Author Archive for Chris Gissell – Page 10

Adjustments

Jul
31

image_1362869737680384Every player is unique. Each batter has a different swing. Each pitcher has a different delivery. As players get older, hopefully they are being helped to learn what makes them the best they can be.

Hitters are learning what the best place is for their hands to be when the pitcher is about to release the ball. When do they need to get their front foot on the ground to insure they will be in the best position possible when the pitch gets into the contact area. The biggest issue you see with hitters, especially youth, is their lack of being taught what it means to be “on time” when the pitch gets to them.

Pitchers need to know what makes them tick too. What they need to feel pitch after pitch. Where they need to feel smooth. Where does the separation of their hands need to happen. What is their best arm stroke in the back.

All this comes with rep after rep. Learning what works best for you/them. Hopefully at some point in a players life, they end up in front of someone who understands this and can help the player to understand themselves and what makes them the best possible player they can be.

By knowing yourself and your swing or delivery will allow you to make quicker in game adjustments. If you take a bad swing, you need to be able to make an adjustment on the next one. If you throw a pitch up and arm side, you need to know yourself so well that you can fix it on the next pitch.

The ability to make quick adjustments is a huge part of this game. It is in fact one of the biggest things we work on at the pro level.

Categories : Chris Gissell, Coaching, Dudes Blog, Hitting, Pitching

Take Time Off

Jul
28

Image 27Baseball is a lot of fun. Kids who have the love for the game want to play everyday.

When it comes to hitting, you can do that everyday without putting too much stress on the body. In fact, the best of the best do it almost year round.

Pitching is a different story. This motion is very hard on the body. It is an un-natural motion to throw something over hand. It puts a lot of stress on the body. One of the best way to insure we limit injuries in a pitcher is to give the arm proper rest in the off season. Personally, I was very fortunate that my father learned this early in my childhood and forced me to give it a rest every year. I would always wait until after the new year to pick up a ball. If fall ball ended in October, my arm would get 2-3 months of rest. In my opinion, this is vital especially with our growing children.

I have parents very eager to start right back up working off the mound in the off season and have to remind them of this. My rule of thumb is at least 2 1/2 months of rest, then a couple weeks of catch before we get back up on the mound.

Parents, please educate yourself and understand this part of the game for your young pitcher.

Categories : Baseball Life, Chris Gissell, Coaching, Pitching

Controlling The Adrenaline

Jul
7

20130707-125550.jpgIf you are fortunate enough to play this game for a long time, you will have many firsts. The first time you walk into a clubhouse. The first time you meet your teammates. The first time you take a swing in the cage. The first time you throw a pitch off the mound in a bullpen. These are all firsts that will get the butterfly’s going a little.

What really gets the nerves is that first at bat or that first inning of the season. Like I said, hopefully you get to experience a lot of these. The question is, how do you handle these moments? I personally got to experience many and yes the nerves are always there. There was even some nerves pitching in an alumni game that meant nothing!!

The level I am coaching at this year is where a lot of newly drafted players go to get their first taste of pro ball. All of these young men will experience nerves, and pressure, like they have never experienced before. Some thrive in these situations and some allow the nerves to take over and take them off their game. The ability to slow things down at times like this is a learned ability. Experience is the only way to learn how to “Control The Adrenaline” in these moments.

I have written before on “The Weeding Out Process” and this is another layer. I have seen some players who have this elevated level of adrenaline outing after outing and at bat after at bat. They can’t seem to get a grip on how to handle it and end up never reaching their full potential in the game.

Learn how to handle your nerves/adrenaline in this game and watch yourself thrive.

Categories : Baseball Life, Catching, Chris Gissell, Dudes Blog, Hitting, Pitching

It’s Not An Easy Game

Jun
20

IMG_1331I always tell parents that if they want their kids to learn how to deal with failure, have them play baseball. Like the title says, “It’s Not An Easy Game”. Major league hitters are great players getting only 3 hits in every 10 at bats. Major league pitchers are considered good when they allow 1 run every 2 innings. Think about it, that is your opponent beating you very often!!

Players need to be taught at a young age that failure is a part of life. It’s how they respond to those moments of failure which will make them either a strong or weak person. In baseball, there is always a tomorrow where you can redeem yourself. If you make a bad play, give up a homerun or strike out in a key situation, all you can do is learn from it. If you let that moment get the best of you, it’s going to be a long road (or short one with all the failures that happen in baseball).

