| Subject | Date Asked |
|
| Pitch Speed | 11/2/2009 |
Q: My name is Luke and I'm a freshman in high school. I'm about 5'10 175 and am pushing it in there ...
A: Luke, I cannot guess what you will be throwing by your senior year, there are too many variables. I ...
|
| Making a team | 10/31/2009 |
Q: my son tried out for the 14 boy's travel baseball team. He made the C team with only 10 players. ...
A: Judith, I don't think that you would be damaging your sons reputation. However I would be concerned ...
|
| age | 10/27/2009 |
Q: My son was born sept, 28, 1998. In the upcoming year what age group would he have to play. Someone ...
A: Stephen, I am sorry for being so late on the answer. I never got an email notification about the ...
|
| 1st Base positioning | 9/20/2009 |
Q: I was wondering if you could clarify where the first baseman should be playing when there is no ...
A: Benny, With no runners on base (no matter how may outs) or if there is 2 outs play deep to give ...
|
| throwing a knuckle ball | 9/2/2009 |
Q: because i can only throw about 75 mph in high school. i have been on a couple sites and have learned ...
A: Mike, Sorry I am not in any way an expert on the knuckle ball. I can throw one but I think its ...
|
| baseball throw speed | 8/28/2009 |
Q: I am a male aged 16 and weigh 140 lbs. I just had a quick question to ask you regarding my throwing ...
A: Rolly, I would say if you look into averages you are below average for your age with a max throw of ...
|
| bat speed | 8/14/2009 |
Q: do you know of any drills to increase bat speed and help with the swing having a complete follow ...
A: Power is the product of strength and speed. Strength is the product of physical strength (slow ...
|
| Fundamentals kids 6-8 yo | 8/2/2009 |
Q: My son (6 yo) really loves baseball and we have been practacing alot. At this age is there something ...
A: Tony, At your sons age I would make sure he has fun, learns the basics, and to remove any fear he ...
|
| bat speed and power | 8/1/2009 |
Q: i am a sixteen year old baseball player looking to find a little more power in my swing. over the ...
A: John, Sorry for the late reply. Power is the product of strength and speed. Strength is the ...
|
| Training | 7/3/2009 |
Q: Hey John my question is regarding training for pitchers. can you please tell me what kindof training ...
A: Jose, Sorry for the late reply. I recommend everyone to check out www.biggerfasterstronger.com. ...
|
| pinch hitter/pitcher | 6/10/2009 |
Q: say for instance the home pitcher just finished the top half of the 7th inning down 2-3, and with ...
A: David, I would check with you leagues rules first. The Official Rules of MLB (Rule 10.17 b) states ...
|
| Baseball home run | 6/9/2009 |
Q: In major league baseball, if an outfielder catches a fair fly ball and falls over the outfield ...
A: Devin, I looked through the MLB rule book and I can't find anything. I am sorry I cannot give you ...
|
| Late Swing | 6/8/2009 |
Q: My Son is 11 years old and he has always been a pretty good hitter, this year he has seen more hard ...
A: Steve, This is no problem and it is a perfect time for this to happen. Having a late swing is ...
|
| pitching from the stretch | 6/7/2009 |
Q: Mr. Priest In L/L Majors I believe that the player has progressed far enough that coaches/umpires ...
A: Joseph, I believe a pitcher can receive their sign and become set before the hitter is ready. The ...
|
| pick-off to 2nd (indside move) | 6/6/2009 |
Q: My question is about the inside move to second base. It was my understanding that as long as the kid ...
A: Rob, In my opinion some balks can come down to the opinion of the umpire. If the umpire makes the ...
|
| Catcher's Mitts | 6/1/2009 |
Q: My son is a senior in HS and currently uses a Nokona catchers mitt, and the mitt has formed a bump ...
A: Bob, I can say this because I don't work for Nokona anymore but I my opinion they have improved but ...
|
| Basball Scoring Scenario | 5/30/2009 |
Q: Bases Loaded. Two Outs. Infield pop fly w/o fly rule in effect. Ball is dropped by SS. Batter ...
A: Patrick, I believe both runs count because they crossed the plate before the third out. However I ...
|
| balks | 5/29/2009 |
Q: He pitches almost every game for our USSSA team and pitches every game for our league. My question ...
