Warriors Sweep Doubleheader!

The Warriors defeated the Oak Lawn Chargers in the second game of the doubleheader. Once again, the Warriors applied its winning recipe of: 1) being selective at the plate (i.e., Ted Williams); 2) throwing strikes (i.e., Ferguson Jenkins); and 3) playing solid defense. Our baserunning (i.e., Jackie Robinson) still needs more work!

Warriors: 16 runs, 7 hits, 1 error, 5 left on base
Oak Lawn: 6 runs, 7 hits, 2 errors, 7 left on base

In sharp contrast to the 2008 Warriors (which was built on power pitching and strike outs), the pitchers struck out just 10 hitters the entire day (in 14 innings over 2 games). But, the pitchers consistently threw strikes and the defense committed just one error the entire afternoon.

At times, the defense was spectacular. Tim Carroll got the team off to a good start in the Oak Lawn game by making a Major League play from deep in the hole from shortstop. Dennis Bresingham contributed with some nice catches, including a great catch to close out the third inning.

With the team down two runs in the fourth inning, Ryan Novak entered the game in relief. In a legendary performance, Ryan Novak pitched three strong innings on a sore leg (after taking a line drive off his shin in the morning game). He allowed just one earned run in that span. Ryan's knuckle ball was at its best--even surprising the plate umpire with its movement. When I asked the umpire where one of the pitches was, he replied that it started off the inside corner and then ended up off the outside corner of the plate! Just as when he threw a complete game victory in the Lockport tournament last season, he had command over the knuckle ball--and it was virtually unhittable this afternoon!


The Warriors hit with power in the Oak Lawn game. Ryan Knightly crushed a double to deep rightfield to clear the bases (scoring 3 runs in the big 9 run fourth inning). It should have been a triple, but Ryan missed first base and had to return to touch the bag. C.J. Brucki hammered a triple to deep rightfield in the second inning. Sam Marc doubled to rightfield to drive two runs home in the seventh inning. And, Jack Lebert led all hitters with five RBI for the day!

Overall, it was a good start for the Warriors. We look forward to returning to Hickory Hills--the site of our first tournament championship (June, 2008)--next weekend.

CLICK HERE for the team and player statistics through Game #2.

Warriors Win 1st Game of Doubleheader!

The Warriors defeated Evergreen Park by a score of 14-4 in its opening game fo the 2009 Chicagoland Metro League season.

Anthony Lauciello led the offense--reaching base and scoring on all four plate appearances. He had a single and two doubles in the game. Tim Prendergast also had three hits. Tim drove in three runs and also had a double. Jack Lebert drove in three runs on two solid hits.

Jason Waner was the Warriors' starting pitcher. He threw three scoreless innings--striking out five hitters. Ryan Tannebaum gave the Warriors two solid innings. Ryan Novak retired two hitters before taking a line smash off the shin bone. Ryan had to be removed from the game--and is expected to miss the second game of the doubleheader due to his injury.

CLICK HERE for the team and player stats through Game 1

Warriors: 14 runs, 10 hits, 1 error, 8 left on base
Evergreen Park: 4 runs, 8 hits, 1 error, 10 left on base

Time of game: 2 hours, 24 minutes

The Warriors were pleased to see former Warrior Dan Victoria and his father, Craig Victoria at this morning's game. Dan is now playing for the 6th grade Orland Park Magic baseball team.

Team Goals

As we enter into the Chicagoland Metro League season, it is important to review the goals we have set out for the team.

Note that winning is not specifically listed as one of the goals. The reason for this is that we have no idea what level of competition the team will be facing. For example, the team could play a perfect game and would still lose if it played the New York Yankees!

However, one of the three goals is to develop a positive attitude. This is accomplished through giving our best effort on the field and by respecting the game. Although winning isn't one of the goals, striving to win is. I think the following quotes (from a diverse group of people) do a good job of summarizing the philosophy:

"I can accept failure, but I can't accept not trying." - Michael Jordan

"My greatest concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with your failure." - Abraham Lincoln

"If a man does his best, what else is there?" - General George S. Patton

"Excellence is the gradual result of always striving to do better." - Pat Riley

Warriors to Play Two on Sunday

The Warriors will play two Metro League games on Sunday, May 3rd. The Warriors will wear RED for both games. The first game is scheduled for 9:45 am at Humphrey #2 against Evergreen Park. Players should arrive at the field by 9:00 am.

The team will then play its first road game of the season later that Sunday. The Warriors will play the Oak Lawn Chargers at 3:00 pm at Worthbrook Park. The Oak Lawn coach said that the field is located at 89th Street & Melvina (and that Melvina is 2 blocks east of Ridgeland Avenue). Players should be at the park by 2:15 pm for this game.

Sam Marc and Ryan Knightly are deactivated for the Evergreen Park game. Tim Prendergast and Robbie Maxfield are deactivated for the Oak Lawn game.

Pitching Clinic

The Warriors participated in a pitching clinic conducted by Coach Al Hasan at Junior Diggins on Saturday night. The clinic included stretching exercises, a demonstration of proper grips and a general discussion of pitching mechanics. However, the majority of the time was devoted to observing the throwing mechanics of each of our pitchers.

At the end of the session, I walked away with two or three bullet points for each player to improve his pitching (speed and/or control). The good news is that most of our pitchers required limited adjustments--and many of those adjustments are things that they are currently working on. The other good news is that players were easily able to absorb and execute any new feedback that was provided during the session. The ability of our players to listen to feedback and quickly implement changes impressed Coach Hasan as much as it has impressed me so far this season. It is really remarkable!

Of course, practice is required for a player to make long-term improvements. That practice might involve being aware of the proper mechanics while playing catch--or working through throwing mechanics for a few minutes each night in front of a mirror.

As the season progresses, I'll be talking with and working with our pitchers on these main opportunity areas. One of the goals of the Warriors is for players to gain a better understanding of the game--so that all of us can develop our skills as the season proceeds.

I would also like to thank Anne Lebert for coordinating the food and beverages for the evening. It is very much appreciated.

Hustling

One of the most important things we ask of our players is that they give it their very best effort when playing the game. We expect all of our players to hustle when they are out on the field. Examples of hustling include the following:

• Running on and off the field
• Always running hard on batted balls (or dropped third strikes)
• Backing up plays defensively
• Being in an athletic position

Not every player is blessed with the talent to be the top hitter or pitcher in the league. But, every player on the Warriors can give his best effort.

