How You Can Learn To Play Baseball

By Tristan Gallow

Baseball has been generally known as This country's Pastime. Then again, you would probably be blown away to learn just how plenty of people neglect to understand how the game is normally performed. Well, today is your lucky day because I am going to teach you the guidelines of baseball.

The initial thing you have to know concerning baseball would be that the offense try's to score "runs" over the defense. This is accomplished as the pitcher tosses a baseball in the direction of the cather whereas an offensive professional try's to strike that ball using a bat ( to put the particular ball within play).

If the offensive participant absolutely does position the ball in play then the defense try's to field the actual ball to get the ball player that hit the ball out. In order to get the offensive player out then the defense will need to throw the ball to another defensive competitor that is in contact with one of the three bases in the baseball diamond before the offensive competitor can get there.

If for example the defense gets the ball to the base prior to when the offensive player gets there he then is actually out. If the defense does not get the ball inside the direction of the base prior to when the offensive participant arrives then he is recognized as safe. In the event that the player whom got to the base is termed safe. His goal is to try to touch all three bases and reach home plate. If he does this than the attacking team just obtained one run.

Each and every team gets nine innings to finish the game with the largest run total. Hence, every single team usually takes one-half inning to play offense and one-half inning agressively play defense. If it turns out the score is tied right after 9 innings then the competition will be required to go into extra innings.

This is only a limited summary of the laws of baseball. For anyone who is still baffled and you actually want to find out how the game is played then it would probably be to your advantage to go out and try taking part in the game your self. After all, the obvious way to master something is always to really do it first.

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Basis Coaching Life On The Baseball Field Leads To More Wins

By Dusty Mattingly, Batting Coach

If I was a betting man, I would wager that you are expecting to read four great skill building drills that you could use in your next practice to better develop your players. In some way you would be right, but I am going to offer you four different coaching techniques that will build you a championship caliber baseball team without ever picking up a baseball. One of the mistakes I had made both as a player and a coach, was that practicing different drills would make me a better baseball player. Although to a certain extent that is true, the real power in getting better lies within your approach and how to persevere.

Over this past weekend I received a heart felt text from a parent of a player who I have coached over the last few years. She explained that her son would be giving a speech in one his classes this week about what he had learned on the baseball field. It wasn?t about a special hitting drill or technique that had given him more power, it was what he learned about how to approach something with the right mindset and goals in mind. It was about how to hold yourself to a higher standard, perseverance, and determination. You see, as coaches we have the distinct opportunity to help young players understand success and how to achieve it. Of course we can give them the drills and instruction, but the real connection lies within our ability to develop and impact the intangibles like confidence, and motivation.

The next time you begin a practice or a game, I want you to take a good look around. Players come from all backgrounds and situations. Some are poor, some are rich, great home, broken home, but they are all there to learn about something they enjoy. Unfortunately for many coaches, they forget that the primary reason players play the game is because it is fun and they want to get better. As a result, the average retirement age of baseball players is 12 years old. Player?s are left with such a bad experience, that they don?t want to continue playing a game they once loved.

I am not solely blaming the coaches of the team. I have seen the politics, the parents, and they pressure that these kids are put under each and every practice and game. Just turn on the television and you will see parents attacking parents or a parent verbally assaulting a coach on the news. Unfortunately, it becomes about the parents and the rules of the league rather than helping young baseball players succeed. I understand not wanting a player to be left behind, or be the last one off the bench. But if you take a step back and really focus on the kids, you?ll find out that the thing they want to do most, is to be appreciated for what they have to offer and have fun with their teammates.

The fact of the matter is, there simply are not enough educational programs out there to truly help facilitate the learning experience for young players and inexperienced coaches. They are left to fend on their own to figure out what is best for the team and how to keep the parents happy. The pressure comes from all angles and it can be difficult to take a step back and realize that the only thing that matters is the impact that coming to the ball park has everyday on the kids.

So if you are fortunate enough to be involved in with today?s players, I want you to always keep few things in the forefront of you mind to make your life easier. First, your number one baseball coaching goal is to make sure that all of the kids have fun regardless of the skill level. It is great to win, it really is. But just because you are on a winning team doesn?t mean you had a good experience. I have seen countless kids get shoved to the way side while others get all of the attention. Each player deserves just as much attention as the next. Make sure that happens and give just as much instruction based feedback to every player.

Number two, you are not just teaching baseball, you are teaching life. Integrity, honesty, perseverance, determination, facing adversity, etc. These are the real lessons to be learned on a baseball field, not some unique batting technique or fielding lesson. It is how you work through those lessons to get better that will stay with your player. If you teach your player how to meet the challenge and not quit when things get tough, no matter how skilled your player is, I guarantee he will love coming to ball park every single day.

The third baseball coaching tip, hold every player to the same standard. Whether it be you most skilled player, or the guy last of the bench, if they commit the same crime, they do the same time. Often time?s better players get preferential treatment. This is a sure fire way to create a feeling of resentment on the part of your players and tear your team apart. Not only will they not trust you, they won?t consider you a person they should confide in. Every player is equal regardless of the situation.

The fourth baseball coaching tip for you today, players play the game, not the coaches. You are an authority figure and someone to be respected yes, you are not the one swinging the bat or fielding the ground ball. Put yourself in your player?s shoes, what would you want to do or how would your react in his situation. Take the time to explain situational baseball and never make a decision based on skill level. Make good baseball decisions. If you have ever bunted with your four-hitter, or bunted a kid because you don?t think he is skilled enough to get a hit, you are not making good baseball decisions. Let the kids play and use your coaching authority when it makes sense.

If you put these four ideas/principles into practice, I guarantee you will see a change in yourself and in your players. Your will see new life in the approach of your players and they will begin working harder and be more disciplined. You do not need a team full of all-stars to win baseball games, you simply need a team full of players who love to come to ballpark everyday to get better. It is your job as baseball coach to inspire them to do so.

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The Greatest Experts at Hitting a Baseball

By Charles Barnard

Athletic competition has always been a major component of a nations cultural heritage. In America professional athletics are a significat piece of our cultural evolution. In American history baseball has had the greatest impact on the American personality. Whether it was Cy Young, Joe Jackson, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Yogi Berra, Bob Gibson, Alex Rodriguez, or Kirby Puckett. Americans have had a love for the game and its heroes. Of all the athletes who have played the game our passions are most often stirred by those who exceptional when it comes to hitting a baseball. Aaron, Ruth, and Bonds are names that will forever be part of our history and psyche.

Most fans understand that hitting a baseball could be the most difficult feat in all of sports. Athletes that have excelled at this not only have earned fantastic incomes but have often obtained legendary status. In recent history, every team has specialized coaches and even psychologists to help players improve their hitting. They use modern technology to help break down and analyze every every pitch a player has seen. They have specialized conditioning programs to help them maintain a level of strength, and fitness that allows them to perform at high levels over their entire careers. Yet, with all this technology and knowledge are hitters today better than hitters of past generations?

