Reflections of a 15u Baseball Season: What some 15-year-olds taught me about what George Brett taught me 10 years ago!

Reflections of a 15u Baseball Season:

What some 15-year-olds taught me about what George Brett taught me 10 years ago!

So, this past weekend marked the end of my first ever coaching endeavor.  I've spent the last 2 months, or so, as the pitching coach for a 15u baseball team, here in Middle Tennessee.  I get the question all the time, "how was it?" or, "how did it go?"  My best reply is something along the lines of this.

"It was good.  A little frustrating at times, but a lot of fun.  The kids were really good kids… most of the time.  They listened very well….. usually, which made it easy….. sometimes. I saw 5 errors in one inning followed shortly thereafter by a complete game shutout.  There was highs.  There were lows.  I saw 3 (or 4) intentional walks in a row (not by us, of course).  I even had an umpire ask ME if the guy was safe!  The bottom line is this though, at the exact moment you're fighting off the urge to smash the water cooler with a bat because Billy just struck out on a ball 2 feet over his head…. for the 7th time, you realize….. they're 15.  I quickly think back to when I was 15, and it brings a smile to my face, because I know that these kids are twice the player, and three times the person I was, and they have a bright future!"

So…… What did I learn???

From time to time, throughout the season, I tried to instill small tidbits of ideas, dealing mostly along the lines of mental approach and situational philosophies.  I felt like that was the kind of stuff that, generally, get looked over the most at the youth level.  So, after the last game of the season, I wanted to leave them with some sort of "final thought," ala Jerry Springer.  I wanted to give them something they could easily translate into other sports and even other avenues of life.  I decided to talk to them about "how to play the game right."  I got about 4 words into it and I could feel it coming!  I thought maybe I could just muscle past it and I'd be fine once I did.  I continued to speak, with the feeling growing more and more intense.  You see, the topic was playing the game right, and when it's all said and done, don't have any regrets.  And there's the magical statement…. "when it's all said and done."  And I couldn't hold back the tears any longer.

Part of my talk was recalling some things that George Brett had said in spring training one year, as he addressed the entire minor league battalion.  Mr. Brett was talking about playing the game every day like it was your last, and when that last day does comes, being sure that nothing was left on the table and there are no regrets.  As George reached the part where he mentions that last day, the day you "hang 'em up," he began to shed a tear.  I sat there in wonderment as I watched a Hall of Fame player cry as he spoke about his time as a player, and to see how much the game had meant to him.  I can remember thinking, "Man, I hope my career will be great enough so that one day I might look back on it and shed a tear."

And so, there I was, in front of ten 15-year-olds, sobbing as I spoke about my thoughts on how to play the game right, and how to play it with pride, and play it like you mean, and play it because YOU want to know how good you are.  All I could think of was how George Brett had done the same.  I was like George Brett!!  

It really sank in on the car ride home as I sat there and thought about that very statement.  I was like George Brett.  But my career never came close to, even remotely, resembling what his was.  I like to think I got a little more than "a cup of coffee," but it sure wasn't Hall of Fame material.  And that's when it slapped me right across the face.  It's not about the results, the accolades, the fame, or the money.  I'm sure they would have been nice.  But in the end It's about the game, the will to compete, and the desire to prove yourself to no one other than, YOURSELF.  That's what makes it hard in the end.  To know that you poured your heart and soul into something, and then it just stopped.  That's the kicker with sports.  The heart and soul may always remain in tact, but at some point your opportunities will run out.  It has finally dawned on me that I can look back on my "body of work" thus far, back on everything that I gave my all to, and hang my hat on it.  Maybe it didn't end like I had imagined it would, but I can look back and hold my head up high knowing that I played the game right.  And maybe it was just a pot of coffee, but it was one of the best pots I've ever had!

A special thank you to the 15u Middle Tennessee Bruins for reviving my innocence for he game of baseball!

Why is it so difficult to throw hard?

