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Baseball Instruction/Questions Answered by Expert Rick Bundy
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Pitching Instructions in AZ | 12/12/2011 |
| Q: I play baseball for an NAIA school in northern California. I am a sophomore and RHP there. After ... A: John: Thank you for your question. I can highly recommend two sources in the Phoenix area to ... | |
| Making the Team | 10/3/2011 |
| Q: Hey Rick, It's Chris sorry. it wouldn't let me ask a follow up question so I just hit ask a new ... A: Get yourself a tennis ball, carry it with you everywhere you go, squeeze it. Alternate hands. Work ... | |
| Making the team | 9/20/2011 |
| Q: I train very hard 3 hours a day with my brother and go to 6 weeks of baseball camp in the summer! ... A: Christopher: Thank you for your question! I see you are from New York, is that New York City, or a ... | |
| Fix a hitch in a swing | 9/16/2011 |
| Q: Rick, my 13 year old son doesn't keep his left shoulder in when swinging (he bats right handed). ... A: Brook: Thank you for your question. A common problem indeed! What your son is experiencing can be ... | |
| fielding strategy | 8/23/2011 |
| Q: I manage a pony league team. Generally, I understand fielding strategy in the sense that when I ... A: Chuck: Thank you for your question. I wouldn't say that there is concise guidance on situations, ... | |
| sacrifice | 8/11/2011 |
| Q: should the visting team in the top of the seventh inning, leading by two runs, no outs, man on ... A: Lou: Thank you for your question. While there is no set, right or wrong answer to this situation, ... | |
| base path | 7/25/2011 |
| Q: man on first, attempting to steal second, throw from catcher is short, shortstop comes up and gets ... A: Tim: Thank you for your question. Once the runner started towards second base, he establishes his ... | |
| baseball | 7/5/2011 |
| Q: its eduar. i was askking you questiona before but it said i coudnt ask that many fallow ups... well ... A: Eduar: Good to hear you are starting. Smart ballplayer with good mechanics is a great foundation ... | |
| baseball | 6/30/2011 |
| Q: its eduar. i was askking you questiona before but it said i coudnt ask that many fallow ups... well ... A: Eduar: I would start with 200 per day, in 8 sets of 25. When those get easy, increase each set by ... | |
| baseball | 6/24/2011 |
| Q: its eduar. i was askking you questiona before but it said i coudnt ask that many fallow ups... well ... A: Eduar: You can ask a question on my site by going to ... | |
| baseball | 6/21/2011 |
| Q: im really want to know exresices that can help me get my arm stronger. i want to have a gun. I will ... A: Eduar: There is a, Your Baseball Questions, link in the nav bar on the site. The nervousness ... | |
| Injured Player Junior Little League | 6/18/2011 |
| Q: We have a boy on our team that broke his arm after the first 2 games of our regular season. He ... A: Jamie: Thank you for your question. I have no working knowledge of the eligibility rules within ... | |
| Hitting Mechanics | 6/16/2011 |
| Q: Hey Rick, i have a question regarding my hitting mechanics and my swing. Recently, i have been ... A: John: Thank you for your question. Some thoughts on things for you to look at. Are you only ... | |
| baseball | 6/15/2011 |
| Q: im really want to know exresices that can help me get my arm stronger. i want to have a gun. I will ... A: Eduar: Thank you for your follow up. I would start by getting into your high school teams summer ... | |
| baseball | 6/12/2011 |
| Q: im really want to know exresices that can help me get my arm stronger. i want to have a gun. I will ... A: Eduar: I need some additional information from you to provide adequate information. Your age, ... | |
| Hitting | 6/1/2011 |
| Q: I need advice on how to fix something when im hitting. When i am hitting I have noticed that i ... A: Greg: Thank you for your question. Concentrate on striding on the ball of your foot, online ... | |
| obstruction/interference | 5/29/2011 |
| Q: Let me set up the play. Runner was on first. Batted ball cam between first and second. Runner ran ... A: Stephanie: That sounds like it became a little complicated. Obstruction is a infraction on the ... | |
| pitching rules | 5/25/2011 |
| Q: First question; is it legal to pitch first pitcher in 1st inning, second pitcher 2nd inning, first ... A: Jeff: Thank you for your question. I can't imagine a league where it would allow a coach to use a ... | |
| keeping arms warm | 5/17/2011 |
| Q: My husband coaches a competitive 12 and under baseball team. He and his coaches have a rule that ... A: Julie: Thank you for your question. There is no set temperature, just a feel for each individual. ... | |
| 12-year old performance problems | 5/14/2011 |
| Q: My son actually has some natural ability, and when he and I work together, his swing looks great, ... A: Walt: Somewhere in his not wanting to play last year, there may be a clue. Before last year, was ... | |
| 12-year old performance problems | 5/12/2011 |
| Q: My son actually has some natural ability, and when he and I work together, his swing looks great, ... A: Walt: Thank you for your question. From your description of your son's team practice efforts, it ... | |
| Throwing drills | 5/11/2011 |
| Q: Doing various drills during a 1 hour practice, what is the maximum number of throws each player ... A: Matt: Thank you for your question. While pitchers at all levels are on pitch counts, position ... | |
| Pitching Instruction | 4/29/2011 |
| Q: I am a 23 year old right handed pitcher. I am relocating from chicago to phoenix, arizona to pursue ... A: Mike: Thank you for your question! Sorry to hear about the surgery; but the results sound ... | |