Most programs being sold today to improve a player's ability at hitting a baseball consistently and with power focus on the mechanics of the swing. Little attention is given on the mental part of this endeavor. The time that is spent on the mental aspect is superficial and doesn't fully understanding the complex role the human mind playes in athletic performance. Many former players become hitting instructors regardless of whether they know how to teach hitting techniques that result in improved performance. The entire hitting process is rather complex and even the best coaches don't fully understand it. Having been a player for 40 years, but never an accomplished batter, I became curious how much I could have trained my mind and body to have reached higher levels. Could I have overcome any physical limitations I may have been born with to become a major league player? I believe I could have. I decided to put my training in Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Advanced Behavioral Modeling, Time-Line Therapy, and hypnosis and as well as my years of teaching and coaching children to use to develop a holistic approach to hitting a baseball.

I wanted to develop an improved training program for hitting so I had to create a model by discovering what common traits the greatest hitters in history had or have. I had to learn what their beliefs and values were as well as what internal strategies they used when hitting. Lastly, I had to model their swings. I wanted to develop a successful training model so I had to learn from the best of the best. The selection process had to be rigid because the larger my pool of "experts" the more watered down the model becomes. To have the best mental training program for hitting a baseball I had to research the best.

Who are the best hitters ever to play the game? That question has been debated for generations. Every fan has their favorites and legitimate arguments for whether Ruth or Williams, Mantle or Mays, or any other players were the best ever. I was not interested in determining the best player, only the best hitter. The first phase of the research was to determine who the best hitters of all-time are.

When a player steps to the plate his role is to generate a run for his team. There three ways a hitter can generate runs or help to generate runs for his team. First, a player needs to be able to reach base by a hit, walk, or hit by pitch. The second way is by advancing someone who is already on base. A hitter can advance runners with sacrifice flies, sacrifice hits, base hits, extra base hits, hitting behind runners, walks, and hit by pitches. The third way is by getting yourself into scoring position. Players get themselves into scoring position by getting extra base hits or by stealing bases. Bill James, a baseball sabermetrician, has developed a formula for determining how many runs a player creates for his team. He has three different versions. The most accurate version includes statistics such as sacrifice flies, sacrifice hits, hit by pitches, stolen bases, caught stealing, and grounded into double plays. The latter formula is fine for players who played after 1953. The second formula uses stolen base data which is great for players who played after 1950 in the National League and after 1913 for players in the American League. Even without all that data we can use either version 2 or 3 of the formula depending on the era the player played in. The use of this formula is important because it does factor in the ability of players to advance runners with outs as well as hits and walks, and it also includes that ability of players to get them into scoring position with a stolen base. Besides this runs created formula there were other statistics I felt were important to consider. They are used within the runs created formula but I wanted to isolate those more common statistics. It does mean double counting, but I was double counting for all players. Batting average, slugging percentage, and on base percentage are three of the most common statistics that were also used. The final statistic I wanted to consider was strikeouts. A player who rarely strikes out has the uncanny ability of putting the bat on the ball and that is truly the art of hitting.

In selecting my experts I understood that every baseball era was unique. For example, I needed to find a way to compare the dead ball era to other eras. The only fair way to compare players between eras was to compare the statistics of the players to the average player during their career. There have been many changes in baseball over the past century that have impacted hitting. The list would includes night baseball, artificial turf, domed stadiums, plane travel, longer seasons, and the lower pitching mound. Most observers agree that modern day athletes are bigger, stronger, faster, quicker, and generally healthier than athletes of past generations. If these athletes of the past lived in the modern era there is no reason to assume they wouldn't have compared as favorably today given all the modern training regimens. Shoeless Joe Jackson provides a justifiable reason that comparing players to their contemporaries was critical. People who saw him play talked about how complete a player he was. His power and speed were second to none during his day. Playing in the dead ball era would make it difficult to determine how much power he had unless we compared him to his peers. When we do that his statistics give us some indication of the power he had.

I did a statistical analysis of hall of fame players and the top players in each statistical category. Players had to have 4500 at bats because that number would not disqualify you for the hall of fame and 4500 at bats represents 9 years of 500 at bats, enough to do a fair study. Players were compared to the average player of their era. The average player's score was a 100. The better hitter in four of the five categories would have a score greater than 100. Strikeouts were the only category were the better hitter would have a score lower than the average player. Players earned points for being above the league average and lost points if they were below the league average. The points corresponded directly to how far above or below average the player was. I decided to give bonus points if a player was in the top 10 in any category. A player received 100 points for being the best in a category and 10 points if they were 10th best in a category. Lastly I determined a cutoff point to select my experts. I learned that if a hitter had been ranked 10th in the five categories he would have received 280 points, which became my cut off. There were only thirteen players who made the cut and became my experts.

I had to ask myself whether I wanted to go all the way back to the beginning of Major League Baseball or only from the time of integration. I believe that had baseball been open to all races in the first half of the 20th century the statistics of the players prior to integration would have declined. I should be clear they would have declined compared to their peers because a percentage of those who did play would have been replaced by better players from other races moving the average player to a higher plateau and thereby forcing the top players to a slightly lower level. Some have argued that the population base to select athletes from is greater today and others have said that professional football and basketball are far more popular today and siphon talent that at one time would have gone to baseball. My purpose did not necessitate my looking at hard at the statistics to determine which era was better. It was to help me select a model from proven experts using statistics as a guide.

The thirteen players, in order, are Rogers Hornsby, Ted Williams, Babe Ruth, Barry Bonds, Joe Jackson, Albert Pujols, Tris Speaker, Tony Gwynn, Lou Gehrig, Ty Cobb, Mickey Mantle, Nap Lajoie, and Stan Musial. These are not necessarily the best overall players but were the best hitters. Yes, there are great hitters left off, but of course that is the case when you are trying to find the best of the best. Of these players six played most or part of their careers after integration.

While nothing would replace meeting with these players one to one for a complete and thorough modeling session I did have videos, books, and articles to turn to in the modeling process. The model is the most complete that has ever been done.

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Baseball Rules

By Tristan Gallow

Baseball is actually called Our country's Pastime. Having said that, you'd probably be blown away to be aware of exactly how many people aren't able to understand how the game is really played. Well, today will be your lucky day because Now i'm going to show you the guidelines of baseball.

First of all , you need to know regarding baseball is the factthat the offense try's to score "runs" over the defense. This is successfully done just as the pitcher throws a baseball at the catcher whilst an offensive player try's to hit that baseball by using a bat ( thiss will put the ball into play).

Generally if the offensive competitor does place the ball in play than the defense try's to field the ball and get the player which struck the ball out. In order to get the offensive participant out then the defense must throw the ball to another defensive player who is in contact with one of the three bases found on the baseball diamond prior to when the offensive competitor can get there.

In the event the defense gets the ball toward the base before the offensive performer may get there he then is considered out. In case the defense does not get the ball to the base prior to when the offensive performer will come he then is addressed as safe. Whenever the player who actually reached the base is called safe. His purpose is always to touch all three bases and reach home plate. If he does this than the attacking team has just has scored 1 run.

Each team gets 9 innings to end the game with the highest run total. Thus each team takes half an inning to play offense and half an inning to play defense. In the event that the score is tied after 9 innings then the game will be forced to go into extra innings.

This is only a brief overview of the rules of baseball. If you are still confused and you really want to learn how the game is played then it would probably be in your best interest to go out and try playing the game yourself. After all, the best way to learn something is to actually do it first.

