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?

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.