Pete Rose ("Charlie Hustle")

You Make the Call (Part 4)

Q #4: With a count of 1 ball and 1 strike, the righthanded batter decides to hit from the left side. As the umpire, would you allow the batter to switch boxes with that count? Would you allow the batter to switch boxes if the count goes to 1 ball and 2 strikes?

A #4: The batter can switch boxes at any time, provided he does not do it after the pitcher is ready to pitch.

Rule: 6.06(b)

A Few Softball Photos from Last Night

Despite all of the rain, my niece was able to play her OYA softball game last night as the infield is all gravel. CLICK HERE if you would like to see my photographs from the game.

It's Been a Rainy Month

Once again, April has been a rainy month with many baseball event cancellations. One of these years, the Pony baseball season will finally get pushed back a week so that players can experience the joy of playing baseball in the sun. After all, it is a summer game.

I've had a little more free time for photography as a result of these cancellations. CLICK HERE to view a few rural landscape photos (mostly flooded farm fields from the Monee area) captured earlier today.

Pizza on Saturday

STATUS UPDATE:
Anne Lebert has volunteered to bring pizzas and soft drinks to Junior Diggins after our pitching clinic this Saturday. Please respond to her email so that so we know how many people will be staying and how much to order.

Also, please note that this is not an item covered within our team's budget. Please bring some cash to reimburse Anne for these expenses. I'm estimating about $5 per person---but Anne will provide me with the final cost once we order the food and drinks.

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I thought it might be a good idea to bring some pizzas and soft drinks into Junior Diggins for the players and parents after the pitching clinic on Saturday. The pitching clinic will end around 5:30 pm.

If anyone (preferably two people) is interested in volunteering to coordinate this, please let me know. It would involve distributing an email to the parents/players to find out how many people (including parents) would like to stay for pizza, collecting the money, ordering the pizza (Costco) and bringing the pizzas and a cooler of soft drinks to the facility. The cost would be minimal--probably well under $10 total per family (or under $5 per individual player).

Flossmoor Game is Cancelled

STATUS UPDATE (as of 10:40 am):
I just received a call from the Flossmoor coach. It started raining at the field. The coach said the fields are now unplayable and they've stopped working on them. We'll try to reschedule this game (as a future doubleheader) for later in the season.
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The Warriors will open the Chicagoland Metro League season at Flossmoor on Sunday, April 26th at 1:00 pm. Players should arrive at the field by 12:15 pm for pregame warm-ups. We will be wearing our RED uniforms. The deactivated players for this game include Lance Cardinal and Tim Prendergast.

The Flossmoor manager provided the following directions to the field:

1. Take Interstate 80 to Kedzie Avenue
2. Go south on Kedzie Avenue to Flossmoor Road
3. Go east on Flossmoor Road
4. Stay on Flossmoor Road until you pass under the train tracks
5. The field will then be located on the north side Flossmoor Road...just past the train tracks
6. I believe the park is called "Flossmoor Park"

I'll have my cell phone (708-846-1466) with me, so please call me if you have trouble finding the park.

An Afternoon at the Friendly Confines

With coaching two teams (only to be topped by Coach Jim Waner who coaches three teams!), last Thursday was a rare open day. I took the opportunity to go to Wrigley Field to watch the Cubs play the Reds.

Photography happens to be another one of my interests. I brought my camera to the game even though I knew that my grandstand seats would make it impossible to capture any action shots. Instead, I took some pictures of some of the scenes in and around the park that afternoon.

CLICK HERE if you would like to view the photographs.

Warriors Bounce Back

The Warriors dialed in an appropriate level of intensity for Friday night's scrimmage against the New Lenox Celtics. Players were attentive and supportive of their teammates.

The Warriors went with four pitchers in this scrimmage: Jason Waner, Lance Cardinal, Ryan Novak and Anthony Lauciello.

Jason Waner threw two innings and allowed one unearned run. He struck three hitters out during his second inning of work. Lance Cardinal pitched a scoreless third inning, but ran into trouble in the fourth inning. With the bases loaded and one out, Ryan Novak entered the game in relief and retired the next two hitters to get out of the jam. He allowed three runs in the fifth inning, but did not get rattled despite walking two hitters on some very close pitches. Anthony Lauciello pitched a scoreless sixth inning. Overall, the pitching staff allowed six runs in six innings. The staff allowed 8 walks and struck out 6 hitters in the game.

Robbie Maxfield led the offense from his lead off spot--reaching base three times in the game. Other hitters to reach base more than once included Jim Robley, Lance Cardinal, C.J. Brucki, Jason Waner and Jack Lebert. Game changing hits included Lance Cardinal's two run single to leftfield in the first inning and Jason Waner's bunt down the third base line to lead off the sixth inning. Anthony Lauciello also smashed a base hit to centerfield in the third inning and later scored. Overall, the offense scored 8 runs on 6 hits. The Warriors drew 7 walks and 1 hit batsman (Jason Waner) in the contest.

Baserunning was much improved during this scrimmage. The Warriors put pressure on the Celtics' defense. That pressure started early when Jim Robley tagged and scored in the first inning on a pop up to the second baseman. Coach Tannebaum's aggressiveness at third base paid off for the Warriors.

The team made good progress during this scrimmage and bounced back from a very disappointing performance in its previous game against the Hurricanes.

Fergie Jenkins on Channel 11: Update

Ferguson Jenkins is one of the baseball players we've discussed during our practices. Fergie appeared in an in-depth interview with John Callaway on Channel 11 (WTTW) on Friday, April 17th.

Update:
I had a chance to watch Ferguson Jenkins' appearance on WTTW. Most of the discussion was about his early life, the tragedies that he's faced throughout his life, and his experiences with racial issues while playing baseball in the 1960's.

Fergie mentioned that he didn't start pitching until the age of 16! As a Canadian, he was mostly interested in hockey and also played a lot of basketball when he was young.

He did talk about the differences between a thrower and a pitcher--and how pitchers are able to change speed and location to get hitters out. He talked about how he would routinely throw 165 pitches a game--something unheard of today.