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Baseball Scout

By Don James

The Major League Baseball Scouting Bureau and all 30 Main League baseball teams have their own distinctive baseball scouting system. Even though, all of the team's baseball scouts are seeking the exact same critical fields when evaluating a baseball prospect. It really is apparent when evaluating the Main League Baseball Draft on an annual basis. Some teams have a philosophy of drafting high school players, so they can take their time and develop within a Main League Baseball Farm System.

In contrast, some teams prefer to draft established collegiate baseball prospects, due to the fact they may be far more suited to step in and play within several years. An additional Main League Baseball Draft trend will likely be for a team to continuously draft pitching within the 1st few rounds, simply because pitchers are a hot commodity. At the end of the day, it's all about winning ball games.

You will find a lot of elements to contemplate when drafting a prospect, which consists of; physical stature, athletic capability, production, character, work ethic, room for growth/potential, and previous injuries. That's why it's very critical that baseball scouts get out and see every baseball prospect in individual, so that you can get the very best evaluation. Generally the baseball scouting procedure entails evaluating a prospect several times throughout the year to be able to verify that the initial evaluation was accurate. Main League Baseball teams invest millions of dollars on baseball scouting on an annual basis. As a result, these professional organizations wish to ensure they do as thorough of a job as achievable to be able to cross check details.

Technology has played a main role inside the talent evaluation procedure also. Baseball scouts will have laptops equipped with databases of details and they're able to send their reports to the Director of Baseball Operations or General Manager proper after reviewing a prospect. Several years ago the MLB Draft was truly webcasted for the initial time ever. This allowed fans to monitor the draft live to see which baseball prospects their most favorite team just selected. This was monumental, since MLB has never been able to televise their whole draft because of the number of rounds and numerous of the players being selected the average fan has never heard of.

Additionally, sites for example Youtube, UStream, and BaseballTube have made it effortless for baseball coaches, parents, and players to share film for everybody to see. This might be an successful technique for players attempting to gain exposure from professional teams. All they've to do is film their game, upload the file, and start emailing baseball scouts the link.

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Tickets for Sale: Four Reasons to Buy NBA Tickets Instead of Baseball Tickets

By Sherry Smithson

The NBA is expanding its stage internationally and American basketball is developing into a multi-national sport. If you are pondering the idea of purchasing baseball tickets for America's "national past time" for this coming spring, consider your options. Why not think outside the traditional batter's box and purchase tickets to a NBA basketball game played within a state of the art facility? A basketball game is universal and is an attention grabbing sport played in America and throughout the world. You should highly consider purchasing tickets to an NBA basketball game for these four reasons:

1. There is No Chance of Getting Rained Out for Basketball Games

While it's great to go to the ballpark and see your team warming up for summer play, there's nothing great about getting a spring shower that ends up canceling the game. Yes, some teams play in domes that keep out the weather. But that's the case with every basketball team. Rain, snow, sleet, or shine, as long as an area remains safe to travel to, you can count on seeing a full basketball game.

2. You Minimize the Possibility of the Game Lasting Longer than Expected

Additional innings being added to a baseball game can make for a wonderful experience if on a Friday or Saturday. This isn't always the case especially, if the game is on a weeknight or if the spectator has children with them. It is more common for extra innings to be added to a baseball game than an overtime period to a basketball game because in baseball, it is more difficult to score a run than it is to score a basket in basketball. If you prefer having a more structured schedule, the sporting event for you would definitely be basketball.

3. In Baseball, There Are No Cheerleaders

The reasons why cheerleaders remain absent from baseball games remains a mystery. So if you enjoy admiring pretty ladies, baseball can't compare with a sport like basketball, which has cheerleaders. In basketball, cheerleaders are present and provided ample room to run and jump around within foul territory on the basketball court. This provides the icing on the cake when comparing the NBA to the MLB because a ticket for a NBA game provides multiple forms of sports entertainment with basketball and dancing.

4. Players in the NBA are the World's Best Athletes

People dispute this statement all the time. But explain how men who possess a combination of superior height, superior conditioning, superior leaping ability, remarkable strength, and incredible speed aren't the best athletes in the world. As for most Baseball players, former Phillies player, John Kruk, summed the matter up beautifully when he told a restaurant patron, "I ain't an athlete lady, I'm a baseball player."

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Baseball Rules Overview

By Tristan Gallow

Baseball has long been known as America's Pastime. However, you'd be amazed to be aware of exactly how some individuals do not understand how the game is normally performed. Well, today will probably be your lucky day because I am going to show you the rules of baseball.

The first thing you have to know regarding baseball is that the offense try's to score "runs" on the defense. This is achieved as the pitcher tosses a baseball towards the catcher while an offensive competitor try's to smack that baseball by using a bat ( to place the ball in play).

In case the offensive player absolutely does put the ball in play then the defense try's to field the main ball and get the player who smacked the ball out. In order to help get the offensive player out then the defense needs to toss the ball to an alternative defensive performer that is in contact with one of the three bases found on the baseball diamond before the offensive performer does get there.

If the defense gets the ball in direction of the base before the offensive participant will get there then he is actually out. Inside the event the defense ceases to get the ball to the base leading up to when the offensive performer will arrive then he is addressed as safe. In cases when the player who arrived at the base is called safe. His mission is to try to touch the 3 bases and arrive at home plate. If he does this than the the offensive player just obtained one run.

Each individual team should get nine innings to end this game with the greatest run total. Thus, every team usually requires half an inning to play offense as well as one-half inning to play defense. In the event that the score is actually tied right after 9 innings then the contest will probably be required to go into extra innings.

This is definitely only a short summary of the rules of baseball. For anyone who is still perplexed and you genuinely wish to learn the way the game is played then it'd probably be to your advantage to go out and try playing the game your self. After all, the best way to master something is to actually do it first.

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Learn To Play Ball

By Tristan Gallow

Baseball is actually called Our country's Pastime. Nevertheless, you may be blown away to discover precisely how a number of people do not understand how the game is truly performed. Well, today possibly your lucky day because I am going to teach you the laws of baseball.

First of all , you need to know concerning baseball would be that the offense try's to score "runs" on the defense. This can be done just as the pitcher tosses a baseball in the direction of the cather whereas an offensive player try's to hit that ball by way of a bat ( to place the ball into play).

f the offensive game player can put the ball in play than the defense try's to field the main ball to get the ball player that hit the ball out. In order to help get the offensive participant out the defense must throw the ball to an alternative defensive competitor who is coming in contact with one of the three bases on the baseball diamond prior to when the offensive participant should get there.

When the defense gets the ball to the base prior to when the offensive performer will get there he then is considered out. Inside the event the defense ceases to get the ball to the base before the offensive competitor will arrive he then is referred to as safe. In the instance that the player who gotten to the base is considered safe. His mission is to try to touch all three bases and head to home plate. If he does this than the offense has just has scored a single run.

Each team should get nine innings to end this game with the the highest run total. Consequently, every single team takes one-half inning to play offense along with half an inning to play defense. In the instance that the score is tied immediately after 9 innings then the competition will undoubtedly be pushed to enter extra innings.

This is simply a brief report about the principles of baseball. For anyone who is still lost and you genuinely wish to master how the game is played then it would probably be in your greatest interest to go out and try playing the game your self. After all, the simplest way to study something is usually to really do it first.

