Hello Passion for Pitching Family!! Just wanted to send a quick update on what is going on down here in Jupiter, FL and Extended Spring Training. I know I said I would keep you posted on all the happenings around here but got a little lazy...oops!! Just what I tell all my pitchers down here not to do, right?? LOL
Things have been going well! We started games on Monday the 19th and now will play every day (except Sundays) until June 5th. The daily schedule goes like this:
8:00am coaches meeting
8:35am on the field to greet the players and go over the days schedule and whatever we want to discuss from the day before
8:45am stretch, condition, throw
9:30 team fundamental (bunt defense, first and third defense, cut-offs and relays, etc...)
10:00am Batting Practice
11:00am LUNCH!!! lol
Noon Game time!!
Off the field by about 3pm or so
So after the game for the day I go back inside and fill out a report for the days work and this allows the hire-ups and other instructors to see what is going on and if there are certain players they should be focusing in on a little more closely. That is the schedule from here on out. Nothing changes that much. A lot of the process is about finding a routine that suits you as a player and this is one of the ways to make that happen. The only real issue is the kids don't have much freedom to choose their own process or schedule because it is layed out for them. That is good for some and not so for others. But it has to be done that way and most of the young kids here need it because they would not be able to set up a proper process on their own without the discipline and guidance we have here.
That is all for today. Just wanted to pass on the daily schedule to you so you could see what it would be like to be a professional down here in Extended Spring Training.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Friday, April 16, 2010
Attention to Detail
As I spend more and more time down here in Extended Spring Training there is one main focus these kids are missing and that is attention to detail. Being specific and having attention to detail is a major factor in whether people become successful at whatever the endeavor. When you go out and work on whatever it is you want to do in life there must be some sort of attention to detail. Some people would say sense of urgency, some people would say desire, some people would say motivation. But in the end you can have all the desire and motivation in the world but if you don't have an approach and a way to direct that desire and motivation then it is going to be tough to evolve into the professional you would like to be.
The examples for attention to detail are fairly simple when you are a coach in Extended Spring Training. Each day I walk around and observe the pitchers I work with, I focus mainly on their approach. If these pitchers got drafted and were able to be good enough to have someone notice them and give them a shot to make it to the big leagues, then you would think there shouldn't be a reason why they struggle so much when they get into an organization. But then as you walk around and watch these young guys you can see why they do struggle. There is no real direction to their process and their workouts. The attention to detail is lacking. This is not saying that it is a fault of anyone because if you haven't been exposed to these type of experiences in your life then how would you pick up attention to detail. If you are the best in your city all of your life and you really are never challenged on a daily basis in competition, then one could understand why there would be a lack of attention to detail. But now, since you have a chance to read this Blog, there should be no excuse and you should read these words very carefully.
Ok, so let's get into it then. Attention to detail is having an awareness of what you are doing during your workouts and that you are not just going through the motions. An example of this is when pitchers do their flatground work or especially their bullpens. A lot of the time pitchers start throwing and have no real focus to their process. They start throwing and don't have a consistent direction to the fastball. It is up in the zone for most of the workout. Then they move on to another pitch even though they never really accomplished anything with the fastball. Now they start throwing the change-up and they slow down their motion to take speed off of the pitch. Or perhaps they throw four or five in a row and never hit the strike zone with it and then switch to another pitch and just continue on like they are getting quality work done. I am sure while you are reading this at home you are thinking to yourself, "yah right", but trust me, it is true. Some of these younger pitchers never really ever threw bullpens or flatground work before. Some of the kids out of high school threw on Tuesday and Friday night games and that was their work. Add in a little long toss in between and they were golden. When you are blessed with an arm and are not challenged as a young pitcher there really is no reason for these kids to have a clue about the process. To be honest, I guess that is a good thing or they wouldn't need any coaches...lol!
I really didn't want to make this a long, drawn out blog but I did want to get a certain point across. Know what you want to accomplish every day you are working on your craft. If you are a pitcher and it is your day to throw long toss, then before you start, know what you are trying to accomplish in that specific workout. And once you start the workout, be in the moment and focus on what it is you set from the beginning. Do the best you can to not jump ship from the plan you. Also, do your best to stay present and not forget what you are doing. The attention to detail part kicks in while you are performing the actual workout. So, again, if it is long toss that day and you want to work on the overall rhythm and movement of your body, then focus on that and make sure that that is what is happening. The attention to detail is focusing on each individual rep and accomplishing what it is you are working on.
The game of baseball is a very tough game. The higher up you go the more guys that are there who look just like you and perform just like you. You have to start establishing yourself as the one who works harder, who is more focused, who is more composed, who is more intelligent on the field, who self motivates and stays present from moment to moment. In the end that is what really gets you a chance and it will create you more opportunities then the next guy.
Ok, done for now...hope everyone is enjoying the baseball season thus far!! Go Cardinals!!!