Finally, he shared a funny story about Willie McCovey--one of the great lefthanded hitters of his day. Fergie said that Willie McCovey was one of the hitters who he had a lot of trouble getting out. McCovey once hit a homerun in San Francisco off Jenkins that may have gone over 600 feet.

The next time that Ferguson Jenkins and the Cubs visited San Francisco, the phone rang in Fergie's hotel room. Fergie's roommate, the great Ernie Banks (known as Mr. Cub) answered the phone. Ernie told Fergie that the concierge wanted to let him know that his limo was ready. Fergie said that he didn't reserve a limo. Ernie then mentioned that Willie McCovey had the limo sent to the hotel so that Fergie wouldn't be late for the game. Jenkins was scheduled to be the starting pitcher that afternoon and McCovey wanted to be sure to hit against him!

Of course, Fergie wasn't the only pitcher who had trouble retiring Willie McCovey. McCovey eventually entered baseball's Hall of Fame. And, a section of the San Francisco Bay located just beyond the rightfield wall of the stadium is named after him (McCovey Bay).

Warriors Struggle in Third Scrimmage

In Friday night's scrimmage against the Hurricanes, the Warriors held a 2-0 lead with two outs in the fifth inning. From that point on, things fell apart. The Hurricanes scored 6 runs in the fifth and added 2 more in the sixth inning. The Warriors scored once more in the bottom of the seventh. The scrimmage ended with a score of 8-3 in favor of the Hurricanes.

The Warriors went with six pitchers in the scrimmage: Lance Cardinal, Ryan Novak, Jimmy Robley, C.J. Brucki (2 innings), Anthony Lauciello and Sam Marc. For the most part, the pitching was OK. Lance Cardinal walked three hitters in the first inning, but did not allow a run. After the first inning, the Warriors walked just three hitters over the next six innings. At least four defensive errors contributed to the eight runs allowed.

I expect our team to take its lumps as we allow pitchers with very little experience to develop their skills during these scrimmages. Overall, our pitching staff is showing more promise than I would have expected at this stage of the season. Our main objective at this point is to throw strikes--and we are accomplishing that.

The Hurricanes did hammer out 11 hits versus just 3 hits for the Warriors. Robbie Maxfield lined a double into leftfield to start the game and Sam Marc later drove him home with an infield grounder. Ryan Knightly lined a single in the centerfield to start the second inning and scored while C.J. Brucki was caught in a rundown. The final hit did not take place until the seventh inning when Ryan Novak singled sharply to centerfield. Clearly, it's going to take more than three hits to win ballgames. Our upcoming hitting clinic is one of the scheduled events that should help us out.

The defense fell apart during this game. Some basic fundamentals such as the drop step were not executed. Our infielders also had trouble fielding several ground balls.

Baserunning was a problem once again. Runners are having trouble with the timing of their secondary leads. We should not be taking a secondary lead until after the pitcher has committed to the plate. In the case of a lead off from first base, this means that the secondary lead should not take place until the righthanded pitcher breaks his left knee as he begins to move into the balanced position. Our runners are advancing too early and getting picked off as a result.

When we take our secondary leads, they are not usually aggressive enough--particularly when leading off second base. This causes runners to be thrown out a third base on plays that shouldn't really be close.

The last aspect that we talked about is the importance of maintaining intensity. We all want to have fun at the park. But, this time can't just be a social activity. Players need to be aware of what's happening on the field. This is important to accelerate a player's learning curve. And, it's also important for players to support their teammates who are out on the field.

I expect some team leaders to emerge from this group. There are at least seven or eight players who have exhibited the potential to lead. We need a few to step up and keep the team alert and positive when things start to breakdown on the field.

Blast from the Past

I came across this photo the other night. I can't believe it's been 19 years since I coached this particular team (the 1990 Santa Clara Royals). Every few years, I get the opportunity to coach a special team--and this was certainly one of them.

This team participated in a 12 team Pony League based in Santa Clara, California. I coached the team for three seasons. In sharp contrast to Chicago, this team did not experience a single rain out in that three year span!

The team played in a beautiful ballpark called Lou Vierra Field. The volunteer ground crew took pride in the grass infield. The infields were dragged and raked between every game. Only one game was played each night, so games typically drew good crowds--up to 150 people or so. It was an exciting atmosphere with an electronic scoreboard and announcer. It is a shame that our Orland Park players don't often get to experience that ballpark environment.

Just a few of the more unusual memories regarding this particular team:

• The coach (pictured top row left) with the beard, Earl Grace, enjoyed his experience so much that he stayed on for two years after his son Ryan was too old to play in the Pony League. His wife, who was an outstanding softball player, eventually joined the team as a bench coach. The players viewed Earl as some kind of hitting guru. Whether what he was saying was right or not, they believed in him and all he had to do was say a few words before the player was hitting again.
• Greg Minor, the third player to Coach Grace's right, once won a game with a remarkable catch. With two outs in the last inning of play, he ran full speed and slid into the fence while going after a pop up from his first base position. With one foot caught under the fencing, he reached out to make a sensational play to win the game.
• Michael Trautner, the coach directly in front of Coach Grace, was a very aggressive third base coach. One of his mistakes ultimately led to a league championship for this team. The Royals faced elimination in last game of the regular season. The team was down by one run with two outs and a runner on third. Coach Trautner thought that I had called for a steal of home plate (which I hadn't). I was shocked to see our runner running as hard as he could for home plate on the pitch. He slid in under strike two to tie the game. One pitch later...our batter struck out! But, the team was still alive and utlimately won the game in nine innings.
• Asa Waldstein (front row left), the team's centerfielder, led the League in hit by pitches. Asa was hit 15 times in one Pony League season. He took great pride in this. During one game against a tall, hard throwing pitcher, Asa stuck his elbow out for another hit batsman. The opposing manager, knowing his history, came running out to argue with the umpire--saying that he didn't try to get out of the way. The umpire replied that no one would be crazy enough to take a fastball like that off their arm. He did take the hit intentionally--but we told him to stop taking those hits before he broke his arm.
• Matt Osama (front row, second from the right) broke his arm in an off the field accident. For one game, the team needed Matt to play in order to avoid forfeit. Matt played rightfield...he made catches and then flipped the ball to the relay man who was just a few feet away. He also drew three walks in one game despite the fact that he couldn't swing! The opposing coach was screaming at his pitcher to "just throw strikes". And, the pitcher could not get the ball over as he was trying to hard to aim each pitch!