| counting a run | 4/27/2011 |
| Q: Runners on 1st and 3rd with one out. Batter hits a fly ball to the outfield which is caught. ... A: Frank: Thank you for your question. The run does count, since it was scored before the third out ... | |
| exercise | 4/21/2011 |
| Q: I was wondering if there was some specific exercises that my nine year old could be doing safely to ... A: Jodie: Jodie, at his age I would suggest that he just continue to work on his individual baseball ... | |
| Batting | 4/18/2011 |
| Q: My 11 year old grandson was hit by a pitch twice in one game last year. This year he steps out on ... A: Ralph: Thank you for your question. You and your grandson are dealing with a very common problem, ... | |
| batter's box rules | 4/17/2011 |
| Q: After a pitch, can you step completely out of the batter's box, or can you have a strike called ... A: Tom: Thank you for your question. High school Federation Rules, Section 3 Batting Infractions ~ A ... | |
| freezing up | 4/15/2011 |
| Q: I coach 9-12yo. Why does a player freeze while at bat on a perfect pitch? Usually it's the one pitch ... A: Randy: Very good question. Not only does "freezing up" occur in younger players, the same ... | |
| sliding on home | 4/12/2011 |
| Q: do you have to slide on home if the catcher does not have the ball its in play my 8 yr old got out ... A: Donna: Thank you for your question. I have not been able to locate any rule which requires a player ... | |
| Scenario | 4/11/2011 |
| Q: My son plays 3rd base for his freshman HS team and he asked the followingNo outs, runner on 1st and ... A: Harry: Great question! A number of factors must be processed by the 3b, all take place before the ... | |
| Catching Help | 3/31/2011 |
| Q: I'm currently a Sophomore in high school and I just got named as the starting varsity catcher. Coach ... A: Jake: Thank you for your question. It sounds like an exciting year ahead for you. Here are a ... | |
| Answers | 3/21/2011 |
| Q: It was my last day of practice since the update. The season is endind on April 20, and there won't ... A: Emanuele: What do the other players at this JC do over the summer? Where do they play? Does the ... | |
| Hitting Mechanics | 3/18/2011 |
| Q: My name is Emanuele, I'm 21 years old and I'm playing college Baseball in a Junior College. In may ... A: Emanuele: Sounds like you did have a good day! You mentioned a couple of times, once that the ... | |
| my son's fielding is not as good as before | 3/17/2011 |
| Q: My son is 14 and has been playing baseball since he was 5. He loves the game and has always been an ... A: Cathy: Thank you for your question. If your son has been successful in the past, the current ... | |
| Hitting Mechanics | 3/15/2011 |
| Q: My name is Emanuele, I'm 21 years old and I'm playing college Baseball in a Junior College. In may ... A: Emanuele: If your fielding and throwing mechanics are as refined as your hitting mechanics, you are ... | |
| Hitting Mechanics | 3/12/2011 |
| Q: My name is Emanuele, I'm 21 years old and I'm playing college Baseball in a Junior College. In may ... A: good to hear from you again! Good video. You certainly have some pop in your bat, good balance and ... | |
| 11 Year Old Pitching Technique | 2/28/2011 |
| Q: Ricky My 11 year old son is wanting to be a pitcher and I'm working with him at home. What is the ... A: Steve: Thank you for your question. I would begin with his grip on the baseball. Start with a ... | |
| indoor practices | 2/27/2011 |
| Q: What type of baseballs would you recommend for indoor practice drills for high school students? ... A: Lisa: Thank you for your question. For hitting drills I would suggest using "smush balls" or ... | |
| Moving son up to Minor League | 2/14/2011 |
| Q: We recently had baseball sign-ups in our town. My son is 8 and played tee ball at 6 and coach pitch ... A: Barbara: Great question and one which sparks much current interest. There does seem to be a rush ... | |
| How to defeat my mental walls | 2/5/2011 |
| Q: My name is Emanuele, I am 21 year old and after almost 2 years without playing baseball due to an ... A: Emanuele: There is much that can be done to help you with your situation. It is far more common ... | |
| speed | 1/26/2011 |
| Q: i am in tenth grade and it is january. i was clocked at 81 mph and i have an above average curve ... A: Kevin: Thank you for your question. There is always a possibility for what you would like to do. ... | |
| going back into the draft | 1/26/2011 |
| Q: our son is 11 yrs of age. We have had some coaching problems with our coach of the last 2 years. ... A: Lisa: Thank you for your question. On page 34 of the LL rule book, section V- Selection of ... | |
| Youth hitting | 1/7/2011 |
| Q: My son, who will turn 11 in March, set his New Years resolution to be a better hitter. He's a very ... A: Jeff: Thank you for your question! Sounds like you have some good equipment. I am partial to tees ... | |
| Pitching lessons | 12/4/2010 |
| Q: Rick,I would like to find someone in the Phx/Glendale area to help my son learn some different ... A: Karyn: Thank you for your inquiry. Two suggestions for you to look into. I have referred parents ... | |
| baseball | 10/22/2010 |
| Q: does the height of your leg going up in the stretch effect your ball speed? A: Tony: Effect on your ball speed would be minimal. The leg lift takes you to your balance position, ... | |
| Baserunning | 7/27/2010 |
| Q: A runner from first base rounds second when the fly ball is caught in the out field. The runner is ... A: Trent: Thank you for your question. The runner does have to return to first before being awarded ... | |
| Enjoying baseball | 7/22/2010 |