A: Sandy, Below is the USSSA rule for touching your mouth or lips while on the mound. I don't see ...
|
| Catchers equipment | 5/27/2009 |
Q: I am 13 and i wanted to try the helmet all the pros use the skull caps w/ a face mask as you ...
A: Kevin, I am sorry I cannot answer this question. I have tried to get an answer for you during the ...
|
| looking at ball hit | 5/10/2009 |
Q: I have a question that probably has no right or wrong answer,just want to know what you would ...
A: Jim, I have never told someone not to look, except like you said, if they admire the ball. The ...
|
| baseball instructions | 5/9/2009 |
Q: I umpire little league 9 and 10 year olds and have a lot of kids jumping out of the box during the ...
A: Michael, If the batter is stepping out of the batters box without getting time called then it is an ...
|
| pickoff attempt by catcher | 5/7/2009 |
Q: If a catcher attempts a pickoff throw to third base, and batter is still in batters box and catcher ...
A: Bob, According to MLB rule 6.06(c): "A batter is out for illegal action when- he interferes with the ...
|
| win requirement | 5/4/2009 |
Q: It was an away game, and our starting pitcher had pitched 7 complete innings. after 7 innings we ...
A: Ryan, I would check with you leagues rules first. The Official Rules of MLB (Rule 10.17 b) states ...
|
| Throwing | 4/7/2009 |
Q: I play ball at my high school and i play infield but everyone tells me that i throw wrong but it ...
A: Marquez, The proper arm motion also includes the proper foot work, and rotation. Speaking only of ...
|
| Too late for baseball? | 4/5/2009 |
Q: I'm Raymond. I'm 14 years old, and I am extremely weak, and have never even touched a baseball ...
A: Raymond, It is never too late to try baseball. It may be too late to tryout for your high school ...
|
| help me | 3/26/2009 |
Q: i can hit it ok but i need to hit higher and further so can you please help me
A: Jordan, Like I said in my previous answer hitting has many details. I could write about ...
|
| Playing Down | 3/24/2009 |
Q: My son is 12, he's in the 7th grade and a pitcher for his Middle School, 6th,7th & 8th grade. They ...
A: Diana, If your son plays on the 40-60 field this year it will be the last. He will never play on ...
|
| fast pitch softball hitting | 3/23/2009 |
Q: my daughter who is 13 and hits the ball very well. presently steps to about 32inches half her ...
A: Aaron, I have never heard a hitting coach tell a player to not step. There should be some type ...
|
| pitching adjustments | 3/22/2009 |
Q: My son is 12 and in the 7th grade, he's a pitcher for Middle School, 6,7, & 8 grade. (60-90 field). ...
A: Diana, If your son plays on the 40-60 field this year it will be the last. He will never play on ...
|
| Arm slot | 3/21/2009 |
Q: Hey John my question is regarding a pitchers arm slot, I throw from a Low 3/4 arm slot and my elbow ...
A: Jose, Every player I have see that drops their elbow usually develops some kind of arm pain. It is ...
|
| My son didn't make high school baseball team because he plays for the wrong AAU team. | 3/20/2009 |
Q: My 10th grade son just tried out and didn't make his high school baseball team for the second time. ...
A: Rob, My first response is to focus on the summer/fall baseball and forget about the high school ...
|
| Tryout turndown | 3/12/2009 |
Q: My son, age 16 and a sophomore, recently tried out for the JV high school team. He made the first ...
A: Julie, The sophomore year is the hardest year to make the team and it is also one of the least ...
|
| start the swing | 3/6/2009 |
Q: my boy plays high school baseball,he bats lefthanded. my question is how do i stop him from pulling ...
A: James, Sounds like your son hits more with his upper body similar to that of a linear style. The ...
|
| Need to find a coach | 3/5/2009 |
Q: Mr. Priest: You are the best. Your advice is always SPOT ON. I live in Southern California (91501), ...
A: Jose, Sorry for the late reply, it has been a very busy week. This is hard because I live in the ...
|
| Tryout Cuts | 3/2/2009 |
Q: I want to know how to go about this: I tried out for my school baseball team, and I got cut. I'm a ...
