Fall Baseball

I've watched several fall league baseball games the last few weeks and it seems to me that a lot of players are playing without a purpose. It's as if playing fall ball is the thing to do, but why? Is it because they think it's expected by their summer league or high school coach? Are they playing because their buddy is? Is it something their parents want them to do? With few exceptions, they just seem to be taking their turn at bat and walking out to their position.

And pitchers, I'm very disappointed in their pre-game prep. I know most teams don't have the luxury of a pitching coach or a bull pen coach and the pitcher is left to prepare on his own. But, they often just start firing away in the bull pen! I'm sure that most of them have been instructed to use a Bull Pen Routine to help them prepare the arm, find their rhythm, work on location and find the feel for all their pitching grips. Most hitters can crush a fastball, if you ever watch a major league game, even the elite hitters have trouble with off speed pitches when the situation is set up properly. So pitcher,why don't you throw your bull pen the way you've been instructed. There should be a sequence off pitches featuring your fastball, change and curve ball. Fast balls should be thrown at 3/4 speed concentrating on mechanics, grip and location.  If possible, the pitcher should have a hitter standing in to make the bull pen game like. Wait until your last 4 or 5 fast balls to "air it out".  Another waste of time and effort is the warm-up pitches between innings. This is an opportunity to work on that pitch that's not quite working or to see if you can get a little more movement or to work on location. Yet I see pitchers doing little more than just playing catch with the catcher for 5 pitches. During a seven inning game, the pitcher gets a minimum of 35 pitches to work on something.

And hitters, there's so much you could and should be working on. Can you sac bunt with confidence? The drag & push bunt are important bunting skills that must be practiced. How about working on hitting behind the runner when the situation calls for moving the runner? How about learning to drive in runners from third base with less than two outs? Where are the infielders playing the hitter? If they're in for a play at the plate, you should be working to drive the ball to the outfield, If the infield is playing back, work on hitting ground balls to the middle infielders. There isn't a player that couldn't benefit from working on his base running skills. How about working on an extended lead? Reading the pitcher and getting better jumps? More aggressive secondaries? Practice cutting the corners tighter?

Outfielders can also work on their weaknesses. Many young outfielders have trouble taking the proper angle to a fly ball, work on it in your fall games. Play a few steps shallower than normal to work on fly balls over your head. How about "do or die" ground balls?

Baseball is a tremendously demanding game that requires many skills, fall ball is the ideal time to work on all aspects of your game.

Remember, "you never know who may be watching"!

Bob Harris
Former Pro Scout

The Baseball Coaching Bible

"The Baseball Coaching Bible" earns special status as that rare baseball instructional book by presenting the knowledge of many of the greatest to have ever coached the game of baseball and covering a full spectrum of topics on leading a baseball team to become champions! 

The 27 contributing coaches share their keys to winning baseball - something they know well, having won 50 national titles and nearly 25.000 games among them!  The "Book's" varied and vast amount of information allows you to pick and choose what you wish to implement in your program, but you will gain knowlwdge and be entertained by it all.  The wit and wisdom of baseball's sharpest minds shine through in their memorable stories and valuable insights.

Every facet of coaching baseball is covered, with each coach addressing the subject he knows best.  "The Baseball Coaching Bible" is endorsed by the American Baseball Coaches Association.  "The Coaching Bible" is essential reading for anyone seriousabout coaching the sport of Baseball!

Major League Baseball Fundamentals By Big League All Stars