all high school varsity baseball players go on to play college baseball. That figure includes both scholarship and walk-on players. Just 1 out of every 936 high school players is drafted to Pro Baseball each year. What all of this adds up to is this statement that says it all. Less than 1 out of every 15,000 little league or youth baseball players ever make a MLB baseball team. In, fact the percentage may be much lower when you consider the fact that less than 20,000 players have played MLB baseball in its 130+ year history. Chances are good, if your child is playing Little League, Dixie Youth, Babe Ruth or Cal Ripkin baseball, you are expecting your child to try out for the high school baseball team one day. What does it take to make the high school team? The main three things are body build, playing skill, and pure luck.
THE IMPORTANCE OF BODY BUILD IN BASEBALL
I know that many of you are saying “Body Build” is not very important in baseball. I know and realize that size and height are less important in baseball than basketball and football. You do not have to block or tackle to play baseball. Baseball is not a game played in the rafters of a gym. But, “Body Build” is not all about body size to me. When I talk about “Body build”, I mean more than height and size. Body build to me includes all of the results of a player’s work and training to build strength, stamina, endurance, power and speed. The players that dominate at each level are the ones that have the dominate bat speed, dominate pitch velocity, and the faster feet.
THE IMPORTANCE OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT IN BASEBALL
The next important key to becoming a great high school, college or major league baseball player is playing skill development. If you are going to get to the next level, you have got to learn to play the game! Personal instruction by a baseball hitting coach, baseball pitching coach, and great baseball instruction and teaching of baseball fundamentals, early in youth baseball, are so important to baseball skill building. Many advanced players today rely on baseball indoor hitting facilities, year round baseball training and travel baseball that’s played all year. These things help, but the main thing is for a player and his parent to take an interest in the game and become students of the game. You have got to do your baseball homework if you are going to maximize baseball skill development. Baseball homework is that extra work you do in the off-season and at home year round. Your baseball homework many include a backyard pitching mound, a backyard batting cage, baseball training equipment, or one-on-one training with a baseball instructor.
THE IMPORTANCE OF LUCK IN BASEBALL
Many people do not believe in luck. They say luck has nothing to do with winning or success. They say luck is made in practice time. Many others have a different opinion, they say that it is better to be lucky than to be good. I have a different attitude toward luck. I know that we are all lucky to get a chance to grow up in such a great country and to play such a great game as baseball, but I am talking about a different kind of luck a player must have to succeed in baseball. A player must be lucky and get top quality coaching early in life! Fate is a better word for what I am talking about. It is good luck that a player gets chosen on a little league team with a coach that takes special interest in a player and dedicates a great amount of time and energy in making that player better. It is good luck for a youth player to have a parent or coach that knows how to motivate and inspire that kid to keep working and practicing to get better. Players are extremely lucky to have the right inspiration and instruction during their childhood playing days. The coach they have may be a streak of good or bad luck depending on the attitude and competence level of the coach. Getting the right coach is a great stroke of luck! Yes, I believe body build, playing skill and luck are the 3 keys to high school baseball success. Good luck to your child and his or her team. Happy Hitting, Coach Nick.
Baseball English, Oh! If Only a Baseball Could Talk!
The game of baseball has used baseball english since the beginning of the game which Abner Doubleday so aptly named “baseball.”
All the players on a baseball team should be proficient in using baseball english. The pitcher and the three (3) outfielders are the ones we so desperately depend upon to be the masters of baseball english.
Get those good marks in english classes and excell at the game of baseball. All around baseball players are the baseball players who know all about baseball.
The baseball itself seems to have taken on an animated life and ability to respond when the masters of the english instructs.
This baseball english language is a partnership developed thru many practices and numerous games with the players and the baseball. Here is how it all takes place.
The pitcher grips that ball with different styles. When he wants the baseball to veer or curve to the left as it approaches the plate he grips the ball a certain way. He is in essence telling the baseball I am going to twist my wrist and release you so that you spin (he puts english on the ball). When I spin you this way I want you to go to the left. If I spin you this other way (like this) I want you to go to the right.
Wouldn’t you just know it the pitcher is putting english (spin) on the ball and the ball just as if he understands does as the pitcher wants. Now isn’t this a blast the pitcher is talking and doing and the baseball is doing and it’s nothing more than english making it do.
Now folks this english talk with the pitcher talking to the ball can get complicated, ole hosshide don’t care.
Those good outfielders have their work cut out to give perfect and proper english to that baseball. When there are runners on base each outfielder must think ahead of the probable play situation. Where is my throw to go when I have to field that hard hit ground ball coming to me? The throw going to the second baseman will be a hard throw with significant velocity as to reach the 2nd sacker right in the letters.
He tells the ball “I want you to go like a rifle shot straight and true.” The fielders puts top spin (english) on the ball when he releases the ball from his hand. The ball hums it’s way straight and true with a slight rise upwards and bingo right in the letters of the second baseman. The ball silently said in a soft hum, “yes boss.” Ka-Plop the the 2nd sacker puts a sweet tag or at least dared the hitter to come on.
There is a whole new english lesson which the outfielder and his partner the baseball must execute when cutting a runner down going to third. The outfielder knows the throw needs to be arriving to the third baseman on a good clean hop. If the throw is coming from the rightfielder then that long throw means the ball must make a really long hop. The outfielder tells his little buddy (baseball) “I’m going to put some top spin (english) when I let you go, don’t you slow up because you have to really scoot.” The ball just as if it was really listening hits that clay dirt diamond and kicks up a puff of dust and zap right in there on time. The baseball is a quick learner the next throw to third might require a short sudden stop hop. The outfielder and the ball are getting good at this rapping going on between them. The fielder throws with all his might and puts back spin (english) and little baseball dutifully kicks up a bigger puff of dirt with his back spin putting on brakes and hops into 3rd baseman’s big glove. A trio of jubilation with 3rd sacker grinning, the outfielder pumping his fist saying, “Yeh Yeh” and little baseball taken from the game by the umpire because he got scuffed in the deal.