TexBall Baseball & Softball Notes

The Complete Athlete on Performance Health

2010-09-03T11:30:00.000-05:00

Donnie Watson of The Complete Athlete noted in an interview today the rebranding of his Performance Symposiums. Even though it seems like a small naming change (adding Performance Health to the title) he was emphatic that it really is the delineating factor between TCA and other baseball and strength/conditioning operations.

"Lots of other coaches claim to improve performance," he said. "But dig deeper and look for the science-based reasons for what they are teaching and you won't find much. We aim to change that for the betterment of the game and our players."

Watson also mentioned that just a few spots remain for his September 11/12 Weekend Performance Health Symposium at Trinity Christian Academy in Addison, Texas (a beautiful facility by-the-way) where Watson also coaches. Price for the weekend has been lowered to $299 to accommodate today's economic times.

He recently returned from a weekend coaches training with former partner and mentor, Dr. Tom House, where he brushed up on new techniques, systems and research influencing House's work at USC.

"It is vital to a player's pursuit of his or her potential, that they get as much of this information as possible. And we don't just want to lecture, we want to make each athlete their own best coach, so they have the tools to perform pain-free for the climb ahead." said Watson.

Performance Mastery with CA Symposiums, Clinics and Prep-U Sessions

2010-08-20T17:29:00.000-05:00

Performance Mastery with CA Symposiums, Clinics and Prep-U Sessions

Only 2 weeks until 1st fall Symposium and remaining spots going fast.

Rangers Sales Approved by MLB Owners!

2010-08-12T13:12:00.000-05:00

It's official according to online stories on mlb.com. To wit:

By Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com

08/12/10 12:50 PM ET

MINNEAPOLIS -- The sale of the Texas Rangers gained unanimous approval from Major League Baseball owners at their joint meeting on Thursday, ending a year of financial instability for the franchise.

The team was purchased from Tom Hicks last Wednesday for $593 million during a spirited, 17-hour bankruptcy court auction in Fort Worth, Texas.

The new Texas ownership group is called Rangers Baseball Express, with attorney Chuck Greenberg serving as managing general partner and Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan remaining as club president. Ray Davis, a Dallas billionaire, and Fort Worth businessman Bob Simpson are the co-lead investors.

"I am very pleased that Chuck, Nolan and their impressive ownership group have been approved as the new leadership of the Texas Rangers franchise," Commissioner Bud Selig said in a statement issued by MLB. "Chuck and Nolan have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the Rangers. Their passion for Major League Baseball as a whole and particularly the future of baseball in Texas is exemplary.

"In addition, I want to thank the Rangers' fans for their patience throughout this difficult process. I am confident that Chuck, Nolan and the entire ownership group will serve as dedicated stewards of this club by building a long-term, stable franchise which values its standing in the Dallas-Fort Worth communities. I am glad that the Rangers' great season on the field will get the attention it deserves during the pennant race."

The meeting began at 8:35 a.m. CT and Greenberg was asked to sit outside the more>

The NCAA Crack Down on Bat Rolling -1 Year Later

2010-05-13T14:54:00.000-05:00

It has been a year since Jim Paronto, the NCAA baseball rules secretary/guru sent out his memorandum on bat rolling -- that pesky compression process that "hardens" alloy and composite bats to deliver more distance -- and we were curious how many violations the organization has uncovered, and actions taken regarding individuals and school programs.

Here's the original memo:

VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL

MEMORANDUM

TO: Athletics Directors, Compliance Administrators and Head Baseball Coaches.

FROM: Jim Paronto, secretary-rules editor NCAA Baseball Rules Committee.

SUBJECT: Bat Alterations.

In an ongoing effort to provide an environment for fair and safe competition, the NCAA is sharing information it has received dealing with some non-wood baseball bats. It has come to the attention of the NCAA that there are several companies that offer to “roll” or “shave” non-wood bats in order to increase the performance of the bat. This type of alteration apparently improves the performance of the bat, in some cases considerably.

According to NCAA Baseball Rule 1-12-b: “Any bat that ... has been altered or flattened so as to affect the distance factor or cause an unusual reaction on the baseball shall be removed from the game.” During NCAA championship competition, any bat that is found to be in violation of Rule 1-12-b may subject the team and/or student-athlete to further sanctions under the NCAA’s championship misconduct policies.

Additionally, NCAA Bylaw 17.33 requires all member institutions to adhere to the playing rules of the sport in all contests. An institution’s failure to do so may subject it to penalties from the appropriate championship committee and may potentially constitute a violation of NCAA Bylaw 10.01.1 (Honesty and Sportsmanship) and 10.1 (Unethical Conduct).

The NCAA plans to collect and test bats at many sites of this year’s championships. Any bats found to be out of compliance or showing signs of altering may not be allowed in subsequent play.

Our email inquiry to Mr. Paronto has just been sent, so stay tuned for more info from his corner, and updates on our own inquiries around college baseball.

Understanding BESR Certification for Baseball Bats

2010-05-13T14:19:00.000-05:00

The BESR

(Ball Exit Speed Ratio)

Dr. James Ashton-Miller, Dr. Michael Carroll,

Dr. Kenneth Johnson, Dr. Alan Nathan

NCAA Baseball Research Panel

Todd Petr, Ty Halpin

NCAA

Introduction

The NCAA requires that all nonwood bats be certified so as to limit their “liveliness.”

The certification process is accomplished by measuring the performance of a bat under

controlled conditions and then assigning a number to it; this number is known as the

BESR (Ball Exit Speed Ratio). To be certified, the BESR of the bat must fall at or below

a predetermined value set by the NCAA. This paper discusses the concept of the BESR.

The Ball-Bat Collision

Figure 1 shows a ball and a bat just before the collision and the ball just after the collision

(the position of the ball after the collision has been moved downward for the sake of

clarity).

Figure 1 The ball-bat collision.

The speeds involved in the collision are:

Vpitch = speed of the pitched ball just before it collides with the bat.

Vbat = speed of the bat just before it collides with the ball. This is the bat

speed at the point of impact.

Vball exit = exit speed of the ball just after it leaves the bat.

What Is the BESR?

The BESR is a number, once known, that allows one to determine the ball exit speed

Vball exit when the bat speed Vbat and the pitch speed Vpitch are specified. The relationship

between the BESR and these speeds is:

( 1 ) ( 1 )

ball exit 2 bat 2 pitch V = BESR + V + BESR − V (1)

`As an example, suppose the BESR for a particular ball-bat collision is 0.65, and that the

bat and pitch speeds are Vbat = 70 mph and Vpitch = 75 mph. The ball exit speed would be

( 1 )( ) ( 1 )( )

ball exit 2 2 V = 0.65 + 70 mph + 0.65 − 75 mph = 92 mph

Conversely, if one measures the bat speed, the pitch speed, and the ball exit speed, then

Equation 1 can be used to determine the BESR (see Equation 2 below).

Note from Equation 1 that greater values of the BESR give rise to greater ball exit

speeds. Therefore, the BESR is a measure of the “liveliness” of the ball-bat collision and

it includes, for example, any “trampoline” effect that the non-wood bat may display (due

to its barrel being temporarily deformed by the ball during the collision).

Where does the BESR get its name?

When one algebraically solves Equation 1 for the BESR the result is

1 ( )

ball exit 2 pitch bat

pitch bat

BESR =

V V V

V V

−

(2)

When the speeds of the pitched ball and bat are the same (Vpitch = Vbat), Equation 2

becomes

ball exit

pitch bat

BESR =

V + V

We see in this case that the BESR is equal to the ratio of the ball exit speed Vball exit to

the relative speed (Vpitch + Vbat) of the pitched ball and bat before the collision. Hence,

the name “Ball Exit Speed Ratio.”

How does the BESR Depend on the Properties of the Ball and Bat?

Figure 2 illustrates a ball just before colliding with the bat. The bat is assumed to be

clamped in a hitting machine and is free to rotate in the plane of the paper about the pivot

point.

Figure 2 The bat pivot point and the distance r

from the pivot point to where the ball collides

with the bat.

Pivot

The physics of the collision is described by applying the law of conservation of angular

momentum to the ball-bat interaction. When this law is used, along with the definition of

the coefficient of restitution (see below), we arrive at Equation 1, where the BESR is

given in terms of the properties of the ball and bat as1,2,3

+ 1 1

BESR =

e mr

 

 − 

 

 

(3)

where

e = coefficient of restitution of the ball-bat collision. The coefficient of

restitution is defined as the ratio of the relative speed of the ball and bat after

the collision to that before the collision. Suppose that, before the collision,

the ball and bat are moving toward each other with a relative speed of

160 mph. Suppose, further, that after the collision the ball and bat are

moving with a relative speed of 80 mph. Then the coefficient of restitution

of the ball-bat collision is (80 mph)/(160 mph) = 0.5.

m = mass of the ball.

r = distance from the pivot point to where the ball hits the bat (see Figure 2).

Ip = moment of inertia of the bat about the pivot point. This parameter depends

on the mass of the bat as well as how the mass is distributed relative to the

pivot point. The more the mass is concentrated away from the pivot point,

the larger is the moment of inertia.

Note that the BESR depends on the properties of the ball (m), the bat (Ip), and the ball-bat

collision (e and r).

Why Use The BESR Rather Than Specify a Ball Exit Speed?

In general, different bat testing laboratories use different types of hitting machines:

(1) the pitched ball is moving and the bat is initially stationary, (2) the ball is stationary

and the bat is initially moving, and (3) both the pitched ball and bat are initially moving.

Even if each type of hitting machine is set up to have the same relative speed

(Vpitch + Vbat) of the pitched ball and bat, the ball exit speeds will be different. However,

all types of machines will give the same value for the BESR. This result, while not

obvious, is a direct consequence of Equation 1.

What Is The Maximum Allowed Value For The BESR?

When bats were first tested in 1999, an initial lot of baseballs was used. The tests were

conducted by using a pitch speed of 70 mph and a bat speed (at a point 6 inches from the

end of the barrel) of 66 mph. Under these conditions, the best major league wood bat

yielded a BESR of 0.728, which the NCAA then set to be the maximum allowed value.

The graph shows a plot of ball exit speed (Vball exit) versus bat speed (Vbat) for the case

when the pitch speed is Vpitch = 80 mph. The straight line represents Equation 1 in which

the BESR has been set to the legal limit of 0.728. Any bat that gives rise to a ball exit

speed at or below this line is legal. Likewise, any bat that produces a ball exit speed

above this line is illegal.

100

60 70

Vbat (mph)

Vball exit (mph)

BESR = 0.728

Vpitch = 80 mph

LEGAL

ILLEGAL

Subsequent tests on non-wood bats used different lots of new baseballs. Because the

properties of balls differ from lot to lot, even when they are stored and used in a

humidity-controlled room, the BESR is adjusted to account for these differences.

Therefore, the maximum allowed value for the BESR changes slightly, depending on the

particular lot of baseballs used in testing a given non-wood bat. However, in every case,

the BESR of the non-wood bat is always compared with that of major league wood bats

tested in the same machine with the same lot of baseballs under standardized ball-bat

testing conditions.

________________________________________________________________________

1M. M. Carroll, “Assessment and regulation of baseball bat performance,” Symposium on Trends

in the Application of Mathematics to Mechanics, edited by P. E. O’Donoghue and J. N. Flavin

(Elsevier, Amsterdam, 2000), p. 17.

2A. M. Nathan, “Dynamics of the baseball-bat collision,” Am. J. Phys. 68, 979−990 (2000).

3A. M. Nathan, “Characterizing the performance of baseball bats,” Am. J. Phys. 71 (2), 134−143

(February 2003).

