One of my favorite things to do is talk about baseball. Means a lot to hear that others get something out of it when I do!

Really recommend this account for a follow. If you're a baseballer, you're probably already following @nextlevelbb. But make sure you are following if you're not. Great perspective on the game.

Being in the 1st base coach's box gives me a great view of how inefficient some leads are. It's a game of inches. Taking a lead off the back edge is one thing... but taking it off 2 feet behind the baseline is just not going to cut it when you're out by a half step. 2 feet behind the baseline means the same lead (let's say 10 feet off the base) is 2.4 inches farther from the base than the one in the baseline. I'll restate the baseball wisdom again... It's a game of inches. "But what if I'm not trying to steal?" -Honest rebuttal Well, when your teammate hits that groundball to the Shortstop's right and throws to the covering 2nd baseman at 2nd, that 2.4 inches means A LOT. Instead of being a big (little) play, it's an out. But it's okay because you weren't trying to steal, right? Attention to detail is the name of the game. Don't forget the details. Straight lines are quicker than longer straight lines. Also, if you ARE trying to steal, taking a lead closer to the baseline makes your lead look shorter to the pitcher. Be a better baserunner immediately with this one adjustment. Take your lead in the baseline at 1st! Thank you as always!

This is advanced bunting. Only to be used when the 3rd baseman is expecting a bunt, playing in on the grass. But seeing what's possible is what makes you want to put in the work. Achieving this level of feel for the bunt can get your name written in pen on the lineup card (not pencil). A bunted ball with spin towards the line makes an already difficult play even harder for the 3rd baseman as he's already set his angle and now has to readjust mid-play. It deadens the ball, making him have to make a barehand play AND forces him to throw on the run with his momentum going away from 1st base. The best feeling on a bunt? Seeing the 1st baseman NOT receive a throw as you touch 1st base. That's the throwless bunt or as coaches of yesteryear would say to the 3rd baseman, "put it in ya pocket". These small details - gained through repetition and focus - improve your chances of getting there. It's a game of inches. And inches are the difference between safe and out. There's levels to this stuff. Excuse my dog. l'm impeding his lounge area... Thanks for watching & reading my take on the next progression of bunting.

Imagine shooting a bow & arrow with no target or bullseye. Turning on your car and driving with nowhere to go. Dropping a letter in the mail with no address or stamp. Shooting a basketball with no hoop. A quarterback taking a 5 step drop with no receivers. I could go on, but the gist of the exercise is that the destination (or target) is the focus and without that focus, the act is aimless. Each one of these acts is perfectly executed in their methods, but without the target it doesn't matter. Now apply this to holding a bat in your hand and standing in the batter's box. The swing being the focus leaves you aimless. Swinging is the act. Hitting is the focus. I've seen many flawless, beautiful swings on "bad" hitters. Practice to get better and absolutely work at driving the ball. Refine your skills and hone your method. But in the game, don't be aimless. In other sports, the goal is clearly defined. Scoring goals in soccer & basketball by putting the ball in the "goal". Getting the ball in the end zone in football or kicking through the "goal posts". In baseball, as a hitter, your "goal" is to get hits (or get on base). PLENTY of ways to accomplish your goal as a hitter. Find how you do it best and master it. The outfield grass is a goal. The gap between the 1st baseman and the 2nd baseman is a goal. A bunt placed perfectly down the 3rd base line is a goal. Over the fence is a goal. Don't be aimless. Find your goal before you step in the box.

Every hitter, coach, man, woman, child, or beast should watch this. He touches on so many things that many former players have been shouting about for years now. "A swings" & "B swings". "Approach". "Situations" & "adjustability". He indirectly speaks about the dangers of highlights, incentives, and how he already was able to hit the ball hard before he changed HIS definition of success. Especially listen to what he says at the end right before, "...now you're dangerous". Wonder if this will be as popular as his interview with Mark Derosa from 2016...

"This is why there's so many different methods for hitters that work. For me...." Different strokes for different folks. Whatever you feel is real to you. Finding your feel is paramount to your (or your hitter's) success. Semantics are for social media.