It's hard to believe that this all took place nearly 20 years ago!

Baseball Signs

During the past two scrimmages, we introduced some baseball signs to our players. Although a series of signals might initially look complicated, the system is really quite simple.

A series of signs will always include a number of decoy signs. The thing that differentiates the decoys from the actual sign is the indicator. Once the indicator is given, the very next signal is the one that counts. Let's say that the indicator is a swipe across the chest (that's not our's since I won't be giving our signs away over the internet!). The third base coach might start off by tapping the bill of his cap and then swiping his arm. But, until he swipes his chest, there has been no indicator (i.e., nothing counts).

Once the indicator is given, the very next signal counts. For example, if our signal for a "take" sign (i.e., don't swing) is a touch of the knee, then the sequence for a take sign might go something like this:

1) Tap to the bill of the cap (Decoy)
2) Swipe of the arm (Decoy)
3) Swipe across the chest (Indicator)
4) Touch of the knee (The Take Sign is On!)
5) Touch to the eye (Decoy)
6) Two claps (Decoy)

Note that players will look for the signs prior to every pitch. Otherwise, it will become clear that we only signal when a special play is on. Also, players will continue to look through the signs until the sequence is completed. Otherwise, the opponent can quickly identify the indicator.

Of course, it's always easy to change the indicator if the other team appears to be catching onto the signs. Creative indicators include--the sign only counts when the coach is walking forward while signalling. Or, the sign counts if the coach is saying a particular phrase while signalling. Or, ignore the right hand as only the left hand counts at all through the sequence. The number of options is endless.

This same system will be used (decoys/indicators/signs) for baserunning as well. We will also have some signs for defensive plays (e.g., pitch outs).

Why use signs?
Let's say we have a runner on first base with no outs and no count on the hitter. If we want to have the runner steal on the first pitch, we might give the hitter the take sign to allow the runner to advance without fear of a line drive or fly ball being hit. This eliminates our risk of hitting into a double play while getting our runner in scoring position before the hitter is ready to hit the second pitch.

Observing take signs can also be a safety issue. If one of our runners is stealing home, we don't want our hitter swinging while our runner is sliding through the strike zone!

You Make the Call (Part 3)

This is the third question in a series of baseball rule questions that will be posted on this website:

Q #3: The runner on first base is stealing on the pitch. The batter foul tips the pitch (directly into the catcher's glove) to make the count 1-1. Does the runner have to return to first or can he remain on second with a stolen base?

A #3: The runner remains on second base. There is nothing foul about a foul-tip. If the ball nicks the bat and goes sharp and direct to the catcher's hand or glove and is caught, this is a foul-tip by definition. A foul-tip is a strike and the ball is alive. It is the same as a swing-and-miss. If the ball is not caught, it is a foul ball. If the nicked pitch first hits the catcher somewhere other than the hand or glove, it is not a foul-tip, it is a foul ball.

The next baseball rule question will be posted in a few days...

Warriors to Participate in Baseball Clinics

The Warriors are very fortunate to participate in two baseball clinics customized specifically for our team! Both of these clinics will be held at Junior Diggins. CLICK HERE to access the Junior Diggins website.

On Saturday, April 25th, the team will attend a hitting clinic. This clinic will start at 7:00 pm and end at approximately 9:00 pm. Players should arrive at the facility no later than 6:50 pm as the session will start at 7:00 pm sharp.

On Saturday, May 2nd, players who are interested in pitching will attend a pitching clinic. This clinic will start at 4:00 pm and will go for 90 minutes.

I realize that everyone's schedules are hectic this time of year. But, it is important that these clinics take place early enough in the year for our players to get the most benefit from them.

I've invited Al Hasan, a former minor league professional baseball player, to be our instructor for both clinics. Mr. Hasan pitched and played third base at a professional level. We also plan to have a college baseball player on hand to help out. These clinic dates are subject to change if Mr. Hasan needs to reschedule due to business travel requirements.

Mr. Hasan is uniquely qualified to run these clinics. I watched him work with one of our OYA recreational players for over an hour the other night. Having observed countless hitting lessons and seminars, I was very impressed with his knowledge as well as his ability to communicate the concepts.

I was also impressed with Mr. Hasan's message of emphasis on the importance of education. Although he played baseball at a very high level, he continued to focus on his education and ultimately earned his PhD.

Metro League Scheduling Revisions...

As I mentioned in an earlier post, our opening Metro League game is now in question given that our opponent, Kennedy Park, has disbanded and withdrawn from the League.

I have extended a first-come, first-served invitation to 18 other Chicagoland Metro League teams to play the Warriors in Orland Park on April 19th. If we don't have a Metro League opponent by the end of today, I will then offer all of the OYA Pony League teams an opportunity to scrimmage against the Warriors on Sunday. I expect that at least one team will be interested in getting some extra playing time.

By now, players have probably noticed that it is not much fun going into games with 14 players on the roster. It leads to having five players on the bench at all times and players don't get to bat very often with the continuous batting order. As a result, we generally deactivate at two or three players for each Metro League game.

At the same time, we want to maximize the amount of playing time that each player gets. So, I'm attempting to book a couple more doubleheaders. The team is now scheduled to play a doubleheader on May 3rd. On May 3rd, the team hosts Evergreen Park in the morning and then travels to Oak Lawn in the afternoon.

For doubleheaders, we'll deactivate at least three players for each game. That way, six of our players will only play in one of the games on those Sundays. Seven or eight players will play both games of the doubleheaders. These doubleheaders provide our players with an opportunity to play more games and to experience new ballparks.

The team is looking for volunteers to help with logistics. Some players may need a ride getting from site to site. And, we'll also need some help coordinating lunch plans for those players/famlies interested in meeting at a location between games.

Kennedy Park Withdraws from Metro League

Our opponent for the first Sunday of Chicagoland Metro League play, Kennedy Park, has disbanded its team and withdrawn from the League. As a result, the Warriors are seeking a new opponent for the game on Sunday, April 19th.