A new site, some new perspectives

2010-01-08T17:57:00.000-06:00

With 2010 already showing signs of being a topsy-turvy sports year, we've located a new site that promises some genuine off-the-record insights into breakthroughs and coaching/performance gurus who are affecting big and small changes in the way athletes train, compete and reach their goals in amateur and professional ranks. The site is called GuruTrack.com, and we highly recommend reading the sports section (and all sections if you have time) when you get a few minutes.

The first article we read was on pitching guru Donnie Watson of the Complete Athlete. Watson is away from D1 coaching now and out working (along w/ world-famous oath Dr. James Andrews) to prevent injury and change the mindsets of coaches and trainers who seem Hell-bent on putting pitchers through the injury-repair-injury cycle. Great article, and we're rooting for Watson, who's had some setbacks but continues to be a visionary in baseball throwing training and mechanics.

One more good point about GuruTrack: they're new, so subscribers can get free access, then 1/2 price subscriptions and eventually go to full price -- a whopping $9.95 a month. Big bargain at a much higher price. One of their editors also mentioned that they are entertaining all sorts of suggestions for experts to interview this year. If you know one (or more), nominate them at the site's "Sneak Peek" page. You'll get immediate access to their free trial thereafter too.

Donnie Watson wants to save baseball's youth

2009-05-22T14:38:00.002-05:00

I just read this open letter to baseball parents, and then called Donnie Watson to learn more.

Holy crap. I have been part and parcel of a system that's killing careers, often before they even blossom.

I'm reprinting it here. Share this with someone you know or care about in baseball or softball.

An Open Letter to Baseball Parents...
You're a baseball parent, so I know this will be of interest to you, and the timing is crucial so please take a moment to read this message. If you don't have the time, bookmark this page-- come back to it later - it's that important.

Dear Baseball Parent,

My name is Donnie Watson. Because of a surge of interest from clients and staff I will be working in DFW this summer and coaching an 18U team. My passion is working with kids and involving their parents and coaches in the process of questioning and overcoming the traditional methods used to develop athletes in our sport.

Why this is important
Having experienced every level of baseball's evolution in Texas since the early 70's, I have an information set that will cause you to rethink the traditional choices available to teach and develop your baseball playing athlete.

There's a lot of info, and it is next to impossible to keep it short and sweet, but I'll try to keep it simple.

Simply put, baseball is broken, and the environment encountered by many of today's young athletes is full of information, people and issues that not only inhibit athletic development but also make it more difficult for these athletes to develop as leaders on and off the field.

Some of these issues include:

1. Misinformation about effective and safe pitching/throwing mechanics based on years of unchallenged theory and opinion
2. Dramatic increases in the number of avoidable arm, shoulder and lower back injuries as a direct result of improper mechanics, overuse and a lack of functional strength
3. Unhealthy competition environments where the result of the game becomes more important than how the game is played and where leadership examples set on the field and in the stands stand in stark contrast to the ideals we hope our young athletes copy
4. Missed opportunities to teach life lessons about nutrition, in the context of athletic development, where young athletes will find the information relevant to their performance
5. Cavalier attempts to address and eradicate the use of steroids and the just as frightening and important: the misuse of legal nutritional supplements in all sports
6. The lack of strength and flexibility to support the specific useable strength requirements of the overhead/rotational sport athlete, the workload cycles pitchers and position players incur throughout the year and the general disregard and disconnect the traditional power-based programs have shown to accept any responsibility for their part in the injury/surgery epidemic in our sport
7. General confusion about the recruiting process and how to compete for college scholarships and/or professional money.

I bet you didn't know how broken things could be, but you're a parent so I'm guessing you suspected something was wrong with the very systems we've relied on, and trusted.

Confusing Activity with Progress
You spend a lot of money and I know the outcome you hope to orchestrate. But for all the games we log each year in high school, summer and fall, not to mention all the lessons, camps and clinics we attend in the course of a year, I have yet to find a baseball player of any age that can tell me:

Based on science, the mechanics of a safe and efficient throwing delivery,
1. The functional strength requirements to duplicate a repetitive motion without getting hurt,
2. The nutritional factors needed to ensure optimal performance during a year of prepare, compete and repair cycles and,
3. The mental/emotional competencies he must master as the pool of talent and strategic execution improves to stay competitive.

It sounds like a lot to learn, but taken step-by-step, the boys that embrace it are the ones that stay healthy and surge ahead of their peers. As a parent you need to know these answers too.

Just for this summer, I want you to join me in the health and performance debate! We develop leaders on and off the field and build better baseball players because they want to take responsibility for their own development.

The Bottom Line?
The most important period of your son's performance cycle is about to begin.

90% of skill development happens from the last day of his spring season until the first day of the next spring. I will be doing a couple of Performance Symposium classes in the next couple weeks, at the Ben Hogan Center in Fort Worth, Texas and at the Top Prospects Academy (TPA) in Euless, Texas, to explain the information and format. I want to personally invite you and your son to attend.

I also want to speak with you directly to explain how the big picture relates to you, your athlete, his pursuit of high-performance and the attention that comes with it. Please reply directly to this email with the best time and telephone number to reach you.

You can also call me anytime @ 214.704.8017 if you want to chat sooner.

Thanks,

Donnie Watson
The Complete Athlete

P.S. If you haven't already signed up to receive our new free eNews (formerly a Members-only service) simply click here to send an email to our system or fill in the form here. We never share emails or info with any outsiders. Period.

Phone: 214.704.8017
Website: www.complete-athlete.com
Email: donnie@complete-athlete.com

The 10 Training Guidelines for Athletes Who Participate in Throwing Activities

2009-05-07T14:12:00.005-05:00

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is an excerpt from the Complete Athlete's Members-Only eNewsletter. This list is considered by many to be the commandments for throwers to help pitchers and position players train more effectively while avoiding injury.

To subscribe to the free version of their eNews, click here.

The 10 Training Guidelines for Athletes Who Participate in Throwing Activities

1. Static stretching can artificially stretch the tendons and ligaments, which is counterproductive for a thrower. Avoid static stretching before the core temperature is elevated. Dynamic flexibility and range-of-motion movements (think Dynamic Warm Up) are more movement friendly and effective. You must think “flex” the muscle instead of “stretch” the muscle in a Warm Up to Loosen Up to Throw sequence when preparing the body for practice and competition.

2. Training while standing on either or both feet on a stable surface must be complemented with training on an unstable surface. Train on stable and unstable surfaces. This is more important for pitchers. A baseball/softball pitcher or throwing athlete is not on both feet at the same time during a delivery. For baseball pitchers that work down a slope (that is rarely uniform from one mound to another) and not on flat ground maintaining balance and posture on unstable surfaces during development training must be incorporated into a daily activity.

3. Absolute strength, developed in the weight room, doesn’t necessarily translate to useable strength on the mound or on the ball field. Being able to bench press 250 pounds doesn’t mean that you will be able to throw 95mph.
Remember: Absolute strength is not the answer and absolute strength training must be sport specific and relative to developing the skills needed to compliment competitive performance and injury prevention.

4. It is dangerous to quickly lift heavy weights. Heavy weight moved quickly (as in power lifting) may be good for muscles, but is definitely bad for the body’s joints. Throwing is already a joint-stressing activity. Heavy lifting without regard to muscular symmetry and joint integrity is especially inappropriate for throwers.

5. Don’t equate power-lifting strength with throwing strength. Power lifting is linear and not specific to throwing. Throwing is a powerful movement, but not, by strict definition a power movement. Throwing is the summation of linear and rotational forces delivered into a softball/baseball. Throwing/pitching is more a function of timing (i.e. the sequential order of unlocking angles) than a function of time.

6. Train for flexibility. Strength without flexibility is useless to a thrower.

7. Train the small muscles first. Throwers are only as strong as their weakest link. In the sequential muscle loading and translation of energy through the kinetic chain- from the feet to the fingertips, synergists and secondary muscle groups have the priority over prime movers.

8. You will never throw harder than your genetic predisposition. The type and percent composition of muscle tissue (slow twitch/red muscle fiber vs. fast twitch/ white muscle fiber) is genetically determined. Research has shown, however, that you can enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of what muscle tissue you have by properly overloading and under loading resistance training. This type of weight work can help a thrower increase the capacity of their genetically determined maximum velocity.

9. Support your throwing strength efforts with stamina training. To perform at the maximum level of your potential, you must engage in stamina training, as well as resistance training. Stamina work requires a balance between aerobic activity for delivery system efficiency and anaerobic activity for enhanced lung capacity.

10. Ensure that the integrated-training modalities in which you engage are cross-specific to the biomechanics of an efficient delivery to create usable strength, not absolute strength. The natural pathway programming of movement efficiency works best when resistance-training protocols properly address the composition of muscle mass by finding a balance between bulk, lean, and fat. Too much bulk precludes flexibility, too much lean exacerbates joint trauma and micro-tears and slows down recovery time, and too much fat impedes neurological efficiency and energy translation (nerves don’t work
in fat).

Training a thrower requires a paradigm shift from the traditional approaches used to conditioning an athlete. You need to integrate the prepare, compete, and repair cycles of softball/baseball with traditional volume, load, frequency, intensity, and duration training variables. In addition, this on-the-field and in-the-gym training must be done in three positions (circle, figure 8, upright) with three movements (linear, circular, angular) and in three torso planes (sagittal, transverse, frontal) using isometric, concentric, and eccentric resistance in a closed-chain/ open chain sequence. Protocols should integrate cross- specific flexibility work, body work, joint-integrity work, machine work, and free-weight work for useable strength and endurance, and be complemented with enough cardiopulmonary work to develop an efficient stamina base to support the prepare, compete, repair cycles.

With regard to a stamina base, it should be noted that softball/baseball (like most sporting activities) requires both anaerobic and aerobic production of energy.

To hear a quick summary of these thrower's rules click on the audio button below.

Texas UIL Suspends Schedules Due to Swine Flu

2009-04-29T13:31:00.004-05:00

UIL Schedules Altered Due to Swine Flu

AUSTIN, TX— On the recommendation of Dr. David Lakey, Commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services, and in consultation with Texas Education Agency Commissioner Robert Scott, the University Interscholastic League is altering its schedule of events due to the outbreak of the swine flu in Texas. Effective immediately, all UIL interscholastic competition is suspended until May 11.

“The health and safety of our student activity participants is of the utmost importance,” said UIL Executive Director Dr. Charles Breithaupt. “Taking every possible precaution to prevent the further spreading of this disease is an important contribution to the welfare of our great state, and altering the schedule of our events is a way to keep our participants safe.”

Ave in action

2009-04-27T14:47:00.003-05:00

The "Unthinkable" Happens to Nick Adenhart

2009-04-09T11:21:00.005-05:00

The saddest, most heart-breaking event we can ever witness, is the abrupt and accidental end of a life full of promise.

Nick Adenhart, 22, one of MLB's hotter prospects making his way up the rotation ladder for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, died last night in a traffic accident. Wrong place, wrong time, car accident where another dirver is alleged to have run a red light and attempted to flee on foot.

He had pitched 6 innings of shutout baseball vs. the Oakland A's, showing the confidence others said he lacked, commanding hitters' respect and limiting them to 7 scattered hits. No runs, 5 k's. A 22 year old prospect showing tremendous poise and inching that much closer to cementing his place amongst the day-to-day starters for the Angels.

He was making the best of an opportunity.

Having "flown through the minors" according to former GM and Xm Radio host, Jim Duquette, Adenhart was growing, fighting through the many setbacks baseball offers up to its youth, and winning the battle. Last night was proof positive. A shame he didn't get the win, but the same batters he disabled through six innings surged vs his relievers and ultimately won the game.
He was labeled as a "great kid," a smart player with a great head for the game," and a "mature personality."