| Q: I moved to America as a young man and the only sport I knew was soccer. During my leisure hours I ... A: Gord: Very special question indeed! It is true that baseball is quite often looked at as boring, ... | |
| Player leaving an All Star Game | 7/8/2010 |
| Q: My question is can a player leave an All Star little league game after it has already started ... A: Judy: I don't know of a rule which would prohibit a parent from removing their player at any ... | |
| fielder position in the base path | 6/28/2010 |
| Q: Can a fielder (second base man or shortstop) be positioned in the base path as the pitcher throws a ... A: Scott: Thank you for your question. The answer is yes; but they cannot interfere with the base ... | |
| base on balls | 6/26/2010 |
| Q: My question is in Little League is the ball dead to the batter on ball four. Meaning the batter ... A: Dennis: Thank you for your question. The ball would not be dead, unless a dead ball were called ... | |
| Not Swinging at the plate period! | 6/25/2010 |
| Q: I have coached my son in our city's junior league for 2 yrs. The age is 9-10 and he is now 10. My ... A: Joe: Thank you for the update. It sounds like he is starting to turn things around. It is a ... | |
| Not Swinging at the plate period! | 6/23/2010 |
| Q: I have coached my son in our city's junior league for 2 yrs. The age is 9-10 and he is now 10. My ... A: Joe: Thank you for your question. It would be hard to say what makes a player stop swinging or ... | |
| how many innings a player can sit | 6/21/2010 |
| Q: My son is 11 and is having a tough year. The coach keeps benching him more than other players. The ... A: Joe: Joe: Thank you for your question. Generally speaking, league rules for amount of time ... | |
| follow up | 6/17/2010 |
| Q: My follow up question is: Are there any downsides to those rule modifications for the better ... A: Pat: You are correct. In that system players will get less hits, as well as less at bats. I would ... | |
| four outfielders | 6/17/2010 |
| Q: My son is almost 11. We recently jioned a league and found out that the teams have 12 batters in the ... A: Pat: Thank you for your question. Modifications like you describe would be made to allow more ... | |
| Baserunner interference | 6/15/2010 |
| Q: With a runner on first, and two outs, a ground ball was hit to the 2nd baseman. 2nd baseman set up ... A: James: If the runner was just attempting to get to second and made no attempt to time out the ... | |
| Baserunner interference | 6/15/2010 |
| Q: With a runner on first, and two outs, a ground ball was hit to the 2nd baseman. 2nd baseman set up ... A: James: Thank you for your question. In this situation it sounds like everyone did what they were ... | |
| Club team | 6/13/2010 |
| Q: I'm going to a school that only offers club ball. I was curious about if I was to play club ball, ... A: Evan: Thank you for your question. You can certainly transfer schools and play, dependent on what ... | |
| teaching basic throwing | 6/10/2010 |
| Q: I'd like to be able to teach my 8 year old granddaughter to throw a baseball properly. I know how to ... A: Kevin: We use this rhyme in the Arizona Diamondback's Training Centers camps, and it works great ... | |
| getting back into the game | 6/8/2010 |
| Q: hey hows it going? I'm 20 yrs old and ive been outta the game for about two years. I've been playing ... A: Sedrick: Thank you for your question. If you could resubmit with some additional info it will ... | |
| Tagged out on a Force play - does run count? | 6/3/2010 |
| Q: Bases loaded; two out; force play at any bag in effect batter hits grounder to short short stop tags ... A: Dave: Thank you for your question! The run would not count in this situation. Their are two terms ... | |
| pick offs | 5/30/2010 |
| Q: In Jr. Little League,if a runner is on second base, can a right handed pitcher in process of picking ... A: Don: Thank you for your question. It sounds like a situation where the pitcher turned to pick; but ... | |
| A broken heart | 5/21/2010 |
| Q: Our team is an 11-12 Travel team. We have one player who has sat on the bench for most of the 6 ... A: Deb: Thank you for your question. You have described what is a hard situation to work through, ... | |
| High School Baseball - How to Stand Out | 5/19/2010 |
| Q: My son is currently a sophomore at a large (one of the largest in our state) high school. We are new ... A: Sara: Thank you for your questions. I wouldn't be concerned that he hasn't seen any varsity time. ... | |
| Pitchers Plate 2-1 | 5/18/2010 |
| Q: In the third Inning the same pitcher returns to the pitchers mound and takes his warm-up throws.He ... A: Kim: There is no rule that establishes the Pitcher's Mound as a sacred zone. Pitchers tend to ... | |
| Pitchers Plate 2 | 5/18/2010 |
| Q: In the third Inning the same pitcher returns to the pitchers mound and takes his warm-up throws.He ... A: Kim: Thank you for the additional information. To make a pitching change, the coach or manager has ... | |
| Another Player steps on the Pitchers mound after a warm up pitch | 5/18/2010 |
| Q: What is the ruling in Little League That if a Pitcher is warming up and after a second toss another ... A: Kim: Thank you for your question. In looking through the Little League Rule Book, I have been ... | |
| How many times can a pitcher hit a batter | 5/16/2010 |
| Q: what is the ruling on this to remove the pitcher????Little League Juniors. A: Kim: Thank you for your question. The Little League Rule Book, rule 8.02c says: The pitcher ... | |
| baseball | 5/15/2010 |
| Q: My question- What position(s)would I be best at in HS baseball? I'm 13 and in 7th grade. I want to ... A: Joe: Thank you for your question. I would suggest that you concentrate on building your overall ... | |