A driver. No irons, no putter. A golfer with nothing but a driver will look impressive on the tee box and at Topgolf. But they run out of golf balls on Saturday morning before the back 9. The round is won between the drives with the clubs the average person overlooks. Same thing happens when a hitter is built to pull the ball in the air with no complementary skills. Knowing how to bunt, hit behind a runner, or go the other way on purpose. Situational, timely hitting that shows the player knows how to play ball in a team setting, between the lines. Impressive in batting practice when the coach is lobbing it in or against the predictable pitching machine. Lacking in the game with a runner at 3rd and 1 out and the opponent's best bullpen arm on the mound throwing freshment tic-tacs on the outside corner. This is a big reason why hitters should prioritize bat control and barrel awareness. Driving the ball to all fields, hitting the ball wherever you want to in practice will only help your development as a hitter, while giving you a better ability to handle game situations and different styles of attack. @AndersonLMiller (Great follow, btw) had a post that said "Golf is Baseball. Baseball is Golf." This concept resonated with me so much because planning a hole on a golf course looks a lot like 14 at bats against a baseball team in a 3 or 4 game set. Once you show them you can hit a FB in, guess what they are NOT going to throw you? Similarly, a golf course challenges every area of your game eventually. If you can't hit your 4 iron, it's really not even in your bag. If you spend all your time practicing pull side fly balls (driver), you'll struggle when the ball isn't in your hot zone (on a tee). If your "way" of hitting only allows for the driver, you need to work on your other clubs for when you're presented with a different situation in the game. To be a good hitter, you have to work on it all. What's your bag look like?

Empty your cup. Coaches all know of a player that has hit a momentary limit to his or her progress and development because their cup is full. This term (not to be confused with biblical gratitude of "my cup runneth over") means someone that has no room for anything else, so their ears are impervious to new concepts. They know it all so they can't even consider new ideas that could add to their knowledge & game. Here's where it could get uncomfortable. Coaches & instructors... is your cup full? Can you see new things/concepts and consider how it could add to your understanding? Are you rigid in your view of the game to the point that differing opinions threaten you? Nobody knows it all. Nobody knows nothing. Everybody knows something. As questions. Being in a position to coach and instruct runs the risk of forgetting that you are also learning. Players are encouraged to ask questions (to coaches, teammates and opponents) to increase the pool of contributors to their game. So too are coaches/instructors and even "gurus". If your cup is full, maybe it's time to get a bigger cup.

Confidence is gained through work ethic.

Personal opinion. I'd rather a hitter be over confident than the opposite. Without exception, the best hitters know they are the best, even when they are struggling. One of the more powerful visuals (pictured below) I ever received was from then hitting coordinator of the Philadelphia Phillies, Donnie Long. But the gist was this: Do your results drive your confidence? Or does your confidence drive your results? If your results drive your confidence, you're bound to be an inconsistent and untrustworthy player that is hot & cold, always chasing your tail. For some time, if I got a hit in my first at bat, I was going to get multiple hits that game. If I struck out (which I did a lot), it was going to be a long game. It wasn't until later in my career that I trusted that I was in the lineup for a reason. I realized that if my confidence drives my results, I'll always be in control, and the game began to resemble the game I fell in love with so many years ago. I'm not saying to be unaware of your weaknesses. I'm saying to make your ability to compete one of your strengths. When competitiveness is a strength, there's no matchup that you don't like. When you get a big hit (or any hit), you're not surprised because THAT'S WHAT YOU DO.

Love high tee, especially as a part of the daily routine to prime the swing to be direct. Highly suggest following @CamWoodBats for consistent baseball/softball content and drill explanations.

Hitters. I challenge you next time you get a bad call at the plate, have a stoic, unresponsive reaction. The benefit of this is immeasurable. 1. It looks mature and polished. Looking like mental toughness. 2. If this stoicism takes hold internally, you're better equipped to complete the at bat with a clear head. Unemotional and calculated. The mindset becomes, "So what. I only need one anyway." You're no longer a victim, feeling sorry for yourself. You're not bringing baggage to the next pitch. You're defiantly confident. Be a rock in the box. If you must respond, ask the umpire respectfully, "Is that as far as it goes to that side?" Or, "Is that the edge?" The umpire will get the message (they know when they miss a pitch a lot of times and appreciate you not showing them up), and respect you for the rest of your days. But plate presence, aura and confidence build. Teammates, coaches and opponents take notice. You become unshakable. Even if it's strike 3. Shake your head (yes or no, doesn't matter) and move on. It'll do wonders for your game (and life). 👊🏾

