This Morning's Lesson from the Reds

I visited the Cincinnati Reds' Spring Training camp in Sarasota, Florida this morning. As I watched three young pitchers who are hoping to make the team, there was one thing that they had in common. These pitchers really FOLLOW THROUGH!

Here are a few photos that I captured of these pitchers:

The first photo is Homer Bailey--another unfortunate name for a promising young pitcher hoping to make it in the "Bigs." This is Sergio Valenzuela. Edinson Volquez isn't afraid to throw hard when trying to get a hitter out.
Just for fun, I'm including a shot of the sunset (sun fade) over the Gulf of Mexico. I photographed this sunset about two hours ago!
Glenn Nagel

Don "Pepeye" Zimmer

I had the pleasure of capturing a few photos of Don Zimmer. Zimmer is currently coaching (Sr. Advisor) the Tampa Bay Rays. Here are a couple of fun facts about Zimmer:

• He currently wears uniform #60. He chose this number because it represents the number of years he has worked in professional baseball!
• He brags that he never earned a cent outside of baseball!

Spring Training Fundamentals

I revisited the Tampa Rays Spring Training camp now that the team's full roster of players have reported. Once again, it was interesting to watch how a professional team conducts its workouts. Following are a few images which I captured while I was there this morning. You may click on an image to view a larger version of the photo:

The professional teams don't lack for resources. It seems that there are baskets of new baseballs at each field for every workout!

Players get loose by tossing the ball at increasing distances in rightfield. This is very similar to how our team generally opens its practices in the Spring.

One thing that I've noticed is how all of the players in all of the camps I've visited field ground balls. Notice the position of the throwing (right) hand. Rather than keep that hand low to the ground with the palm facing the sky, all of the infielders position this hand on top of the glove with the palm facing towards the baseball. Also note the position of the fielder's body as he bends at the knees and collapses low in front of the baseball.
Today was the first day of live pitching, and James Shields (6' 4") was throwing some heat this morning!

Here's another infielder (shortstop) in that familiar position as he fields a grounder.
The Rays ran an infield drill very similar to one that our team runs in the Spring. This segment included playing the infield in for a play at the plate--followed by a rundown between home and third.
Look at the position of the baseball (facinng centerfield) as pitcher Mitch Talbot prepares to delivery this pitch.

Just as our team does every Spring, pitchers worked on covering first base on balls hit to the right side of the infield. We'll be covering this later, but please note how the pitcher runs parallel to the baseline for the last ten feet before first base to avoid colliding with the batter-runner and to face the baseball as it is tossed to him by the first baseman.

Matt Garza was throwing so hard that the chain around his neck practically flew into his face.

The second baseman charged this infield hit and was then forced to make a quick throw to retire the batter. Both of his feet were off the ground during this exposure!

A Day with the NY Yankees

I visited the Yankees' Spring Training Camp at Legends Field in Tampa, Florida on February 20th. This was the team's first workout of the year.

Before the players arrived, I killed time photographing the empty stadium seats--drawing confused looks from the New York fans.

The Yankees took a few minutes to stretch out in rightfield. Is that Coach Gary Dietz in the middle of the circle?

The New York fans look down the rightfield line as the Yankees enter Legends Field for the first time in 2008.
Much of the workout session was dedicated to good old-fashioned batting practice. It was nice to hear the crack of the bat again!
Future Hall of Famer Derek Jeter practices turning the double play at second base. Was this another phantom tag?

Coach Bobby Meacham tosses batting practice for the Yanks.

This workout was far different from the ones I attended earlier in the week for the Phillies and Rays. There were more media people at the New York workout than fans at the other teams' workouts! Future Hall of Famer Hideki Matsui is mobbed by the Japanese media after his first practice of 2008.

Look at the perfect position that this second baseman is in to field this ground ball. He is bending at the knees, stays low, keep his glove low to the ground and uses two hands! If the pros can do it, so can we.

I'll be in the Tampa Bay area until March 1st. It's great being down here in the sun, but I am looking forward to returning in March to manage our Sunday League baseball team.

Glenn Nagel

A Visit to the Philadelphia Phillies' Camp

I had the opportunity to watch the Philadelphia Phillies work out in Clearwater, Florida yesterday. Nearly all of the players on the roster have now made it into camp.

The players did a lot of running and stretching. Outfielders lined up and took turns fielding fly balls and then ground balls. Players took batting practice. And, Davey Lopes worked with the players on baserunning as the batters were hitting.