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The Rules Of Baseball

By Tristan Gallow

Baseball is definitely often known as America's Pastime. Then again, you'd probably be amazed to find out precisely how many individuals can't understand how the game is really played. Well, today possibly your lucky day because Now i'm going to educate you on the rules of baseball.

The first thing you need to know concerning baseball is the offense try's to score "runs" on the defense. This is accomplished while the pitcher throws a baseball towards the the cather while an offensive player try's to hit that baseball making use of bat ( to put the actual ball into play).

If the offensive game player does position the ball in play than the defense try's to field the main ball to get the player who struck the ball out. In order to get the offensive performer out the defense will need to toss the ball completely to another defensive performer who's in contact with one of the three bases within the baseball diamond prior to when the offensive participant can get there.

In the event the defense gets the ball in direction of the base before the offensive performer should get there he then is actually out. Inside the event the defense ceases to get the ball in the direction of the base before the offensive participant will arrive then he is actually safe. In the instance that the ball player whom gotten to the base is considered safe. His mission would be to touch the 3 bases and get to home plate. If he does this than the the offensive player has just has scored one run.

Each and every team receives nine innings to end this game with the highest possible run total. So, every team usually takes half an inning to play offense as well as half an inning agressively play defense. In cases where the score is equal after 9 innings than the competition will undoubtedly be compelled to enter extra innings.

This is certainly merely a short presentation of the rules of baseball. For anyone who is still puzzled and you really want to learn how the game is played then it might probably be beneficial for you to go out and try actively playing the game by yourself. After all, the simplest way to master something is always to actually do it first.

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Learn to get the abs you have always wanted by embarking on a swiss ball workout or you could try using a swiss ball chair.. This article, The Rules Of Baseball is released under a creative commons attribution license.

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All About Denver's Colorado Franchise

By Steve Smith

The Colorado Rockies are a beloved baseball franchise from Denver, Colorado. They are named after the revered Colorado Mountains and were started in 1991. The relatively infantile club started off to a weak start but were successful in slowly turning themselves around and took the national league pennant in the 2007 season.

The territory of Colorado spent countless years and dollars trying to snag a Major League baseball team. In the late 80s, citizens of Denver voted and staggeringly approved a minimal tax increase in order to fund a brand new baseball stadium. The Major League okayed Denver's bid for a team in 1991 and two years later, the newly created franchise was able to play.

They played their first match in New York against the talented Mets and their inaugural home game against Canada. The Expos game was also the team's first win. Tickets to the first games at the new stadium were generally sold out way in advance, even when the Rockies were experiencing losing streaks. In fact, the Rockies' first season proved to be a massive success for the township of Denver.

They ended the 1994 strike shortened year in very last place. Despite the bad record, the organization still earned plenty of good attention thanks to its new status and committed players. In fact, their poor ranking did not stop the team from leading the league in overall stadium attendance.

In 2007, the team eliminated the Los Angeles Dodgers from playoff contention and went on to have an extraordinary season. They won eleven games in a row, a record for the league, and finished the year tied with the Padres for a wild card spot in the year's playoff games. After an extremely close game, the Rockies were able secure the win after an automatic ruling of safe during the last play. It was the fifth greatest comeback in the history of Major League Baseball.

The club swept the Phillies in the first round of playoff games and went on to face the Diamondbacks in Arizona. The Rockies won the first four games and received the coveted National League pennant, a first for them. Their fans, most of whom had been with the team since the very beginning, took to calling the winning streak "Rocktober".

They played the revered Red Sox in the well publicized 2007 World Series and though they ended up losing, their happy fans and admirers were mostly positive about the season. Baseball America labeled the team "Organization of the Season" thanks to their superb players and strong leaders.

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Baseball Tips to Avoid Hitting Slumps

By Jeff Wise

Hitting slumps is a part of baseball that players want to avoid at all costs. While it's not possible to avoid them completely, the next best option is to have the knowledge for how to get out of those situations.

There is a way to beat all slumps and hit better, it just takes the proper skill, patience and some luck. Everyone has slumps occasionally, some people just tend to recognize them earlier and they find a way out quickly.

There are three types of slumps you should know about and learn to get past. First, mechanical slumps are the result of bad swing mechanics. Mental slumps develop when you lose confidence in your ability. And finally, tough luck slumps are times when you continue hitting balls directly at players or have several bad at-bats (or even games) in a row.

The best way to get out of a mechanical slump is to practice the basics of hitting regularly until your skills improve. Remember to wait for the ball and keep your front shoulder and hips back until it's time to swing.

When a mental slump happens, it's best to clear your mind and figure out why your confidence is low. Then, remind yourself that you can get the job done and rebuild your confidence in your hitting abilities. Don't let a continued slump get you down. There's always another at-bat.

The most challenging slump is the tough luck slump. These are the hardest to overcome because they have nothing to do with your mechanics or confidence. You just seem to have a lot of bad luck hitting. Be patient, keep working hard and the slump will go away.

If you can recognize when you're getting into one of these slumps, you can quickly work to make it better. Talk to a coach, parent or teammate and ask them for help. To have a successful baseball career, you have to rely on others. Don't let slumps get you down. Have fun and make the most of your hitting.

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Why Coaching Disposition On The Baseball Field Leads To More Wins

By Dusty Mattingly, Batting Coach

Over the years, I have learned some very valuable information about coaching young players on the baseball field. I learned that coaching really isn?t about teaching baseball, and that players take more away from the game then coaches ever will. As a young player, I learned a lot about how to hit, how to field, run the bases, etc. But the things I learned the most were traits like determination, perseverance, and what it means to be a part of a team. Fortunately for myself, I had extremely caring and knowledgeable coaches along the way that showed me how to approach the game, not just play the game.

Over this past weekend I received a heart felt text from a parent of a player who I have coached over the last few years. She explained that her son would be giving a speech in one his classes this week about what he had learned on the baseball field. It wasn?t about a special hitting drill or technique that had given him more power, it was what he learned about how to approach something with the right mindset and goals in mind. It was about how to hold yourself to a higher standard, perseverance, and determination. You see, as coaches we have the distinct opportunity to help young players understand success and how to achieve it. Of course we can give them the drills and instruction, but the real connection lies within our ability to develop and impact the intangibles like confidence, and motivation.

Take a good look around you next time you are at baseball practice, players come from all different backgrounds and skill levels. On top of that, they all play for different reasons. But they all come to have fun, get better, and be a part of something special. This is precisely why you have to give them something special and unique to be part of. Unfortunately, on a large scale this doesn?t happen which is why the average retirement age of baseball players is 12 years old.

The blame is not solely on the coaches in the community. Parents, rules, and regulations all play a part the baseball experience. I have even seen a player that was told he was too good to participate on a local sports team. Are you kidding me? It?s sad to say, but youth sports has become about politics instead of helping young kids establish positive attributes that can help them long after they are done playing the game. Don?t get me wrong, I am all for protecting kids, but not at the expense of compromising the integrity of the game.