A: Kenny, To add to the last answer. The sophomore year is the hardest year to make the team. You ...
|
| Tryout Cuts | 3/1/2009 |
Q: I want to know how to go about this: I tried out for my school baseball team, and I got cut. I'm a ...
A: Kenny, Don't make this harder than it is. Just ask the coach why you didn't make the team. Also ...
|
| Getting training and exposure to play pro baseball | 2/22/2009 |
Q: Im 23 years old and i havnt played baseball since 10th grade.im talented and in trainable shape.i ...
A: Merrell, If you are looking to play in college first (which would be a very good idea) you ...
|
| pitching | 2/21/2009 |
Q: im 6'1, 180 and im 19 yrs old. I throw about 85 now and wanted to know how i can gain velocity. Im ...
A: Chris, To gain velocity there are a couple of things you can do. Number one is to make sure you ...
|
| Fielding grounders. | 2/20/2009 |
Q: First thanks for your time. I found this site and am grateful people can find spare time to help. ...
A: David, I also agree, if playing shortstop and you glove is touching the ground you may have to come ...
|
| Fielding grounders. | 2/19/2009 |
Q: First thanks for your time. I found this site and am grateful people can find spare time to help. ...
A: David, There are many ways to lead up to a ground ball. Some coaches only want their players to do ...
|
| Best Bats | 2/13/2009 |
Q: It's Jacob again. My baseball season is starting up and I have a DeMarini Vexxum. I was wondering ...
A: Jacob, I have not used a metal bat in many years, I have been using wood. The high school and ...
|
| A school project | 2/11/2009 |
Q: I'm doing a rearsh paper on how to make aluminum baseball bats. I need to know if different brands ...
A: Jacob, Yes, bats from different companies are made different. Metal bats vary from company to ...
|
| Strength Training | 2/8/2009 |
Q: I am the father of a 12 year old pitcher. He has pitched for 3 seasons. Outside of the throwing ...
A: Ray, I wouldn't worry about weight training drills yet. Your son is young and still growing. You ...
|
| Throwing | 2/1/2009 |
Q: My son is 12 yrs old and he is on the 7th & 8th grade school team. He has always played ss, 2nd, and ...
A: Paula, It may be nerves or bad habits in front of the older players and coach. Your son may be ...
|
| Baseball Practice Guide | 1/17/2009 |
Q: I coach an 11U baseball team in Michigan. I believe in being well prepared/organized for practices ...
A: Dave, The best book that I have ever used has been Ron Polks Baseball Playbook. My book was from my ...
|
| hitting | 1/14/2009 |
Q: Hey John, My son is 11 yrs. old. He seems to have multiple problems with his hitting. I've never ...
A: Scott, Question 1: Make sure his front foot stays closed with a firm front side and his head ...
|
| arm strength | 1/2/2009 |
Q: I'm a sophomore in high school and play outfield. Our season starts some time in February. I am ...
A: Ryan, These drills are lead-up drills often used by pitchers to practice their arm motion and angle. ...
|
| arm strength | 12/29/2008 |
Q: I'm a sophomore in high school and play outfield. Our season starts some time in February. I am ...
A: Ryan, Depending on where you are from will depend on what you can do at this time. If you live in ...
|
| batting help | 12/2/2008 |
Q: alright with my batting stance i have my arms full extended but loose i stand far enough that i get ...
A: Chris, Look at the picture on my profile to this web site. this is the proper hand positioning when ...
|
| bat speed | 11/23/2008 |
Q: I'm Logan and I'm wondering how I can improve my bat speed this off season? I live in Wisconsin.
A: Logan, Your needs to start (if not already) with a weight training program that can be ...
|
| Tips | 11/21/2008 |
Q: hey John ima catcher for my high school baseball team and ima junior and i was wondering how can i ...
A: Chris, Keep practicing your throw. Accuracy comes from repetition and and getting your release ...
|
| What size baseball bat to use. | 11/16/2008 |
Q: My son is 10 yrs old and weighs about 65 lbs. He wants a new baseball bat, but how can I tell what ...
A: Sean, There are arguments to both using heavier and lighter bats. Most importantly is getting ...
|
| Out of Bounds Question | 11/11/2008 |
Q: I played in a game where a ground ball hit to the 3rd baseman went off his leg and into the dugout. ...
