What it Takes to Play Like a Pro in Baseball

Today's topic will be on the 13 to 17 years-of-age range. This could also go over into your 18th year, too, though.

First things first (and this I can not say it enough): good school habits and study habits are a must! Do not miss too much school time, whether it be for practice or not, as it can affect grades adversely. Students cannot play baseball at their school if grades slip below around a 2.5 GPA (usually).

The player also needs to eat right (getting the salads at McDonalds is not healthy, either) and get a long, quality sleep every night. This is for both school and baseball, as the body and the mind work together to produce results. Without one, the other is doomed!

Now is the time that the players in the teen age group will begin to notice the pitch-out play, and if the player is a pitcher than he or she will need to work on the pitch-out to the bases. The players will learn the dos and don'ts of base stealing around this age.

To The Next Level (8 to 12 Years)

OK we talked about the 5, 6 and 7 year old Baseball players.

Let’s now talk about the 8 through 12 year old baseball players and what they need to be doing to make it on a team and the next level in that area and to make it onto the ALL-STAR team at the end of the season.

1. Get the right amount of sleep.
2. Eat right.
3. Get a daily work out (this is for the off season only), so you are in top shape when regular season practices start. When you do your work out in the off season, you will be in the top of the group when it comes to being ready, and that could mean a starting spot on a team.
4. Study how baseball is played and played right, like watch videos on "The Right Way to Play Baseball" and read on it as well. When you go to your next practice, and when I say “practice” I mean practice, because that is the only time you should try your new moves you think you learned from the internet or by reading, and when you feel like you mastered it is when you take what you learned to your next game and see if it works there too, now you just made yourself a better ball player, and that's why they/we call it practice.   
5. And lastly, but mostly, important is your school work. Start now so you have good study habits for high school, because in high school you have to have a 2.00 GPA (grade point average) or better to play baseball and/or any other sport (read up on CIF rules) for high school sports. Also, this would be a good time for the 11 and 12 year old to start practicing on the "lead off" (on the bases) and the "steal".

PITCHERS: You need to start learning the "pitch-out" to the bases. I know... I know. You don't start doing it until you are 13 years old, but you need to start now to be ready for that next level. Stand out to the coaches in try-outs, too.

Note: ALWAYS take something to drink, preferably water or some kind of water replacement. No, I don't mean sodas or energy drink.

TODAY'S QUIZ

Where was the first Major League Baseball night game played?

Pujols is an Angel

I am going to turn to the MLB for this post, and the only reason why is because a momentous event happened on December 8th, 2011, at about 4 AM: Albert Pujols and the Los Angeles Angels agreed to a $254 million deal today, signing him on to with the halos and officially nabbing him from the World Series winners, St. Louis Cardinals.

With that agreement, Pujols becomes the second most-paid player in baseball, and only the second to break the $200 million line in Major League Baseball history. That is a lot of cash, and nothing to joke about, especially when it comes to a player like Albert Pujols.


This is where I have to say that the Angels did well signing on Pujols. The decision is one that definitely would have hurt the Angels to turn down, even if he is getting a lot more than I think he should. However, we do not control that part of baseball and, hey, if the players can get that much, then go for it. Back to Pujols, though.


He is the one that I said in the last World Series needed to be walked (readers of my blog may remember that post), and the manager did just that the next game, three times that night. As a coach and a pitcher, I learned that when you can't strike 'em out, you gotta walk 'em! In the end, that was a great game.


So I was rooting for the Texas Rangers during the Series, but my favorite team of all is the Angels. If I had to put my favorite teams in a line-up, I would say that the AL West Los Angeles Angels top it off for sure, followed also by the AL West Texas Rangers. Next is the NL Central Chicago Cubs, and finally the AL East Baltimore Orioles.


So this is one of (if not the) best players in the sport right now is going to my favorite team in baseball. Well, I do not think there is any better way to get my pumped up for the 2012 season, and who knows, maybe this will be the year the Angels take their second world series. If that is the case, I will try my hardest to make it the first World Series game I go to.