| hit batter outside the box | 5/14/2010 |
| Q: if the batter moves into a pitch outside the batters box or sticks their hand outside the box and ... A: Orrin: Thank you for your question. In the Federation rule book, Rule 7-3, Section 3, Article 4 ... | |
| Overcoming fear of ball | 4/17/2010 |
| Q: My 7 year old is in his first year of kid pitch. In the last 2 years he has done both coach pitch ... A: Jim: I have received this question a number of times, thus I have created a page on my web site ... | |
| throwing | 4/16/2010 |
| Q: My Grandson is 13 and is a catcher. He has played AAU baseball for the past couple of years and ... A: Nancy: "Yips" is a possibility. I have never had a player in that situation, so I have no direct ... | |
| throwing | 4/15/2010 |
| Q: My Grandson is 13 and is a catcher. He has played AAU baseball for the past couple of years and ... A: Nancy: Thank you for your question. It sounds like he may have gone away from his throwing ... | |
| hit by pitch | 4/10/2010 |
| Q: How do you handle when a player was intentionally hit in the helmet by a pitch? A: Jessica: Thank you for your question. To specifically answer this question, it would require more ... | |
| fair or foul | 4/6/2010 |
| Q: The batter hits ball down hits behind plate rolls and stops on plate. The ball never hits the ... A: Kenny: Thank you for your question. A fair ball is a ball which settles on fair territory between ... | |
| inning rotation | 3/24/2010 |
| Q: I coach a 9&10 year baseball team, our rules state every player has to sit on the bench one inning. ... A: Wayne: Thank you for your question. I have never been in that particular situation before, so I ... | |
| Throwing | 3/23/2010 |
| Q: Hey. I play shortstop and my arm used to be in good condition. How can i throw faster and further. I ... A: Gilbert: Thank you for your question. Not knowing your age or experience, we'll start with the ... | |
| dead ball or not | 3/17/2010 |
| Q: ball pitched by pitcher hits ground before crossing home plate and batter hits it off the bounce off ... A: Josh: As long as the pitch meets the definition of a legal pitch from the pitcher, it does not ... | |
| Pick off attemps | 3/10/2010 |
| Q: For a pickoff attemp at 1st or 3rd- must the baseman be "tending his bag" i.e. on or near the base ... A: Rich: Thank you for your question. A player does not have to be at or near the base to legally tag ... | |
| confidence problems | 3/5/2010 |
| Q: im 16 and im currently on my high school jv team. im a good hitter and in practice and in the cage i ... A: Juliene: Thank you for your question! From the description of your problem, it sounds like you are ... | |
| 7 yrs. old coach pitch | 2/28/2010 |
| Q: What is the distance you pitch from? What is the dimensions of the field? A: Lisa: If the coach pitch league is a part of the Little League minor league system, the distance ... | |
| baseball beginner | 2/11/2010 |
| Q: My son will soon be 9 years old and has never played baseball. He can hit a wiffle ball with a ... A: Mimi: Thank you for your question. While at first glance it may seem to be a daunting task, in ... | |
| pitching coach | 1/28/2010 |
| Q: I'm a 19yr old LH pitcher looking for a qualified coach to evaluate me and give me their honest ... A: Derek: Thank you for your inquiry. I would recommend Kelley Johnson. He is here in Tucson. We ... | |
| Too late? | 1/11/2010 |
| Q: My son will turn 11 in a few months. He is in great physical shape, has good size for his age, and ... A: Tony: Thank you for your question. It is definitely not too late! If he has the interest to play, ... | |
| Catching and Throwing | 11/10/2009 |
| Q: To start my son is a 7 year old talented coach-pitch baseball player. He just finished his first ... A: Stephen: Thank you for your questions. When he looks up at the ball it opens up his front ... | |
| Define Intentionally Dropping the Ball? | 10/29/2009 |
| Q: "Here is mycan you please define intentionally dropping theball?...let me expand, further, if there ... A: Winston: This is assuming the infield fly rule has not been called, or would not apply. ... | |
| College Baseball | 10/12/2009 |
| Q: My name is Chris and I'm 19, 5' 10" 140lbs. I played in little league and made the all star team ... A: Chris: I don't have any California contacts; but the process from Arizona to Calif won't be that ... | |
| Touching Bases while running | 9/25/2009 |
| Q: You told people that you use the right foot on all bases while running. Absolutely incorrect. I ... A: Don: I am not sure which answer or answers to people you are referring to, but there is no ... | |
| 2nd baseman | 9/17/2009 |
| Q: With a runner on second, does the second baseman hold the runner until the pitcher is in his windup ... A: Jay: With a runner on second, the responsibility for keeping him close goes to both the shortstop ... | |
| Pitching lessons | 9/16/2009 |
| Q: My son is a freshman at college here in Arizona. He was on his High School baseball team, 3 years ... A: Tom: Thank you for your question. If you would contact Jeff Rodin at JRodin@dbacks.com, he can put ... | |
| baseball scoring | 8/24/2009 |
| Q: how would you score an unassisted triple play on a scorecard? A: Larry: In this scenario as an example: 1. Runners on first and second, no outs 2. On the ... | |
| 3rd baseman responsabilites while occupied | 8/6/2009 |
| Q: Your question was My son is 12 years old. Plays 3rd regularly. It is USSSA rules. When a runner ... A: John: You never want your 3B on the bag. It creates too big a hole on the left side, so what ... | |
| Side-arm thrower | 8/5/2009 |