A: Mike, The runners should have advance two bases according to the MLB rules. Your league may have ...
|
| hitting | 11/10/2008 |
Q: I see you answered one fathers question abouting hitting. My son took lessons from a batting coach ...
A: John, You will see that every coach has their own view of how to hit a baseball and if you ...
|
| SUBMARINE PITCH | 11/3/2008 |
Q: IF THE BALL HITS THE GROUND BEFORE IT PASSES THE HITTER AND BOUNCES, IS IT A STRIKE,BALL,OR WHAT? ...
A: Joe, If the ball hits the ground before it passes the hitter it is a ball unless the hitter swings ...
|
| why would tape be needed it a game | 10/30/2008 |
Q: all the time i see MLB players with tape on there fingers and i dont fully understand why they have ...
A: Brandon, The tape that you see is for support. You may see wrists and thumbs taped the most and its ...
|
| Decisions before season | 10/28/2008 |
Q: How can a coach be making decisions and relaying those to players before try-outs? Our coach is ...
A: Carolyn, Unfortunately this does happen but usually not often. You could turn the coach in for ...
|
| pitching | 10/27/2008 |
Q: I asked a Q to John Mc this year at th beginning of the year about breaking pitches im 14 have ok ...
A: Taylor, I mainly deal with hitters but arm speed and bat speed are closely related. To get ...
|
| submarine pitching | 10/26/2008 |
Q: Are there any advantages to pitching submarine, if any? And how do you go about to improve on ...
A: Nick, I don't know anything about submarine pitching. I would think that one advantage is that not ...
|
| Pitching | 10/24/2008 |
Q: I would like to know more about a pitch that I have seen at the 11 and 12 year old level. Some boys ...
A: Ed, I teach this pitch to some little league players. If a curveball is thrown correctly you will ...
|
| outside hitting | 10/23/2008 |
Q: My son is hitting only groundballs and seems to get stung way to often. He does not strikeout and ...
A: Lee, If he is getting stung on the outside pitches then he is trying to pull all pitches in all ...
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| outside hitting | 10/19/2008 |
Q: My son is hitting only groundballs and seems to get stung way to often. He does not strikeout and ...
A: Lee, Your son may be getting too comfortable with the hitting machines, start pitching to him ...
|
| Rotator Cuff Tendonitis | 9/27/2008 |
Q: Hey Coach Priest- I'm Joey Tavana and I'm a 17 year old senior from Connecticut. I am just under ...
A: Joey, I am also from Connecticut. I grew up in Cheshire, CT and lived their until 2003. I played ...
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| Baseball - Transition from Youth Baseball to High School | 9/23/2008 |
Q: Mr. Priest, Like oh so many other kids, my son has played baseball since he was 4 and this is his ...
A: Steven, Usually a high school tryout (at least the ones I have ran) will last for two weeks. ...
|
| Instruction | 9/4/2008 |
Q: I was wondering if you could suggest anyone in upstate ny who could help me advance my game for ...
A: Anthony, For the past couple of days I was trying to find out if any of my contacts were in the ...
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| 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, If I understand your experiment then you would have a control group of pitchers, and a certain ...
|
| positioning of 3rd baseman | 8/18/2008 |
Q: Co-ed softball. Runner on first. Ball is hit to right field, runner rounds second and heads for ...
A: Andrew, Since the runner clearly beat the throw the third baseman could have come off the bag. ...
|
| offseason | 8/15/2008 |
Q: I am a catcher and i would like to condition for high school. I am also very slow and i would really ...
A: Billy, Any drill that involves quick feet will help. A speed ladder is a great investment. ...
|
| side arm pitching | 8/11/2008 |
Q: My daughter is 10yrs old. She plays on a travel fast pitch baseball with the boys. She is a very ...
A: Stacy, I don't think it is important for her to change her pitching style. If she is going to ...
|
| pitching and stuff | 8/10/2008 |
Q: In my league next year wee can trow curve alls. but i dont want to screw my armup. is there any ...
A: Jordan, The most important and hardest pitch to learn to throw effectively is the change-up. Even ...
|
| Changing arm slot | 8/6/2008 |
Q: Two year ago, I was playing entirely infield, my coaches changed my arm slot to about 75. Now they ...
