Perspective
I’ve been instructing for I don’t know how many years. At first it was just something I did during the off seasons but had no idea what it was leading to.
Fast forward to 2012, the Angels gave me an opportunity to lead their young draft picks, teach them the game and how to be a professional, my eyes were opened. Since then my appreciation and understanding of coaching has grown deep. The amount of time coaches put in, the level of patience required, the attention to detail necessary, the consistent body language needed to lead by example, the understanding of what’s really important and what’s not, the importance of being able to relate to all different personalities, athleticism and abilities, the fact that being a good coach means consistently growing ourselves and coming to the realization that the one thing that matters most in all of this is finding ways to use the game to help them prepare for all those years when they are not playing the game.
I need to say Thank You to all my past coaches and to all the current coaches who take pride in giving the kids in front of them what they need on top of baseball skills. It’s often a thankless role but remember that no matter where they go in the game, they are going somewhere in life. That’s our mission.
– Chris Gissell
“My purpose, MY WHY, is to provide for my family, while also doing everything I can to develop quality people through the many life lessons that Baseball provides daily.”
17 Years Professional Experience (14 as a player, 3 as a coach). MLB debut 8/22/2004 with the Colorado Rockies. Retired from professional coaching on 10/31/14 to focus on family and developing youth baseball players full time.
Pitchers need to take responsibility for the running game. Too often we will see bases stolen and blame it on the catcher. This mind set must be switched. It is our responsibility to give our catcher a chance to throw that guy out. If we are too slow to the plate, it is OUR fault he was allowed to steal the base. If we do not vary our hold times, hold the ball for different periods of time from pitch to pitch, it is OUR fault he was allowed to steal the base. We as pitchers need to all understand that it is our job, and nobody else’s, to keep that runner at the base they are on.