After calling a few managers who were unable to play that day, I've sent an game invitation to another 18 teams. Hopefully, we'll get a replacement game scheduled. It's possible that the game time and location might get revised based upon the new opponent's schedule.

Warriors Continue to Play Solid Defense

The Warriors scored four runs while allowing just two runs in six innings of scrimmage play against the New Lenox Celtics on Saturday, April 11th.

Here's how the Warriors graded out during the scrimmage:

Overall (B)
Once again, the team performed better than I expected for its second scrimmage of the season.

Pitching (B-)
The Warriors used seven different pitchers in this scrimmage: Jason Waner, Lance Cardinal, C.J. Brucki, Ryan Tannebaum, Robbie Maxfield, Dennis Bresingham, and Ryan Novak. Our pitching staff allowed nine walks in six innings--far too many walks. The pitchers struck out only three Celtics' hitters. However, the Warriors' defense was once again up to the task--making several inning ending plays.

Jason Waner threw 12 pitches to retire the Celtics in the first inning. He has now thrown 22 pitches in two scoreless innings in his first two outings. Lance Cardinal did a great job working his way out of a jam (bases loaded with one out) in the second inning. Ryan Tannebaum retired the side quickly in the fourth inning.

Defense (A-)
Once again, the defense played a nearly flawless game. The Warriors made only one fielding error in the contest and that was on a very close play at first base. Several innings ended on excellent defensive plays--starting with C.J. Brucki throwing out a runner attempting to steal third base. Another inning ended when Anthony Lauciello quickly retrieved a wild pitch from the backstop and tagged the advancing runner. Tim Prendergast made the biggest play of the scrimmage in the final inning of play...fielding a hard hit ground ball at first base, tagging the base, and then firing a perfect throw to retire the runner at home plate to complete the double play! Even though this was only a scrimmage, Tim was recognized with a game ball for this play.

Tim Prendergast - Scrimmage MVP (Photo courtesy of Ann Bresingham)

Outfielders also did a much better job backing up throws in this scrimmage. A few outfielders (who generally play the infield) were not always baseball ready at the time of the pitch. And, our defensive grade dropped a little as pitchers are still slow to cover home on wild pitches as well as slow to cover first base on balls hit to the right side of the infield.

Hitting (C)
The good news in this category is that our hitters were generally patient and made the Celtics' pitchers earn their way out of most innings. Hitters laid off the bad pitches--drawing 7 walks and scoring 4 runs on just 2 hits. Robbie Maxfield had the big hit in this game with a line drive into leftfield in the first inning to score two runs. Anthony Lauciello continues to reach base on nearly every plate appearance.

The bad news is that our hitters made very little contact--striking out 12 times in five innings! Of course, the Celtics feature some very strong pitching including two former Warriors--Matthias Dietz and Mike Rafferty. We may have to start bunting more...especially with a runner on third base with one out (just to get the run home).

There are a few things we can do to improve the hitting situation. Hitting opportunities vary by player. We are working on scheduling a hitting clinic geared specifically for the Warriors with an excellent instructor who also played professionally to help address a few of these opportunities.

Baserunning (C+)
Our baserunning showed some improvement this scrimmage. The primary and secondary leads were extended. Sometimes, the primary leads were too aggressive which resulted in one pick off. Two examples of very good baserunning in this scrimmage were: Jack Lebert had some very good secondary leads which would have allowed him to easily score from third base on a ball in the dirt. Sam Marc ran hard through first base even though the first baseman had already recorded the out.

Our baserunners need to do a better job of reading pitchers so that we can get quicker jumps and greater secondary leads. We also need to run out all dropped third strikes.

Warriors Play Celtics on Saturday Morning

The Warriors will meet next on Saturday, April 11th in a scrimmage against the New Lenox Celtics. Players should arrive at Humphrey #2 by 9:15 am for pregame warm-ups. The scrimmage itself will start by 10:00 am.

It will probably be very cool at the field at 9:15 am, so please be sure to dress accordingly (Ryan Novak...this reminder is especially for you).

The Warriors look forward to seeing three of the Celtics' players who played with the Warriors over the past two seasons--Matthias Dietz, Jayson Lenzen and Mike Rafferty.

Mathematics: The Baseball Way

One of our team's three goals for the season is to learn more about baseball. For those who love the game, this process is a life long journey.

The thing I find most fascinating about the game is how the little things most often determine the outcome of a game. Many fans enjoy watching towering home runs or 95 mph fastballs. Yet, the scoring of a baseball game tends to reward somewhat less noticeable plays throughout the game.

The outcome of games often turn on plays that draw little attention. I'll be pointing out some of these plays during the course of the season. We already experienced a prime example during the first scrimmage game against the Hurricanes. With runners on second and third base and two outs, the Hurricanes hitter grounded a ball to shortstop. The shortstop fielded the ball, but fired the ball into the dirt. The first baseman, Ryan Knightly, cleanly picked the ball out of the dirt to retire the side.

Let's take a quick look at the baseball mathematics associated with this play. If Ryan wasn't able to field the errant throw, the Hurricanes score two runs on the play. The inning is also still alive with a runner on first base. Instead of trotting off the field with a 6-2 lead, the Warriors now face the tying run in a 6-4 game!

Another way of looking at this is that Ryan's play counts exactly the same (or potentially more because the inning would not have been over yet) as if he had hammered two towering home runs during the game! Just something to think about...

Ryan Knightly (photo courtesy of Ann Bresingham)

The Ted Williams Story Revisited

Earlier in the season, we talked about some valuable lessons that our hitters could learn from Ted Williams. After our first scrimmage game, I think it makes sense to revisit that discussion.

Great hitters don't get into the habit of swinging at pitches out of the strike zone. Instead, they force pitchers to throw strikes (i.e., hittable pitches). They also have a good understanding of the importance of the count. Great hitters become more selective when the count moves in their favor (e.g., 2-0, 3-1, etc.). That being said, hitters must adjust this selection based upon the umpire's strike zone and the count. Hitters cannot afford to be nearly as selective with a pitcher's count (e.g., 0-2, 1-2, etc.).

Being selective should not be confused with not being aggressive. Great hitters are very aggressive---but they realize that pitches in the strike zone are the easiest ones to hit. They aggressively look for a pitch in the strike zone and then pounce on it.