A: David, The tail can come from your grip, your release, or not staying on top of the ball. If you ...
|
| Changing arm slot | 8/5/2008 |
Q: Two year ago, I was playing entirely infield, my coaches changed my arm slot to about 75. Now they ...
A: David, I don't believe you have to change your arm slot because of a position change. the outfield ...
|
| strengthing my arm | 8/2/2008 |
Q: I am a 15 year old junior playing left field and i want to know the best way possible to play long ...
A: Jordan, In the off season you shout long toss 2-3 times per week with no more than 50 throws per ...
|
| pitching | 7/30/2008 |
Q: does practice pitching with a rubber ball help your pitching command or does it just throw you off. ...
A: Chris, I would recommend pitching a real baseball when you can. The rubber ball may not be the ...
|
| baseball swing | 7/28/2008 |
Q: Hellp John, I was just wondering is a big leg lift in your swing good because ive noticed ive been ...
A: Hayden, It doesn't matter if you take a big or small step. The step can be either as long as you ...
|
| Throwing | 7/26/2008 |
Q: I am 14 and last fall was starting SS, and never made a bad throw, but when I returned this season ...
A: Jake, Throwing everyday may not be what you need to fix the problem, it may add more stress and make ...
|
| skull caps? | 7/21/2008 |
Q: what levels of play are skull caps allowed are they allowed in AAU,ECTB and little league?
A: Emily, I assume you are asking about the two piece catchers mask when you say skull caps. I believe ...
|
| Pitching Rules | 7/18/2008 |
Q: This year our league has had alot of arguments over rules. Tonight was no exception. In the 2nd ...
A: Laura, I am not sure if this is an official little league rule. Many leagues put in rules ...
|
| catching drills | 7/15/2008 |
Q: I'm an 11 year old girl playing AAU baseball and i really want to be the starting catcher for my ...
A: Emily, Any drill that involves quick feet will help. A speed ladder is a great investment. ...
|
| gaining speed | 7/14/2008 |
Q: I am 13 years old, and last year I blew out my arm? Now this year, the fastest I can throw the the ...
A: Anthony, Definitely do some long toss throwing. Talk to you pitching coach for the correct ...
|
| Bratt Bats | 7/14/2008 |
Q: Could you recommend specific drills for the bratt bat? Thank you
A: Brian, The bratt's bat can be done with any drill. I usually use it on the batting T, soft ...
|
| Throwing Error or Catching Error | 7/13/2008 |
Q: If an infielder (15-16 y-old's) picks-up a ground ball at shortstop which is otherwise a regular ...
A: Mike, I am really not sure on the ruling of this, I would think that it is more of a judgement call ...
|
| Coaching/training | 7/11/2008 |
Q: John- I have been coaching baseball for the past 7 years and next year look forward to coaching a ...
A: Matt, One of the greatest baseball books is Ron Polk's baseball handbook. This book is great for ...
|
| gaining speed | 7/10/2008 |
Q: I am 13 years old, and last year I blew out my arm? Now this year, the fastest I can throw the the ...
A: Anthony, Before trying to gain speed make sure you are 100% healed from your injury. Usually ...
|
| the baseball swing | 7/9/2008 |
Q: what is the deffence betreen slapping and driveng the baseball?
A: James, Sorry for the late reply, my vacation had lasted longer than expected. A slap hitter is ...
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| Pitching - velocity now? | 6/24/2008 |
Q: My 11 yo son pitches for his AAU team. He has great movement on his ball, and low ERA - forces the ...
A: Jack, You and your son shouldn't need to be concerned at this point with velocity. Your son is only ...
|
| Hitting Mechanics | 6/22/2008 |
Q: How do we repair a flaw. My daughter who is 20 plays fastpitch softball. She is an excellent ...
A: Deby, You are correct, she is loosing power and bat speed by only using the arms and it does make ...
|
| fix me | 6/21/2008 |
Q: I have a long swing and cant fix it. my hands go too far back and my barrel wraps behind my head. ...
A: Joe, Check where your hands are when you step. You are probably making too much separation of your ...
|
| Grounding out | 6/21/2008 |
Q: Lately I have been grounding out to third base. My last 20 atbats I have 4 Strike Outs 7 walks, and ...