I heard an alarming statistic early on in my playing career. The average retirement age of baseball players is 12 years old. I want you to think about that for a second, 12 years old. My guess is that young players stop playing the game because they have had a bad experience, not because they don?t like to play. I am not placing blame on any one person, but what I am saying is that we need to do a better job of communicating with our players and be aware that we are in a position to make a huge impact on young minds.

So if you are fortunate enough to be involved in with today?s players, I want you to always keep few things in the forefront of you mind to make your life easier. First, your number one baseball coaching goal is to make sure that all of the kids have fun regardless of the skill level. It is great to win, it really is. But just because you are on a winning team doesn?t mean you had a good experience. I have seen countless kids get shoved to the way side while others get all of the attention. Each player deserves just as much attention as the next. Make sure that happens and give just as much instruction based feedback to every player.

The second baseball coaching tip, you are teaching more than becoming a great baseball player, you are teaching about how to become successful in life. If you ask any player what he learned on the baseball field, I can guarantee it will not be some great hitting drill or some amazing game he had. It will be about discipline, integrity, sportsmanship, facing his fears, etc. Do your best to teach your players those attributes along with learning to become a better player. Build their character along with their skill.

Number three, make every player accountable for their actions. If the best player on the team is late to practice, punish the team. If the least skilled player is late to practice, punish the team. No one player is subject to special treatment. I don?t care if it is a big game, sit players down if they have done something out of character. Players respect coaches who treat the team as a team. This will force your players to see the true value of the person next to them and care about each other as people and teammates.

Number four, let your players play the game. If you have ever made a player bunt, because you didn?t feel he was skilled enough to hit, you are not letting your players play the game. Make baseball decisions, not skill level decisions. Teach your kids the importance of situational baseball and why certain decision need to be made and when. And no, if a player asks why a decision was made, ?Because I am the coach? is not a good answer. Communicate with your players so they know what liberties they have as a player and what decisions is best if you control.

I hope these coaching tips have been helpful to you today. If you put these concepts into practice, I guarantee your approach to coaching will change. When you want the best for you players, regardless of who is watching on the outside, you will begin making an impact that will stay with your players for life. They will appreciate your commitment, and will work harder to maximize their potential. At the end of the day, winning baseball games comes down to the coach?s ability to inspire his players to reach new heights.

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All About The Colorado Baseball Franchise Baseball Team

By Steve Smith

The Colorado Rockies are a beloved baseball franchise from Denver, Colorado. They are named after the revered Colorado Mountains and were started in 1991. The relatively infantile club started off to a weak start but were successful in slowly turning themselves around and took the national league pennant in the 2007 season.

The territory of Colorado spent countless years and dollars trying to snag a Major League baseball team. In the late 80s, citizens of Denver voted and staggeringly approved a minimal tax increase in order to fund a brand new baseball stadium. The Major League okayed Denver's bid for a team in 1991 and two years later, the newly created franchise was able to play.

They played their first game in New York against the Mets and their first home game against Montreal. The Expos match was also the franchise's first win. Tickets to the home games were typically sold out well in advance, even when the team was in a losing streak. In fact, the Rockies' rookie season proved to be a huge success for the city of Denver.

The club finished the shortened season, there was a strike, of 1994 in dead last place. But despite the team's poor record their talented players and youngness still garnered positive reviews. Their last place didn't even stop them from leading the rest of the teams in stadium attendance.

In 2007, the team eliminated the Los Angeles Dodgers from playoff contention and went on to have an extraordinary season. They won eleven games in a row, a record for the league, and finished the year tied with the Padres for a wild card spot in the year's playoff games. After an extremely close game, the Rockies were able secure the win after an automatic ruling of safe during the last play. It was the fifth greatest comeback in the history of Major League Baseball.

They swept the Philadelphia Phillies in the playoff's first round and then went on to face the Arizona Diamondbacks. The favored underdogs from Denver won all four of the games and received the National League's coveted pennant, a very first for them. Their fans, who had been with them through everything, began calling the impressive winning streak Rocktober.

In the World Series that year the club faced off with the Red Sox from Boston but lost. Still sportscasters and fans were positive about their year. A popular baseball magazine even named the franchise the organization of the year due in part to their stable leadership and superb playing.

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Baseball Tips to Avoid Hitting Slumps

By Jeff Wise

Baseball players hate hitting slumps. It's something they try to avoid at all costs. Tips for how to get out of a slump are very helpful and every player wants to know them.

Hitters need a full-proof plan to steer clear of slumps. Patience, proper skill and some luck will help. And while every player gets in slumps occasionally, with the right tips you will be able to escape them more quickly.

There are three main hitting slumps players face. The first is mechanical slumps, which has to do with bad swing mechanics. The second is mental slumps, created by doubting yourself and losing confidence. The third is tough luck slumps, when you just can't seem to get a good hit.

There is a way out of each of these slumps, but first you have to recognize which slump you're in. To overcome a mechanical slump, go back to the basics of hitting and practice, practice, practice until you get it right.

If you're in a mental slump, do whatever it takes to clear your mind of distractions. Doubting yourself can cause you to have a bad game. Regain your confidence and approach the plate knowing you will get a hit. The good news is that you can always redeem yourself at your next at-bat.

The most challenging slump is the tough luck slump. These are the hardest to overcome because they have nothing to do with your mechanics or confidence. You just seem to have a lot of bad luck hitting. Be patient, keep working hard and the slump will go away.

Knowing the difference in these three slumps will help you recognize them when they happen to you. Applying these tips will help you get out of the slumps quicker. Don't be afraid to ask others for help and to let them know how you're struggling. Remember that slumps come and go and you shouldn't let them discourage you. Baseball hitting is fun and is meant to be enjoyed.

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Jobs in Baseball

By Johnny Lang

There are 30 Major League Baseball professional teams, and close to three hundred teams in Division-I collegiate baseball alone, the baseball industry is enormous, and expanding With innovation, persistence, and a little bit of hard work, anyone can work in an enjoyable baseball job.

Baseball Scouting

One method to acquire a baseball job is to become a baseball scout. Although being employed in the baseball sector as a baseball scout may seem to involve nothing more than watching game tape, being a baseball scout is one of the most difficult jobs in the business. Before working for the Major League Baseball, many have to work up the ranks through intern positions, called associate baseball scouts. After achieving a solid reputation, some scouts may be elevated to manage a region that a college or professional team is particularly interested in. Required skills include: good judgment, likability among coaches and players, listening, hard work, and the ability to endure lots of travel. On a daily basis, baseball scouts will have to obtain profound knowledge of players and coaches on a very individual level. This consists of watching a lot of games, and being connected with your staff, as well as the team you are looking at. Teams require many baseball scouts all over the country, making this job opportunity the most open to the most significant number of people.

Baseball Coaching

Another avenue to acquire a job in baseball is to become a coach. Baseball coaches help to make the team run smoothly. From dealing with the fiery, aggressive personalities on the team, to making sure strategies address the needs of the team, coaches have a lot of responsibilities. Baseball involves lots of different skills, all of which have to be focused on. Baseball coaches will be highly engaged in strength and versatility pitching, training and hitting techniques, base running, and strategy. To the discouragement of some, it is not possible to coach the Red Sox or Yankees . Many baseball coaches work their way up from minor league, college, or even high school level teams. For individuals with little past experiences in baseball, high school baseball may be an opportunity to obtain acknowledgment, opening doors to coach higher level teams.

