I posed this question to a hitter the other day and it seemed like he immediately saw the light. "What good does 'getting on plane early' do for you if the pitch is a slider/cutter/changeup/split-finger/sinker/sweeper/non-fastball?" "Getting on plane early" was popularized a few years back as a way to maximize exit velocity and bat speed. Pitchers use a term called tunneling to make their pitches much more effective. The pitch tunnel is (from a hitter's perspective) the tunnel that the hitter sees out of the hand and to the plate. If a pitcher can create the same tunnel for 2 or more pitches, getting on plane early is playing into what makes them nasty. Fastball, Slider, Changeup are 3 pitches that, if thrown effectively, share the same tunnel but deviate off as they approach the plate. In the video below, Gerrit Cole throws 2 (FB & Slider) pitches that approach the zone in the same tunnel but end up in completely different zones on the plate. In other words, as a hitter, you need to buy yourself time to read & recognize the pitch before deciding to swing. This is why a "short to, long through" swing concept is beneficial to the hitter that would like to make more consistent, impactful contact. The "short to" portion delays the swing decision by letting the ball travel through the tunnel. The "long through" portion gives max room for error for the barrel to hit the ball if the hitter slightly misjudges the pitch's arrival to the contact point. Early on plane would translate to a "long to, hope for the best" swing concept. Great in the cage and when exactly right, but frustratingly inconsistent in-game, against the pitchers that hitters want to beat. The good ones. Short2Long--> Efficient and low risk. Hope this provides an explanation of what can make hitters more consistent. Less about mechanics and the swing, and more about the feel. The hitter finding their own unique way of hitting is often how players turn the corner and become confident. A swing that allows them to be natural and adaptable. As a hitter, spend more time by yourself in the cage. Building trust in yourself. You'd be surprised what a little low-tech work can do. Thanks for reading all that! (Compliments to @BaseballIQ_App for the excellent video)

"That's the goal as hitting coaches, to get guys to believe in themselves because you're not always going to feel great." @Brewers hitting coach Daniel Vogelbach details what makes this Milwaukee lineup so difficult to navigate ahead of Game 2! #WorldSeries

Love this, chandler simpson getting his pre pitch dialed in during BP. So many players neglect these reps during BP because of the focus. Watch his eyes and body move in the direction the ball is hit. It’s the little things. #Worldseries

Some thoughts from the scrimmage between Vandy & Walters State: Tim Corbin is still a fungo master. Every time there’s a throw down in between innings, all the players on Vandy’s bench yell “runner” just like they would if it was live. Vandy used two left fielders a couple innings for more reps reading the ball off the bat. Only one of them actually would play it live. Walters State made Hawkins Field looks small in BP. One player hit 5 straight bombs. Shadows during different times of the day made it tough for hitters to see spin. Hawkins Field renovations will look incredible when the construction is complete. Pitching prospect after pitching prospect out there for both teams all day long. Perfect weather. Fun day of baseball.

度会の子供時代

“In my lifetime, I couldn’t be more proud of a group of players" #WinOurWay

Blake Snell's comments about the Brewers last night and Pat Murphy's reaction today that included poking fun at his own players 😂

"It's okay to take that pitch and wait for them to miss their next spot." Freddie Freeman breaks down how he approaches pitchers like Jacob Misiorowski throwing 100+ mph 🔥 #The611Podcast | @FanDuel

Opening a door knob? 🚪 Casting a fishing pole? 🎣 Longtime reliever Turk Wendell talks about the different ways to throw a breaking ball.

If you struggle to throw strikes, I need you to listen up right now, because I'm going to give you insight into something so simple yet so effective, and 99% of amateur players do not do this. And that's having a pre-pitch routine. A pre-pitch routine is simply your process in between pitches to prepare for the next. Here are three simple steps that you can implement in your next game. Step one is to visualize. So as you're getting your sign from your catcher, let's just say he calls a fastball inside, you're going to play a little video in your head of yourself executing that pitch exactly how you want to. Feel it coming out of your fingertips. See the reaction of the batter. Step two is to breathe. So as you come set, you're going to look away from your target. You're going to take a deep breath before looking back at the catcher. Step three is positive self-talk. Now this doesn't need to be something super long or complicated or cheesy, like just something super simple that is going to get you aggressive and focused and fully convicted on executing that pitch. It could be as simple as attack the glove or let's go. The important part is that it's something that's reinforcing confidence and aggression. Avoid using words like I can't or don't do this, don't do that. Focus on what you want to happen, not what you don't. There is a skill component to throwing strikes as well, but most players have not fully tapped into the mental side and being able to maximize their current ability. So in summary, the three steps that you can implement right now is to visualize, breathe, and positive self-talk. Throw every pitch with full conviction and watch how much better you execute.

"I didn't want to go to home plate and think about my plate coverage from the middle back into me..." Reggie Jackson breaks down the importance of good plate coverage 📝

Taylor Walls just went ~3 minutes on his defensive prowess — and reading balls off the bat like basketball players snag rebounds off the backboard. It was fascinating stuff. Will try and post later.

I hope this helps you understand load timing vs the pitcher better. (Keep reading) (Also, I would get zero hits vs Miz, but thought using him as an example would be great) Remember, every load and every pitcher is different This post is simply to help you learn, study and build a better YOU. Some pitchers are quick but throw slow Some pitchers are slow but throw hard Windup vs stretch Two strike load vs no stride load — Find you, build a better you ✅

🚨 Andy Pettitte's Pickoff Move • Mimic the tempo & movement of your delivery • Don't try and "trick" the runner - less is more ⭐️ Mental cue is "Throw the ball home" then simply put your foot down at 45 degrees & throw over. Cue the: “But it’s a balk!” crowd…

I am sharing all my personal insights into pitching and the game of baseball in The Clemens Clubhouse. 🚀