As a dad of a young pitcher, I feel the pain of this loss directly. I know the hours spent, the support and love offered in assisting a boy in navigating the world of baseball. I experience each day, the agony, nerves and sheer pleasure of seeing my son ply his trade in hopes of realizing his goals. As with all my kids, I want him to have a fair shot, I want him to be safe, I want the world to welcome him and share in his glories. I want people to say the things about my son Avery, that they said about Nick.

If all this ended suddenly, I know life would go on, but it would change forever.

Such is the situation in LA, amongst Nick's teammates, in Hagerstown for his mom and dad Janet and Jim, for his friends and for those of us who love this great game. We'll try to put it in perspective, but it doesn't make sense on many levels, and it never will. The sadness can be overwhelming.

If you have a kiddo in the game, hug him (or her) today and share your pride with others.

Appreciate the moments you do have together, and think of Nick Adenhart's family, friends, fans and teammates. They're in a world of hurt today because someone they helped succeed, who gave back in effort energy and spirit, is now gone. For what Ray Ratto today called "no good reason."

Complete Athlete & Deion Sanders team up

2009-03-24T14:12:00.006-05:00

I just received this release. Seems that Jen Wells and Donnie Watson are taking their company, Complete Athlete, to a bigger audience with a new partnership with Deion Sanders' PrimeTimePlayer.

Here's the release:

Complete Athlete Launches Performance Program with PrimeTimePlayer

March 25, 2009 -- Dallas / Fort Worth, TX

In an agreement reached this week, the Complete Athlete (CA) will partner with PrimeTimePlayer (PTP) to provide high-level baseball and softball instruction and performance analysis for athletes across North Texas. The partnership, a first in the D/FW area, will provide a range of services including pitchers' prep programs, performance symposiums, high-speed motion analysis and recruiting preparation seminars & services starting in May 2009 for players aged 12-25 in both sports.

"We are truly excited about working with (NFL Network analyst, eight-time Pro Bowler and MLB player) Deion Sanders and his PTP staff to deliver pain-free performance, said Donnie Watson, co-founder of the Complete Athlete. "In our work with Dr. James Andrews, it's always been our mission to teach and train to avoid the surgeries and injuries becoming epidemic in baseball and softball. This partnership helps us reach more athletes more quickly, and to work with coaches, trainers and professionals to help players excel."

The Complete Athlete (CA) was founded by former NCAA Division 1 coaches Donnie Watson and Jenifer Wells (a 3-time All-American and national champion team softball player), in conjunction with The Andrews Institute, of Birmingham, AL and Gulf Breeze, FL. CA is dedicated to providing a proprietary blend of education, instruction and analysis to baseball and softball pitchers and position players to better enable them to avoid injury and reach their performance potential as they pursue college and professional team roster spots.

According to Watson, the partnership will reach from Frisco to Fort Worth, utilizing PTP facilities and venues to give more baseball and softball athletes access to the tools for gaining higher visibility with college-level coaches and professional scouts for "all the right reasons." Recruiters will know that each of these athletes completes the program with a full understanding of their physical and emotional capabilities along with the tools to present a dossier that outlines their achievements, capabilities and assessment results.

"We'll show the players the correct path, help them take ownership of the process, and work to make them the best they can be without sacrificing their health or attitude," adds Wells.

Athletes, parents and coaches seeking information on CA/PTP events may call Donnie Watson at 214.704.8017.

PrimeTimePlayer is the brainchild of business partners DL Wallace, and former NFL and MLB star Deion Sanders. Alongside Sanders' highly-rated televised football training, Prime U, PTP develops student athletes on many levels, preparing them for college and professional-level play and showcases their talents via player training, combines, clinics, showcases and PrimeTimePlayer Pages; printed directories distributed to college-level recruiters.

Pain Free Performance w/ the Complete Athlete

2009-03-03T15:12:00.019-06:00

Every once in a blue moon somebody rises above all the new trends, techniques and gizmos routinely introduced to improve the great game.

And, when they do, baseball people take note from the sandlots up into MLB. Slowly of course, because baseball is a game steeped in tradition -- passed from father to son -- and it doesn't take kindly to newbies messing with the the status quo.

A little background here.

Injuries to pitchers and now position players are approaching epidemic numbers. In fact in the last five of a ten-year study, surgeries climbed to 6X the levels of the 1st five years for high school players. Colleges went up 3X, Pros 2X. So clearly, the patterns of overuse, poor and wrong conditioning, and coaching the wrong mechanics are failing our youth players.

Some would argue that numbers have gone up because more people are pushing surgery as an option. And others have blamed the singular approach to sports common today as more and more players become 1-sport specialists early on. Add up both of those factors, and it still doesn't equate to the horrendous number of orthopedic episodes occurring daily. And the study only tracked players who went in for surgery, not those that quit playing or switched sports.

Enter the Complete Athlete
Brainchild of 3-time softball All American Jenifer Wells, and 16-yr D1 Assistant and Head Coach Donnie Watson, this emerging company is tackling the issues in a four-pronged approach to pain free performance. And it's doing it with the blessing of the nation's best sports surgeon.

About a year ago, according to Donnie, he received a call from Dr. James Andrews (yes, that Dr Andrews) in response to a letter he'd written asking just how to educate coaches, trainers and players on methods to break the cycle of injury/repair/injury so may athletes were enduring in ever-shortened careers.

"I kept seeing my trainer taking my players through football lifting drills to develop pretty muscles with no bearing in baseball. says Watson, "And I kept seeing a cycle of short rest, poor mechanics, and lousy nutrition making pitchers weaker and weaker until season-ending injuries culled them from the rosters."

So Watson and Andrews met in Birmingham, and crafted a plan to bring thousands of coaches and trainers "to the table" so the message could be heard. The change was afoot, although no small challenge given the sport's tendency to "push back" when new systems (especially medical or science-driven ones) were being introduced.

Through nearly a year of grassroots effort in Birmingham, Gulfbreeze FL (where Andrews has a 2nd institute) and Dallas/Fort Worth, Watson and Wells are making headway.

Two new affiliations, with baseball academy TPA in Euless, Texas, and with the upcoming PrimeTimePlayer (Deion Sanders is a partner) facility in Frisco, Texas are launching a series of teaching symposiums, pitcher-prep programs, motion analyses (they have a mobile M/A lab), nutritional assessments and mental/emotional analyses through summer projected to teach upwards of 150 players (and parents) through the systems with the end goal of making them all self-sufficient. TPA's Stix Baseball program is even making Complete Athlete's patented Dynamic Warmup® mandatory for their summer teams.

They'll also continue to grow the ranks of certified faculty-level and coaching-level instructors to grow the program.

"We know, there's only so much of us to go around," says Wells. "But it was never about us, we're facilitating change in softball and baseball by duplicating ourselves over and over again."

Add to the mix the interest and demand for their service that parents are fostering. Shouldn't be surprising that the people helping Johnny and Suzy play in select leagues, player showcases and booster-driven school programs are very interested in their sons and daughters remaining healthy in their pursuit of the dream. And they're a vocal lot, sharing information, symposium materials and upcoming dates with the coaches.

"They have a bigger responsibility to their kids than anyone else, and they're pushing to be heard." adds Watson.

There is no question this company has all the potential to grow, and become a leader in baseball and softball (the girls are getting hurt just as often or more) development. The combination of science, passion, personality, and business-sense pretty much guarantees they'll succeed. Add to that the skins Donnie and Jenifer have in their respective sports as players, coaches, recruiters and teachers and the barriers should fall sooner than later.

The only question is will the sport listen and learn from years of mistakes. And then take action.

For more information on the Complete Athlete, go to www.complete-athlete.com, or email Donnie Watson at donnie@complete-athlete.com

Watch this space for more as their "season" continues...

Lamenting the loss of the 'Lifer.'

2009-01-15T12:09:00.004-06:00

Having watched this year's über-hot hot stove churn and burn, and seeing what Charlie Steiner aptly called the weirdest January ever ($Quote: "Aren't we supposed to be resting?") we're again reminded about the sad state of player portability.

Likely forever gone, the era when players were the franchise, dedicated to and emblimatic of a team's ups and downs. Now, they move freely from team to team without being tagged as "journeymen." In fact, despite the comforts of "staying home," it takes a bigger effort, and financial sacrifice to stay in one city. As Jeff Bagwell said "You can always find a higher bidder. But there are a lot of good things that come with being at home. Your family is in one place, the fans know you and love you. It makes everything easier."

A great overview of this trend can be found in a recent article at mlb.com, where author Alyson Footer points out that Reality is another word for the business side of baseball, and in reality, it's not always the player's intention to stick with one team for the duration. They're pulled in all directions, absorbing pressure from either their agents, the Players Association or families, and sometimes, all three. Only a special few have resisted the outside elements.

Being in the heart of Rangers country, we've seen so much transition it has become a running joke: the Texas Rangers are simply a high-dollar farm team for all successful mlb teams. We bring them up, pay them handsomely, set them up for real success and promptly trade them away.

Or find a way to insult their pride and loyalty, i.e. Michael Young.

To read more, we suggest you take a stroll through these related blogs and articles.
The Baseball Think Factory
Inform
St. Petersburg Times

My son Avery Sullivan, has a remarkably keen sense of the game and knowledge of the players. It's not due to studying incoming teams and knowing who belongs to whom, however. His smarts come from hours playing various baseball video games and building his dream teams in a PlayStation. He notes movement amongst players by comparing and contrasting his efforts from year to year as he upgrades the game.

Perhaps the only remedy we'll see to this springs from the newly harsh economic climate. As teams get squeezed w/ reduced attendance and product sales, there may be less heat in the hot stove, and an inclination amongst players, agents and teams to embrace fan loyalty, and work harder to keep a nucleus together for the survival of all parties.

2008-12-20T10:30:00.001-06:00

Getting new blog up on GuruTrack this weekend. Still need nominations for favorite Gurus. Go to htp://gurutrack.com to contribute.

2008-12-12T10:19:00.001-06:00

Okay, pinging this a.m. If you love words, you really need to see Roy Blount's new book, Alphabet Juice http://ping.fm/eysEY

XM or Mir?

2008-11-17T10:42:00.005-06:00

Did Ed Randall sound like he'd been handed control as all others abandoned ship?

Nice guy, and absolutely no business hosting the morning drive. No alternatives though as Buck Martinez "vacationed" and Mark Patrick paddled safely to shore.

ED NOTE: If you have not been following our rants on the shake-ups at XM Radio's Homeplate (XM 175) see our more recent posts, and go to XMFan.com to learn more.

So the satellite is out of proper orbit and heading back to the level of local broadcast. Mel Karmazin is at the helm along w/ Sirius Commonauts Scott Greenstein, Steve Cohen and Chuck Dickemann, and one can only hope at present they're too busy fiddling with dials and buttons to notice that they're reaching critical heat in re-entry.

And on their way to splashdown in (hungry) shark-infested waters.

And now, it's back to Radio Paradise.

What does my XM radio say @ 8:01 a.m. cst?

2008-11-13T15:55:00.002-06:00

What does my XM Radio now say @ 8:01 a.m. cst each weekday morning?

"Click."

The last shows w/ Mark Patrick are airing on BBTM and I find myself getting up earlier to hear what's left in the tank. I am not excited about the prospect of listening to a Buck-only or substitute co-host on this program. This isn't just "switching Dicks" (Darren Stevens couldn't be reached for comment), it's ripping the heart and soul out of a three-and-one-half-year-old morning companion. Started the day right, got a replay in case you weren't having an early day, and learned something more about the great game. Ground-breaking stuff.

I genuinely fear this management snafu will cause me to cancel the service altogether. The music side has been seriously (or Sirius-ly) screwed with and about 100 really talented people picked up their severance checks today. Makes my time w/ Radio Paradise now all the more precious.

So they send the satellite back to Earth w/ local-broadcast mentality, shock jocks, listener calls and limited playlists.

And my finger responds accordingly.

Click.