As a parent, it’s hard to watch your kids fail out there on the field. Do your best to help them understand that moments like that will happen their whole life and how the right way to handle it is. When they fail, be sure to point out to them all the great hits-plays-pitches they have made in their life. Explain to them that even the guys they watch on TV fail and have bad games. Also help them to understand that this won’t be the last time they will have a bad day and that they need to learn something from every single failure they have in life, on and off the field.

It’s Not An Easy Game and that’s why those guys we watch on TV are so good. They have trained so much that they fail less than others and are great at dealing with the failures that happen every day.

Be great at dealing with failure and you will be a successful person on and off the field. The ones who jump up after falling, are the ones who will have a better chance at being successful at whatever they do.

Categories : Baseball Life, Chris Gissell, Coaching, Dudes Blog

The Cutter

Jun
13

Categories : Chris Gissell, Pitching, Video Tips

Soft Toss

Jun
13

Categories : Chris Gissell, Hitting, Video Tips

New Faces

Jun
13

Orem_Owlz_5The MLB Draft was held last week. The team I will be the pitching coaching for, the Orem Owlz, season will start June 20th. We play in the Pioneer League which is a short season A level. Considered rookie ball.

About half of our team will be compiled of new players from the draft. This will be their introduction into pro ball. These kids have dreamed of this day for as long as they have played this game.

Pro ball can be a tough adjustment for young men. We will play everyday for two and a half months except for 4-5 days off during that span. Three of those days will probably be travel days where we will spend half the day on a bus. This, playing everyday, can be a huge adjustment for these guys. Playing everyday means a lot of throwing. A lot of running. A lot of thinking about their game. When you play everyday, everything is magnified. A two or three week slump in HS or college might consist of 10ish games. Well if your playing everyday, that slump turns into 15-20 games.

Then there’s the off the field stuff. Many of these kids will be on their own for the first time. How they handle this part of life can also be a big adjustment. Too many times I have seen guys make bad decisions that have ruined their careers. Sad, but it happens every year.

Sorry, kind of got off track there. Please let me continue… I am very excited to welcome these young men into pro ball and will do my best to teach them and mentor them on what it takes, and means, to be a professional baseball player.

Orem, here we come!!

Categories : Baseball Life, Chris Gissell, Coaching, Dudes Blog

How Did Your Teammates Do?

Jun
13

Image 14My career unfortunately takes me away during my kids Little League season. My wife is great at sending me videos of their at bats and of them pitching along with inning by inning text updates. It’s not the real thing, in person experience, but it’s what we do.

Both my kids are decent little players and usually have a good game. Zachary, my younger Dude is still shy on the phone and doesn’t really give me much info about his game. When I ask him questions, the answer is almost always, “Good”. Cracks me up every time.

My older Dude, Christopher, has some talent. We talk after every game when he is in the car on their way home. I make it a point to always ask him how his team did. Who had a good game? Who pitched well? Who got the good hits? Who made good plays in the field? Then after that’s all said and done I will let him talk about himself just a little.

My children will be brought up being considerate of others and I believe baseball can be a great way to teach them this lesson. It’s important to me that they naturally recognize others and their efforts. Too often I see, and hear, players who all they seem to want to talk about is themselves. At my level, we call this a “Me Guy”. Trust me, this is a reputation, and label, you don’t want to have. This type of attitude can be traced back to one place, how they were brought up. These kids grow up in a house where all the parents do is tell them how great they are. I understand how as a parent we are proud of them and their accomplishments, but sit back and think about what type of person do you want your Dude to grow up and be.

My Dudes WILL NOT be “Me Guys”.

Categories : Baseball Life, Chris Gissell, Dudes Blog

Youth Pitchers and Pitch Counts

May
31

AlexMiller-1I had a parent contact me the other day asking my opinion on how he should handle his 13 year old’s pitching season. His boy is playing on a little league team and a tournament team and is wondering if it could get to the point where he should shut him down as far as pitching goes. This kid is pretty advanced for his age and has a good chance to do something in this game. As we were talking, he brought up the last game he pitched and it came out that he threw 52 pitches in the first inning. I was absolutely floored when I heard this. To be honest, it really upsets me when I think about it. I’m sure it bothers me so much because I have worked with this stud for the last two years and am emotionally attached. But like I said, this kid truly has a chance.