The examples for attention to detail are fairly simple when you are a coach in Extended Spring Training. Each day I walk around and observe the pitchers I work with, I focus mainly on their approach. If these pitchers got drafted and were able to be good enough to have someone notice them and give them a shot to make it to the big leagues, then you would think there shouldn't be a reason why they struggle so much when they get into an organization. But then as you walk around and watch these young guys you can see why they do struggle. There is no real direction to their process and their workouts. The attention to detail is lacking. This is not saying that it is a fault of anyone because if you haven't been exposed to these type of experiences in your life then how would you pick up attention to detail. If you are the best in your city all of your life and you really are never challenged on a daily basis in competition, then one could understand why there would be a lack of attention to detail. But now, since you have a chance to read this Blog, there should be no excuse and you should read these words very carefully.
Ok, so let's get into it then. Attention to detail is having an awareness of what you are doing during your workouts and that you are not just going through the motions. An example of this is when pitchers do their flatground work or especially their bullpens. A lot of the time pitchers start throwing and have no real focus to their process. They start throwing and don't have a consistent direction to the fastball. It is up in the zone for most of the workout. Then they move on to another pitch even though they never really accomplished anything with the fastball. Now they start throwing the change-up and they slow down their motion to take speed off of the pitch. Or perhaps they throw four or five in a row and never hit the strike zone with it and then switch to another pitch and just continue on like they are getting quality work done. I am sure while you are reading this at home you are thinking to yourself, "yah right", but trust me, it is true. Some of these younger pitchers never really ever threw bullpens or flatground work before. Some of the kids out of high school threw on Tuesday and Friday night games and that was their work. Add in a little long toss in between and they were golden. When you are blessed with an arm and are not challenged as a young pitcher there really is no reason for these kids to have a clue about the process. To be honest, I guess that is a good thing or they wouldn't need any coaches...lol!
I really didn't want to make this a long, drawn out blog but I did want to get a certain point across. Know what you want to accomplish every day you are working on your craft. If you are a pitcher and it is your day to throw long toss, then before you start, know what you are trying to accomplish in that specific workout. And once you start the workout, be in the moment and focus on what it is you set from the beginning. Do the best you can to not jump ship from the plan you. Also, do your best to stay present and not forget what you are doing. The attention to detail part kicks in while you are performing the actual workout. So, again, if it is long toss that day and you want to work on the overall rhythm and movement of your body, then focus on that and make sure that that is what is happening. The attention to detail is focusing on each individual rep and accomplishing what it is you are working on.
The game of baseball is a very tough game. The higher up you go the more guys that are there who look just like you and perform just like you. You have to start establishing yourself as the one who works harder, who is more focused, who is more composed, who is more intelligent on the field, who self motivates and stays present from moment to moment. In the end that is what really gets you a chance and it will create you more opportunities then the next guy.
Ok, done for now...hope everyone is enjoying the baseball season thus far!! Go Cardinals!!!
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Contrast
What is the definition of Contrast? For this blog the definition of contrast will be anything that happens to you in your career path for baseball that is deemed negative. A quick example of that is when you are a pitcher and you are the starter for your team that day. You get all warmed up and ready to go for the game. Your bullpen felt great and you feel you are prepared and set for a great outing. The next thing you know the game starts and you can't throw a strike. You are walking guys, guys are getting hits off of you and you don't ever make it out of the first inning. That would be a great example of Contrast.
Now that we have a pretty clear idea of what Contrast is, the next step is to figure out how to deal with Contrast. The first thing we need to know about Contrast is that it is there for our assistance. Contrast is there to guide us so we know what parts of the game we need to improve upon. But the most important thing we could learn from Contrast is how it grows our desire. The more Contrast we have the more desire we should have. Think about that for a second because this is a pretty tough pill to swallow sometimes, especially when we are in the middle of the Contrast. The more Contrast we have, the more desire should grow inside of us.
The best way I know how to relay this information to the players I work with is perspective. If you can look at Contrast as your friend, then it won't beat you up so much. Think of it this way, what if by having Contrast we also at the same time got better in our minds and our bodies. What if every time you threw a bad game or hit too many batters or threw too many balls or gave up a game winning home run, what if at the same time you experienced this Contrast you knew that your mind and your body were learning from the experiences and they were fine tuning themselves for you even if you were not aware of it. Now, if you could wrap your head around this belief, would you feel a little bit better about Contrast? Would you allow yourself to feel better about the situation and not beat up on yourself because things did not go your way?