Ticket Sales

Sports ticket sales offers another signifies to attain a baseball career. When advertising season-ticket passes and box seating, sports ticket managers seek to enhance profit. Sociability is extremely recommended to cultivate good relationships with fans. Making sure the full satisfaction of fans is usually a priority, achieved by accommodating seats to see the field of play, charging fair prices, and handling refunds gently and respectfully. As the majority of ticket sales models are now technology-driven, baseball ticket sales managers should be very technical savvy. Numerous sports ticket sales managers may work for a company, due to the fact of the increased demands. This may possibly mean that different skills will be accepted in order to meet all of the baseball jobs provided.

Marketing & Promotions

Promotions and event marketers develop a completely unique encounter for baseball-goers. In coordination with the game day manager, individuals will supervise advertisement, as well as marketing giveaways. Keeping cool under pressure is a must, because of the rigorous nature of the position. Difficulties must be dealt in very creative, ingenious ways. By making the fan experience a positive one, promotions and event marketers keep fans coming back again to see their favorite team. Billboard, newspaper and regular advertising, and social media and online advertising will be handled by various event promoters. Marketers may be assembled by their particular skills, in order to create the highest attendances attainable.

As you can see, there are different forms of baseball jobs so guarantee that you acquire a area that you genuinely appreciate.

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Baseball: The Scouting Industry

By Don James

The Major League Baseball Scouting Bureau and all 30 Main League baseball teams have their own distinctive baseball scouting system. Even though, all of the team's baseball scouts are seeking the exact same critical fields when evaluating a baseball prospect. It really is apparent when evaluating the Main League Baseball Draft on an annual basis. Some teams have a philosophy of drafting high school players, so they can take their time and develop within a Main League Baseball Farm System.

In contrast, some teams prefer to draft established collegiate baseball prospects, due to the fact they could be much more suited to step in and play within a couple of years. An additional Main League Baseball Draft trend will probably be for a team to continuously draft pitching within the 1st few rounds, since pitchers are a hot commodity. At the end of the day, it's all about winning ball games.

You will find numerous elements to take into account when drafting a prospect, which consists of; physical stature, athletic capacity, production, character, work ethic, room for growth/potential, and previous injuries. That's why it's very critical that baseball scouts get out and see every baseball prospect in individual, so that you can get the most effective evaluation. Normally the baseball scouting procedure entails evaluating a prospect a couple of times throughout the year to be able to verify that the initial evaluation was accurate. Main League Baseball teams invest millions of dollars on baseball scouting on an annual basis. For that reason, these professional organizations desire to make certain they do as thorough of a job as achievable so that you can cross check data.

Technology has played a main role inside the talent evaluation procedure also. Baseball scouts will have laptops equipped with databases of details and they're able to send their reports to the Director of Baseball Operations or General Manager proper after reviewing a prospect. Several years ago the MLB Draft was truly webcasted for the initial time ever. This allowed fans to monitor the draft live to see which baseball prospects their most favorite team just selected. This was monumental, since MLB has never been able to televise their whole draft because of the number of rounds and numerous of the players being selected the average fan has never heard of.

Additionally, sites for example Youtube, UStream, and BaseballTube have made it effortless for baseball coaches, parents, and players to share film for everybody to see. This might be an successful technique for players attempting to gain exposure from professional teams. All they've to do is film their game, upload the file, and start emailing baseball scouts the link.

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What's Wrong With The Colts?

By Paul Jackson

I was watching the AFC wildcard matchup in between the Jets along with the Colts and there was a single apparent mismatch within the game all evening. It wasn't Peyton Manning against the Jets pass defense the Jets running game. against the Colts run defense. The mismatch was on the sideline. It was Jim Caldwell that was overmatched.

As significantly as it pains me to say this, the Colts require a brand new coach. Caldwell was out schemed and out coached by Rex Ryan along with the Jets. He failed to create adjustments to ensure that his finest offensive weapon would get the football. Reggie Wayne wasn't even involved on Saturday. Caldwell should have moved Wayne about and ran plays to getWayne involved.

What about the infamous timeout? For what purpose did he call a timeout? What was the logic in that? I am sure that Jim Caldwell is a good man but I think he is in over his head as the Colts head coach. He can get them to the playoffs but he is not Tony Dungy. Peyton Manning is 35 and there are only so many years left in his golden right arm.

The Colts require a leader who can create game plans that give their team the best possibility for good results. The Colts didn't have that this past weekend. Dungy's specialty was in making his defense the best and obtaining the most out of them. He created a defense full of lower round picks and made them good. Caldwell is an offensive coach but he doesn't bring much to the Colt's offense. Every person knows that the Colts offense is the creation of Peyton Manning and Tom Moore.

Last year's Super Bowl appearance is not enough to save his job. Don't forget how great the teams of Brad Childress and Wade Phillips looked last year. Each men have been ceremoniously dismissed given that then.

The Colts will be the best organization for a big name head coach to come into and lead into the playoffs for two or three years.

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The Best Players of All Time at Hitting a Baseball

By Charles Barnard

Athletics have always been an important part of human civilization. In the development of our country sports have played an important part in the social evolution of our populace. There is no sport that has had a greater impact on the psyche of the American citizen than baseball. From Christy Mathewson to Roger Clemens, from Babe Ruth to Albert Pujols, Americans have had a love affair with the game and its heroes. Of all the heroes and their legends the most talked about are those who were the best at hitting a baseball. Ruth, Cobb, Williams, Dimaggio, Hornsby, Mantle, Mays, Aaron, Gehrig, Bonds, McGwire, and Ripken are names that that are forever part of American folklore.

Hitting a baseball is arguably the most difficult feats in all of sports. Players that have done it well have earned fantastic incomes and often legendary status in American culture. In the modern era, every team has hitting coaches and sometimes sports psychologists to help players improve their hitting. They have video and computers to help break down and analyze every at bat, indeed, every pitch. They have strength and conditioning coaches to help them maintain a level of strength, and fitness that will allow them to excel over long periods of time. Yet, with all this technology and knowledge are hitters today better than hitters of yesteryear.

Most programs being sold today to improve a player's ability at hitting a baseball consistently and with power focus on the mechanics of the swing. Little attention is given on the mental part of this endeavor. The time that is spent on the mental aspect is superficial and doesn't fully understanding the complex role the human mind playes in athletic performance. Many former players become hitting instructors regardless of whether they know how to teach hitting techniques that result in improved performance. The entire hitting process is rather complex and even the best coaches don't fully understand it. Having been a player for 40 years, but never an accomplished batter, I became curious how much I could have trained my mind and body to have reached higher levels. Could I have overcome any physical limitations I may have been born with to become a major league player? I believe I could have. I decided to put my training in Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Advanced Behavioral Modeling, Time-Line Therapy, and hypnosis and as well as my years of teaching and coaching children to use to develop a holistic approach to hitting a baseball.

I wanted to develop an improved training program for hitting so I had to create a model by discovering what common traits the greatest hitters in history had or have. I had to learn what their beliefs and values were as well as what internal strategies they used when hitting. Lastly, I had to model their swings. I wanted to develop a successful training model so I had to learn from the best of the best. The selection process had to be rigid because the larger my pool of "experts" the more watered down the model becomes. To have the best mental training program for hitting a baseball I had to research the best.