Coaches, lets get something straight here. A child’s well being trumps that win you are hunting. Leaving a kid out there to battle through an inning like that does the team no good, the player no good and puts the player in a situation where he could hurt himself. You are not turning this kid into a man by letting him work through this. If anything you could be crushing his confidence. Fortunately, I know this kid well enough to know that he has been trained to know how to handle games like this. But most have no idea how to deal with that type of adversity. And to be frank here, if you as a coach allow your player to go through something like this, then I’m sure you wouldn’t be the type of coach that would be able to teach a player how to handle adversity.

I’m my opinion, there should be a pitches per inning limit. I’m sure that in some leagues out there, there is something like this in place. If I was a youth the coach, my pitchers would not throw more than 30 pitches an inning. I’m sure that most coaches reading this are thinking, “well I need pitchers for later in the game and for our upcoming games”. Hopefully you have seen my point by now, but if not I will try again. The rest of the game and your upcoming games will work themselves out. The only thing that is important when your pitcher is in the middle of an inning like that is that child. Not the W, not your game tomorrow or the one after that, that child at that point in time, PERIOD!

Youth baseball is about kids learning how to play this great game and the life lessons it teaches. Adversity is a huge part of this game that players who play into their teen years and beyond will have to learn to deal with but this type of adversity is something we wouldn’t even let our pro pitchers go through.

Coaches, the kids are more important than a W!!

Categories : Baseball Life, Chris Gissell, Coaching, Dudes Blog, Pitching

Social Media

May
27

twitter-facebookIt’s gotta be around 90% of ball players, HS/College/Pro players that utilize social media on a daily basis. Obviously I am active on both Facebook and Twitter myself. I rarely use my personal accounts, but am active on our Baseball Dudes business page on Facebook and our @BaseballDudes48 Twitter account.

Every year, professional players are given a lecture from the big league media staff about how careful they need to be. Players at this level learn early in their career that not only are the representing themselves, they are also representing Major League Baseball and the organization which they are playing for. These days the media uses social media to learn inside info quickly and learn personal things about specific players.

As for learning inside info quickly, let me explain this. Every year, we hear a story about a player, who was moved up or down, tweet about it before the other player, whoever is being moved from the other team, has been told they are being moved. You wouldn’t think this would be a big deal but often the move isn’t an obvious move and can send a panic through a clubhouse. It can disrupt that team for that nights game.

As for the media using social media to learn more about players, there is a fine line that players have to walk here. Social media is a great way for players to stay connected to their family/friends and even fans. The following that many pro players have on twitter can be very impressive but they have to be careful. As you saw last year with that college football player. That could happen to anybody who uses social media the wrong way. When you get to the college/pro levels of this game, it is crazy how some people out there will try and try to get into your life. More times than not, these are good people but you honestly never know.

Players also need to realize who looks at what they put out there. I’m talking about teammates, coaches, upper management and I’m sure even owners of teams. Just like in life when talking to someone, you should always think twice about what you are about to say. Especially when it’s out there for everyone to see. The simplest comments can ruin a reputation. Be smart boys!

Categories : Baseball Life, Chris Gissell, Dudes Blog

Little League

May
22

184567_10200633624997403_1924303203_nThis is where it all starts. Little League Baseball. One of the more enjoyable times in a child’s life. The smile of their face when they get that first hit. The smile on their face when they catch that fly ball. The smile on their face when they strike out a hitter.

When they first start playing, it is usually tee-ball. Every game is fun. No pressure to get a hit. Nobody yelling at the umpires. And everybody gets equal playing time at every position and everyone goes home happy, including the parents. Wouldn’t it be nice if every season was like that?! My question is, why isn’t it? When did LITTLE LEAGUE baseball become a “we have to win” sport. Parents and the parent coaches need to realize and remember what this level of baseball is all about. Parents put their kids in these leagues to play and have fun. Hopefully they will learn a little something along the way but don’t expect your child to get great instruction from a volunteer parent. Don’t get me wrong, there are most definitely some good little league coaches out there, but they are very hard to come by.

Players in little league should get even playing time at whatever positions they want to learn. I always recommend coaches passing out a questioner before the season, to see what positions each player likes.