Testing Limits: Where's the UMPH?

I've said it before and I'll say it again, every pitcher on the face of the planet would enjoy throwing harder.  Some may be stubborn and try to make some sort of "I don't want to sacrifice control for velocity" argument, and, the hypothetical that I am proposing here, is that you wouldn't be.  So, if you could keep you current command AND throw harder, wouldn't you want to??

Of Course You Would!!!  Stop lying to trying and prove me wrong.

*Honesty Alert* - The harder you throw, the less accurate you need to be.  

Now, everyone's going to blow a gasket and point out the 98 mph fastball that some prolific Major Leaguer smashed into orbit the other night.  My answer, to which, is the key words here being "Major Leaguer."  Most of the clientele reading this article are of high school caliber and below.  

So, here's another *Honesty Alert* - if you can throw mid 80's in high school with a mediocre second pitch, you can aim for the middle, mix your pitches, and do pretty well.  So here's to you, "Big League Example Givers," do you really think Aroldis Chapman aims for the corners??  What's that?  Your son's NOT Aroldis Chapman, you say!  How do you know??  He's only 11!!!!!

Kids today do need to learn how to develop, and master, the ability of pushing their physical limits.

Reasons that kids do not push/test their velocity: Here are my main, and very opinionated, reasons that kids do not test their abilities.  

1) Lack of Strength

I'm speaking mostly about the younger athletes, here, but not exclusively.  When you're dealing with younger pitchers (I'm not going to put an age stamp on it because everyone's different) a lot of kids just don't have the hip and leg strength to stabilize all the force that maximum exertion creates.  A lot of times, younger pitchers will plateau with individual pitching lessons because they reach a point where their delivery has become efficient, but they just lack the physical ability to progress further.

2) They Don't Know How

Quite simply put, if they've never done it before, or tried it before, how do they know how to do it.  We are not talking about a humanly innate trait, like walking.  We are talking about an extremely complex and learned skill.  Again, this speaks mostly to the younger crowd.  But, lets make something very clear, that's when most of our learning takes place.  Just like walking, talking, and all of those innate skills that we develop as humans, learning how to throw to our maximum energy output potential at an early will be much more beneficial.  Think about 2 different pitchers, one is 13, the other is 43.  Which one do you feel, more confidently, you could teach how to throw 90 mph?  A little extreme, I know, but you get the point.  Start 'em young.  Which leads me to my next, and probably most controversial, reason.

3) Youth Baseball

In today's world, single sport specialization is becoming more and more prevalent.  With this specialization, you will also see more of a premium placed on winning, and not development.  Travel Ball, in this day and age, has become a must if you'd like to see your young athlete grow and reach his/her potential.  Bear with me, and please do not mistake the root of my message.  I think Travel Ball is an exceptional arena for young players to develop and learn the game.  Quite frankly, the caliber of coaches, in general, is much higher, and the exposure of weekly tournament play will speed up the "in game experience" learning curve.  Here's the kicker though.

With parents paying more out of pocket, and most of the games played within a tournament structure, a very high premium is placed on winning.  Now, obviously, we want our youth to learn to skills and attributes required to compete, but that comes with consequences.  I find so many kids, due high demands on "winning performance," scared to death to throw a "wild" pitch because Coach said that "we CAN'T walk anyone!"  They know that 2 walks in a row can lead to a quick hook in todays realm of over-enthused youth baseball.

Now, here's where we toe the line.  I AM NOT SAYING THAT it's o.k. to fire 12 straight fastballs to the backstop, in an effort just to see how hard you can actually throw.  There's a time and place for everything, and the time for that is in practice.  WHAT I AM SAYING, is that kids need to be kids, and that "self exploration" of maximum effort should be encouraged.  The ideal scenario would be for the young athlete to reach an understanding of "practice" and "game" performance.  