| Q: My daughter, who is 11, is now taking fast-pitch pitching lessons. After a day of lessons and ... A: Ken: I'm sorry, but I do not have any expertise in the area of softball pitchers. I did a little ... | |
| Appeal | 8/4/2009 |
| Q: I was watching the Cardinal / Dodger game the other day when one of the Cardinals hit a double and ... A: Greg: The Cardinals could have called time out, creating a dead ball situation. They could not ... | |
| I need shortstop drills to do by mnyself. | 8/2/2009 |
| Q: I play shortstop for my middle school varsity team and i love to practice and play but my dad's ... A: William: The first thing you need to find is a brick wall that you are able to use to throw a ball ... | |
| No power in arm! | 7/21/2009 |
| Q: I just wanted to ask some questions on my throwing. I can't seem to generate enough "power" to throw ... A: Raymond: I would recommend that you speak with whoever is in charge of your weight facility at ... | |
| long toss | 7/19/2009 |
| Q: i am a catcher and i long toss frequently and i have always been told that i need to use my legs to ... A: Jordan: Legs truly are important in throwing as well as all other phases of baseball. Everything ... | |
| No power in arm! | 7/17/2009 |
| Q: I just wanted to ask some questions on my throwing. I can't seem to generate enough "power" to throw ... A: Raymond: Sorry to hear about the scoliosis. As strength training isn't an option, I would suggest ... | |
| No power in arm! | 7/17/2009 |
| Q: I just wanted to ask some questions on my throwing. I can't seem to generate enough "power" to throw ... A: David: I have gone back through all my previous answers since joining All Experts, and the only ... | |
| To work on short stop and hitting | 7/16/2009 |
| Q: Let me thank you for answering a previous question about outfield instruction. I was hoping you ... A: Robert: I am glad you are finding the hitting information helpful. Drilling on the progressions is ... | |
| To work on short stop and hitting | 7/15/2009 |
| Q: Let me thank you for answering a previous question about outfield instruction. I was hoping you ... A: Robert: I am glad the outfield information was of assistance. With your hitting, I would refer you ... | |
| Should I stay switch hitting? | 7/13/2009 |
| Q: I am 13 years old and I do everything lefty except for throwing so I am a natural lefty. I started ... A: Michael: Thank you for your question. The main advantage of switch hitting is that you can change ... | |
| Baseball | 7/11/2009 |
| Q: How do you record a batter that is stepping out of the batter's box? I know he is out, so what is ... A: Suzanne: You are correct, the batter is out. The putout goes to the catcher, as he is the closest ... | |
| Be a better outfielder | 7/9/2009 |
| Q: I woul dlike to know how to improve on my accuracy when throwing to home plate or a cut off man. I ... A: Rob: Throwing long toss is one of the best ways to increase arm strength. Check with your high ... | |
| throwing distance for 9 year old boy | 7/7/2009 |
| Q: My grandson wants to know the expected distance in feet for a 9 year old to be able to throw a ... A: Bill: I am not aware of any standard set by age group. If you take a group of 10, nine year olds ... | |
| 11 year old pitcher | 6/29/2009 |
| Q: My son is 11 and is throwing his fast ball at 56 mph. Is that pretty good for his age? I'd like to ... A: Cindy: It sounds like your son is currently pitching in Little League this summer. I am not ... | |
| Player rotation - ages 7/8 | 6/26/2009 |
| Q: I am aware there are no definitive rules for player rotation in ages 7/8. I have observed 2 of our 9 ... A: Tracy: Thank you for your question. It certainly is a tough situation, one that is played out in ... | |
| Pitching | 6/25/2009 |
| Q: How many pitches should a pitcher throw in a season at the age of 13? A: Judy: The following link is to the American Sports Medicine Institute, and some research they ... | |
| College baseball | 6/24/2009 |
| Q: How does an error affect a batters batting average? A: Scooter: A players batting average is figured by taking the number of hits, lets say 12 and ... | |
| How allstar players are picked | 6/22/2009 |
| Q: in our league for little league the coaches pick 4 players from their teams to make up the allstar ... A: Dorathy: In the Little League rule book, page T-3, the recommended method for picking a tournament ... | |
| how far to stand away from plate | 6/19/2009 |
| Q: i always thought the general rule for how far to standing away from the plate is to put one foot in ... A: Aaron: What you are looking to do is be able to cover the plate, plus a little extra for extra wide ... | |
| Lesson ! | 6/17/2009 |
| Q: I got your contact displayed on a website while searching for an instructor for my 14yrs old son.My ... A: Pastor Lulu: Thank you for your interest in baseball instruction for your son. I will need the ... | |
| Pitchers being bad batters | 6/16/2009 |
| Q: Why do pitchers in the Majors tend to be horrible batters? You would think they would have a better ... A: Lee: While they certainly do have a better feel for what is coming, they get little opportunity to ... | |
| T-Ball | 6/14/2009 |
| Q: My 6 year old son keeps throwing the bat after he hits the ball. We talk to him and try to make him ... A: Lori: They do have a tendency to get excited when they hit the ball. If you remove the excitement ... | |
| Foul to fair territory softball question | 6/12/2009 |
| Q: The batter hits a ground ball up the first base line. The ball starts fair, twist and turns foul, ... A: Brenda: In the situation you describe, the runner is safe. For the ball to be foul, a defensive ... | |
| gun shy at the plate | 6/11/2009 |
| Q: this is the 1st yr for my 8yr old playing 1b. he did play 2yrs of tee ball. about almost 2wks ago my ... A: Allen: It is a shame that happened to your son at such a young age. It will take him a long time ... | |