Who are the best hitters ever to play the game? That question has been debated for generations. Every fan has their favorites and legitimate arguments for whether Ruth or Williams, Mantle or Mays, or any other players were the best ever. I was not interested in determining the best player, only the best hitter. The first phase of the research was to determine who the best hitters of all-time are.

Every time a hitter steps to the plate his role is to help his team generate a run. There three primary means a batter can create runs or help to create runs for his team. First, a hitter needs to be able to get on base via a hit, walk, or hit batter. The second way is to move a baserunner along the base paths. A hitter can move runners with sacrifice flies, bunts, base hits, extra base hits, hitting behind runners, walks, and hit by pitches. The final way is by moving yourself into scoring position or by scoring yourself. Players can do that by getting doubles, triples, or homeruns or by stealing bases. Bill James developed a mathematical method for figuring out how many runs a player generates for his team. There are three different versions of the formula. The most complete version includes sacrifice flies and hits, hit by pitches, stolen bases, caught stealing, and grounded into double plays, among the more traditional batting statistics. The latter formula is fine for players who played after 1953. The second formula includes stolen base data, which works well for hitters whose careers were post 1950 in the National League and 1913 in the American League. Even if you didn't use all that data either version 2 or 3 could be used depending on the time frame the hitters career included. The formula is an important tool because it factors in the ability of players to move runners along the base paths with outs or hits and walks. It also includes the ability of a player to get into scoring position by means of the stolen base. I decided there were other statistics to consider. The more tradition batting statistics are used in the runs created formulas but I decided I also wanted to consider them separately. It does mean I am counting them twice, but I was still treating all players equally. Batting average, slugging percentage, and on base percentage are the big three when it comes to batting statistics. The final stat I decided to consider was number of strikeouts. A player doesn't strike out much has the amazing ability of consistently putting the ball into play and that is the most fundamental aspect of hitting.

In selecting my experts I understood that every baseball era was unique. For example, I needed to find a way to compare the dead ball era to other eras. The only fair way to compare players between eras was to compare the statistics of the players to the average player during their career. There have been many changes in baseball over the past century that have impacted hitting. The list would includes night baseball, artificial turf, domed stadiums, plane travel, longer seasons, and the lower pitching mound. Most observers agree that modern day athletes are bigger, stronger, faster, quicker, and generally healthier than athletes of past generations. If these athletes of the past lived in the modern era there is no reason to assume they wouldn't have compared as favorably today given all the modern training regimens. Shoeless Joe Jackson provides a justifiable reason that comparing players to their contemporaries was critical. People who saw him play talked about how complete a player he was. His power and speed were second to none during his day. Playing in the dead ball era would make it difficult to determine how much power he had unless we compared him to his peers. When we do that his statistics give us some indication of the power he had.

I couldn't analyze every player so I looked at hall of famers and top ten career leaders in the major statistical categories I already mentioned. If a player should have 4500 at bats at a minimum because that would not disqualify you for the hall of fame; there are hall of famers with fewer at bats. Furthermore, 4500 at bats represents 9 years of 500 at bats providing enough data for a reasonable statistical analysis. Players were compared to the average player of their generation. The average player's score was a 100. In four of the five statistical categories to be better than average you would have a score higher than 100. In the strikeout category you actually wanted to be less than 100 as you wanted to have fewer strikeouts than the average player. Each hitter was awarded points based on how far above the league average they were and lost points for each point below the league average they were. I gave the top 10 in each statistical category exta points to help narrow down the field. If a player was ranked number one he received 100 points and if he ranked number 10 he received 10 points. Next I determined a cutoff point to be considered part of my expert group. If a player were 10th in the five statistical categories he would have had 280 points. The 280 points became my cutoff point. Thirteen players made the cut and became my experts.

I did question how far back I should look to get my experts, from the very beginning or just since integration? Most fans understand that if baseball was open to all races for its entire history the statistics of the players prior to integration would not have been as good because had the best from every race been able to compete a percentage of those who did play would have been replaced by better players. That would have moved the average player to a higher statistical level and moved the elite hitter to a slightly lower plateau. It is also true that the increased population today provides more athletes to select from but it is also true that professional football and basketball are far more popular today then in the first half of the last century and draw off talent that used to go to baseball. I did not need to concern myself with those arguments because I wasn't interested in which era the players were better. My purpose was to help me select a group of experts using statistics as a guide.

The thirteen players, in order, are Rogers Hornsby, Ted Williams, Babe Ruth, Barry Bonds, Joe Jackson, Albert Pujols, Tris Speaker, Tony Gwynn, Lou Gehrig, Ty Cobb, Mickey Mantle, Nap Lajoie, and Stan Musial. These are not necessarily the best overall players but were the best hitters. Yes, there are great hitters left off, but of course that is the case when you are trying to find the best of the best. Of these players six played most or part of their careers after integration.

I could not have had access to all of those players and nothing would replace a one to one thorough modeling session. I did have video recordings, books, and articles to use in the process. There is no more of a complete model is than this one.

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Do you know anyone who wants to be better athitting a baseball? Learn how to get involved in a unique research project. If you are coaching baseball this page is for you.

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Phillies Sign Ryan Howard To Hefty Contract Extension

By Ross Everett

Philadelphia Phillies' slugger Ryan Howard has two years remaining on his current contract with the club, but the team had no interest in potentially losing him as a free agent. For that reason, the Phillies have worked out a hefty contract extension with Howard that will pay him an average $25 million a year for the next five years. The 30 year old Howard has played his entire career with the Phillies, leading the team to two consecutive World Series including a victory in 2008.

Howard spoke of his loyalty to the team as a primary reason that he accepted the deal without hesitation:

"That wasn't a very hard decision."

"I tell you what, it's a great feeling to have that security and know where you're going to be. I feel what I've been doing over the last couple of years, I feel pretty confident that down the road, I'll be right where I want to be and still doing the same things."

He then threw in a playful jab at the notoriously demanding Philadelphia fans:

"Hopefully there's no riots taking place back in Philly."

Even Philadelphia's GM Ruben Amaro, Jr. was in a joking mood:

"As part of this deal, he has agreed to buy a second home for me."

He then gave a more serious take:

"We just felt it was good timing for us. We felt No. 1, he's one of the elite offensive players in the game. We could have waited another year and a half or so and dealt with it later on, but the fact of the matter is we decided he is that important to our organization and to our club and to our future."

Howard's agent Casey Close was also positive:

"This is a very good contract for him. The reason he felt the time was right was he loves his teammates, he loves the city. He wanted to be a part of something special for a long time to come."

As was team manager Charlie Manuel:

"This is absolutely great. We signed Ryan Howard quite a few years ago and that means we're keeping him. He's one of our guys, he is a Phillie. It's big for our team. That's what you set out for. He's very worthy of it. He is a great player and he is going to continue to be a great player for a while. Everything about it's good."

There is some risk involved for the ball club-despite a team option for the 2017 season they're banking that Howard will remain a high level offensive player. The size of the contract, if nothing else, would make him almost impossible to trade should the team decide to go in a different direction.

About the Author:

Ross Everett is a widely published freelance sports writer and noted authority on NFL football betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.