You see, I am going through that same thing right as I am typing this blog to you. I have had an ongoing battle with Batting Practice. Over the years I have trained myself to feel a certain way about batting practice and what it represents. I have twisted the story in my head so badly that it is tough for me at times to even go play catch with the guys out here. But let me explain to you what really is going on. The more I beat myself up and talk down to myself and feel unworthy, the more that comes to me and the worse it gets. But the minute I am able to switch my focus to what is I want and then keep my undivided attention to that, things get better. The Contrast I have experienced through the years have ultimately set me up for a lifetime of great batting practice!! But to tap into that energy and create that good BP, I must also be able to understand that Contrast is a good thing and it is nothing to be scared of. Contrast is there to help me grow my desire and get me to a point of where I really want to be. My job is to continue telling myself that. My job is to do the best I can to not discourage myself from throwing but to understand things are ok and it will get better. In no way am I telling you that it is that easy. Trust me, I have wanted to quit many times because of how badly it felt. But when I look at the bigger picture and understand that me not throwing good BP right now does not make me any less of a person. It does not make me a bad coach. In my opinion, it makes me a better coach because I know exactly how it feels to battle through confidence issues. I know how it feels to fail and I need to be able to communicate to my players how they can push through those setbacks.
In the end, this all ties back into Focus. Step one is experiencing the Contrast. Step two is identifying what you do not want, which allows you to now know what you do want. Step three is taking your focus to what it is that you want and being so stubborn that you won't allow yourself to think any other way. For example, what I need to do better is take all that energy and focus I have on not wanting to fail while throwing BP and pivot my thoughts to the other end of the spectrum. I need to focus on succeeding and throwing well and sitting with the feeling of how great it will be and is when I throw great BP. The more I can take my focus and put it on where I want to be and not what currently is, then I can start to tap into the energy I have stored up through all the Contrast. So, if there are ever any times you experience Contrast in this game of baseball, and there will be (trust me on that one...LOL)just make sure you remember that Contrast is your friend. It is setting you up for a world of future success. Just take your focus to where it is you want to be and continue to dream as big as you can.
That is all for now...enjoy your weekend Passion for Pitching Family!!!
Now that we have a pretty clear idea of what Contrast is, the next step is to figure out how to deal with Contrast. The first thing we need to know about Contrast is that it is there for our assistance. Contrast is there to guide us so we know what parts of the game we need to improve upon. But the most important thing we could learn from Contrast is how it grows our desire. The more Contrast we have the more desire we should have. Think about that for a second because this is a pretty tough pill to swallow sometimes, especially when we are in the middle of the Contrast. The more Contrast we have, the more desire should grow inside of us.
The best way I know how to relay this information to the players I work with is perspective. If you can look at Contrast as your friend, then it won't beat you up so much. Think of it this way, what if by having Contrast we also at the same time got better in our minds and our bodies. What if every time you threw a bad game or hit too many batters or threw too many balls or gave up a game winning home run, what if at the same time you experienced this Contrast you knew that your mind and your body were learning from the experiences and they were fine tuning themselves for you even if you were not aware of it. Now, if you could wrap your head around this belief, would you feel a little bit better about Contrast? Would you allow yourself to feel better about the situation and not beat up on yourself because things did not go your way?
You see, I am going through that same thing right as I am typing this blog to you. I have had an ongoing battle with Batting Practice. Over the years I have trained myself to feel a certain way about batting practice and what it represents. I have twisted the story in my head so badly that it is tough for me at times to even go play catch with the guys out here. But let me explain to you what really is going on. The more I beat myself up and talk down to myself and feel unworthy, the more that comes to me and the worse it gets. But the minute I am able to switch my focus to what is I want and then keep my undivided attention to that, things get better. The Contrast I have experienced through the years have ultimately set me up for a lifetime of great batting practice!! But to tap into that energy and create that good BP, I must also be able to understand that Contrast is a good thing and it is nothing to be scared of. Contrast is there to help me grow my desire and get me to a point of where I really want to be. My job is to continue telling myself that. My job is to do the best I can to not discourage myself from throwing but to understand things are ok and it will get better. In no way am I telling you that it is that easy. Trust me, I have wanted to quit many times because of how badly it felt. But when I look at the bigger picture and understand that me not throwing good BP right now does not make me any less of a person. It does not make me a bad coach. In my opinion, it makes me a better coach because I know exactly how it feels to battle through confidence issues. I know how it feels to fail and I need to be able to communicate to my players how they can push through those setbacks.
In the end, this all ties back into Focus. Step one is experiencing the Contrast. Step two is identifying what you do not want, which allows you to now know what you do want. Step three is taking your focus to what it is that you want and being so stubborn that you won't allow yourself to think any other way. For example, what I need to do better is take all that energy and focus I have on not wanting to fail while throwing BP and pivot my thoughts to the other end of the spectrum. I need to focus on succeeding and throwing well and sitting with the feeling of how great it will be and is when I throw great BP. The more I can take my focus and put it on where I want to be and not what currently is, then I can start to tap into the energy I have stored up through all the Contrast. So, if there are ever any times you experience Contrast in this game of baseball, and there will be (trust me on that one...LOL)just make sure you remember that Contrast is your friend. It is setting you up for a world of future success. Just take your focus to where it is you want to be and continue to dream as big as you can.
That is all for now...enjoy your weekend Passion for Pitching Family!!!
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