During a typical Metro League game, our more selective hitters will be sure to hear comments from the crowd such as "don't be waiting for a walk". Ted Williams, the greatest hitter of his time, was willing to take over 100 walks while playing High School baseball. He did this for two reasons: (1) pitchers had to then give him hittable pitches which he was capable of hammering for hits; and (2) a walk really is as good as a hit when it comes to winning ballgames.

Although I call this the "Ted Williams Story"...nearly every great hitter had the same hitting philosophy. If you are a Chicago White Sox fan, you could just as well call it the "Frank Thomas Story". Setting the steroid issue aside, there is no question that Barry Bonds had the exact same philosophy. In fact, Barry Bonds drew more walks (an amazing 2,558) than any other player in baseball history. He also holds the single season record of 232 walks. He's in good company. Next on the list is Babe Ruth---who holds the American League record for bases on balls during a career (2,042) and a single season (170).


During the Cubs game the other night, Cubs' announcer Bob Brenly mentioned how difficult the Astros' Lance Berkman was making it for Cubs' pitcher Carlos Marmol. Carlos was throwing some hard, nasty sliders--but Berkman wouldn't swing at any of the pitchers that were breaking down and outside the strike zone. Eventually, Berkman walked--despite the fact that Marmol was throwing his best stuff at him. Bob Brenly, a former Major League catcher and World Championship manager, pointed out that the great hitters are the ones who have the ability to hold off and not swing at pitches outside of the zone.

Great pitchers are just the opposite. They often strive to get hitters out with balls. They prefer to get ahead in the count and then get the batter to chase a bad pitch. Their philosophy is that it is much tougher for a batter to hit a ball than it is a strike!

Of course, it is fun to hit the ball. But, as a member of a baseball team, a player's first responsibility is to learn how to help his team win games. This team publishes a statistical leaderboard after each game--and the first statistic analyzed is On Base Percentage...not Batting Average.

So, the next time someone from the crowd yells "don't be waiting for a walk"--an appropriate response is "I'm just waiting for a strike!"

Scrimmage Reveals Opportunities

The Warriors held its first scrimmage against the Hurricanes earlier tonight. It was a good start to the season with the Warriors scoring eight times while allowing just two runs in seven full innings of play.

Here's how the Warriors graded out during the scrimmage:

Overall (B)
Overall, the team performed better than I expected for its first outing.

Pitching (A-)
The 2009 Warriors pitchers rely on mixing up speeds and locations to keep hitters off balance. The Warriors used seven different pitchers in this scrimmage: Jason Waner, C.J. Brucki, Tim Prendergast, Dennis Bresingham, Ryan Novak, Ryan Tannebaum and Sam Marc. These seven pitchers walked just four hitters in the contest. The pitching staff held the Hurricanes to two runs despite recording only four strikeouts. The pitchers let the Hurricanes put the ball in play and the defense stepped up to the challenge. One item of note is that Jason Waner retired the Hurricanes on just ten pitches in the first inning--thanks in part to two assists by Tim Carroll at shortstop.

Tim Carroll (Photo courtesy of Ann Bresingham)

Defense (B-)
The Warriors' defense did an outstanding job playing the ball. The team did not make a single error in seven innings! The infielders were aggressive fielding ground balls. The outfielders caught all the routine fly balls. Relays were flawless. The opportunities were in the area of back-ups and moving into position once the ball was hit. For example, our pitcher needs to be moving to cover home plate as soon as the ball gets past the catcher. And, the outfielders need to move quicker to back up bases on attempted steals.

Hitting (B)
The team did a nice job putting the ball into play. Several hitters hit the ball hard, but right at a fielder. An opportunity area for hitters is to be sure to pick up signs before stepping into the box. Also, some of our hitters had slow, long swings against the power pitchers. Hitters need to assume a proper stance (i.e., bat at a 45 degree angle and not laid out flat), proper grip and step back in the batter's box against faster pitching.

We also need to guard against extending the arms too early in the swing. Lead with the elbow...or drive with the handle of the bat...or keep the hands inside the ball, are all ways of thinking about not losing speed and power by extending the arms too soon.

Baserunning (D)
Aggressive baserunning must be a trademark of this team. One of our greatest assets is speed! We ran ourselves out of two very big innings by not getting good jumps off the pitcher. Players are generally not getting a big enough primary lead. And, the secondary leads are far worse.

There were a few examples of good baserunning during the scrimmage: Jack Lebert scored from third when the Hurricanes attempted to pick a runner off of second base. C.J. Brucki scored from second base when the Hurricanes had trouble fielding a thrown ball in the middle of the infield. Tim Carroll extended his lead off second base and then easily stole third base with one out.

Another opportunity area with baserunning was not running through first base on batted balls! The few runners who did go hard through first base prompted the Hurricanes to rush and make fielding errors. If the Warriors baserunning was improved, the team would have scored 13 or 14 runs rather than just 8 runs. In a closer ballgame, this will make the difference.

Coaching (C)
My coaching is still in its Spring Training stage! Signals were not always timely to our hitters and baserunners. And, pitchers were not always able to get enough warm-ups prior to entering the game (mostly because they happened to be batting during the previous inning).

H2 is not an ideal set up for seeing everything from the dugouts. As coaches, we have to figure out a more effective way to communicate with all the players on the bench to accelerate the learning curve when it comes to our baserunning and defensive opportunities.

Sunday's Scrimmage is Cancelled

The Warriors scrimmage for Sunday, April 5th has been cancelled due to the rain. The Warriors have now cancelled four consecutive events due to weather!

The team will play next on Wednesday, April 8th in a scrimmage against the Orland Park Hurricanes. Players should arrive at Humphrey #2 by 4:45 pm for pregame warm-ups.

The team will NOT be wearing its uniforms for this scrimmage. Players should wear baseball pants for this event.

Warriors Announce Starting Pitcher for Friday

Jason Waner has been named the Warriors' starting pitcher for Friday night's scrimmage against the New Lenox Celtics. Other Warriors' pitchers expected to see action on Friday include Lance Cardinal, C.J. Brucki and Ryan Novak. Pitchers will most likely be limited to one inning of work or 35 pitches, whichever comes first. We will use more pitchers if the game proceeds past four innings.