I cannot wait to see this year's start at spring training, and to see how the Angels and Pujols work out together on the field. I really hope it is like a match made in heaven, and the Angels pitchers can hold up as well while the rest of the team gets energized by Pujols' presence in the club house as their teammate. If all goes well, he may just get them to play on the next level, if you know what I mean.

A Great End to the Season, Thanks to Rangers and Cardinals!

Hello, baseball fans! Handy Randy's back. I know, I know; you are asking, "Where have you been?" Well, I was in a state of shock at the Texas Rangers defeat at the hands of the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2011 World Series.


I am just starting to get over the shock of the Rangers being that close, but no; they let it ALL slip away at what should have been the end of the season and the 2011 World Series, as well as a first Series win and trophy for the Rangers franchise.

...but no! They let it all slip away. Yes, yes, yes... and yes. I know I keep repeating it over and over but can you believe it? Also, yes I am a big fan of the Rangers, and if you read my blog you will know that, so I won't get into that part any more.
 
Well, it is all history now, and at least I do have to give credit to those St. Louis Cardinals for a totally epic win; from what I see, all they saw was a weak link and they went straight for it, and it paid off with a World Series (AGAIN for the 11th time; like they needed it, haha).

So, hey, who noticed what I said in that last blog for game 6? I said if the Rangers had a chance to win, they would walk that ever-popular St. Louis Cardinals player Albert Pujols. Well, that manager must have heard me or just thinks like a coach should think, and like I said, from a coach's perspective, the Texas Rangers manager did just that. Walked him three times that night in game 6 alone.

Yes they still lost, but, hey, it was a close one. Well, that is why I like, or I should say I love, baseball. "It can throw you for a curve ball!"

To keep us until next time, I want to sing a song for you guys... here we go... baseball, baseball, I wanna play baseball, baseball, baseball, I wanna play baseball, baseball, baseball, I wanna play baseball, baseball, baseball... I use to sing that song to my son when he was just a little boy, and he loved it. I would sing that to him every night before bedtime. So, with that, I leave you fellow fans, until next time!

Rangers vs. Cardinals: World Series!

Hi, readers. I apologize for not blogging when I was supposed to over the past week, but hey, cut my some slack: I have been following the world series, as you all should be! It looks like this year, it will be quite the close series indeed.

Texas and the Cardinals have been going tic for tac, one blow to the next, in this contention for this season's baseball champion. It's great to watch these two teams play against each other in this World Series. Personally, though, I'm rooting for the Texas Rangers.

For one, they need a series win, and two, I used to work for them as a boy. Naturally, I have a soft spot for the team. Finally, the Cards' have already been there and done that with the World Series, so I say let a team like the Rangers get one!

Ending Season

After you look over your personal charts of what worked (and what didn't) from the current, ending season, we need to check out equipment to see if anything needs replacing before the start of the next season. It's important that you know where you stand with your equipment so that you aren't, as many say, caught with your pants down when the new season begins.

We also need to take a look at a few things like diet and work-out programs. Food-wise, I advise that you make a list for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and all other meals so that you can keep a record of your nutrition intake. Most important of the nutrition info to be recorded are calories, carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, all of which impact your weight, among other things.

The Finish to the Start

Well, baseball is coming to an end for the 2011 season, but it's really just starting. We still need to keep it going in so many ways, like working out in the gym and or on a field. For us older people that still think we can play the game (guys), we need to start teaching the next generation this great game called baseball.

First, let's start with the end of the season. I know, I know; you are saying, "Hey, I thought we were going to start at the beginning of the season...?" You're right, but I have to say this one thing first about the end of the season: even when you play your last game and lose or win, you need to start the other "new" season. You need to start by forgetting about the last season.

Second, conditioning. Really, this should be year round, but we need to look at what worked and what did not. Then, make a new chart for the new year and live by it.