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Five Iconoclastic Baseball Batting Drills Revealed

By Dusty Mattingly, Batting Coach

The first thing I always say when I begin any baseball lecture is, "Player's are not stupid." This is to make an impression yes, but more importantly I want put to rest that Little League players are not "advanced" enough to understand the intricate details of hitting a baseball. At the end of the day, players only care about getting better. Training them with the drills that are going to help them get better regardless of how old a player is always appreciated. Unfortunately in today's world, there are 101 different drills that have been so watered down that it makes it very difficult to make any real progress. As a result, I want to give you 5 top-quality batting drills that are guaranteed to help you player make adjustments at the plate.

First off, let me explain why these drills are head and heels above all the other ones that are on the market. Believe it or not, it has nothing to do with the drills themselves. Players are naturally "stubborn" when it comes to making changes to their swing. Often times you will hear, "It feels uncomfortable" or "This throws me off" for which my response is "Good!" People are a afraid of change because it means a different result that they have never experienced before. With that mind, if a player has never felt uncomfortable in his batting training, all he has bee doing is excising by swinging a bat.

This is where I come in. I don't believe the best method of training is trying to convince someone to feel uncomfortable to make progress. That is a loosing battle for any coach and it's simply not going to happen. Instead, I like to design drills that force players out their comfort zone naturally. That way, when they go back to their "normal swing", adjustments have been made and they don't even know it. I call this technique "overtraining" or "over-exaggerating" the swing path. If that sounds a bit too theoretic for you, let's hop right into the drills so you see the method to my madness.

Top 5 Baseball Batting Drill Number One: The Samurai Drill. When I first got back into coaching, I began noticing a trend in most young players. They are what I characterize as "weight loaders". "Weight loaders" are typically stiff by nature and carry a lot of tension in their body that results in difficulty separating the hands and front leg during the load portion of the swing. As a result, I designed this drill to break that tension barrier. Have you player place his feet all the way together, and his have hands extended out straight towards the pitcher. Yes, it should be on the other side of his body. This is our starting position. From there we break the swing down into load and swing. On the load, the player draws his hands across his body to comfortable hitting position, and extends his front leg out towards the pitcher. For this drill only, I want the player to keep 90% of his weight on the backside of his body. This is done to over train the disconnect of his hands and feet. From there, the player takes his swing freely. Goal: Become comfortable with our hands and front leg loading away from our body.

Unorthodox baseball batting drill number 2, the Oar Drill. Nothing says baseball like an oar to paddle a boat right? In this drill you take the bat out your players hands and replace it with an oar. Then, have your player place the oar behind his back leaving the open face of the oar extended as the hitting surface. As you soft toss tennis balls to your player, he naturally has to rotate his back leg to hit the ball. This is a great drill to help players understand how to use their backside more appropriately and efficiently to give them more power.

Top 5 Baseball Batting Drill Number Three: Top Hand Drill. Out of all the drills I put my players through, this is the drill they struggle with the most. This is partly because using the hands is the most highly misunderstood step of the swing, but because players simply do not understand what it means to drive their hands to the inside part of the baseball. For this drill, have your player grip the bat with both hands. Then, have him open his top hand so just his palm is touching the bat. After that, he should place the back of his top hand on the other side of the handle. Finally, flip the hand over so the palm of his hand is on the opposite side of the handle and his thumb is pointing down. Note: Never grip the bat with your top hand. The goal is to push the handle of the bat through the zone with your top hand as you swing. For those of you out there who think you will not be able to generate any power, I have seen my players hit doubles off the wall in batting practice to all fields. The key is to extend your top hand to the field of play you want to hit the baseball. Goal: Understand what it feels like to drive your hands hard to the baseball.

Unorthodox baseball batting drill number 4, the Carrier Drill. Making up for timing mistakes is one of, if not the most important aspect of hitting a baseball. Saying that, it is very rarely practiced. This drill involves two tees placed in a line. The tees should be at the same height and anywhere from a foot to two feet apart. Next, place a baseball on each tee. The goal is to have the player hit both baseballs with one swing. In order for a player to do this effectively, the bat must be kept level through the hitting zone. This is why I use the idea of landing the bat on an aircraft carrier, because they are long and flat.

Tope 5 Baseball Batting Drill Number 5: The Reverse Bucket Drill. You are sure to get an awkward look from your player the first time he works out using this drill. Saying that, at the end of the drill he will come away with better balance, and a better finish. Have your player take his batting stance. Then, place a bucket under his back leg for him to step on. This elevates the back foot dramatically and removes stability from his stance. Then have him load and swing. Note: Players back leg lightly rotates or rolls onto the topside of their foot as they swing. If the player over rotates the bucket will fall over. The key to this drill is staying balanced through contact and finishing through the baseball instead of around his body. Goal: Understand how over-rotating can affect you power through contact.

If you think these drills are unorthodox, I would say that is a definite maybe. However, they get results and the last time I checked that is the name of the game. After performing these batting drills players will have a much better understanding of what it takes to be a successful hitter, and will have a clear picture of the type of swing they are striving for. Use these batting drills during your next baseball training session and being taking the steps to becoming a better batter today.

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Baseball: The Scouting Industry

By Don James

The Major League Baseball Scouting Bureau and all 30 Main League baseball teams have their own distinctive baseball scouting system. Even though, all of the team's baseball scouts are trying to find the exact same critical fields when evaluating a baseball prospect. It's apparent when evaluating the Main League Baseball Draft on an annual basis. Some teams have a philosophy of drafting high school players, so they can take their time and develop within a Main League Baseball Farm System.

In contrast, some teams prefer to draft established collegiate baseball prospects, due to the fact they may be far more suited to step in and play within several years. An additional Main League Baseball Draft trend will likely be for a team to continuously draft pitching within the 1st few rounds, simply because pitchers are a hot commodity. At the end of the day, it's all about winning ball games.

You will find a lot of elements to contemplate when drafting a prospect, which consists of; physical stature, athletic capability, production, character, work ethic, room for growth/potential, and previous injuries. That's why it's very critical that baseball scouts get out and see every baseball prospect in individual, so that you can get the very best evaluation. Generally the baseball scouting procedure entails evaluating a prospect several times throughout the year to be able to verify that the initial evaluation was accurate. Main League Baseball teams invest millions of dollars on baseball scouting on an annual basis. As a result, these professional organizations wish to ensure they do as thorough of a job as achievable to be able to cross check details.

Technology has played a main role within the talent evaluation procedure also. Baseball scouts will have laptops equipped with databases of info and they're able to send their reports to the Director of Baseball Operations or General Manager appropriate after reviewing a prospect. Several years ago the MLB Draft was truly webcasted for the initial time ever. This allowed fans to monitor the draft live to see which baseball prospects their most favorite team just selected. This was monumental, simply because MLB has never been able to televise their whole draft as a result of the number of rounds and numerous of the players being selected the average fan has never heard of.

Additionally, internet sites for example Youtube, UStream, and BaseballTube have made it straightforward for baseball coaches, parents, and players to share film for everybody to see. This could be an successful technique for players attempting to gain exposure from professional teams. All they've to do is film their game, upload the file, and start emailing baseball scouts the link.

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