| Baseball time out | 6/11/2009 |
| Q: Runnder on 3rd, 1 out. BAtter walks. Can the fielding team's manager call time out to go to the ... A: Will: Rule 2 Section 4 Article 2 A base on balls is an award of first base (often ... | |
| playing time | 6/10/2009 |
| Q: I'm on a 13 year-old tournament style team that was set up by the high school baseball coach, but ... A: Thomas: I would begin by speaking to the coach yourself and see what he feels you need on to ... | |
| delayed dead ball call | 6/10/2009 |
| Q: Situation is runner on second. Batter hits ball to short stop. As he is attempting to field the ... A: Dave: The situation described would be a dead ball call, subject to rule 5, article 1e: The ball ... | |
| reestablish base | 6/9/2009 |
| Q: Doesn't the base runner have to go back and reestablish the base after a foul ball, and if he does ... A: Mark: Rule 8, Section 2 Article 9 says ~ Each runner shall touch his base after the ball becomes ... | |
| "run on anything" with 2 outs | 5/29/2009 |
| Q: My husband and I coach Machine Pitch Little League and need clarification on the "run on anything ... A: Leisha: The runner on second should be looking in at the pitch and will see it off the bat. While ... | |
| Little League Hitting and Fielding questions | 5/29/2009 |
| Q: Both my boys, ages 8 and 6 are playing in their first non tee ball league this year and with most ... A: Chris: Let's start with your 8 yr. old. It sounds like he may be striding to hit, rather than ... | |
| Parent volunteers | 5/26/2009 |
| Q: My son's coach (pitching machine) is a reluctant volunteer and does not have a good idea of what the ... A: Sally: If I understand correctly, you are volunteer parents, serving as first and third base ... | |
| subs | 5/23/2009 |
| Q: I have a player who doesnt think he can throw the ball during the game, he has a sore arm. He ... A: David: I am not familiar with the term extra hitter. If you are referring to a designated hitter, ... | |
| pitch speed | 5/22/2009 |
| Q: just bought a pitching machine for my 7 year old to practice batting. How fast should we be setting ... A: John: Start out on the very low end and adjust up in small increments, based on how easy it becomes ... | |
| Tball | 5/18/2009 |
| Q: my son is left handed. He definitely bats right but he wants to catch and throw with his right hand. ... A: Sandra: You have essentially looked at the right things to determine dominance. It does sound like ... | |
| Bunt defense runners on 1st & 2nd | 5/17/2009 |
| Q: Who is responsible keeping the runner on second close to the base? The second baseman or shortstop? ... A: Chris: In a standard bunt defense, with runners on first and second: 1. 3B reads the bunt, covers ... | |
| base running | 5/13/2009 |
| Q: If you have runners on 2nd & 3rd the batter @ the plate hits a comebacker to the pithcher the ... A: Mario: The runner from second can attempt to return to second. Third base is not legally his until ... | |
| not enough at bats | 5/12/2009 |
| Q: My 13 yr old son plays on an aau team. They have a double header every Sat. and Sun. He gets 3 at ... A: Laura: You may want to speak with the coach and see what his philosophy, as well as what the league ... | |
| batter interference | 5/11/2009 |
| Q: Little league, Runner on second, third base coach gives batter the take pitch sign so runner can ... A: Tom: In this situation the batter has the right to his space in the batter's box. It is the ... | |
| My son cant hit in games… | 5/10/2009 |
| Q: My 10 yr old son has been playing baseball for 5 years now and he has always been a very good ... A: Shawn: It does sound like his problems stem from being hit in his first experiences at kid pitch. ... | |
| Practice plans | 5/9/2009 |
| Q: I am a volunteer coach for a coach pitch team. I travel a ton for work. I want to assemble ... A: Billy: The first step I would suggest is making a list of all the skills and situations you feel ... | |
| When Is It A Forfeit | 5/8/2009 |
| Q: My grandson plays on a 15 and under team. They were to play have a game last night, but the coach ... A: Mary: Unless there are rules unique to this particular 15 and under league, a scheduled game would ... | |
| youth baseball hitting | 4/30/2009 |
| Q: About 6 weeks ago I asked a question to get my son to track the ball. Thanks to good advice, he's ... A: Steve: Not being able to see your son swing, it is hard to pinpoint what is happening. Some things ... | |
| bunt coverage | 4/28/2009 |
| Q: How should a team cover a bunt with a runner on 3rd. A: Donnie: Thank you for your question. In a situation where you have only a runner at third, there ... | |
| rule | 4/28/2009 |
| Q: if a runner is hit by a batted ball the runner is out. Does the batter get credited with a hit? or ... A: Mark: Thank you for your question. MLB rule 10.05 ~ The official scorer shall credit a batter with ... | |
| interference | 4/27/2009 |
| Q: I was umpiring a game when a batter hit a pop-up towards the 3rd baseball in foul territory. The ... A: Mark: Thank you for your question. You didn't mention which level of baseball you are umpiring; ... | |
| afraid of baseball | 4/25/2009 |
| Q: my 12 yr old son playing select backs up when batting and does not put his body in front of the ball ... A: Ann: Thank you for your question. Based on your description of what is happening, and the timing, ... | |
| Pitcher responsibility on fielding play | 4/24/2009 |
| Q: On a ball hit to the outfield that either gets by the fielder or hit to the gap, what is the ... A: Tracy: Thank you for your question. In the situation you describe, once the pitcher can see the ... | |