More heads roll at XM 175

2008-11-12T12:24:00.007-06:00

Well, they're being quietly circumspect at XM, leaving it to on-air hosts to reveal that they've been axed.

As we mentioned last week, morning glue and co-host of BBTM, Mark Patrick, was emailed (not spoken to, cause gosh that might indicate respect for carrying the mornings for 3.5 years) and told his contract would not be renewed.

And now, Chuck Wilson just announced his departure (as in "This is my last show") from the second morning offering. Evidently he was acting as Jim Duquette's training wheels until such time as they felt comfortable JD wouldn't be a total bust. He'll still bust because brilliant baseball mind does not translate to entertaining radio persona.

We're still waiting for the other heads to roll on XM 175 (as they have across the satellite battlefield as a new channel lineup plays out -- ugh), but it is strangely quite during some periods as several of the regulars are MIA.

A great recipe for success: take what makes satellite radio so cool, and bring it down to the level of regular broadcast radio. Not sure what you think, but they're crafting a mix of programs that seem to resemble all the crap I fled three years ago.

For the sake of the great game, hopefully many of the good guys will land on the upcoming MLB Network so they can continue to delight fans of all ages.

Smarter pitching analysis and instruction

2008-11-10T15:47:00.003-06:00

Just read thru massive amounts of info today on Dr. Mike Marshall after hearing again on XM.

While I agree w/ the motion and simplicity of the movements, often times there's too much "noise in the communication" i.e. biomechanical ad infinitum instead of clear, concise explanation everyone can embrace.

More on Dr. Marshall soon, but if you have an ongoing interest in pitching mechanics, we'd strongly suggest you visit Kyle Boddy's Driveline Mechanics to really scour the topic.

XM Shaking up the Lineup

2008-11-05T10:28:00.007-06:00

Just heard that XM Radio is shaking up the bedrock of it's daily feed on its MLB Homeplate ( XM175) channel.

Mark Patrick, the morning co-host (along w/ Buck Martinez) will not see his contract renewed for 2009.

While coming as a shock (although the Sirius merger is already cutting into many talent pools at XM's music offerings) it also shows us how little regard for real talent the new management has.

Armed w/ axes, but not much of a clue are the unholy trinity of Scott Greenstein, Steve Cohen and Chuck Dickemann. Together they've taken the hub of a hot wheel and cast it aside for a bunch of spokes that bring nothing unique (outside of Martinez, Charlie Steiner, Rob Dibble or Joe Castallano) to the programming. It's nothing more than sports talk masquerading as baseball talk w/ inane caller segments and "expert" commentary.

Yawn. Sports talk without any chemistry.

The magic of guys like Mark Patrick is that they know when to turn it on and off -- when to simply report and/or let the story tell itself and when to jump in and direct the action like a great sports bar buddy. If you've ever listened to the channel you hear how Patrick's style and energy shapes the proceedings. Listen in when he's out (likely spending time w/ Stanford phenom/son Drew Storen) and you hear a void. Even Martinez, w/ all his style and extraordinary know-how can't carry the show solo.

It's a team, and it feels like we've just been handed a note about next season being a rebuilding year.

I for one, am canceling my season tickets.

If you feel likewise, email these guys (see links above) an let them know what a knuckleheaded move this is.

Cross Country Express: Catching up with Monte Vista coach Mike Davis...

2008-10-05T21:09:00.000-05:00

Cross Country Express: Catching up with Monte Vista coach Mike Davis...

D1 Recruiting -- A Great Parents' Guide

2006-01-20T11:42:00.000-06:00

Editors Note: We heard Mark Patrick on MLB Home Plate mention the abundant info available on PerfectGame.org and thought we'd take a look. We found plenty and you will too. Here's an excerpt from an article by Blaine Clemmons on the ins and outs of D1 college recruiting. Good stuff.

Crack of the Bat
By Blaine Clemmens

About Scholarships and Recruiting!

At the end of the year, there are always many players that are wishing they had received an opportunity to sign with a D1 program in the early signing period. Many of those players are very talented, sometimes among the best players in their local area or region. It can often be hard for the parents and the players themselves to understand why an opportunity has not come yet.

Most parents and players only go through the process once in their lives. They don't have the experience or background to understand the process, methods, and reasons college coaches sign certain players in the early period and not others. Further confusing things for the parents in particular is their ability to understand the scholarship situation.

While many of the players that sign in the early period (this year it was Nov. 7-11) are offered and sign for significant athletic scholarships (I would say that anything 50% and above is a large scholarship offer), there aren't nearly as many "full rides" as parents are led believe. I can't tell you how many times I am at games around parents talking about an offer that Johnny received or an offer that Joey committed to. There is so much second hand information being passed around and frankly, a lot of fibbing too.

Anyway, most of the parents and players have very, very little knowledge about how the whole recruiting process, and in particular, very little knowledge about how scholarships work for baseball at the D1 more about recruiting

Hall of Shame?

2006-01-11T08:37:00.000-06:00

Not to suggest that the Baseball Hall of Fame is in any way responsible for the outcome of yesterday's vote tally and subsequent announcement, but electing but one candidate in a pool of fine choices is a travesty.

Ring Lardner perhaps put it best on his induction in 1963, "Nothing on Earth is more depressing than an old baseball writer."

Not unlike the perennial debate around college football's BCS system, the ongoing neglect of deserving candidates plays havoc with fans, writers, broadcasters and players both active and former... Point of fact, players who should receive their props, often don't, and those elected to the hall often wait way too long.

Arguments abound as to why the Baseball Writers can't seem to get their collective act together, as to why is it a canidate may become more attractive on his 13th year of eligibility (see Bruce Souter) than when he was first in the running. And equally contentious is the notion that voting is limited to baseball writers having plied their trade for over 10 years. What about the broadcasters? Why do HOF members vote on just the veterans committee -- and why not EVERY year? AND... how is it the voting membership allows BBWAA members to no-show, sending in blank ballots or no votes at all?

Rather than refine the quality of HOF membership, the mayhem that visits us each year following weeks of the "talking sport's" jawing about who's who leading up to the announcement is the equivalent of watching the Hindeburg go down -- again and again and again. We watch, we marvel at its grandiose design, and we reel in horror as it falls to the ground in flames.

I'm sick of the show. Pro football revised its voting process a few years back, and now it's baseball's turn. Open it up to qualified broadcasters, include alum players in a prorata vote, and ban those writers (the gang of 12 for 2006) who jimmy the system with their blank ballots or complete no-shows.

We've been listening intently on baseball's newest star, XM Radio, and reading on their online boards, but many more opinions are available out there. To see all the latest updates and news on this hot topic, click here.

Upton Signs w/ D-Backs For Record Bonus

2006-01-09T17:11:00.000-06:00

The Diamondbacks confirmed the rumors Friday, announcing that they had signed the 2005 draft’s No. 1 overall pick, Virginia prep star Justin Upton.

Upton and the Diamondbacks finalized a deal that includes the largest signing bonus for a player signing with the team that drafted him. The Associated Press reported the bonus at $6.1 million payable over five years, a proviso used for players who have the ability to be a professional in two sports.

Upton's advisor Larry Reynolds on Friday that termed reports would only say the bonus was “in (the $6 million) range . . . It's going to be pretty strong."

The previous record bonus was $5.3 million the White Sox paid Stanford outfielder Joe Borchard, the first pick in the 2000 draft. Matt White signed for a $10.2 million bonus as an amateur free agent in 1996 with the Devil Rays, which remains the all-time bonus record.

Upton was the consensus top player available in the 2005 draft. He was Baseball America's 2005 High School Player of the Year after batting .519-11-32 in 54 at-bats as a senior at Great Bridge High in Chesapeake, Va., homering every 4.9 at-bats.

He was expected to fly Monday to Arizona, where the contract will be finalized after he takes a physical and attends a press conference to make an official announcement.

"We still have a couple of minor deals to make it final, we've agreed in principle to terms, but we're not 100 percent done," Reynolds said Friday. "But we've agreed on numbers and stuff.

"They have a new regime over there and (Diamondbacks general manager) Josh Byrnes came in and, frankly, did a good job."

The Diamondbacks' original offer to Upton following the draft included a more on Upton.

BA's 2005 Youth Player of the Year

2006-01-09T16:58:00.000-06:00

There's a lot that goes into being one of the best youth baseball players in the country, and Robert Stock has the market cornered on practically every criterion.

The 6-foot, 180-pound 15-year-old was tossing 90 mph fastballs by the time he was 14 and has been known to connect on 400-foot home runs, using a wood bat. He also has the intangibles, the moxie, the mental edge, as well. Just ask his teammates, who have seen Stock's competitiveness on the field and off it.

"We're pretty serious when it comes to poker," said Stock, who began participating in games as a freshman when some of his Agoura (Calif.) High senior teammates invited him to join in. "I wear glasses and a hat and try and stay as stone-faced as I can."

Whether he's leaning on pocket kings or his lightning-quick arm, Stock has spent much of his amateur career winning. He was named Baseball America's best 13-year-old in 2003, best 14-year-old in 2004 and this year's best 15-year-old in our annual Baseball For the Ages feature. He also is being recognized as BA’s 2005 Youth Player of the Year, the first time a high school underclassman has won the honor.

Impressive Resume

The precocious Stock possesses outstanding skills as a catcher and pitcher. His arm strength is his most outstanding tool, as he hit 94 mph this summer and one scout clocked him at 95 on a couple of pitches this fall in a scout league game. He racked up 29 strikeouts in 20 innings as Agoura's closer as a sophomore last spring, and later turned heads at the Area Code Games in Long Beach, touching 92 mph while dealing against some of the top players in the High School Class of 2006, despite being more than a year younger than most of them.

Stock, who turns 16 on Nov. 21, also shows impressive raw power from the left side of the plate, and his arm strength plays well behind the plate, where he has the potential to be a sound defensive catcher. He hit .404-8-29 in the heart of Agoura's lineup and scouts have long loved his potential and proven track record of performance.

"It might be a 50-50 split with scouts in Southern California which way we like him," one area scout said. "I asked him what he liked most about hitting or pitching and he just sad, 'I just love to dominate, whether it be hitting or pitching.' And that's what he does, he just dominates games."

Stock solidified his spot as BA's top youth player with another sensational summer, spent playing against older and more experienced competition.

At the age of 14 last summer, Stock became the youngest player ever to make Team USA's youth national team, which finished second in a qualifying tournament in Mexico. He was the second-youngest player of the roster—yet the team’s No. 1 pitcher.

He was on the team again for the World Youth Championship this summer, and again the Americans drew Cuba in the championship game. Stock, who struck out 15 against the Netherlands earlier in the tournament, eagerly awaited the opportunity.

"The whole year I was looking forward to and practicing for that game," Stock said. "To bring back the gold medal and have a chance to pitch in that game was all I could think about."

Stock was sharp early on, racking up eight strikeouts in four innings before a three-hour rain delay prevented him from completing the game, which Cuba eventually won 5-0.

"Stock was incredible," USA Baseball's Jeff Singer said. "I really would have liked to see him try and close it out, because before it started raining he had dominant stuff."

Ace in the Hole

Stock follows in the footsteps of Delmon Young, Nick Adenhart and Cameron Maybin as BA's Youth Player of the Year, but he wins the award as a 15-year-old, after the others all picked up the award based on their performance and prospect status as rising seniors.

All three of BA's previous winners are off to promising starts as professionals, and while we'll have to wait a little longer to see how Stock fares in professional baseball, he has grown accustomed to looking ahead.

"At this point, I feel I'm more talented at pitching, but I have a better body and stature for catching," he said. "So down the road, who knows, but I'm ready for whatever's next."

As Stock continues to refine his skills, his attitude and perseverance figure to serve him well. And when it's not batting practice or pitching lessons, there's always poker to help him hone his game face. "Sixty dollars, that's the biggest pot I've won so far," he said with a smile.