At the end of many of my private pitching lessons, I often challenge my pitchers to throw a few as hard as they possibly can.  I just want to see what they do.  I tell them that I don't care if they get way off balance, fly open, fall over, or any other cliche pitching faux pas.  I just want to see how hard they can throw.  And with wide eyes, and an exuberant smile, they always agree with enthusiasm.  As if they are about to show me the next "Nolan Ryan Arm."  They wind up.  They "cut it loose."  Now, from here one of two things happens.  They launch one 10 ft, clear over the target, and immediately creep back into their "control shell" because they know that if Coach saw that, he might have something to say about it.  Or, nothing more than a controlled step and throw, into a "fielding position" finish is the result, followed by a look to me as if to say, "did you see how perfect my form was, and how I'm now ready to field a ball?"

I never get upset with the result.  It's not their fault.  They just can't quite grasp it……yet.  I just a little saddened by the "unspiritted" effort.  Where's the flash?  Where's the desire to throw a ball through a brick wall?  I wanna see it!!

If you never test your limits, how do you know where they are?................. or if they even exist??

Drill of the Week: Power Position Throws

I'm starting a new addition to Bayzball, with my drill of the week.  To get things started I'm going to start with the simplest, most basic drill I have in my repertoire:  Power Position Throws.

One of the hardest things to teach, or for that matter, a young pitcher to understand is what constitutes as good arm action.  In order to throw the ball with optimal force and limited risk of injury we need to get our arm into a position that will recruit the muscles in the arm, to keep the ligaments and elbow joint safe.  To achieve this, we need to throw with a bent arm at foot strike, and think about bringing our elbow through the throwing path.  You'll see a lot of kids try and throw with a stiff, or straightened arm (like a javelin thrower.)  This will place unwanted stress across the front of the shoulder, and the elbow.  Start your throwing program every day with the Power Position Drill.  It will reinforce your arm to get into it's most powerful position, and thus, the correct one.

So, how can I get Jr. throwing harder??

So the reoccurring theme to many of my post-lesson conversations, talks with dads, or just BS sessions with curious people is this, "so, how can we get him/them to throw harder?"

AHA!  There it is.  You can dance around it all you want, but it's becoming apparent that this is what the "real" concern is.  Well, here's the best I can give you.  I'm going to break this into 2 parts.  The first will cover those inquiries regarding pitchers 13 years old and younger, and the second will be a more general statement geared toward the Jr. High/High School kid and above.

So, dad, your son is 10 and you want him to throw harder!  1.) Throw!  Nothing is going to create arm strength, at an age as early as that, better than throwing.  After a long discussion we both reach the agreement that this is, in fact, the most logical way to achieve more velocity, dad heads off to the field with Jr.  to start heaving balls as far as they can.  Not a bad concept, but it's not that simple.

There are a few things we need to be aware of before we begin our "ball-heaving" endeavor to create better arm strength.  First, and foremost, there is a correct way to throw.  I don't mean that everyone has to throw with the same arm slot, and mechanics.  NO!  We are not robots.  We are individuals, and just like our fingerprints, everyone throws a little bit differently.  What I do mean, is that we must understand HOW to use our body to their full potential.  Once you understand how you body generates power, most efficiently for you, you can then start to implement that into your throwing mechanics.

Maybe you've decided that having a good back-side drive is really going to help you achieve better velocity.  Excellent!  Now you need to learn how to not just create, but develop that, as well.  Here is a link to a quick video demonstration of the Stand Still Drill, which will help you do just that.

We must keep in mind that NOBODY is going to gain any good velocity if they, a) don't know how to use their energy, or b) don't know how to throw, period.  If you start implementing a long toss program without "knowing how to throw," all you're going to do is amplify a bad habit, and cause injury.

My second word of advise I'd like to tell 9 and 10 year old kids that want to throw harder is, "grow up."  I mean, literally, grow up.  You're 9.  You're going to start throwing harder as you get older, I GUARANTEE IT!!  You better start making sure, now, that you now "how" to throw so you can capitalize on it when it happens.

