Good article from ESPN.com about the Georgia Bulldogs improvement from last year. They credit positive thoughts with a big portion of their improvement.
Quote from article: "Last year, it was one of those things where if something could go wrong like we thought, it would happen," Beckham said. "And this year we think better thoughts, I guess. Think a happy thought."
Here is the link to the article: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=3455440
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Friday, June 20, 2008
Pete and A Rod
Two of the greatest hitters to play the game.
Great artifcle from ESPN on thier relationship.
Click here to read: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=roseandarod
Great artifcle from ESPN on thier relationship.
Click here to read: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=roseandarod
You can play for us when...
You Can Play For Us When...
· You don't care if you are the one who bunts the runner over or the one who hits the runs in, because you are fulfilling your role, whatever that role is, is most important.
· You have a desire to excel for the benefit of those relying on you.
· You have an unquenchable need to exceed your past limitations.
· You play without the option of defeat.
· You play and know, without a doubt, that you competed like a champion.
· You understand your commitment to your teammates.
· You understand that baseball is a team sport.
· You finish playing and only your body leaves the field…your heart and soul are captured within the game.
· You will exchange your blood, sweat, and tears for the benefit of the team.
· You understand the irrelevance of individual awards.
· You would rather encourage a teammate to success than benefit personally from his mistakes.
· Your respect for the game outweighs your personal pride.
· You make mistakes and use them to improve instead of using them as excuses.
· Your ability to make your teammates better increases each time you play.
· You do the little things right when nobody is watching.
· You serve your teammates with unselfish motives.
· You understand your role and strive to perform it better.
· You have done all you can and still feel you haven't done enough.
· You play with pain without creating a scene.
· You give more than what is asked and take less than what is deserved.
· Your effort is constant and your play is consistent regardless of the situation.
· You think you can, and you do.
· You don't care if you are the one who bunts the runner over or the one who hits the runs in, because you are fulfilling your role, whatever that role is, is most important.
· You have a desire to excel for the benefit of those relying on you.
· You have an unquenchable need to exceed your past limitations.
· You play without the option of defeat.
· You play and know, without a doubt, that you competed like a champion.
· You understand your commitment to your teammates.
· You understand that baseball is a team sport.
· You finish playing and only your body leaves the field…your heart and soul are captured within the game.
· You will exchange your blood, sweat, and tears for the benefit of the team.
· You understand the irrelevance of individual awards.
· You would rather encourage a teammate to success than benefit personally from his mistakes.
· Your respect for the game outweighs your personal pride.
· You make mistakes and use them to improve instead of using them as excuses.
· Your ability to make your teammates better increases each time you play.
· You do the little things right when nobody is watching.
· You serve your teammates with unselfish motives.
· You understand your role and strive to perform it better.
· You have done all you can and still feel you haven't done enough.
· You play with pain without creating a scene.
· You give more than what is asked and take less than what is deserved.
· Your effort is constant and your play is consistent regardless of the situation.
· You think you can, and you do.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
MUST READ- The players on the bench
The Players On The Bench
It takes more than nine players to make a winning team. The starting nine may win a game, but it takes the whole team to win the championship-to go all the way. The team is really like an iceberg. You see the starting nine, but underneath it all is that big, wide, strong base-the rest of the team. This is the part of the team that builds the character of a lasting winner. The more dedicated the man on the bench, the harder he works, the more he pushes and strengthens the starting player-the higher he pushes this iceberg out of the water-the bigger it gets-the better the team. If he quits, doesn't give his all, or becomes complacent in his position, he erodes that strong base and erodes the character of the team. He contributes to the error in a tense, one run game, he is partly to blame for that mental lapse with two innings to play in the big rivalry, he undermines the total effort necessary for the team to come back from a four run deficit in a championship game. And yet this player on the bench must be there-watching, waiting, and hoping-sometimes agonizingly-for that chance to use his special skill to better the team effort-to make the base of that iceberg stronger-to help build the character of the team. Yes, agonizingly because he knows there is a chance he won't play because he may be the smallest man waiting to break open the game with a double or he may be the big man called in an instant to shut down the other teams best hitter. He may even be the man that's hurt, but working twice as hard to be physically fit in time to play in the playoffs. He may be the man on the bench who demonstrates to the fans that this team really has character from the bench to the basket. But even more important he may be the whole bench that the player looks to late in the game when he is hurting, out of breath, and burning inside for that spirit, that push, and that enthusiasm, and that love necessary to make the big play and win the game for the whole team.
When the game is over, when the season ends and all the fans and sports writers are talking about the top of the iceberg, the stars and heroes, the players will know that the real winner is the team, the whole iceberg, especially the base-the men on the bench who build the character to make the team a lasting winner.
It takes more than nine players to make a winning team. The starting nine may win a game, but it takes the whole team to win the championship-to go all the way. The team is really like an iceberg. You see the starting nine, but underneath it all is that big, wide, strong base-the rest of the team. This is the part of the team that builds the character of a lasting winner. The more dedicated the man on the bench, the harder he works, the more he pushes and strengthens the starting player-the higher he pushes this iceberg out of the water-the bigger it gets-the better the team. If he quits, doesn't give his all, or becomes complacent in his position, he erodes that strong base and erodes the character of the team. He contributes to the error in a tense, one run game, he is partly to blame for that mental lapse with two innings to play in the big rivalry, he undermines the total effort necessary for the team to come back from a four run deficit in a championship game. And yet this player on the bench must be there-watching, waiting, and hoping-sometimes agonizingly-for that chance to use his special skill to better the team effort-to make the base of that iceberg stronger-to help build the character of the team. Yes, agonizingly because he knows there is a chance he won't play because he may be the smallest man waiting to break open the game with a double or he may be the big man called in an instant to shut down the other teams best hitter. He may even be the man that's hurt, but working twice as hard to be physically fit in time to play in the playoffs. He may be the man on the bench who demonstrates to the fans that this team really has character from the bench to the basket. But even more important he may be the whole bench that the player looks to late in the game when he is hurting, out of breath, and burning inside for that spirit, that push, and that enthusiasm, and that love necessary to make the big play and win the game for the whole team.
When the game is over, when the season ends and all the fans and sports writers are talking about the top of the iceberg, the stars and heroes, the players will know that the real winner is the team, the whole iceberg, especially the base-the men on the bench who build the character to make the team a lasting winner.
TITAN PITCHING REMINDERS
1. Concentrate on getting the first ball over and getting the first man out!
2. Allow 2 or less walks per game
3. Strike out to walk ratio should be 2 K's to 1 BB
4. Hit ratio should be less than 1 per inning
5. Get ahead of all hitters
6. Curveball thrown when HITTER is ahead in the count does not have to be your best.
7. If ahead and you miss, miss out of the zone
8. Universal hitting weaknesses: Low and away for righty, High and tight for lefty
9. Rather have curveball in the dirt than up in the eyes
10. Visualize throwing the perfect game
11. Know what pitch you can throw to get a groundball
12. Behind in the count: Split the plate with breaking ball Ahead: throw your best, hardest breaking ball
13. Be quick to the plate 1.4 and below
14. 2 quick outs- go after hitter with good stuff
15. Bunt plays- throw strikes - make sure to get one out
16. There is no defense against the walk
Week 2 article from Papillion Times
Here is the link to the week 2 article from the Papillion Times: http://www.papilliontimes.com/site/tab6.cfm?newsid=19746555&BRD=2712&PAG=461&dept_id=556342&rfi=15
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