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.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
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.
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.
Monday, October 19, 2009
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.
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.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
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!
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!
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
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.
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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.
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.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
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!
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!
Friday, October 9, 2009
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!
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!
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
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.
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.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
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.)
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.)
Monday, October 5, 2009
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).
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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.
"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).
Friday, October 2, 2009
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)
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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!
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)
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