The Warriors' will not deactivate any players for Friday's scrimmage. The team will also use a continuous batting order for this event.

The team will practice on Wednesday from 5:00 until 6:15 pm at Cachey Park to prepare for the scrimmage.

Warriors Next Practice is Wednesday

The Warriors practice for Sunday has been cancelled due to the snow.


The team's next practice is scheduled for Wednesday, April 1st from 5:00 pm until 6:15 pm at Cachey Park. This will be a short workout to prepare the team for Friday night's scrimmage against the New Lenox Celtics.

Please contact me if you are unable to participate in a team practice or game.

Jason Waner Wins Ground Ball Challenge

Jason Waner won the Warriors' ground ball challenge on Sunday night in convincing fashion. He was the last player standing at the end of the contest without having made a single fielding or throwing error.

The Warriors have held four infield defense contests so far this season. In the contest, players continue to compete until they have made two fielding or throwing errors. The last player standing wins the game. The winners of this year's contests are as follows:

Challenge #1:
Winner- Ryan Novak
Runner Up- Jack Lebert

Challenge #2:
Winner- Tim Prendergast
Runner Up- Ryan Novak

Challenge #3:
Winner- Tim Carroll
Runner Up- Anthony Lauciello

Challenge #4:
Winner- Jason Waner
Runner Up- CJ Brucki

Winning these contests is not an easy task (and it is getting tougher each practice). It usually takes at least 20 defensive plays (with the difficulty gradually increasing) to win it.

Jackie Robinson

During tonight's practice, we covered the importance of staying alert on the baseball field and always striving to win (or do your best). With rare exceptions (e.g., hit batsman, foul ball, time out, etc.) the ball is live and players must be aware of what is happening on the field.

Jackie Robinson was one of the players in baseball history who accomplished some incredible baserunning feats. In 1954, after reaching base, he stole second base, then third base and finally home plate on three consecutive pitches!

His first steal of home came during his rookie year after he reached base when he was intentionally hit by a pitch by a Pirates' pitcher. He made another "statement" by scoring all the way from first on a sacrifice fly.

Many people (including me) believe that the straight steal of home plate is the most exciting play in all of sports. Jackie accomplished this feat 19 times in his career. To help our players appreciate how difficult this is, we positioned them on a third base bag that was 90 feet from home plate. Amazingly, Ty Cobb is the all-time leader with 50 steals of home plate during his career--a record that will probably never be broken!

Jackie Robinson was respected for being one of the greatest competitors to ever play the game. Duke Snider commented that "He was the greatest competitor I've ever seen. I've seen him beat a team with his bat, his glove, his feet..."

Of course, Jackie Robinson is best known for breaking the color barrier in Major League baseball in 1947. His contributions paved the way for other African-American baseball players to play in the Major Leagues--including some of my favorite players as a kid (i.e., Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Ernie Banks, etc.). His uniform #42 was retired by every team in Major League baseball. Only two active players continue to wear #42 today--Mariano Rivera (who was grandfathered in at the time of the number's retirement) and Sam Marc of the Warriors.

Warriors to Practice Indoors on Saturday

The Warriors will practice on Saturday, March 28th from 5:00 until 6:30 pm at the Homer Megaplex. This practice will be similar to last week's indoor practice and will include the following drills/contests: Quick Release Contest, bunting, hitting foam baseballs, Ground Ball Challenge (Tim Carroll is the reigning champion) and baserunning. If time permits, we will also discuss what our team can learn from the way that Jackie Robinson played the game.

Tomorrow's (Sunday's) practice has been cancelled due to the cold weather and probable snow!

Warriors Announce 2009 Schedule

The Warriors have added 12 Chicagoland Metro League games to its 2009 schedule. 8 of the 12 games will be played on the road.

The Warriors will face some tough opponents, including the Jackie Robinson West team that finished near the top of the nation in the 2008 12U Little League World Series.

Most of the games will be played close to home in towns such as Tinley Park and Hickory Hills. More distant locations include the games played against South Cicero and Jackie Robinson West.

Warriors Thank Tonight's Volunteers

The Warriors would like to thank Ann Bresingham and Tracy Marc for coordinating the distribution of uniforms to the team during Thursday night's practice.

Ann Bresingham also captured some digital photos of the players for future use on the team's website. These photos typically accompany web articles about the team. If anyone has any objection at all regarding having a player's photo appear on the website, please let me (Glenn Nagel) know as I'll ensure that those photos will not be published. Thank you.

Warriors Thank Coach John Ghilardi

The Warriors would like to thank Coach John Ghilardi for providing batting instruction to each of its players during Thursday night's practice. Coach Ghilardi is especially effective at teaching hitters to use their bodies to generate power throughout the swing.

Coach Ghilardi plans on returning to a future Warriors' practice to ensure that our hitters are implementing some of his teachings.

You Make the Call (Part 2)

This is the second question in a series of baseball rule questions that will be posted on this website:

Q #2: A batter hits a ground ball to the shortstop. He beats the throw to first base. After running through the base, the runner veers to his left--rather than running straight down the foul line or moving to the right of the foul line. Seeing that, the first baseman immediately applies the tag on the batter-runner. You are the base umpire. Do you call the batter out?

A #2: The batter-runner may turn left or right, provided that if he turns left he does not make an attempt to advance. An attempt is a judgment made by the umpire. The requirement is that the runner must immediately return to first after overrunning or oversliding it. Rule: 7.08(c and j)

With that being said, we teach our runners to turn right after overrunning first base to remove all doubt about whether the runner made an attempt to advance or not.

You Make the Call (Part I)

Q #1: An inside pitch hits the batter on his hand while it is still resting on the bat. Is this a foul ball or a hit by pitch?

A #1: It is a common myth that the "hands are part of the bat." The reality is that the hands are not part of the bat--they are part of the body. So if a pitch hits a batter's hands, the ball is dead and the hitter is awarded first base--as long as he didn't swing and was avoiding the pitch.

Team Sponsors

The Warriors would like to thank the Lebert family and the Maxfield family for sponsoring the team this season. Their very generous contributions will enable the team to secure additional field time for games and practices among other things.

These donations go a long way towards easing the team's budgetary pressures. The team is facing increased costs in all areas (i.e., umpires, field time, tournament fees) while attempting to replace last year's sponsorship fees as well.