The ante figures to be upped in due time.

Youth Players See Rise in Opportunities, Demands

2005-12-09T16:26:00.000-06:00

Ed Note: This is an excerpt from an article first seen in Baseball America, and merits repeating as it sheds new light on the increasing complexity of youth baseball in the States.

The anticipation was over, the decision made. Marcus Lemon announced his college choice: Texas.

A seemingly endless summer—one that saw Marcus; his father, former major leaguer Chet; his mother Gigi; and seven-year-old sister Brianna caravan across the country (and even Mexico) hitting all the top showcases and high-profile tournaments—was officially over.

The family sat in the den of their suburban Orlando home and reflected on the past eight months. Beginning in February, the Lemons mapped out a schedule for Marcus with one thing in mind--making a name for himself. Marcus' acceptance of the two-time defending College World Series champion's partial scholarship offer marked the successful completion of the family's goal.

It's time to celebrate, and Chet calls for a night out at Marcus' favorite restaurant. "Wherever you want to go, it's your night," bellows Chet in a voice laden with pride and satisfaction.

But before Marcus could make a suggestion, Gigi interjects, proposing a home-cooked meal. "After all that time on the road, you see, it's an adventure, for us, to be at home and spend an evening together," she says.

"Marcus just smiled and said, 'Spaghetti!' "

The Lemon's aren't unlike thousands of families across the country that recognize their son's ambition to play baseball beyond high school, and do everything in their power to help facilitate it. But with a big leaguer for a father, Marcus had an advantage over many of his peers. His dad had all the necessary insight and wherewithal, the insider's perspective on the best way to develop Marcus' skills while marketing those skills to colleges and major league organizations.

Times have changed dramatically in the world of youth baseball since Chet Lemon was an amateur player himself growing up in Los Angeles and was drafted in the first round of the 1972 draft by Oakland. His experience was entirely different from the way his son has pursued the same goal.

"It's a whole new ball game from what is used to be," Chet says. "Coming up as a teenager, we just never had an opportunity to come together with that many players from all over. There was no arena to allow us to do that as amateurs."

The arena--the sphere of competition and exposure--for today's amateurs has changed as drastically as the arenas in which those competitions are held. While the game's fundamentals remain much the same as they were 10, 20, even 50 years ago, how youth and high school-age players are developing the tools to perform those fundamentals have become profoundly complex.

Although the Lemons didn't write the manual on how to get their son signed by a major Division I college program, they came equipped with all the prerequisites. Parents have pushed the revolution in how today's teenage players chase their dream of playing beyond high school, doing—and spending--all they can to put their sons in position to accomplish that goal.

School-affiliated, summer and fall baseball schedules have evolved over the last two decades into rigorous tests of endurance.

Gone are the days of 12-15-game junior high and high school seasons, as well as an abbreviated summer schedule of American Legion games or some other form of local recreation league activity. For younger players, the options were equally limited. If their Little League or Babe Ruth team was eliminated from tournament competition, they often faced a summer of inactivity. There were no travel teams, no showcase events.

But since the late 1980s, when the specialization of training for individual sports began gaining popularity and powerful travel teams sanctioned by AAU and other national organizations sprung up, the culture of youth and high school baseball has taken on a new face.

High school baseball is less impacted by the rising popularity of youth baseball, but most high schools are playing significantly more games than a generation ago—where their state association allow it.

Throughout the Sun Belt, high school practices typically begin in February, and the schools that make a run deep into their state playoffs could still be playing beyond June 1. Not to be left in the cold of high school baseball's blizzard, programs well north of the Mason-Dixon Line are loading up their schedules with five-game, three-day tournaments and weekend doubleheaders.

Summer league seasons are even more intense, with top players choosing to participate with multiple teams, sometimes located in different states, to whet their appetite for competition.

"Whether it's showcases or regional travel ball, we're seeing the dynamic that has taken over baseball in last 10-15 years and it's much more of a national or regional competition," Indians scouting director John Mirabelli says. "There is just not any local or team connection to the community, now. And I don't know, is that good or bad."

These days, there are approximately 35,000 teams for players from 8 to 18 that play predominantly outside of the community the players come from. The number of those clubs has increased 300 percent since 1990, when roughly 9,000 travel teams existed.

Cooperstown Dreamspark, with a sprawling youth complex just outside Cooperstown, N.Y., embodies the popularity of youth baseball. It stages 11 weekly tournaments for 12-and-under players each summer, culminating with a National Tournament of Champions. The demand from teams all over the country to participate is so high that the number of teams each will will increase next year from 80 to 96.

Conversely, participation in American Legion baseball--once the gold standard for competitive, well-coached summer leagues and in its 80th year of existence--still has 5,500 teams, according to American Legion national program coordinator Jim Quinlan. American Legion is unlike most of the other 23 national organizations that conduct tournaments for teenage players in that it focuses on fostering community values and building teams of players from mostly the same geographic area. Generally, a Legion team can draw players from no more than four high schools.

Thousands of other travel teams that advance into the final stages of regional and national tournaments will play upwards of 70 games in their spring, summer and fall schedules, doing so with players who can distinguish their teammates at times only by a jersey number or position, rather than their first name.

Chet Lemon sees both sides, as he operates Florida's largest AAU chapter, is also the head coach at Eustis (Fla.) High and has his own travel league team, the Juice. "Marcus has averaged in the last four years probably 125 to 130 games per year,” Lemon says. “And that's probably on the modest side."

While most of the Juice players have embraced Chet's influence of playing with passion and respect, he acknowledges the challenge of getting a team of teenagers, already hungry for a shot at a big signing bonus or college scholarship, to play for the team instead of for themselves.

The Lemons’ summer featured a mixture of regional and national tournaments as well as appearances at national showcase events. Shortly after Marcus polished off his final exams, the family piled into read more here>

Little League Considers Pitch Count Cap

2005-12-06T14:12:00.000-06:00

ALLENTOWN, Pennsylvania (AP) - Alarmed by a sharp increase in youth pitching injuries, Little League is mulling a proposal that would limit the number of pitches a player can throw per week.

Little Leaguers are already limited to pitching six innings weekly - and have been since the 1940s - but there has never been any limit on the number of pitches they can throw.

With at least one study linking high pitch counts to an increased risk of shoulder and elbow injuries, league officials believe that reducing pitches thrown, regardless of innings pitched, could help lessen the strain on young arms.

"With the advent of kids playing more baseball in multiple programs, we've seen ... an increase in arm injuries as a result of what we feel is throwing too many pitches,'' Little League spokesman Lance Van Auken said Monday.

Under the proposal, players may throw a maximum of 75 to 105 pitches per day, depending on age. Rest requirements would vary with the number of pitches thrown: For example, a 12-year-old who threw more than 60 pitches in a day would require four days' rest, while one who threw only 40 pitches would need to take two days off.

The scorekeeper or other game official would record the official pitch count.

Coaches participating in a small pilot program last season said the rule change had succeeded in reducing pitch counts.

Initially skeptical because ``they want the best pitcher and they want him all the time,'' coaches came to embrace the rule change, said Don Goodman, who oversees 24 leagues in California.

"It reduced the wear and tear on the big stud,'' Goodman said, while resulting in more playing time for other pitchers on the staff.

Starting next season, any of the 7,400 chartered Little League programs worldwide may adopt the proposed rule change. Depending on feedback from the local leagues, the new regulation could be made permanent as early as 2007.

Buck Martinez is USA Baseball's New General

2005-12-06T10:30:00.000-06:00

Dec. 5, 2005

Dallas, TX - USA Baseball announced today that Buck Martinez has been named the Field Manager for the United States team that will compete in the first ever World Baseball Classic in March, 2006. This will be Martinez's first managerial or coaching stint with USA Baseball.

"We are thrilled to have such a knowledgeable leader as Buck Martinez guiding our team into this exciting event next spring," said USA Baseball General Manager of Professional Baseball Operations Bob Watson. "His experience analyzing many of the Major League players that will be participating in the World Baseball Classic - both on the American roster and from the competing countries - should give him a great perspective."

Martinez managed the Toronto Blue Jays in 2001-02, but currently serves as analyst on ESPN's Wednesday night national telecasts of Major League Baseball. He previously worked for ESPN from 1992-2000, following a 17-year career as a Major League catcher. He also calls 60 games a season as analyst for the Baltimore Orioles on Comcast SportsNet.

For the past 10 years, Martinez has been involved in the Rookie Career Development Program, jointly sponsored by Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association. His radio experience as a color commentator for Telemedia Radio Network (1982-88) includes the World Series, the American League Championship Series and the All-Star Game. He has also served as post-game analyst for Telemedia's regular season Major League Baseball coverage.

During his Major League playing career, Martinez compiled a .225 career batting average with 58 home runs in 1,049 games with Toronto (1981-86), Milwaukee (1978-81) and Kansas City (1969-77).

USA Baseball also announced four members of its on-field coaching staff that will assist Manager Buck Martinez with the United States team competing in the first ever World Baseball Classic in March, 2006. The coaches include:

Davey Johnson: Serving on his third consecutive professional USA Baseball coaching staff, following a pair of stints as the Team USA manager at both the 2005 IBAF World Cup, and the 2005 CONCEBE Regional Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Phoenix, AZ, where he led the Americans to a perfect 5-0 record. Johnson has a career record of 1,148-888 (.564) in 14 Major League seasons as a manager with the New York Mets (1984-90), Cincinnati Reds (1993-95), Baltimore Orioles (1996-97) and Los Angeles Dodgers (1999-2000). He was named the 1997 American League Manager of the Year after leading the Orioles to the A.L. East Division title. As a player, he collected three Gold Glove Awards and was a four-time All-Star second baseman over 13 seasons with the Orioles, Braves, Phillies, and Cubs.

Reggie Smith: Returns to USA Baseball for his third tour of duty. He was the hitting coach for both the 1999 USA Baseball Pan Am Team (Silver medal) in Winnipeg, Canada, and the 2000 USA Baseball Olympic Team (Gold medal) in Sydney, Australia. Smith played 17 seasons in the Major Leagues and was a seven-time All-Star with the Red Sox, Cardinals, Dodgers, and Giants.

Marcel Lachemann: Returns for his third stint with USA Baseball as well. He was the pitching coach for the 1999 USA Baseball Pan Am Team (Silver medal) in Winnipeg, Canada, and recently held the same position for the 2005 USA Baseball CONCEBE Regional Olympic Qualifying Team, under Johnson. He is currently a Special Assistant to the GM with the Colorado Rockies.

Ken Griffey Sr.: Currently a Special Consultant to the GM for the Cincinnati Reds. A lifetime .296 hitter over 19 Major League seasons with the Reds, Yankees, Braves & Mariners. He was a three-time All-Star and the MVP of the 1980 All-Star Game. This will be his first USA Baseball coaching experience.

THE WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC

The World Baseball Classic, a 16-team tournament sanctioned by the International BAseball Federation (IBAF), will feature many of the best players in the world competing for their home countries and territories for the first time ever in March 2006. The 16 teams invited to participate in the event have been divided into four pools of four teams for the first round of play. They include: Pool A - China, Chinese Taipei, Japan, Korea; Pool B - Canada, Mexico, South Africa, United States; Pool C - Cuba, Netherlands, Panama, Puerto Rico; Pool D - Australia, Dominican Republic, Italy, Venezuela.

The four Round 1 pools are scheduled to be played in Tokyo, Japan; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Orlando, Florida; Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona. Round 2 will feature two pools of four teams each and is scheduled to be played in San Juan, Puerto Rico and Anaheim, California. The Semi-Finals and Final will be played at PETCO Park in San Diego.