| AAA Minors Ability and Maturity Levels | 4/19/2009 |
| Q: I am helping coach my son's ball team this year. He is on a squad of 12 kids, only 3 of whom have ... A: Al: Thank you for your question. For an accurate answer to your question of whether there is a rule ... | |
| catcher | 4/15/2009 |
| Q: i coach my sons 9 and 10 year old team.A bunch a knotheads that really are a diverse group. i have 4 ... A: Randy: Thank you for the follow up. Here are a couple of drill options for working lateral ... | |
| defense for 7 and 8 year olds | 4/15/2009 |
| Q: We just started practice for our 7 and 8 year old coach pitch league. Should I be teaching the ... A: Geoff: Thank you for your question. This is a great time to teach infielders about starting double ... | |
| hitting | 4/13/2009 |
| Q: i have an 8 year old in coach. rules are they only get 4 pitches and are instructed to swing at ... A: Randy: Thank you for your question. I can understand the philosophy of having the kids swing at ... | |
| catcher | 4/13/2009 |
| Q: i coach my sons 9 and 10 year old team.A bunch a knotheads that really are a diverse group. i have 4 ... A: Randy: Thank you for your question. I would suggest spending 30 -40 minutes per practice on ... | |
| pitching/recruiting | 4/13/2009 |
| Q: I am a D3 college RHP, I throw 80-85 mph with command I have 3 main pitches 2 seam, change and ... A: Derrick: Thank you for your question. For getting yourself out there, I would suggest looking into ... | |
| Catching | 4/10/2009 |
| Q: I am a Team Mom for our Coach Pitch team this year. We have a boys that are a little afraid to ... A: Corinne: Thank you for your question. Start with this concept: Ball above the waist: Thumbs ... | |
| Too late to have a baseball dream? | 4/7/2009 |
| Q: I'm Raymond. I'll give a short introduction on myself. I'm one of the weakest kids in school, and so ... A: Raymond: Thank you for your question. Little League Eligibility: Tee Ball Age 5-9 Minors Age ... | |
| t-ball bat | 4/4/2009 |
| Q: My son is a second year t-ball player. He is 3'11" and 52lbs. What size of bat should he be using, ... A: Jamie: Thank you for your question. If your son is complaining that his hands are stinging, you ... | |
| How to discipline TBall Kids, | 4/1/2009 |
| Q: I have a few kids on my TBall team and I have a problem with disciplining them when they are not ... A: Chris: Thank you for your question. A few ideas to try: 1. If you haven't already done so, teach ... | |
| High School Baseball | 3/26/2009 |
| Q: Does a right handed pitcher have to take foot off rubber to throw to third base,Like he does for ... A: Bob: Thank you for your question. For a move to third base, a RH pitcher has basically 2 options. ... | |
| Pitching | 3/25/2009 |
| Q: My nephew plays D2 baseball and is a staring pitcher. He throws 80-100 pitches on his start on ... A: Brian: Thank you for your question. I am sure at that level that he must already be on a quality ... | |
| TBall instruction - attention span | 3/25/2009 |
| Q: I am one of 3 coaches for our T-ball instructional team that consists of 13 players total. We (the ... A: Carlos: Thank you for your question. It is the age for sure. I have worked for the Az ... | |
| scheduling rotation of games | 3/23/2009 |
| Q: this is my first year doing league schedules, i have a 3 team league and a 5 team league, how would ... A: Joe: Thank you for your question. Here is a set up for a round robin schedule, for each league. ... | |
| hs baseball | 3/22/2009 |
| Q: I"ve recently been cut, I did not make the Varsity team. I made middle school and jv, but didn't ... A: Charles: Thank you for your question. While playing high school baseball can be of great ... | |
| New pony league player | 3/20/2009 |
| Q: My son is 7 years old and is starting pony league in 2 weeks. We have been playing catch a lot and ... A: Eddie: Thank you for the question. What a great time in your and your sons' life. I will turn 62 ... | |
| jv baseball | 3/19/2009 |
| Q: I have twin boys in 10th grade. Played for this high school and did a good job. They are good guys ... A: Tammy: Thank you for your question. While I can't credibly speak to the situation itself, some ... | |
| which hand throws? | 3/19/2009 |
| Q: My 7 year old son appears to be a left-handed writer. However, he seems stronger and more accurate ... A: Evie: Thank you for the question. You might try these 3 tests, they will give you an idea where ... | |
| Pitching 9 & 10 year olds | 3/16/2009 |
| Q: What are some good drills and bullpen sessions that I can use to teach 9&10 year olds on control and ... A: Vinson: Thank you for your question. I would start with their overall throwing motion, to be sure ... | |
| fear when batting | 3/15/2009 |
| Q: what can be done to help a child stop bailing out due to excess fear when hitting A: Ray: Thank you for your question. The fear of being hit with a baseball, whether batting or ... | |
| Proper baserunning | 3/9/2009 |
| Q: When rounding first, after coming off the line to set up the turn, which foot should be place on the ... A: Jeff: Thank you for your question. The foot is the same for all three bases, your right foot on ... | |
| Hitting | 2/22/2009 |
| Q: what is the batting rule for swing at a pitch and hitting the ball fair but the ball hits the hand ... A: Mel: Thank you for your question on this often misunderstood rule. Major League Baseball and ... | |
| 11 yr old son - pitcher | 2/19/2009 |
| Q: My 11 yr old has been pitching for 3 years. He is currently pitching @ 63 mph. He is 5'7" & 160 ... A: Karen: Thank you for your question. Shot put and discus have evolved into events requiring ... | |
| short stop | 2/12/2009 |