Part 2, High School kids:  read above, and add strength training and a lot of commitment!

Fine Tuning "The Machine"

The Importance of Good Mechanics

So, in my recent post, I've been discussing the idea, or concept, of increasing velocity through weight training and building functional strength to achieve those gains.  I wanted to take a moment to make sure that I'm not under-valuing the importance of good mechanics and throwing the ball properly!

Let's take this senario into consideration.  You've been in the weight room, busting your butt for several months now.  You've been, tirelessly, sticking to your rotator cuff exercise routine.  You've been, relentlessly, incorporating plyometric movement into your program to build explosiveness.  And now, you're about to get on a mound and witness yourself blow a hole right through your catcher's face mask!

Not so fast, there Hotrod!  We've forgotten one very basic, extremely fundamental aspect.  Do you even know how to throw??

OK, we're going to assume, at this point, that you know how to throw, but do you know how to optimally use your body, biomechanically speaking, to produce efficient and quality results?  Because here's the bottom line.  It's fantastic that you increased your flexibility, strength, stability, and overall functional mobility, but I won't mean a darn thing if you can't do know how to use it.  All this "new found" energy you are now capable of creating isn't going to do you any good if you don't have a clue how to harness it.

This is why, in conjunction to a solid weight and mobility program, is important to stress, not just long toss on a scheduled basis, but a Form Throwing program as well.  A good Form Throwing program will highlight, and emphasize, the importance of using your hips and other functionally important pieces to the "high velocity puzzle."  Below is a video of the Stand-Still Drill.  Taking this drill, and really focusing on an exaggerated "hip lead," is a great example of how you can incorporate Form Throwing into your program, and start learning how to use "the entire machine."

98 in 98

I found this science experiment form on the internet in an attempt to make this a little more "formal" and "legit" so to speak.

Science Experiment Form

Scientist: Jonah Bayliss

Question: What do you want to find out? Is it possible for me, at the age of 32, to gain several mph on my fastball through the use of a specific, and calculated, training program.

Hypothesis: The prediction is that, with extensive “lateral drive” training and extensive “heavy cuff” training, paired along with a explosive, power producing program, I will be able to reach a maximum speed of 98 mph after 98 days of training.

Materials: Baseballs, a glove, weights, weighted balls, weighted glove, slide board, rubber tubing, foam roller.

Procedure: Here is a general overview, or “prioritized” list of how it will be reached

1. The use of a slide board, and other devices designed to implement                           “lateral explosiveness,” will be implemented. 

2. A very strict routine of weighted baseballs, and a weighted glove will be followed.

3. A large emphasis of “heavy,” and even “explosive,” cuff training will be implemented in accordance with the aforementioned procedure step.

4. A strong core program designed to promote quicker rotation and stability will be used.

5. Some upper body plyometrics will be incorporated with upper body routine designed, also, to promote strong joint stability and functional movement.

1. Acknowledging that overall flexibility is of the upmost importance, it

will only be pointed out here that attention will be given to hip flexibility specifically, in conjunction with all other areas.

Result(s): Results will be periodically recorded throughout the 98 day experiment.

Conclusion(s): Still to come

Disclaimers: I have added this section on my own.  I wanted to make sure a few things were clear before we went forward.

• I have major league experience as a pitcher and, thus, do not claim that this program is going to work miracles.  I am acknowledging the fact that skill level plays a large roll in maximum, achievable velocity.
• I believe, on a few good days throughout my career, that I reached upwards of 95/96 mph.  This is why I did not bother with a “starting speed” in my experiment.  This is also why I chose a realistic goal, and not something along the lines of, say, 101 (even though that would be awesome.)
• I have been working out and throwing (standard game of catch) leading up to this.  I’m in fairly decent shape, with a strong background in weight training.  I am working with the admission that this program would not work for little Jimmy, who’s never picked up, or even played, baseball in his life. 
• This is all coming from someone who used to play, now works at a baseball facility, can’t seem to “let it go,” continuing to train for a spring training that is not coming, and wanted to test some theories he’s always had on how to throw harder, but was always scared he might blow out before the season started and now there’s no season.