Specialize or Diversify? Year-round Sports Choices

2005-11-30T23:53:00.000-06:00

Ed Note: This is an excerpt from the recent eNews from Cal and Billy at Ripken Baseball and well worth reading. We often hear comparisons between how kids play today (structured, playdates, select leagues, etc.) and the glory days of pick-up games and riding your bike to the local park to play till Mom called for supper.

Truth be told, our kiddos may not be playing more baseball, but as Cal points out, they're playing more intense baseball -- working through tournaments and league schedules instead of time at the sandlot. As you read through Cal's comments, take a minute to reflect on your son or daughter's past year of competition. It may be time to "lighten up" ever so slightly to let the fun stay in the game and your progeny. Which is ultimately where it belongs.

Here's Cal's Comments (visit his site at RipkenBaseball.com, and subscribe to his eNews)

Baseball Doesn't Have to be a Year-Round Commitment

November 30, 2005 -
By Cal Ripken, Jr.
Most people think that my dad, Cal Ripken, Sr., pushed my brother Bill and I to become big league players by making us play baseball and drilling us on the finer points of the game non-stop. Actually, nothing could be farther from the truth. Dad allowed us to discover the game and develop our own feelings about it on our own.
Of course, we had plenty of opportunities to develop a love for the game of baseball. We had the luxury of being around professional ballparks and professional players for most of our childhoods, which created a certain excitement surrounding the game for us. Bill and I watched our father closely and noticed the joy he felt every time he pulled on his uniform and took the field. If it was that much fun for him then why wouldn’t we want to play, right? But, it was always our decision. Dad never pushed us at all.
As a matter of fact, Dad actually encouraged us to put our gloves away at the end of the summer. He was a very good soccer player and seemed to enjoy teaching us and playing that sport with us, too. In addition to soccer, I developed a love for the game of basketball and played that in the off-season as well. Later as my baseball career developed I found that basketball was a great way for me to stay in shape during the off-season. I enjoyed basketball and its physical benefits so much that I incorporated it into my conditioning program once I made it to the big leagues.
My son Ryan turned 12 in July. He is developing into a pretty good ballplayer and for the past several years has played on a local travel team. One of my biggest fears when it comes to Ryan and baseball – and really when it comes to any youth baseball player – is figuring out how much is too much. I’m worried that some youth teams play too many games in the summer, and I also am concerned about the idea of spreading games out so that they are played in the spring, summer and fall. You want to be sure not to zap the kids’ enjoyment of the game and the fun surrounding it. There is a danger of making baseball seem too much like work.
I have run into parents who hope to develop their children into the next Alex Rodriguez by literally standing over them and forcing them to play and practice baseball as much as possible. One parent I spoke to recently equated practicing baseball to homework: “If my son is going to spend two hours on homework, he’s going to spend two hours playing baseball,” the parent said to me. To which I replied, “Well, how does he like it?” The parent responded, “He doesn’t like it at all, but someday he’ll thank me.”
While this is the mentality that worries me most, there is an argument to be made that if a kid enjoys being on the field and wants to play every day, we as parents should try to accommodate those wishes. I don’t recall playing in that many games as a child; Ryan’s team can play as many as 65 or 70 games during the summer. But, what I do recall vividly is having a glove on my hand almost every day during the summer. Back then we played pick-up games, played games with plastic bats and balls and even invented fun baseball games. I can’t recall many summer days when Bill and I weren’t playing baseball. In this day and age maybe all of those extra organized games make up for the fact that kids don’t play pick-up or sandlot baseball anymore.
There is no blanket answer as far as how much baseball should be played by a child. Each situation should be monitored closely by parents and coaches. To me it is all about the kids’ level of enjoyment and staying in tune with their needs and desires. Watch closely for signals that the fun or excitement to play or practice is fading. It’s okay to take a break from the sport or encourage a kid to try something different for a little while.
“We probably did play more baseball than we thought as kids,” says Daniel Wann, professor of psychology at Murray State University and a member of the board of directors for the National Alliance of Youth Sports. “But, we probably didn’t play as much organized baseball as we thought. For the kids who play so many games on travel teams, the impact on their bodies may be the same, but I’m not sure about the impact on their minds. When you play 70, 80 or 90 games with intense competition, burnout can set in. It’s not the games that burn the kids out, necessarily; it’s the structure of the games.”
One thing that I do feel pretty strongly about is allowing the kids to play other sports in the off-season. I do not favor specialization. Kids who play different sports throughout the year are more likely to avoid burnout and will develop their overall athleticism. If their athleticism improves, it stands to reason that they will improve their baseball performance. I always found that playing soccer allowed me to develop better balance and agility since it really is the only sport where you only use your feet. Basketball movements are more explosive, helping improve power, quickness and lateral movement.
“Kids really need to be encouraged to play different sports,” Wann says, “and there are two sides to the coin as to why that is the case. First, it allows the muscle groups used to play baseball to take a break. And second, it allows for other sports skills to be developed. Many sports skills are transferable. For example, the footwork in soccer can be transferred very easily to basketball or baseball, and the starts and stops in basketball can be transferred to infielders or when running the bases. A kid can be playing sports other than baseball and still be getting better as a baseball player.”
Taking some time off from baseball also seems to allow that flame to rekindle during the off-season, generating a feeling of excitement toward the game as the spring approaches. This is not to say that a kid should never pick up a ball during the fall and winter months. If a kid enjoys playing catch or going to the local batting cage to hit, by all means let it happen. Just let the kid dictate. Don’t force it. Throwing and hitting a little bit during the winter months can help keep the body’s muscles in “baseball condition,” and allow the player’s reflexes to stay sharp. Those are good things, but only if the kid is allowed to make the decision about when and how much to practice.
The key from a parental and coaching standpoint is to keep the kids’ best interests in mind when it comes to any athletic activity. Kids are driven by fun. If they are not having fun, it will become readily apparent. They will be reluctant to go to practice and will perform sluggishly when they are there. Monitor your child’s progress and keep these warning signs in mind. If the child asks to take a day off or to try another sport let him or her give it a shot. Maybe the child will miss baseball and be more excited to come back and play it again. Or perhaps the child will fall in love with another activity and get years of enjoyment from it. Either way the kid wins, and that’s what is most important.
“I don’t think you can make one broad stroke and say that every kid who focuses on one sport all year long is going to be negatively affected,” concludes Wann. “This is just not the case with everyone. There are kids who live for baseball – who don’t want to play football, basketball or soccer. We don’t want to overstate the case. We should just try to do what is right by most kids, and for most kids it is beneficial to have on and off seasons and to play multiple sports.”

Hard Work, Desire & Coaching Challenges

2005-11-21T08:08:00.000-06:00

One of our recent challenges came at an off-season workout, a series of "skill and skull" sessions we're hosting with baseball instructor Shane Davenport.

One of the players, having been repeatedly reminded to get in a "ready" fielding position during a BP session (we try to work both sides simultaneously so it doesn't turn into just a hittng session w/ a lot of bored fielders watching) began arguing with a coach. The coach and player have a 3 year tenure on the same team, and the coach has perhaps become akin to a parent in the eyes of the player -- and we've all seen our kids give their parents short-shrift on occasion.

What brought the situation full-circle was the "skull" session whereby Davenport mentioned several issues he was seeing on the field. In particular he reinforced what the other coach had been stressing, explained further why it was so important, and then took a quieter tact. He asked the players if they felt a lttle furstration being reminded repeatedly. They all exclaimed some sort of frustration, and he went on to explain that without the reiminders, the practices and the volunteer efforts of coaches and dads, that they would not be prepared to play ball later. Noting that high school coaches wouldn't be teaching fundamentals, and -- even more-so -- would not tolerate a lack of fundamental skils among starting players, he pointed to the "when" of learning these skills. Bottom line: these 12 years olds needed to take ownership of their games if they wanted to progress. It was a smart reminder, and an even smarter way to shore up the other coach and respect due him.

Ask teachers and coaches who they remember teaching throught their years, and you'll often hear stories about the ones who "got it," young people who asked questions, had a hunger for knowledge or experience (i.e. put me in coach) and thus were given the "keys to the store" in terms of access to the teacher or coach and the extra time and advice that makes a good student great. Ask them about the other side of the coin and you'll see a lot of frowns and furrowed brows... the sheer disappoinment associated with "losing" a kid, or having to spend more time on the rudimentary while seeking real growth.

In short, after seeing repeated attempts to teach or coach "wasted" by kids who would rather fight than switch -- or rather be somewhere else altogether -- the teacher gives up, and tolerates the player but offers no more.

What a shame, but it is what it is... lost opportunity, and both sides lose.

So how can you reach out to the others? How can you draw them in? Honesty helps, in perhaps the form of a candid one-on-one where each person is given an opinion, a role in the coonversation and a chance to save face. Make this meeting a lecture and it's over before it begins. Give the player a chance to voice his or her opinions, and the feeling he or she is being listened to, and you may have a breakthrough that can change a young life, and certainly make the remaining season or association far more enjoyable. As coaches and parents, we do a lot of bossing, often assuming kiddos will buy into our considerable knowledge. But "teamwork" is more than "a bunch of people doing what I told em to do," it's sometimes brushing aside the pride and position, and reaching into the dynamic of "team" and working to leave no member behind.

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A Word of Thanks...
Special thanks go out to a roster of baseball folks who responded to an email we sent out regarding Avery Sullivan's 4-year anniversary at the Ray Burris Academy. Ave (or Ave-Rod as he prefers) is one of those kiddos that "gets it," working his fanny off and soaking up every bit of the game he can. A joy to coach and know.

We'd like to thank these fine folks (listed in no particular order) for their personal notes and sage words of advice -- they're the people that make the great game great:
Breon Dennis -- Texas Rangers
Jim Sundberg -- Texas Rangers
Ray Burris -- Ray Burris Academy
George Wright -- Ray Burris Academy
Shane Davenport -- Ray Burris Academy
Mark Patrick -- Host, MLB Home Plate on XM Radio
Cal & Billy Ripken -- Ripken Baseball
Rusty Greer -- Texas Rangers great (and Ave's role model)
Randy Galloway -- Long-time DFW Sports Guru
Stephen Keener -- President, Little League Baseball
JD Magee -- Coach and owner Arlington Baseball Academy
John Arnot -- Coach and NALL VP
Jimmy Lilly -- Former Coach

11U & 12U tryouts in N. Texas

2005-11-15T15:10:00.000-06:00

U11/U12 SELECT TEAM TRYOUTS

The Texas Redbirds will be hosting a tryouts for 11U and 12U on Sunday, November 20, 2005, 2:00 PM, at the Texas Star Facility in Euless. The Texas Redbirds are an Arlington area team that will compete in league and tournament play in spring 2006. For more information and to register for the tryout please contact JD Magee at nabadfw@sbcglobal.net or 817-792-3532.

If you also have team tryouts you want posted here, contact Ski Sullivan

Steorids -- Truth Vs. Lies from SPARQ

2005-11-14T16:02:00.000-06:00

"TRUTH vs. LIES
Abusing steroids and other performance enhancing drugs have brought down some big names in the big leagues and beyond. No one in our survey fessed up, but about a fifth said they knew at least one teammate who's juiced. Scary.

It would be easy to condemn them. Easy to agree with Travis Tartamella ('06, C, Los Osos HS, Alta Loma, CA) who says players using steroids should "be considered cheaters and banned from baseball." Want to echo the feelings of Drew Rundle, (�06, OF, Bend, OR) that players "should have enough respect for the game not to insult it by using steroids." Easy to tell you the horror stories about what happens to the dopers after their playing days end: cancer-ridden scarecrows, heart attacks before 40, babies with third arms or a barrel against the temple.

That'd be easy because it's all true. It's easy to judge, but it's also easy to understand the temptation the desperation to get out, move up, play on, cash in. Maybe Tyree Hayes (06, P/SS, Tomball, TX) put it best: "If you were a career minor leaguer, and you thought that taking steroids would get you to The Show and make millions, what would you do? I guess it comes down to morals."