Here are a few photos that I captured from the session. You may click on a photo to view an enlarged version:

Phillies gather in centerfield

A Willie Mays impersonation

Coach Davey Lopes (a great baserunner in his day) teaches the players how to get a proper lead off third base. Earlier, he reviewed how to read pitchers to get a good jump from first base on a hit and run. Players also practiced rounding the bags (just as we always do with our team).

I found it interesting how much instruction is conducted at these professional camps. Many of the areas in the camp are restricted, so I was only able to get close enough to hear some of what Lopes was saying. I mentioned to one of the Phillies' administrative staff members that it would be nice if the coaches would speak through microphones so that the fans could also benefit from the instruction!

Coaches ALWAYS throw batting practice from about 2/3rds of the plate to rubber distance. This improves the effectiveness of the session as more strikes are thrown and the ball comes ijnto the hitter a little faster. Our team is looking to purchase an L-Screen to ensure that it will be safe to throw from this closer distance.

Our team's tryouts will be administered by the Sparks' organization. I wouldn't be surprised if the hitting portion of the tryout is conducted in a similar manner--with the coach throwing pitches from only 35 feet away from the plate.

This coach looked like he was really enjoying throwing batting practice in the Florida sunshine. One of our coaches (Matt Rafferty) also enjoys throwing batting practice. Actually, I like throwing batting practice as well.

Before I leave Florida, I am hoping to visit two more camps--the Cincinnati Reds and the New York Yankees.

A Morning with the Tampa Bay Rays

I had an opportunity to visit the Tampa Bay Rays' Spring Training Camp this morning. The full roster of players will not report until Wednesday, so only the pitchers and catchers were working out today. It was interesting to watch a professional team work through its drills. Many of the drills are similar to the ones that we incorporate into our team's practices, but the professional players have a lot more time to practice various versions of the drills.

Following are a few photos that I captured this morning at the workout. You may click on a photo to view a larger version:

Pitchers and catchers loosen up in several lines in a manner very similar to some of the OYA workouts at Sportsplex Gym #3. Players warmed up their arms properly before throwing from the mound. Players also avoid throwing very hard this early in their training.

Grant Balfour practices keeping his hand on top of the ball during his delivery. The spelling of his last name is close to "Ball Four"--an unfortunate name for a pitcher!

Pitchers practiced fielding their position and then making a good throw to the appropriate base. Pitchers were rotating through drills on four diamonds. One one of the other fields, pitchers worked on the proper method for covering first base (which we always cover as well). On another field, pitchers worked on holding runners close to first base. The younger pitchers were struggling with maintaining a proper head position to see both the catcher and the runner---and I wish I could have heard more of what the coach was teaching them during that drill.

Even at the professional level, the players practice catching the ball with two hands. All the players (at least those who want to make the team) emphasized this technique in which the bare hand clamps down on the glove hand in a crocodile-like fashion.

All pitchers experimented with basic grips and sound throwing fundamentals. There wasn't a single pitcher who doesn't have the baseball facing centerfield at this stage of his delivery!

I plan to visit some of the other camps over the next few days. Watching these workouts should give me some good ideas for new drills to introduce in our team practices in March.

Glenn Nagel

Sunday League Season Update

The Chicagoland Sunday Baseball League held a general informational meeting for its coaches on Saturday, February 2nd. During the meeting, the following information was provided:

• The bulk of our team's schedule will be developed on March 29th. On the 29th, our coaches will be meeting with the coaches of other teams in the area to create an initial schedule of 10 games. Approximately 5 of these games will be played in Orland Park and 5 will be played on the road in nearby communities. We will probably schedule some additional games prior to April 20th and/or after June 22nd.
• The regular Sunday League begins April 20th and concludes on June 22nd.
• The team will also participate in a Memorial Weekend tournament. This tournament will be held on May 23rd, 24th, 25th & 26th. The tournament will begin with "pool play"--in which teams compete for the right to continue to the next round of the playoffs. All teams are guaranteed to play a minimum of three games in this tournament.
• The Sunday League uses most of the same rules and regulations as our Bronco League. The pitching mound is 48 feet from the plate and the bases are 70 feet. The games are 7 innings, but pitchers are limited to 3 innings per game. A balk warning will be issued (one per pitcher). Steel spikes are not allowed. No bat larger than 2 5/8th inches will be allowed. A continuous batting order will be used as well.

I'll keep you updated through this website as I continue to get more information.

Glenn Nagel