Thanks again to both families for this generous gesture.

Reminder: Registration Fees Due TODAY

As a reminder, the final installment of the registration fee is due by Saturday, March 21st. Registration fees are due from 6 of our 14 players.

Bat bag orders will also be finalized by that date. So far, 4 players have submitted an order for the equipment bag. 6 players already have bags from last season. We may be subject to a minimum order on this item. If so, and we don't have a large enough quantity to order, I will return those checks to those of you who have already submitted your order next week.

CLICK HERE for more information regarding these administrative items.

Please contact me with any questions or comments.

Glenn Nagel
708-846-1466 (cell)

OYA Pony League Conflicts

The OYA Pony League draft was held last night. Players will soon learn which teams they will play with this season. Once the Pony League teams start practicing, scheduling conflicts will arise with the Warriors' practices. Game conflicts will be minimal as I attempt to schedule all Warriors' games during times when the Pony League is idle.

The purpose of the Warriors is to supplement a player's recreational Pony baseball experience. It is intended to offer players an opportunity to play more baseball at a higher level of competition. However, the Warriors do not wish to interfere in any way with the recreational baseball experience for any of our players.

Please follow these guidelines to resolve scheduling conflicts:

• If a player has two practices scheduled for the same time (one with the recreational team and one with the Warriors), the recreational Pony practice takes priority. Players are expected to tell a coach that they won't be participating in a team event, but the absence is excused.
• If a player has two games scheduled for the same time (one with the recreational team and one with the Warriors), the recreational Pony practice takes priority. Players are expected to tell a coach that they won't be participating in a team event, but the absence is excused.
• If a player has a practice with the recreational team at the same time that the Warriors have a game, the player should ask his recreational coach for permission to participate in the Warriors' game as the game experience will most likely be more valuable to the player's development than a practice. The player's recreational Pony coach will make the final call in this situation.

The Pony league players were drafted randomly. In other words, coaches did not select players. Rather, they were drawn out of a hat. I am pleased that two of our Warriors' players were placed on my Yankees' team: Lance Cardinal and Jim Robley.

Please call me with any questions or comments.

Deactivation

The Warriors carry a roster of 14 players. For any given event, between 11 and 12 players will be activated (eligible to play). Therefore, two or three players will be deactivated for each Sunday Metro League and/or tournament game. As in prior seasons, the deactivation process is as follows:

1. A player will be deactivated if he misses a team event without notifying a coach (unexcused absence).
2. Players who do not hustle may be deactivated.
3. Part-time players will be deactivated for certain games (by definition of a part-time roster spot).
4. Players sometimes voluntarily deactivate themselves due to scheduling conflicts.
5. If the team is not experiencing unexcused absences or a lack of hustle, players will be deactivated on a rotating basis. This means that a player may be deactivated once every 8 games or so. With this rotating method, each full-time player may be asked to miss a game or two during the season.

Deactivated players are welcome to attend the game if they wish. Please contact me with any questions or comments.

Catcher's Stances

Click here to view and read more about the two types of catcher's stances--the "relaxed" and the "ready" positions. We'll talk more about this during the upcoming pitchers & catchers practices on Sunday and Tuesday.

Administrative Update

Please note that the final installment of the registration fees (which includes both the Warriors and OYA Pony league play) is due by March 21st. Full time players should provide me with a $385 check made payable to the "Orland Youth Association." The amount due from part-time players (Dennis Bresingham, Jim Robley and Tim Prendergast) is $285.

I am coordinating an optional purchase of an equipment/bat bag as well. The six returning players from last year's team already have a bat bag. These red bags have the Warriors logo, the player's last name and uniform number stitched into the bag. The estimated cost of a bag is $32. If you are interested in purchasing a bag, please bring a check for $32 made payable to me (Glenn Nagel) along with your registration check. Equipment bags will be ordered after the March 21st practice for anyone who has submitted their payment by then.

Also, I am missing birth certificate copies for the following player: Carroll. Please bring a copy of the birth certificates to the next practice.

College Baseball's Opening Day

I watched the Minnesota Gophers play the Seton Hall Pirates in the Big East-Big Ten Baseball Challenge in Clearwater, Florida. I captured these photographs from that game.

I just returned home from my Florida vacation and I'm looking forward to the beginning of our baseball season.

Yankees' Spring Training Photos

This morning, I visited the New York Yankees' Spring Training camp in Tampa, Florida. CLICK HERE to view the photos from that session.

Bat Bags

Last year, each of our players received a bat bag. The red bat bag had the Warriors' logo along with the last name and number of the player stitched into it. Last season, the bags were funded by a sponsor (and the expenditure amounted to nearly $500 ($30 per bag for 16 players).

Upon request, I have investigated the possibility of ordering bags for the players who are new to the Warriors in 2009. As we do not have a sponsor for this expense, the bags will be optional. If a player/parent elects to order a bag, the same vendor from last season will make the bags available fora approximately $32.

More information about the bags will be available on this website in March. At that time, I will communicate a date in which the $32 will be due in order to be included in the order.

Please contact me with any questions or comments.

Spring Training Workouts

While vacationing in Florida, I've had an opportunity to visit a few of the Spring Training camps (Phillies, Yankees and Blue Jays). As always, the early workouts focus on the fundamentals. Here are a few photographs that I was able to capture of the events. Click on photos to enlarge:

1- A coach works with a young shortstop on proper footwork
2- Many more fans attended the Tampa Rays' Fan Fest at Tropicana Field this year (after the Rays' American League championship last season) as compared to last year.
3- A first baseman finds the corner of the bag with both the heals of both feet.

4- A Yankees' shortstop begins to move his pivot (right) foot into a position to square his body for an accurate throw to first base.

5- Blue Jays' pitchers practice fielding ground balls and making the underhand toss to first base.

6- Pitchers practice fielding balls from the mound and making a good throw to first base.

7- Blue Jays' pitchers practice footwork off the mound and making a good underhand toss to the first baseman.

8- Batting practice pitchers throw from a distance of about 40 feet. They show the batter the ball and toss strikes 95% of the time. The idea is for hitters to work on hitting fundamentals...not to challenge hitters by trying to get them out!

9- Pitchers and catchers do a lot of running.