What's not easy is when you're deceived, or don't know better (think East Germany) because coaches, managers and trainers don't have your best interests at heart, or that league officials and alumni sometimes care more about the fans' ticket price or a gold medal than a player's drug test.

We hate to preach, so we'll keep it short. There is no risk-free short-cut to success. And the quicker the short cut, the more skeptical you should be. SPARQ stands for high-intensity, explosive, sport-based training. SPARQ stands for working, not wishing. It’s about discovering a love for the gym, a passion for winning, a hatred of giving up, and a discipline that borders on mania.

Most high school athletes play because it’s fun, and they practice what they need to. Others are driven by something else. They hit the weights. They do extra sprints, or hoist a hundred J’s before school. They run the cones, use the SPARQ Power Ball, and watch hours of game tape. But sometimes, they skip the hustle, and look for the quick fix. Every athlete has to find their drive. How far will you go?"

Lower Proposed Steroids Penalities?

2005-11-10T17:11:00.000-06:00

ed note: So, lawmakers have decided to lower the proposed penalties on steroid use it was learned today. Basically taking some of the fear and teeth out of legislation aimed to spur MLB to harsher penalties. Clearly, something needs to be done as players still haven't cleaned up their collective act. Pressures to succeed, perform, survive (right Raffy?) and earn big iron lead lesser and diminished-skills players to try anything to get or maintain a roster spot.

While I'm not a proponent of our congressmen mucking about in the affairs of the great game, I am pleased to see a burr in the saddle of the league and players' union. Clearly an example must be set. A line drawn that lets offenders know that the risk/reward pendulum is swinging the other way, and bad things lay ahead. Here's the article:

WASHINGTON - Aiming for a Senate vote on steroid legislation this week, lawmakers eased the proposed penalties Tuesday, calling for a half-season suspension the first time an athlete tests positive for performance-enhancing drugs.
The bill, sponsored by Sens. Jim Bunning, R-Ky., and John McCain, R-Ariz., contains a one-season ban for a second steroid offense and a lifetime ban for a third. It would apply to Major League Baseball, the NFL, NBA, NHL and baseball's minor leagues.
Several bills that would standardize steroid rules across U.S. professional sports have been proposed in the House and Senate in recent months. Most — including the original version of the Senate measure — were based on the Olympic model: a two-year suspension for a first drug offense, a lifetime ban for a second.

During a series of congressional hearings and in private meetings with lawmakers, the leagues and their players' unions objected to those penalties as too harsh. They also say they should continue to set their own drug-testing rules and penalties through collective bargaining.

"I think, seriously, that they are under the opinion that we will not act," said Bunning, a former pitcher elected to baseball's Hall of Fame. "We tried to explain to them that we are going to act because of their failure to do so, and I don't think it's sunk in."

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has signed on as a co-sponsor, and Bunning said he expected it to pass as soon as late Tuesday or Wednesday. Bunning planned to meet with House leaders and sponsors of similar bills in that chamber.

Under current rules, a first failed drug test draws a 10-day ban in Major League Baseball (roughly 1/18th of a season), a 10-game ban in the NBA (about an eighth of a season), a four-game ban in the NFL (a quarter of a season), and a 20-game ban in the NHL (about a quarter of a season).

The House has three versions of steroid legislation. One introduced by Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Fla., calls for a half-season ban for a first offense.

"That we can agree on the penalties is very important," Stearns said in a telephone interview. "It's good news for trying to pass a steroid bill."

House Government Reform Committee Chairman Tom Davis, R-Va., whose panel held a March 17 hearing with baseball stars Rafael Palmeiro, Mark McGwire, Jose Canseco and others, proposed a bill with the Olympic penalties. But Davis spokesman Dave Marin said the congressman told Bunning and McCain he probably would accept the three-tier penalty structure.

In April, commissioner Bud Selig proposed raising baseball's penalties to a 50-game suspension for an initial positive test, a 100-game ban for a second offense, and a lifetime ban for a third. Union head Donald Fehr rejected that proposal, and the sides have been negotiating.

The primary disagreement between players and owners is the length of the initial penalty, a baseball official familiar with the talks said on condition of anonymity because the discussions are secret.

"I think congressional intervention in this issue has promoted a better policy within Major League Baseball," San Diego Padres chief executive officer Sandy Alderson said.

The Senate bill would mandate that each player is tested at least five times a year and would urge leagues to erase records achieved with the help of performance-enhancing drugs.

The legislation would take effect a year after being signed into law, giving the leagues that time to change their own steroid policies and make them at least as tough as the law.

"Maybe — maybe — with a year to operate, to get their house in order, they will act on their own," Bunning said.

Off-Season Camps and Clinics

2005-10-25T09:59:00.000-05:00

As fall ball wraps up over the next weeks, many kids are ready for some time off, and deservedly so. However, this late fall/early winter period is also a good time to begin planning for off-season workouts, training programs and "head" drills to teach the fine points of the game.

In North Texas, we know of a few programs that continually provide a high quality regimen for helping young baseball players in strength, agility, speed, mechanics and mental conditioning.

These two programs are administered by pros -- people that understand youth sport bodies and conditioning. Common sense runs high, egos are kepy under lock and key, and results are positive for the players and parents.

1. Ray Burris Elite Positions Clinics -- These clinics are typically done Thrus and Fri nights for 2-3 hours. There's also a Sunday set of sessions upcoming in late November. Clinics include Catching, Fielding and Hitting as taught by instructor Shane Davenport. Pitching and Parents' sessions are run by Ray Burris. Players see results quickly here, and they get as much head/attitude adjustment as they do physical training. Many pros come to Ray to fine tune or rebuild mechanics, and athletes of all ages wil find knowledgeable, proactive instruction here. More info at RayBurris.com or call at (817) 589-9055

2. Arlington Baseball Academy BPEP -- The Baseball Player Enhancement Program (BPEP) is designed to improve each player during the off season in preparation for the spring season. Focus is on overall strength, endurance, flexibility, speed and mechanics. The sessions, run by owner JD Magee with Pantego HS Pitching Coach Bobby Hart are a favorite among a growing number of youth select players in Arlington, Texas. Sessions are now being booked and are limited to just 30 players per season. More info, email JD Magee or call him at (817) 792-3532, ext 4.

One additional item, we have found everything we could want in sports nutrition from the folks at FitRx. These guys get it, and have a tremendous stock to choose from. They'll also answer questions quickly and correctly. Get everything from pre-game snacks, to advance protein and creatine mixes. This isn't Balco folks, safe and superior supplements and fitness food from name brand manufacturers. More info, FitRx.com.

If you know of good solid off-season instructional programs, either comment to this blog, or email me at ski@texball.com.

Roy Oswalt Puts on a Clinic

2005-10-20T15:12:00.000-05:00

Okay, so this isn't a Youth sports note, and I don't know how much you watched Wednesday evening, but what I saw made me a big fan of Roy Oswalt, and of an aggressive, REALLY smart pitching style. With the aid of a good performance by Brad Ausmus, Oswalt moved the ball in and out, up and down seemingly at will. He kept the ball down throughout most of the evening, bringing it up ONLY when he chose to.

Good case in point was his work against St Louis centerfielder, Reggie Sanders. His first two at-bats Oswalt contiued to throw heat up and in, confounding the slugger. Third time up? Down and dirty two-seam fastballs that Reggie could only watch go by. Boom done.

MLB called his performance "a postseason game for the ages" and likened his Busch Stadium outing to great ones by Cardinals hurlers like Bob Gibson, John Tudor and Chris Carpenter. Certainly more-so than anything seen from counterpart Mulder, who has given us good discussion points for our pitchers and infielders ths next practice, i.e. KNOW where you're going with the next play, ALWAYS hustle to cover the base, and BREATHE when things seem to be unravelling around you. Mulder's throat and cheeks tightened up more and more as the game went on, and Lane's solo shot to left might has well have gone through his heart, cause it all ended pretty quickly afterwards.

Congrats to Roy Oswalt and the Houston Astros. They made Puholz's shot a footnote, and their efforts showed a strong sense of destiny. Kinda like those guys on the south side of Chicago. Should be a great match-up come Saturday.

Cape Cod: All Signs Point to Simplicity :: Summer baseball league is home to future Major League Stars

2005-09-20T00:29:00.000-05:00

Cape Cod: All Signs Point to Simplicity :: Summer baseball league is home to future Major League Stars: "Cape Cod: All Signs Point to Simplicity
TexBall Ed. Note: This article appeared first on July 8, and is the first of a two part series on the infamous Cape Cod League. We'll bring part two to readers next week.

Summer baseball league is home to future Major League Stars

Harwich, Mass. - It's the simplicity that will get you. There are no admission prices, just two elderly gentlemen sitting in folding chairs behind a table that has rosters and a donation bucket at the gate. Tickets are for 50-50 raffles, not entrance fees. Hot dogs go for two dollars, a coke for one. Just like at the little shops, it is also true for baseball: Simplicity sells on Cape Cod.

The facilities are fields, not stadiums. The players are amateurs, not yet professionals. They come from the West and the South, the North and the East, to play a little hardball. Surrendering the possibilities of warm weather and consistent climate, they migrate to Cape Cod for a summer of employment and enjoyment. No internships at big accounting firms or entry level management positions for these college students. No, their summer is a little different. They work for their future, just as their contemporaries do. But they aspire to play for pay. And they plan to do it on a field, not in a corner office.

Gone are their hometowns and regular summer activities. No return to high school glories or past accomplishments. Instead, they travel to an island where New Englanders migrate for vacation and relaxation. Sure, there are players from the region, but it is the influx from the College World Series and farther distances that brings the attention. Flying in from places as far away as Arizona and Washington, they all add a national flavor to the regional feel.

It's a brand of baseball that is neither minor nor major in terms of its affiliation"

The LIST -- College Baseball Players Who Made it to a Major League Baseball Team

2005-09-20T00:15:00.000-05:00

"TexBall Ed. Note: We found this list and thought it would be fun for our readers to see how many and who made it from collegiate ball to the show. Read this intro then click to go to baseball-almanac.com for the entire list.
Baseball Almanac is pleased to present 'The Colleges', an ongoing research project that lists every player from specific colleges who appeared in at least one college baseball game and made it to the major league level.
This menu represents the third phase of the college baseball project. The first phase was college data on the player's biographical pages, the second phase are pages dedicated to each college � with the first linking to the second and vice versa as they are being created & the third phase is the grouping of the individual college pages along side other college baseball related pages.
Menu Notes: Actual / historical college names are used inside of each page below AND on each player's bio. Example: Texas A&M University was once called Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas. The latter will be found on the Texas A&M page below and each player who attended during that timeframe will have the latter / proper school name also."

Baseball America - 2005 College Summer Leagues: Top Prospects

2005-09-16T10:38:00.000-05:00

2005 Summer League Outstanding Players and Prospects
"By Will Kimmey
August 25, 2005

� 2005 Summer Player of the Year: Andrew Miller
� 2005 Summer All-Americans

It's back to school time at college campuses across the nation, with students renewing acquaintances and sharing their summer experiences with one another. It's no different for the baseball players, a lot of whom enjoyed internships in summer wood-bat leagues.
Baseball America consulted with managers and scouts for 16 summer leagues to rank the Top 10 Prospects in each one. The Cape Cod League appeared last week, and here we present the valedictorians of 16 more leagues.