Pepper. The forgotten baseball drill. Growing up and even in pro ball, coaches would tell us to play pepper whenever there was dead time at practice or before/between games. It's a game played in semi-close quarters (similar to hacky sack) that hones bat control and builds team chemistry. When I began coaching earlier this year, I was talking to a player about a swing thought and mentioned playing pepper to loosen up his swing a little bit, as he had become muscled up and pull-happy in the swing. He had never heard of the game. Since, I have echoed the coaches of my past and tried to implement it to every team I've been around. Pepper Rules: 4-6 players with their gloves. One bat. One baseball. One batter. 3 to 5 fielders standing about 15-20ft away, spread out like an infield would be. The furthest fielder to the right is the front of the line. The goal is to hit as long as possible or, for the fielder, to become the batter by working your way to the front of the line. Each fielder can operate as a pitcher, throwing the ball overhand, over the plate for the batter to hit. The batter's fielding glove is home plate and once it is placed on the ground, the pitcher can throw a pitch. The batter chokes up and tries to hit (not bunt) fieldable groundballs to the fielders. If a fielder misses a groundball underneath or to the gloveside, he goes to the end of the line. If a fielder catches a linedrive, that fielder switches spots with the batter. If a batter hits 3 consecutive groundballs at the same fielder, the fielder at the front of the line is the batter and the former batter goes to the end of the line. The batter is allowed 2 strikes (or foul balls) before he goes to the end of the line and the fielder at the front of the line hits. Other rules that make the game fun and keep everybody thinking are countless, but include: 1. Once a batter is out, if the fielder takes the bat from him, the fielder is immediately out and the batter can remain the hitter. 2. If the batter ever throws a ball to a fielder on the fly, he is out. 3. If a batter loses track of the plate (his glove) and a fielder pitches it over the plate and is unreachable, it is deemed a strike. Pepper was basically outlawed sometime in the 2000s because it tended to tear up the grass and lost popularity. Now, with so many natural fields being converted to turf, I feel it needs to make a comeback. The skills learned and practiced during pepper have immediate impact on bat control, glove work, team chemistry and situational hitting. Hitting pitches from all angles while attempting to direct contact towards an area hones bat to ball skills and adjustability. I noticed when observing players doing this (as a coach) I can see which players get nervous while hitting and which players have a competitive mindset. Much rather see them playing pepper than hacky sack though. Thanks for reading ALL of that! If you've played pepper before, what are some other tactics and/or rules that you can add?

The complexities of hitting. Let me count the ways. Physical Factors to hitting: 💪 Height Core strength Arm length Forearm/hand strength Eye Sight Hand speed Abilities that factor into hitting: 📊 Hand/eye coordination Spatial awareness Bat to ball skills Timing Situational awareness Barrel Awareness Anticipation Strikezone Judgement Pitch selection Athleticism & Effective application of that athleticism Emotional stability and regulation Unknown abilities? Non-controllables that factor in: 🌪 Weather Field Lineup Structure and protection Umpires Situation Opponent With so many factors to hitting, there’s no one way to do it. All adjustments and changes are merely compromises with their own positives & drawbacks. Over the course of 20+ years of professional baseball as a player, scout and now coach, I believe there are many ways to hit. All dependent on the player’s individual strengths and weaknesses (physically, mentally and philosophically). Some players make up for lacking barrel awareness by having the barrel in the zone longer. Others capitalize on their precision of hands to hit the ball in ways that are non-traditional in nature. Some use their plate coverage (due to length) to limit exploitable zones with an all or nothing approach. Short armed players need not worry about mechanics as much as longer armed ones. The list goes on and on.  In my humble, but dedicated opinion, hitting is primarily about 4 cyclical things: 1. Knowledge of self What are the strengths and weaknesses, all things considered as a hitter. 2. Confidence In approach to this current situation. 3. Execution In the face of circumstances 4. Accountability Leading to more knowledge of self. When present, the hitter tends to formulate approaches that effectively embed him into the success of the team. This isn’t just a hitting thing, it's a baseball thing. Anything practiced will improve, but the hitter's application of competitiveness is what is present in a lot of clutch and timely hitters. Longer post and your time reading it is greatly appreciated!