How To Steal A Base In Baseball

Baserunning:
How To Steal A Base In Baseball

There is nothing like a little grand larceny on the basepath to get your team in scoring position and to put the defense on their heels. But there are a few things to keep in mind when taking those 90 feet. Follow these steps to successfully stealing a base in baseball.

Step 1: Stepping Out
First thing you will need to do to steal a base is to get a good lead off the base. When you know that the pitcher has the ball and he puts his foot on the rubber then go ahead and take several shuffle steps off the bag. Don’t cross your legs so that you avoid getting them tangled up. You should want to get as far off the bag as you can without being picked off. Keep your weight balanced on the balls of your feet so that you can quickly move in either direction. Put yourself in a slight crouch with your arms hanging loosely in front of you, and always keep your eyes on the pitcher.

Step 2: For Whom The Pitcher Tells
You should be able to decipher what the pitcher intends to do with the ball by his tells. Pay attention to the placement of his foot on the rubber. If he’s a right hander, are his shoulders open so that he can try a pick off? And what about his rear leg? Is he getting ready to throw your way?
Study his movements when he tries a pick off and also when he pitches, you’ll find a few tells that can give you a great jump for your steal.

Step 3: Off To The Races
Once you see the pitcher throw the ball to home plate take off for second as fast as possible. Slide into the bag, avoiding the tag if necessary.

Positive Affirmations Can Enahnce Your Performance

The mind is a phenomenal computer, with total capability of instructing your body to perform to it’s maximum potential.  However, your actions, negative or positive, are directly related to the chosen data that is programmed into the mind.  Programmed negatively, the mind can only respond negatively.  But, enter positive information and the results will be positive.  This appropriate approach displaces worry, doubts and fears or any other psychological obstacles, while allowing the body to get the job done to your satisfaction.

Positive affirmations are invaluable and work quickly.  These self talk or motivational phrases should always be in the present tense and begin with I.

Examples:

• I am a great hitter.
• I am confident.
• I feel happy.
• I am aggressive.
• I have great location.
• I have a great eye.
• I have a great arm.
• I have a great glove.
• I will get this guy out.
• I have outstanding defensive skills.
• I can hit any pitch.
• I can hit any pitcher.
• I have great stuff.
• I am relaxed.

Develop your own affirmations according to your desires, and as you repeat them, ideally several times a day, you will experience a change in attitudes.  The repetition will instill confidence which will boost success.  Write these affirmations  down on small index cards or paper,  tape  or place them in strategic places to remind you of your chosen changes in thinking.  You will love the results!

Merry Christmas from SwingAway!

Basrunning Drills

Being Selective At the Plate

Yogi Berra was notorious for swinging at bad pitches, but was also very productive in doing so.  However, he was one of few that could do it and get away with it.  I often work with hitters who are playing in the zone but not programmed to hold up on undesirable pitches.  The first major leaguer that I worked with had this problem.  The following remedied the situation for him, a host of others,  and it will for you or a player(s) that you may be coaching.  Have a special batting practice session, with instructions to the hitter not to swing at anything out of the zone.

Start throwing to him at slow speeds, then gradually increase the speed to the maximum. He begins the therapy by practicing out of the left or thinking side of the mind and then converts gradually to the right side of the mind, where the reflexes are located.  Should he revert back to the old bad habit, slow the pitches again while gradually increasing  the velocity.

This programs the sub conscious mind and body to swing at good pitches only.  Once reprogrammed,  focusing only on the ball will guarantee right brain play and maximum performance potential.

How to Hold the Bat

Softball Hitting Drills for a Short Swing

Hitting with Proper Extension

The follow through should be a personal preference.  While many hitters feel like they have a better swing with a two handed finish; other feel the one handed finish works best for them.  Some hitters use both methods depending on where the pitch is.  For example, many hitter finish with two hands on the inside pitch while releasing their top hand on the ball away, this allows them to stay through the ball better.

All good hitters stay through the ball and keep their head down past contact.  Some hitters, though not all, have problems keeping their head down past contact.  It seems that their back shoulder forces their head off of the ball too soon when they finish their swing with two hands.

There are many hitters that do not work on their follow through and therefore are not consistent with the final aspect of their swing.  In order to be consistent, work to perfect your finish.  Many times solely working on the follow through will still not completely eliminate the problem because problems with a hitter’s follow through occur early in the sequence of the swing.

Good Baseball Terms and Stats to Know

Baseball Basics:
Baseball Statistics

How to Hit with Proper Timing

Not being able to see the ball well can usually be attributed to a breakdown in your timing.  This is where being late with your stride will affect your ability to see the ball.  If your stride foot gets down late, it will cause you to do the following:

• Jump at the ball
• Pull your head
• Use your body too much
• Overswing.  When you overswing, you are trying to hit the ball too far or too hard.  This causes you to pull your front shoulder, which in turn pulls your head off the ball

Be careful that you are not trying to do more than you ability allows.  If you do this, you are taking yourself out of your game and the pitcher is winning the battle.  Jumping at the ball can be attributed to not only getting into a position of power late, but also by trying to hit the ball too hard or too far.  Jumping at the ball causes your head to move forward and makes the ball appear faster than it really is.  This means the ball will come at your quicker, and this hurts your ability to make good, consistent contact.

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