A: Shawn, Work on hitting the ball to the opposite side. Stay inside the ball and make sure you let it ...
|
| home plate sliding | 6/19/2008 |
Q: if a player is tripped up 2 ft from homebase, and ends up on his stomach, is he allowed to tag up by ...
A: Susan, My opinion would depend on the level of play you are referring to. If it is older little ...
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| home plate sliding | 6/18/2008 |
Q: In a minor league game, we had a girl overrun home plate while the ball was in the box. Is it true ...
A: Susan, You league may have a slide to avoid contact rule. This rule means that any close play the ...
|
| Playing In The Majors | 6/17/2008 |
Q: I'm a Freshmen in high school and I was wondering what I have to do to be Major League material.
A: Marcus, What scout look for are the five tools. The five tools are (1)hit for power, (2)hit for ...
|
| pitching instruction | 6/16/2008 |
Q: I live in Napa,ca. I have a 14yr.old son that played jv high school ball. He is a right handed ...
A: David, I usually don't like to give instructors names without meeting the instructor. This is ...
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| getting short | 6/13/2008 |
Q: i am a very stalky player, about 5'8 and all butt and thighs. i just completed my first college ...
A: Cameron, First check your mechanics, make sure you have rotational mechanics and allowing your hips ...
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| BALL 4 on batter | 6/10/2008 |
Q: Batter at plate had a 3 and 2 count.A runner at second base with one out.On the next pitch to the ...
A: Joe, Yes, you are correct the runner should be able to go to third base on a passed ball. I would ...
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| 8U batting - pulling everything | 6/9/2008 |
Q: My son is 8 and is a very good hitter for his age group, with lots of power. But recently he has ...
A: Luke, Try to get your son to transfer the tee to soft toss, soft toss to batting practice, batting ...
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| BALL 4 on batter | 6/9/2008 |
Q: Batter at plate had a 3 and 2 count.A runner at second base with one out.On the next pitch to the ...
A: Joe, Depending on the league the runner may be able to take 3rd base. Some lower level little ...
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| 8U batting - pulling everything | 6/7/2008 |
Q: My son is 8 and is a very good hitter for his age group, with lots of power. But recently he has ...
A: Luke, My favorite drill is off the batting tee. The tee is very basic but it can cure any ...
|
| Baserunning | 6/6/2008 |
Q: Situation: There is one out or no outs and a runner at second and third. The batter misses a suicide ...
A: Jerry, I would keep the runner at second base. Depending on the level of play you are talking ...
|
| Igloo cooler refresher | 6/6/2008 |
Q: I had a coach that during the summer he would provide our team with a cooler clearly marked not to ...
A: Brian, I have heard of this and have tried it. The water, ice, and mint provide a cooling ...
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| Hitting - rotation of hips | 6/5/2008 |
Q: John, My son is a 10 year old, and is a pretty consistent hitter. However, there are many times ...
A: Jay, Pivoting both feet will make the hips open up more, but it will also pull your head and ...
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| Hitting out in front | 6/5/2008 |
Q: My son plays high level 13U travel baseball and has always been an excellent hitter. However, he has ...
A: Joe, Most importantly is hitting the ball to the opposite side. If your son is pulling the 70+ ...
|
| Getting a short swing | 6/4/2008 |
Q: my question is about how to make my swing short and compacted...my whole like my swing has been long ...
A: Josh, First, you should video your game swings vs. batting practice swings. If you are able to ...
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| Catching | 6/1/2008 |
Q: I was wanting to know if it is ok to stagger your feet whenever a runner is a threat to steal, why ...
A: Aaron, With your feet staggered your shoulders will also stagger. You still want to be ...
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| Catching | 5/31/2008 |
Q: I was wanting to know if it is ok to stagger your feet whenever a runner is a threat to steal, why ...
A: Aaron, When a runner is on base and you go into the secondary receiving position the feet ...
|
| small but talented | 5/28/2008 |
Q: My son is a great ball player, but he is small. He is 10 yrs old and only ways 55lbs. I have a few ...
A: Gina, Sorry for the late reply Nokona has been updating their email server and since then I ...
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| catching &feilding | 5/26/2008 |
Q: my son is 9 and has played 2 yrs. t-ball, 1 yr.machine pitch then moved up to pony ...
