Line Up Forms

Archive for February, 2010

Jack Roosevelt “Jackie” Robinson was an exceptionally talented and disciplined baseball hitter, with a career average of .317. He was known as the most aggressive and successful base runner of his era. But these statistic achievements were not the real reason for his significance. In 1947, Robinson broke the baseball color line when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers. As the first black man to openly play in the major leagues since the 1880s, he was instrumental in bringing an end to racial segregation in professional baseball, which had relegated African-Americans to the Negro leagues for six decades.

In 1999, he was named by Time magazine on its list of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century. Also in 1999, he ranked number 44 on the Sporting News list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players, and was elected to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team as the top vote-getter among second basemen.

Jackie Robinson did it all. He scared the pitchers, rattled the fielders, broke the batting record books but most importantly he opened the doors for the blacks in Major League Baseball. Baseball was a sport that was run by the Whites and played by the Whites, this had changed forever.

In 1962, Jackie Robinson was inducted into baseball’s Hall of Fame. Jackie Robinson died at the premature age of 53 in 1972. After his death the Jackie Robinson Foundation was instituted. It provides scholarships to 141 students annually who are sent to more than 60 colleges all over the country.

Image via Wikipedia

Batting is often cited as one of the most difficult feats in sports as it works down to hitting a small round ball with a thin round bat. In fact, if a batter can get a hit in three out of ten at bats, giving him a batting average of .300, pronounced three-hundred, he or she is considered a good hitter. But of course, to get you to that edge you need extremely good skills and a fine bat that makes a perfect swing. A good bat contributes a high percentage of accuracy in hitting that pitch.

Bats come in various widths, lengths and materials. Naturally, a heavier bat will give more momentum to the ball. However, a heavier bat means less speed in the swing. A lighter bat will give the batter more control but less momentum. The material composition of a bat also determines how far a ball will travel. Bats made out of aluminum or graphite hit balls farther than bats made of wood.

These reviews on various baseball bats will aid a player in their selections. Players have different strengths and weaknesses but right decision will give them the edge they need to get the results they’re looking for. Ultimately, it boils down to what is comfortable for them.

Another heart warming day for the White Sox as Frank Thomas officially announced his retirement at the U.S. Cellular Field Conference and Learning Center, first hand news by MLB.com Thursday night. Thomas who broadcasted about his illustrious 18-year-career, with 15 coming as part of the White Sox organization has finally decided to put his bat to rest and leave his career in Major League Baseball for good.

Thomas honestly speaks about his accomplishments. The two time American League Most Valuable player joined the Hall of Famers Mel Ott, Babe Ruth and Ted Williams as one of four players to have a .300 average, with 500 home runs, 1,500 RBIs, 1,000 runs scored and 1,500 walks in his career. Frank Thomas ranks in the top 30 all-time in eight statistical categories, including sitting in a tie for 18th with Willie McCovey and Williams at 521 home runs. These numbers certainly indicate how well he did his homework, keep countless hours in the weight room yet spent just as much time going over film to get extremely prepared.  Thomas played for 18 years, which is a long time in this game and undoubtedly for his indefinite absence, he’ll be missed.

Does the name “George Herman Ruth, Jr.” ring a bell? Or should I say “Babe” Ruth. For those who haven’t known, Ruth was regarded as one of the greatest sports heroes in American Culture and has been named as the greatest baseball player in history. Also known as “the Bambino” and “the Sultan of Swat”, He played in American Major League Baseball from 1914-1935. Ruth Started as a Pitcher for the Boston Red Sox and later on joined New York Yankees as a full-time right fielder. He became one of the league’s most productive hitters and won seven pennants and four World Series titles with the Yankees. His home run hitting prowess and enigmatic personality made him a baseball celebrity in the Roaring Twenties. Ruth retired in 1936 and became one of the first five players elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. In a 1999 ESPN poll, he was ranked as the third-greatest US athlete of the century, behind Michael Jordan and Muhammad Ali. The name Babe Ruth will forever be remembered as the supreme baseball player in the Professional League

So what’s the latest news with New York Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez or more commonly called as A-Rod? I have read from an article that baseball fans all over the world visit online for an auction and it was shocking to know that A-Rod’s 500th career home run was sold for $103,579. That’s a lot of money right? Now I am looking forward for his 600th which is 17 home runs away and some predicts it will hit in June. So where will be the Yankees this coming June? They are heading to Toronto, Baltimore, Arizona, and Los Angeles where each city stadiums is expected to be fully-packed. What could be A-Rod’s plans? That’s for us to find out.

The 3x composite technology used in the TPX Triton is once again used in the H2 Hybrid but this time, it is only applied on the handle. The barrel of H2 Hybrid is like the 2008 Exogrid model with ST+20 alloy material. The Louisville Slugger stated that this hybrid bat barrel design of 2009 makes the baseball bat stiffer and thus stronger by having more flexibility and trampoline effect upon contact.

The TPX Triton Bat is a composite baseball bat which is the first from the TPX models of the Louisville Slugger with 3X composite technology in three pieces. Three-piece means that the handle and two-piece barrel is connected to each other by the transition bubble to make it one piece bat. If you wonder how it is possible, it uses the computer technology and with graphite accurately placed in angles, the large barrel is strong and large enough to produce a hit. The company claimed to have the best and stiffest bats in the market.

One Handed Fielding Drill

Drill Objective
This baseball infield drill is great for working on footwork, body position, glove position, and head position when fielding ground balls in the infield.

Drill Setup
Set up the infielders in their positions excluding the pitcher.

Drill Instructions
The fielders start with their non-glove hand behind their back. This will cause the fielder to move feet properly to get positioned behind the flight of the ball in order to properly field the ball. Ball should be returned to the catcher. Add a 2nd hitter to make drill run faster for more reps.

Drill Coach Points
•Good quick footwork aligning body behind ball
•If slow roller make sure players attack ball
•Get glove under the ball
•Keep head down

Drill Objective
Great baseball warm up drill that focuses on infield fielding and gets players comfortable throwing to all bases.

Drill Setup
Set up your infield excluding your pitcher. The coach should be the batter with a supply of balls. You will have 3 sets of directions of which each will be run for about 4 minutes each.

Drill Instructions
1st Set – Coach hits ball to the short stop who throws to 1st base. Next the coach will hit to 2nd baseman who touches 2nd base and throws to 1st base. Last the coach hits to 3rd baseman who throws to the catcher at home plate.

2nd Set – Coach hits to short stop who attempts double play to 2nd base who throws to 1st base. Next hit to 2nd baseman who throws home to catcher. Last hit to 3rd baseman who throws to 1st base.

3rd Set – Hit to the short stop who throws home. Next, play to 2nd baseman who throws to 1st. Last hit a short ball to the 3rd baseman who must charge to the ball and throw to short stop at 3rd base.

Drill Coach Points
•Infielders attack the ball
•Handle ground balls with ease/care
•Good accurate throws
•After fielding the ball get to throwing position quickly

Field Short Hops

Drill Objective
This baseball infield drill focuses on fielding short-hop ground balls and helps players learn to properly judge short-hoppers.

Drill Setup
Have each infield player partner up in groups of two. Have each partner face each other 3 to 5 yards apart. Each pair needs a ball.

Drill Instructions
Have players get into “baseball ready” stance. (Knees bent, butt down, hands in front/middle of body). One partner tosses a short hop in front of their partner about a foot in front of them. Partner should field the ball and repeat to other partner.

Drill Variations
•If players cannot properly throw short-hops, line up players and have the coach throw to each player.

Drill Coach Points
•Catch ball out in front of their body
•Ball under glove
•Head down on ball