ALASKA LEAGUE
1. Michael Taylor, of, Mat-Su Miners (Stanford)
Extremely physical at 6-foot-6 and 240 pounds, Taylor has an unlimited upside. He has solid tools across the board but has barely tapped into them. He struggled early at the plate, but made adjustments to develop a more fluid stroke and hit .317-4-25. He also led the league with 25 stolen bases, covered a lot of ground in right field with his long stride and showcased an above-average arm for that position. With continued improvement over the next two years at Stanford, particularly in unlocking his power potential, he could be one of the top picks in the 2007 draft.
ATLANTIC COLLEGIATE
Vin DiFazio, c, Quakertown (Indian River, Fla., CC)
DiFazio paced the ACBL with 42 RBIs and ranked second in hits, runs, doubles and triples while batting .331/.407/.570 to help lead Quakertown to the best record in the league and a league title. His defense behind the plate impressed just as much, especially his arm strength and sturdy frame (6-foot, 200... (TexBall Ed Note: This is a great review. To read the entire story go to the link above) "

The NCAA Is The Enemy

2005-09-15T08:30:00.000-05:00

The NCAA Is The Enemy: "At a high school baseball information seminar, sponsored by Encore Sports and Perfect Game ID Camps, held in Decatur, Alabama, those in attendance were treated to the insight of college baseball coaching legend Ron Polk, of Mississippi State University.
As Coach Polk started his discussion, which was to be on the role of high school coaches and parents in recruiting, he announced, 'The NCAA is the enemy of college baseball!'
Coach Polk further went on to explain that at this point in his career he has made it his goal to berate the NCAA leadership and it's unfair treatment of college baseball programs, at every opportunity.
Coach Polk explained that several years ago it was decided that all NCAA DI men's sports scholarship totals would be reduced by 10%, across the board. This in the face of Title IX compliance. If you look at total allowable scholarships for men's sports you will see the unusual amounts, like 11.7 for baseball. This came as a result of reducing the previous number (13) by 10%.
Did you know that the NCAA Division I men's baseball College World Series is the second (2nd) largest championsip series sponsored by the NCAA? Coach Polk made this point .... the baseball regionals, super-regionals and CWS are surpassed in revenue generated for the NCAA only by the men's basketball tournament. What about football? Those bowl games "

Little League Online

2005-09-12T11:02:00.000-05:00

Little League Online: "Too Much Baseball is Not a Good Thing

(TexBall Ed. Note: This column by Little League International President and Chief Executive Officer Stephen D. Keener, is reprinted from the 2005 Little League Baseball World Series Program. While Keener does not address pitch count and selection, a recent email response indicates LL is about to address these issues)

Each August, the Little League World Series celebrates children playing baseball, and families and fans of Little League Baseball come to Williamsport to trumpet the success of these champions, but the final score and world championship banner are certainly not the most important things.

Little League is about playing, having fun, and learning some of life's lessons along the way. Too many times in recent years stories have been told about children playing and sacrificing for baseball where the only thing that seems to matter is the outcome.

That is most definitely not what Little League is about.

Terms like "overuse," "burnout," and "epidemic," have been unjustly linked to the Little League program when these stories surface involving children as young as 10 who are playing dozens... click on link above to continue "

WebBall: Shortstop Second: Grading Points

2005-09-01T09:46:00.000-05:00

WebBall: Shortstop Second: Grading Points:
"Some Observations
Here are some things to consider for the infield that are not what many would call conventional wisdom but seem to reflect Ted Kubiak's experience as player and manager (as interpreted by WebBall)...

Kids rush forward too much.
The first instinct - too often - is to charge straight at the ball, without considering the angle it's moving, the spin, or the alignment needed for a good throw after the stop. Coaches: try to slow them down, get them to think laterally.

Unteach the cross-over.
Many coaches [including WebBall - ed.note] have emphasized the cross-over step as a way to get the body moving and get a jump to the side. But this can close off the hips and reduce flexibility and may force the body into a higher posture. So try to unteach crossovers. Have them turn with open hips and the lead leg going first.

Tire them out, then work them hard.
{Ed note: this is very contrary to the conventional wisdom that training should stop before muscle fatigue. But then again...] Players need to learn to be efficient - minimize effort for maximum results. If they start to tire but are challenged to keep doing the task, they will force themselves to find a way to do it with the least possible effort - to conserve energy. Perspiration = inspiration.

Taking charge is hard to teach but easy to spot.
The best infielders (see below) have confidence in their abilities, a desire to shine, and a willingness to take all the pressure on themselves. while mechanics and strategy can be taught, the instinct to be a leader is something each player will develop on their own - some sooner than others. "

Pitcher Pointers to Peruse

2005-08-31T12:12:00.000-05:00

There are darn near as many pitching instruction books, gurus and experts as there are swing doctors for golfers.

So, how do you cut through all the hub-bub and get your son or daughter the best information and instruction? We did a lot of research initially, especially after hearing one too many youth coach say something like "rock and fire" or "bring the heat!."

Truth be told, most youth coaches know bumpkiss about pitching mechanics, and are more interested in velocity than longetivity of the arm throwing the ball. There is SO much more involved, including proper use of feet and leg drive, balance, breathing and finger/wrist movement. The throwing arm should act more like a whip than a cannon, and should be driven by a complete use of the body.

Since so much is put into "throwing hard," we felt it important to help you get a little more know-how about rotator cuff damage. To get a good primer on the subject, visit All
Star Pitcher and see his charts on the muscles, tendons and joints involved. If you choose to buy the program he sells, so much the better as information like this is cheap compared to the potential heartache and medical bills resulting from bad motion and technique.

AND, to get to our original point, it is VERY important to see an expert instructor on pitching. Not necessarily a pitching instruction clinic (where sheer numbers preclude your son or daughter from getting individual attention needed. We sought out pitching instruction that would also address mental aspects of the game. You often hear commentators talking about pitchers who make the transformation from "throwing" to "pitching," and how much more they now understand the game. We wanted that early.

Our solution ended up being Ray Burris, and Shane Davenport from Ray Burris Academy. Ray is former MLB starter who worked his way through the bigs in a 14 year career in mid 70s and 80s. His approach gets in kids' hearts as well as their minds, and helps them understand accountability of performance.

He also helps them save their arms by showing them how to understand what they're feeling during set up and delivery. This "feeling" keeps motions on track, and emotions in check as they work what they know to be correct for playing the game.

While there are plenty of able instructors out there. Our site, TexBall showcases instructors year-round, but we tend to work word of mouth from what we know. We can strongly recommend what Ray and Shane have to offer.

And, one final word: if your pitcher is 8-14 years of age and needs ice after an outing, GET SOME INSTRUCTION. He or she is throwing too hard or there's a fine-tuning that could be critical to his or her future success and safety.

Get certified copies of birth certificates

2005-08-30T15:03:00.000-05:00

Parents of tournament, traveling and select teams throughout the U.S. are constantly needing to put together packets of valid copies or original birth certificates for players.

Obtaining additional certified copies from your state government is relatively easy and inexpensive.

In Texas, go to http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/vs/default.shtm to get instructions. To search for your state's directory Click Here

Stay tuned this week as we deliver our two part series on youth pitcher safety.

Congrats as well to the Hawaiian LL team for such a stellar Little League World Series. We called them winners after 1st televised game, and even call the solo walk-off shot at championship game. Nice to be right occasionally.

A Call to Arms -- Save Your Pitchers

2005-08-26T14:58:00.000-05:00

Much has been written and spoken in various sports media forums this past week regarding the use (and abuse) of breaking-ball pitches by 12 year-olds in the Little League World Series games.

And, the sheer number of pitches thrown has also been a hot topic.

Bottom line? Kids are being glorified for doing two things all parents and coaches should prohibit: throwing breaking-ball pitches (curveballs especially) and enduring excessive pitch counts.

In a blog to follow this week, we'll address some startling statistics on wear and tear, surgeries and burn-out rates plaguing youth players, but today let's sum up.

1. Regardless of their biological age (vs. chronological age) 98% of these pitchers haven't finished growing. Their growth plates haven't yet sealed up in those precious arms. The more torque put on those elbows and shoulders, the more likely they'll end their career under a surgeon's knife. And they'll do so long before they reach high school.

At their age, even properly taught curveball pitching poses too large a risk to the players. Throw a change up, a circle change, a two-seam fastball and a four-seam fastball instead.

2. Again, despite some of these players looking old enough (and big enough) to have their own kids in the stands, they are throwing too many pitches. Think Kerry Wood -- the often hobbled Cubs hurler was so over-pitched through his youth and high school days that it's a wonder he has anything left. He's certainly not the type of "fresh arm" many pro scouts are looking for these days.

Jamie Reed, head trainer for the Texas Rangers recently shared two facts with us. He said that draft talks often center on looking for pitchers that BEGAN their pitching careers late in high school or early in college. He also said that pitch counts over 75 pitches per week increase risk of injury 35%.

Think of running a cord over the edge of a wooden board. Back and forth, back and forth, and you have a good simulation of what's going on in the pitchers shoulder. Too many reps at full effort equals damage and wear that cannot be undone.

So.... If you're hopeful that your son or daughter can persue their sport long past their 14th birthday, the time to start guarding their safety is now.

And, as unpopular as that may be, especially in light of the glorious world stage ESPN is providing this great game, you as a parent must be prepared to take a stand. Let your coach know you will not allow breaking ball pitches, and that you intend to limit your pitcher's workload to 50-60 pitches per week.

USATODAY.com - New Hall of Famers frustrated by lack of respect for game

2005-08-24T12:42:00.000-05:00

USATODAY.com - New Hall of Famers frustrated by lack of respect for game: "New Hall of Famers frustrated by lack of respect for game
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. � When Ryne Sandberg flicks on his TV set to watch a baseball game, what he sees turns his stomach. Whatever happened to playing the game with respect, with dedication and passion? Whatever happened to the game he's loved since he was a toddler?
Sandberg can't answer the question. Neither can Wade Boggs.
But as they were inducted Sunday into baseball's Hall of Fame, they refused to sugarcoat the absurd behavior of today's highly paid, pampered, selfish players who show little respect for the game and its fans.
I applaud the newest Hall of Famers for being so bold. I detest the actions of many of the current players who should get down on their knees and kiss the earth because of the golden opportunities the game provides them.
What better forum than Hall of Fame induction ceremonies to sound the alarm.
Wonder if Manny Ramirez or any of the other enormously talented players who masquerade as major leaguers were listening? Just the other day, Ramirez refused to play, even though he was needed because "

USATODAY.com - Hawaii sluggers make star turns at Little League series

2005-08-24T12:35:00.000-05:00

USATODAY.com - Hawaii sluggers make star turns at Little League series: "Hawaii sluggers make star turns at Little League series
By Genaro C. Armas, The Associated Press
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. � Dante Bichette Jr. is certainly making a name for himself at the Little League World Series.
Unfortunately for him, Michael Memea and the other West Oahu sluggers are turning star performances themselves in South Williamsport.
West Oahu of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, jumped out to an early lead thanks in part to Memea's second homer of the series en route to a 10-0 win over Bichette and his Maitland, Fla., teammates.
Both teams have clinched berths into the next round of the 10-day tournament, though West Oahu's imposing lineup of big boppers and aggressive baserunners makes them a favorite in the U.S. bracket.
Also Monday, Mexico shut out Russia 7-0; and Japan defeated Venezuela 7-4.
Bichette was one of the few bright spots on the day for Maitland, getting two of the four hits off West Oahu ace Alaka'i Aglipay and continuing his stellar performance in the tournament.
On Friday, Bichette struck out 11 batters and hit a three-run homer late in a 7-3 win over Davenport, Iowa. On Saturday, he started a two-run first-inning rally and added an insurance run in the fifth with a solo homer to defeat Newtown, Pa.
Both games were played in prime-time in front of a national television audience.
He's even sharpened his post-game interview skills, thanks to some help from his parents while traveling to Pennsylvania.
'I wasn't very good at it,' he said. 'I just said some one-word answers.'
Bichette's father, who is a coach for Maitland, has some experience in the spotlight: Dante Bichette hit 274 home runs during a 14-year major league career.
With similar faces, the Bichet"