| Q: A few years ago, I received an injury to my knee. Ever since then, my lateral movement hasn't been ... A: Paige: Thank you for the question. If you are pain free, and the issue is strength, the starting ... | |
| travel baseball | 1/29/2009 |
| Q: We have a child who is very skilled at baseball. Been playing rec/all star level ball for two ... A: K Thank you for the question. I am not familiar with the rec/all star level that your son has been ... | |
| Hitting | 12/24/2008 |
| Q: I am a 52 year old man, 5'10 and 195 Lbs, playing fast pitch softball. I've played baseball and ... A: I am unable to seriously analyze your swing, without looking at it, but here are some thoughts on ... | |
| Training | 11/12/2008 |
| Q: I'am 14 years old a freshman in high school. I'am trying out for first base, pitching and right ... A: David: If your high school tryouts are 6 months away, you must live in an area of the country that ... | |
| baseball | 10/27/2008 |
| Q: ..i really want to know this....if i wanted to become professional...wat would be the average ... A: Ryan: I didn't think about snow. I live in Tucson, Az. Snow is just something we see on TV. ... | |
| baseball | 10/24/2008 |
| Q: ..i really want to know this....if i wanted to become professional...wat would be the average ... A: Ryan: Thank you for the question. I have never seen, or been able to find, any statistics that ... | |
| Baseball Pitching Coach | 9/28/2008 |
| Q: My son is 9 years old and has been playing baseball for 4 years. Last year was his first year of ... A: Jake, thanks for the question. It sounds like your son has "baseball fever". That's a good thing. ... | |
| Walking on | 9/9/2008 |
| Q: Hey Rick, I am attending auburn university this fall and i am going to try and walk on the ... A: Alex: Thanks for the question. You've got to be excited with fall practice fast approaching. Your ... | |
| force rule | 9/1/2008 |
| Q: I fully understand the rule now, but I question why it was designed so because it appears to give an ... A: Bernard: You are correct about the infield fly rule and the reasoning behind it. I am not sure why ... | |
| force out/runner tag out | 8/31/2008 |
| Q: Please, please respond so that I can correct a group of +40 men (I'm sorry to say) who misinterpret ... A: Bernard: Great question, and one I am sure generates a lot of discussion. Rule 7.01 says ~ A ... | |
| How to b a better hitter (like my fav player Ken Griffey Jr.) | 8/28/2008 |
| Q: Thnx for answering my question bout bein a better fielder. I was hoping you can help me be a better ... A: Robert: It is not possible to make specific corrections, without actually looking at your swing. ... | |
| Baseball Pitching Accuracy | 8/28/2008 |
| Q: I am a graduate student and for my thesis I am studying the effects of a proper warm-up on pitching ... A: Ian: Good study! Accuracy could be measured by the ball to strike ratio, for pitches thrown. To ... | |
| How to become a better outfielder and hitter | 8/26/2008 |
| Q: Deat Rick Bundy, I am robert Gallagher im 5'6 130lbs and im 16.i have been out of baseball fo 3 yrs ... A: Robert: Thank you for the question. Lets start in the outfield. 1. Get in a comfortable ready ... | |
| Youth Baseball Batting - 1st time live pitching | 8/25/2008 |
| Q: My team of 8 year old boys is facing kid pitching for the first time this fall. The kids are ... A: Eric: Sounds like you are in for a busy fall. I would suggest that you show each of them the best ... | |
| forced out | 8/19/2008 |
| Q: runners on first and second the batter hits a ground ball to shortstop runner on second remains on ... A: Ron: Great baseball question. If the SS tagged the runner on 2B before touching second base, then ... | |
| getting ready for college | 8/14/2008 |
| Q: ok im 16 heading into my senior year...i used to be a catcher but my varsity coach turned me into a ... A: Greg: Hi! Let me say right off that it is not too late for you to become a pitcher. Trevor Hoffman ... | |
| fastpitch | 7/30/2008 |
| Q: I used to play travel baseball a few years ago and would like to try out for a girls fastpitch team ... A: While there are some differences between baseball and softball, the games are so similar the major ... | |
| pitching a baseball | 7/30/2008 |
| Q: does practice pitching with a rubber ball help your pitching command or does it just throw you off. ... A: Pitching command is more about correct mechanics than the type of ball you throw. The ball issue ... | |
| force at home after batter is tagged | 7/22/2008 |
| Q: OK, bases loaded and the batter taps a slow dribbler down the first base line. Pitcher scoops up ... A: Great question, and a situation which comes up frequently in softball and baseball. As soon as the ... | |
Baseball Instruction
Answers by Expert:
Rick Bundy
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I can answer all questions relating to the fundamentals of baseball from t-ball to college, individual and team instruction, game strategy, drills, practice organizaton, coaching philosophies and, last, but not least, the mental game.
Experience
4 years little league
4 years high school baseball( 2 varsity)
2 years junior college baseball
1 summer, Central Illinois Collegiate League, Galesburg, Pioneers
2 years, four year college
Publications
I am the owner/builder of theoleballgame.com, a website for playing and coaching youth baseball.
Education/Credentials
Retired teacher 31 years (retired 4)
36 years high school baseball coaching/15 as a head coach/19 varsity asst, 2010 was the 36th.
I am in my 10th year as a coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks Training Centers, the official youth baseball and fast pitch softball camps of The Arizona Diamondbacks.
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