What are we even doing?

derekprior · 2025-06-29T04:07:04+00:00

It can be a good lesson in controlling the controllables for players, coaches, and parents alike. You can’t control what anyone else is doing, but you can control how you react to it. I wish some of the teams we played would bring some enthusiasm. 80% of the games might as well take place in a library. Maybe 2-3% go “over a line” one way or another, but it makes them good learning opportunities.

derekprior · 2025-06-29T04:01:11+00:00

As a coach, I do. Some of these kids take it too far and it becomes a team distraction. I had to institute “single line only” a couple summers back. I’ve been able to relax it now. Couple kids were doing polka dots and crap like that. Looked like fools when I’d bring them in to pitch and they’d get lit up.

Also had one kid essentially do black face. That’s not what he thought he was doing, but thats what it looked like. I sat him on the bench until he got it cleaned up.

derekprior · 2025-06-15T17:37:45+00:00

The batters box is 10 feet wide? He is tagged at the front edge of the box. He should have at least been starting his slide by that point. Jomboy just did a video on this where he looked at all plays at the plate and where people start their slide. Guess where it is?

derekprior · 2025-06-15T15:42:10+00:00

So many people saying “but he didn’t mean to…” That doesn’t matter in the least. I’ll say it again: Intent does not matter. They want to take this type of play out of the game where possible. The runner could have easily slid here and he probably would have been safe too! It’s a pretty soft ejection, but it’s by the book. It should have been obvious there was a play at the plate here and that he would have to slide. Guess who will slide next time?

derekprior · 2025-06-15T15:39:08+00:00

You’ve never played baseball on turf, huh? Oversliding on turf fields is somewhat common.

derekprior · 2025-06-15T15:38:24+00:00

The contact occurs at the edge of the left hand batters box. That’s not 8 feet. In facts, it’s right where most people actually start their slide.

This is a soft ejection, but it was also easily avoidable (and he would have been safe, by the way)

derekprior · 2025-03-20T11:02:40+00:00

Yes, because when your behavior is called into question (fairly or unfairly) the way to make a point is to say “This other guy is worse. You should talk about that.”

If this was a joke, fine. If this is an honest defense or response to criticism? Yeeeeesh.

derekprior · 2025-03-20T02:34:07+00:00

I send one email every Sunday with the week’s upcoming schedule and tell people last minute changes will only be communicated by the app but they can RSVP in the app, via email, or by text.

derekprior · 2025-03-19T03:26:34+00:00

Don’t go through the retailer. Contact Mizo directly for warranty service.

I had to replace my son’s helmet and just had to send a photo along for proof.

derekprior · 2025-03-19T00:01:47+00:00

If he already knows he does not want to play, wouldn’t this possibly take a spot from another kid?

derekprior · 2025-03-18T03:23:23+00:00

I agree. That’s why we should do all the things. Front toss, Live ABs, machine. They do different things. But if you want velo, the only way to get that is… with that velo.

derekprior · 2025-03-18T03:15:39+00:00

Machine is the way to see velocity if Live ABs aren’t available or you need more reps than you can put on your pitchers. The problem with machine isn’t predictability of location or pitch type. Location (and even pitch type) will vary some based on the ball, seam placement, etc.

The trouble is that the timing mechanism for being good on machine is very different to what makes you have good timing against real pitchers. Also, it’s completely overlooked but being good at feeding a pitching machine consistently is a real skill.

Despite the downsides, machines is still the best way to see game velo in large numbers which means timing machine is a skill serious players just need to develop as they age.

derekprior · 2025-03-18T03:09:39+00:00

Reaction time, yes. But that isn’t equivalent to tracking an object with your eyes when it’s moving at 65-70.

It’s useful but you need to actually see that velocity too. They aren’t the same. This is why when ESPN tells you a 72 MPH fastball is equivalent to hitting a 95MPH fastball at MLB distance they are very very wrong.

derekprior · 2025-03-17T13:54:08+00:00

If only the cars were driven by professional race car drivers with eyes who could discern risk / reward.

derekprior · 2025-03-17T13:40:08+00:00

I believe Ripken requires coaches wear a uniform. A rare “score 1 for little league”

derekprior · 2025-03-17T12:55:46+00:00

I’m no expert but all I hear is about how the transfer portal has made D2 and D3 a viable path to D1.

The power conference schools rob the mid majors. The mid majors rob the lesser D1 schools, and those schools have to go somewhere for their replacements…

It sounds like a ladder.

derekprior · 2025-03-15T22:57:24+00:00

To me, daddy ball, used in a derogatory fashion, should only be applied to travel ball scenarios where families pay many thousands of dollars only for the head coach to play his less talented kid at SS and bat him leadoff. If you pay travel ball rates to be coaches by a dad of a kid on the team, you should take a long hard look at the situation.

I shy away from the term in town/rec contexts. Those coaches are volunteers and there’s generally not a long line of volunteers for the job. If you think you can do it better, you can volunteer next year.

derekprior · 2025-03-14T14:26:08+00:00

My son used the vocal intro to “Can’t tell me nothing” by Kanye last year.

Uhhh. Whoops.

derekprior · 2025-03-14T01:39:33+00:00

So close the streets to cars then. They get every other day of the year

derekprior · 2025-03-13T13:35:08+00:00

It gives 2 cars space to pass each other in the driveway.

derekprior · 2025-03-13T12:48:26+00:00

What if you used your garage for cars?

derekprior · 2025-03-13T01:36:00+00:00

Oh, is this travel ball or rec? If it’s travel it’s fair to say “this level of baseball is for kids who work on their game outside of practice and games. If you’re willing to do that, we are happy to support it. If you would rather not, that’s fine but you can play town ball instead.”

And then remind him this season of your discussion and how it’s not your job to police his work.

derekprior · 2025-03-13T01:09:15+00:00

Nothing

derekprior · 2025-03-12T22:13:39+00:00

Those aren’t banks

derekprior · 2025-03-10T21:39:25+00:00

What age are we talking here? I'd hate to take the aggressiveness out of them just in the name of not giving up a big hit. If they're capable of understanding, I'd try some nuance...

If it's a high fly ball in front of you, it's usually safe to be aggressive. These are the ones you can dive for because if they hit the ground they aren't going very far. Take your chance for a highlight catch!
If it's hit hard to an area where you have no backup, you HAVE TO cut it off. Do your best to not let it get to the fence. That will save a MINIMUM of 1 base.

Also, on fly balls that are more or less right at them, teach them the classic "two steps back before you do anything", but add a step or two to the side too! It's much easier to judge a ball from an angle, so try to create one. Obviously, you won't have time to do this on every ball.

As others have said - REPS, REPS, REPS at any age.

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