A: Stanley, One thing that may work is getting a safety ball. You may have seen these balls ...
|
| pitching | 5/26/2008 |
Q: I am working on pitching and I have good speed but not good accuracy. What can I do to have better ...
A: Caeden, Make sure your mechanics are perfect. Just like a hitter, make sure your lower half is ...
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| Mechanics | 5/23/2008 |
Q: I have a 6 year old son and he loves baseball. I want teach him about the game, specifically the ...
A: Tim, I just recently finished writing an instructional book about hitting that should be ...
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| Special Bat | 5/20/2008 |
Q: My coach to me to go and buy a specialized bat used for hitting popflies into the outfield but he ...
A: Jimmy, This special bat is called a fungo. They are made to hit groundballs and fly balls easier ...
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| Intentional Walk | 5/20/2008 |
Q: If a pitcher goes to his mouth,it is called a ball. If he goes to his mouth 4 times,can this be ...
A: Joe, I am really not sure about this because I have never heard of any pitcher doing or wanting to ...
|
| bat speed or power | 5/18/2008 |
Q: my boy play high school baseball,how can he get more power or speed with the bat ANSWER: James, ...
A: James, The slow twitch muscles fall into the category of the "big muscles". These muscles are ...
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| bat speed or power | 5/17/2008 |
Q: my boy play high school baseball,how can he get more power or speed with the bat
A: James, Power is the product of strength and speed. Strength is the product of physical ...
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| Catcher Obstruction | 4/26/2008 |
Q: John, I recently umpired a JVBB game by myself. During the game on three occasions the catcher came ...
A: Dale, The catcher's box is the area in which the catcher must stand until the pitcher delivers ...
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| batting stance | 4/22/2008 |
Q: My son is small, but a power hitter. He is a lefty that bats right handed. (he is a Pujols fan) ...
A: Jacki, To comment on the first part of your answer, you son has the perfect combination of ...
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| batting stance | 4/22/2008 |
Q: My son is small, but a power hitter. He is a lefty that bats right handed. (he is a Pujols fan) ...
A: Jacki, To comment on the first part of your answer, you son has the perfect combination of ...
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| Pitching | 4/20/2008 |
Q: I am 13 years old and I am pitching in little league. I have two questions to ask. First of all what ...
A: Joel, I would recommend any pitcher at any age to perfect the change-up and focus on that pitch ...
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| infielders moving on the pitch | 4/16/2008 |
Q: I want to work on the fundamentals of fielding balls with your hand under the ball. I also am ...
A: Tom, When I teach infielders I start with the 3 positions. These positions will keep the ...
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| current baseball techniques | 4/15/2008 |
Q: Are there differences in the techniques of baseball within the past 20 years? I have been searching ...
A: James, I just recently finished writing an instructional book about the stance and swing that ...
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| Bat Size | 4/13/2008 |
Q: This question is a bit after the fact but here goes. My son is 17. He's 6'3" and approximately ...
A: Margaret, Judging by his height the 32 inch bat is too short. When picking a bat you have a couple ...
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| catcher interference call | 4/13/2008 |
Q: The catcher on our team was called for interference on the batter in the following situation: player ...
A: Gary, Yes the umpire was right with the call he had made. Just like the hitter has a batters box he ...
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| baseball | 4/13/2008 |
Q: JOHN, MY QUESTION IS THIS. MY SON ZACH IS NINE YEARS OLD AND PLAYING TOURNAMENT BASEBALL. WHEN ...
A: John, Yes, you are correct. His load is very early. When a hitter creates his load or ...
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| current baseball techniques | 4/10/2008 |
Q: Are there differences in the techniques of baseball within the past 20 years? I have been searching ...
A: James, There are many difference in the teaching of the swing in the past 20 years and ...
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| My son has an upper cut in his swing | 4/9/2008 |
Q: Do you have any suggestions on how to get my son not to upper cut his swing. He swings level when ...
A: Brian, There is no such swing as a level swing. This is a myth that everyone thinks is a ...
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| coach pitch | 4/8/2008 |
Q: I have signed up for coaching my sons coach pitch team, now i am the head coach, but the ...
A: Kristi, Your question of teaching the player the right way is an answer that I don't think ...
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| Swing Correction | 4/6/2008 |
Q: My son is five years old and is playing T-ball for the first time. He doesn't make a full swing and ...