Parents and coaches also need to understand that the umpires are volunteers too. They will make mistakes often and have not so good strike zones. That is just the way it is, so do yourself and the kids a favor and keep your comments to yourself. Being vocal to a volunteer umpire, in little league, sets a horrible example to the kids. Don’t forget, they are like sponges. If you act like that, guess how they will think is the right way to act!

Lastly, they whole winning thing in little league, in my opinion goes too far sometimes. I can understand it at the 12 year old age but until then, that’s not what it should be about. Parents and coaches need to check their egos at the door and let the kids have fun. Remember, this is little league baseball and should be a great memory in these kids lives. Make it fun, teach them how to do their best and what it means to be a good teammate.

Categories : Chris Gissell, Coaching, Dudes Blog

The Slider

May
5

Categories : Chris Gissell, Pitching, Video Tips

Pitch Them Inside, They Don’t Like It!

Apr
30

pitcher-in-action-200-300The name of the game is to throw strikes. A pitchers number one goal should be this. If we throw strikes, we will get contact which is what we want. Many young pitchers think they are suppose to strike out all the hitters. Yes it’s fun, but it shouldn’t be the number one thing on a pitchers mind.

Now that we have established that, lets talk about what hitters like to do. For the most part, the hitter is looking for something out and over the plate. They want something they can get extended on. When hitters only see pitches out over the plate, they get very comfortable. If the pitcher has the ability to do what I mentioned above, throw strikes, his next job is to make the hitter uncomfortable.

I have found the best way to do this is by pounding in with fastballs. I have asked more hitters than I can remember what is the toughest pitch to hit. The answer is always, a well located fastball, especially when it is in. Let me explain what “well located’ means. This is a pitch at the knees, not a few inches above, at the KNEES.

I’m down here in Arizona right now and have a few pitchers using an approach of being relentless with pounding their fastball inside. They have all been very pleased with the success they are seeing with it. This is something that is not taught at the amateur level simply because of metal bats. I say forget that, teach these young pitchers how to make the hitters uncomfortable!!

Categories : Chris Gissell, Dudes Blog, Pitching

Everyones Different, Don’t be Fooled by Appearance

Apr
20

Article#9picI always noticed it as a player but it is even more apparent now as a coach how different every player is. Don’t get me wrong, there are things every player has to do to be successful. For example, every single hitter has to have good balance, stay square to the ball and make sure the front foot is down and hands are separated from the body to give themselves the best chance to make solid contact.

Now the big thing I have noticed recently is appearance can be very difficult to judge. There can be a clean cut kid, who is built like a brick house with a big fastball and a tight slider. This kid makes it into pro ball just because of his stuff but know one knows what is going on in this kids head. Now this kid is feeling pressure he has never felt before and is so mentally weak he breaks down and never becomes the player he could have been.

Now, let’s take the kid who is not that built and has average stuff with good command. His hair is long, almost looks like he doesn’t know how to take care of himself. You can’t tell from the outside, but this kid is so mentally strong, he doesn’t crack even in the toughest situations.

Moral of the story, be sure coaches, not to judge the book by it’s cover. Give every kid a chance. You are the coach and it’s your job to get the best out of every kid. The best coaches get to know their players and what makes the tick.

Categories : Chris Gissell, Coaching, Dudes Blog

Proper Nutrition Leads to a Strong Player

Apr
15

3872583153_189428c2c3As a ball player, you are expected to be at the top of your game everyday. This is an expectation that the people watching the game have. But anybody who has played this game for an extended period of time knows that this just doesn’t happen.

There are many different factors that lead to a ball player not feeling 100% everyday. To name a few: didn’t sleep well, playing with a mild injury, off the field distraction. Keep in mind that none of these are excuses. You will have good days and bad days but don’t be an excuse maker. If you grow up being this type of person, it will make things tough.

I have seen it time and time again. Players out on the field are low in energy. Too often when you get to the bottom of the tiredness it comes out that the players nutrition is not what it needs to be. You are an athlete. Your goal is to be one of the best in the world. If this is the case for you, then your diet needs to be like the best. Fuel your body with what it needs to play at the highest level it can. Poor nutrition will cause your energy to fade quicker in a game than it should.

Educate yourself about what it takes nutritionally to be the best you can be.

Categories : Baseball Life, Chris Gissell, Dudes Blog
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