Expert: Rick Bundy - 9/20/2011

Question
Hello I'm here very upset! I train very hard 3 hours a day with my brother and go to 6 weeks of baseball camp in the summer! And I have gotten cut in 7th grade and 8th grade and now I'm in 9th grade with no experience! I need help on what the coasches will expect! Here are my advantages and disadvantages.
ADANTAGES- I am a pretty good out Fielder mainly Right Field, I play first base but disadvantage I've een playin 1st for 6 weeks! I'm a super hustler, I am a team player, and I never quit!
DISADVANTAGES- I have no experience from middle school now I'm with the big boys god help me! I am a lefty which absolutely sucks ecause I'm only able to play a certain amount of positions but that doesn't stop me! I play all out field posistions, just started 1st base, I pitch and believe it or not I am also a lefty shortstop and am good at it too! But i need help getting a faster bat and better contact! I'm a wooden bat person I hate illiminome I probably aptly that wrong but I hate those bats I love using wood and my great grandpa was in the majors for 2 months but went to war! But basically I'm asking for some help on getting a faster bat swing and better contact because all I do is strike 1 strike 2 strike 3 UR OUT!!!!!! I'm EXTREMELY fast and a VERY GOOD BASE RUNNER AND BASE STEALER when ever I get on base, RARELY, all the pitchers they to do is pick me off! But what do high school baseball coaches look for cuz I suck at batting but I ne'er quit and u will never see me quit! But ive been working hard and I have got 8 months until try outs but one of the coaches are my 7th grade teacher and the other is my 8th grade teacher and e loved me!! PLEASE HELP MUCH APPRECIATED THANKS FOR THE HELP!!!!!!!!

Answer
Christopher:  Thank you for your question!  I see you are from New York, is that New York City, or a town in New York?  I ask because I lived in Elmira Heights, New York, until I was 9.

Since you live in that climate, do you have an indoor baseball facility that you can go to over the winter months?

Let's get started!  Time to let go of being upset about the past and turn the being cut experience into your motivation for making your high school team this spring.  Nothing can be done about the past, or the future, all you have to work in is the present.  What you are able to accomplish now will determine what happens this coming spring.

Below are what I would say are your strengths:

1.  Left handed.  Throwing lefty is a plus, batting lefty would be also.
2.  You are fast.  Speed is a skill that can't be taught.  You have it, you need to develop ways to make the most of it.
3.  Very good base runner/base stealer ( a much overlooked part of the game.  This part requires that you get on base to make use of it.#
4.  Hustle ~ I believe hustle never has a bad day.
5.  Team player ~ You can never have too many of these.  It is more than playing together as a team.
6.  Never quit.
7.  You can pitch, always a plus.  Teams never have enough pitching, particularly left handed pitching.
8.  Work ethic.  If you are working out with your brother and going to all those camps, it sounds like you have the desire to make this happen.

Deficiencies:

1.  Not making contact at the plate.
2.  Not getting on base.
3.  The bat change in high school baseball has eliminated your dislike of aluminum bats.  The new bats are much closer to wood.  Be a big change for some; but this change should be a good one for your abilities to take advantage of.

I would suggest that you concentrate on your pitching, playing first base and all outfield positions.  Shortstop will not gain anything for you at this level and beyond.  Being able to play all of those positions effectively will increase your value to any team you are attempting to make.  

Generally what coaches will be looking for in their players:

1.  Hustle
2.  Good attitudes
3.  Do well in the classroom so they are eligible to play
4.  Listen
5.  Be coachable
6.  Work to improve
7.  Willing to do whatever the team needs
8.  Show up every day, on time ready to go # Baseball on time is 15 minutes early)
Work hard, concentrate on the task at hand
9.  Steady emotions, never too high, never too low
10. Never makes excuses  

I see 8 items in your strength list, only 3 in your deficiencies.  Good starting point.

Two of your deficiencies could actually be put into one, lack of contact and not getting on base.  One leads to the other.  Together they do not allow you to make use of what may be your greatest natural asset, speed.  Old baseball saying, " You Can't Steal First Base!"  So, what to do about that?

1.  Become an excellent bunter.  Not just someone who can get the ball on the ground most of the time; but a player who can put the ball on the ground, where he wants it to be, 90% of the time.  A push or drag bunt past the pitcher, towards second base is a base hit almost any time you want it.  If you are fast, and also know how to steal bases, then that bunt single can turn into a double or triple real quick.  Get where you can locate the ball on either base line.  bunt the chalk.  If it goes foul, it is just a strike.  Biggest factor in a successful bunt; bunt first, run second.  Bunting is like buying real estate, it's all about Location/Location/Location!

2.  Be selective on the pitches you swing at.  Swinging at bad pitches creates outs.  When you don't swing at those pitches, you get into better hitters counts, as well as increase the number of walks you get.  On base more, opportunities to use your speed to be disruptive for the defense.  

3..  I would like some additional information on what is happening to you in the batter's box, to help figure out how we can get more contact.  When you can bunt, the corner infielders have to cheat up to defense that, thus you gain the advantage of being able to drive the ball past them because they are closer.  More advantages to you.

I took a real interest in your current situation.  After playing here in Tucson on a Little League All Star team that won the city, then the state, we had to win 2 more games to get to the World Series when we lost.  Was a great experience.

I went out for baseball in the 8th grade, and got cut.  I know from where you speak when you say upset.  I made the freshman team in high school the next year; but the coach told me he didn't really like me; but I could hit a little so he would keep me.  I pinch hit 7 times, that was it.
Made the JV team and started the second half of the season, after the varsity called up 6 of our players.  Did ok.

As a junior, I knew it would be tough, my freshman coach was now the varsity coach, and he still wasn't thrilled with me.  There were 80 plus kids out for that team, he was keeping 17.  My legs helped me make the cuts.  Three games in I got a chance to start, as our SS had made 6 errors in three games.  Coach told me I was starting, if I made an error I would never play for him again.
I started the rest of the way through high school, played 2 years of JC baseball, played a summer in the Illinois Collegiate League and 2 years at a four year college, where we made the NAIA World Series my Senior year.

Much of what I accomplished was built from that desire to prove that they were wrong to cut me in the eighth grade.  Use that to do the work to improve whatever it is you need to improve.  You will never regret the work you put in.  I have always found that baseball gives back far more than you put into it.

The link below is to my website.   
http://www.theoleballgame.com

You can reach me through the contact Rick page on that site, as well as the questions answered page.  I have more flexibility with images and such from the site.  It will also give you a chance to look around in there.  You may find some things which will help.  You can also contact me back here at All Experts.

If you could send me some additional information about height, weight and some of the things that are happening in your at bats, it would help.  Do you bat lefty as well?  What type of pitcher are you, power, finesse?  What are you strengths on the mound?

You have made the biggest step of all in your journey, the first one.  Keep putting one foot in front of the other, day after day.  Ask yourself,"What can I do today that will take me closer to my goal?"  Get your answer, then make something happen.  Baseball is all about repetition.  However, your mind will learn what you teach it, whether it is right, or wrong.

I look forward to hearing from you again.  There are things you can do every day to make yourself better, even if you are confined to a basement or bedroom because of the weather.

Yours in baseball,

Rick