Now, with my disclaimers out of the way, I’m moving forward.  Updates and “progress” reports will be made through twitter (@bayzball) and facebook (JB Bayzball), and maybe some other form of social media that I haven’t gotten into yet.

Who Says You Can't Throw 100?

My first post on Velocity Optimization Training was merely a question of thought.  If you buy into the idea of "pushing the envelop" and testing your limits, do you believe it is possible to increase your velocity through training, or, are you essentially, stuck with what you're born with?  The second post was a follow up to that.  Assuming that you are in agreement, at least on some level, that such gains are possible with training, the second post was more of a probe into how one might approach designing, or implementing, such a program.  Two things have happened since publishing the previous two posts.

The Development of Hypotheses (plural)

After the posting of, "Part II," I started to realize that I had my own theories, or hypotheses, on the matter.  Though it was not my initial intent, I found myself pondering more and more about what it is, exactly, that would make an effective program; because clearly I'm not the first person to wonder "how I can throw harder?"  For example, why aren't pitchers incorporating more lateral movement exercises into their programs in a effort to improve "lateral power" (for lack of a better term).  Replicating the pitching delivery always seems awfully logical to me.  Now, maybe there are some select individuals out there who do, but in my ten plus years of professional baseball, it was never recommended to me.  A majority of weight rooms had slide boards (perfect for such a task), and they were there for our use, but they were never a "staple" in any training program.  Why not??  It seems down-right, straight forward to me.  If you pitch laterally, why not train laterally?  We were always told to "squat this" and, "lunge that."
Now, please do not get me wrong.  I am not, in any way, questioning the ability or knowledge of the strength coaches I had the privilege to work with.  Most of them, in fact, loved the idea when I would say, "hey, do you mind if you use that slide board?  The one over in the corner, tucked behind the dumb bell rack."  I guess, perhaps, it's just not that realistic to incorporate such an exercise into a program designed "for the masses."  Well, I always thought it was a shame.  And that's also not to say that I didn't train, myself, with a slide board.  I certainly did my fair share of it (hockey was my sport in high school), but did I ever really "push the limits of it?"  And what about rotator cuff exercises?  Why are they always limited to "light weight"?  Why does every other muscle group get trained with an endless increasing of weight, except the one we throw baseballs with??  My mind can't take the wonderment anymore!  I'm taking action!!

The Desire to Become a Self Guinea Pig

I have come to the realization that I will not be able to rest, or at least speak on the matter with any conviction, if I do not try it for myself.  I have decided to put myself through my own theories of Velocity Optimization Training.  I think the tentative plan is to do a 98 day program, testing several of the thoughts I've always had on how to throw harder, but was always timid to try as I was preparing for an upcoming season.  Well, unfortunately, the "upcoming season" doesn't exist, putting me in that ever-curious state of, "why not??"  I encourage anyone with ideas or theories of their own, but no guinea pig, to contribute to the conversation.  All progress will be tracked and noted.  Curious by-standers and fans (mom) can be kept up to speed via the blog and twitter (@bayzball).  Don't you want to throw harder???
In all seriousness, as a pitcher, I have always had ideas of, "what if I did this?" or, "why don't I try this?" and never have, in fear of ending/ruining a career.  Well, take away the fear and this where I am.  In an era where so many people are claiming to "have the key" to make you throw a billion mph, maybe this is more of an attempt to weed through the BS, so to speak.  Whatever the reason, personal curiosity mostly, I am embarking on a quest, over the next 98 days, to throw 98 mph.  I'll leave you with a final thought that I often shared in the bullpen, with my fellow relievers, "Go hard or go home!"