A: Jeff, I would not worry to much as your son is only 5 years old. At his age the most ...
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| Advice, encouragement for h.s. sophomore baseball player | 4/4/2008 |
Q: What causes high school coaches to pick a player for the team and then rarely or never give him a ...
A: Laurie, This is a great question that many parent and players have. One of the things ...
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| Hitting | 3/30/2008 |
Q: My grandson is in coach pitch this year and in pitching to him I find that he is behind the pitch at ...
A: Duane, Being behind the pitch is one aspect of hitting that all great hitters have. Being ...
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| bunting | 3/27/2008 |
Q: What is the correct position of the batters feet when squaring to bunt? Referring to 9 and 10 year ...
A: Vernon, Here is a portion of the bunting section of the fundamentals book I am currently writing. ...
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| little league pitching | 3/25/2008 |
Q: Can a little league player pitch underhand and if so, is the windmill style allowed (as opposed to ...
A: Steve, I am not sure if their is a rule as to how a pitcher may pitch. I have never see a player ...
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| arm shot? | 3/24/2008 |
Q: I am returning to slowpitch softball at 48 yrs old and an absence of many years. Despite my age, I ...
A: Dave, My first response is to go see your doctor. Make sure that you don't have any injuries to the ...
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| pitching | 3/20/2008 |
Q: i just started pitching but whenever i pitch, the ball doesn't go where i want it to go. How do i ...
A: Chris, One thing you never want to do is to aim the baseball. Aiming the ball will never work and ...
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| catching | 3/19/2008 |
Q: My son is 7yrs old. He is playing coach pitch this year after two years of tball. He is coming ...
A: Tom, You are in a tough position but don't worry your son is so young and has many years of baseball ...
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| Infielder | 3/14/2008 |
Q: Coach, Recently at my son's LL practice a lot of the boys were hurrying their throws to first base ...
A: Lou, I believe that you should field the ball the same way every time no matter if you ...
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| Hitting - Babe Ruth | 3/13/2008 |
Q: Did Babe Ruth have normal mechanics? if yes or no please explain how he hit
A: Mitchell, I have never really studied Babe Ruth's hitting mechanics. After looking into ...
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| Shortstop, drills and tips | 3/13/2008 |
Q: I play Shortstop and I'm 16, How do I get quick hands and quick feet? I would also like to know the ...
A: Itch, Quick hands and feet come from repetition. Hands and feet work together so one ...
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| Draft Rules | 3/10/2008 |
Q: I have a question regarding "drafts". It has always been that our league has drafts for players who ...
A: Kim, I am not entirely sure about the rules of little league baseball. I can see that having drafts ...
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| Hitting Mechanics | 3/4/2008 |
Q: My son is 11 years old and a pretty solid hitter. He was picked for travel baseball this season. My ...
A: Scott, Rolling the right foot over could be a balance problem or a front foot problem. ...
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| baseball bat size | 2/27/2008 |
Q: We are getting ready to invest in a bat for our 11 yr old. He is 4' 10' just shy of 80 lbs after ...
A: Trish, Their are arguments to both using heavier and lighter bats. Most importantly is getting the ...
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| Tryout turndown | 2/13/2008 |
Q: Maybe you can help. My son who tried out for his high school baseball team got turned down today. ...
A: Missy, I have coach numerous years of high school baseball and I have never cut a player based on ...
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| hitting transition | 1/31/2008 |
Q: what is the best way to get a little leaguer used to erratic kid pitch, from coach pitch ANSWER: ...
A: Rob, Its not so much avoiding getting hit as it is being able to turn away from the ball so you ...
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| hitting transition | 1/29/2008 |
Q: what is the best way to get a little leaguer used to erratic kid pitch, from coach pitch
A: Rob, This is a tough situation for little league coaches. At the little league level you want to ...
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| Baseball Bats | 1/14/2008 |
Q: Priest, Hi! My name is Timmy. I am nine years old and in 4th grade. I am doing a project on ...
A: Timmy, Thank You for the question. This subject is not my expertise. I don't know too much about ...
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| hitting | 1/10/2008 |
Q: what starts the swing? hands? hips?
A: Tom, Thank You for the question. Depending on which type of swing you have will determine if ...
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