Mr. Mark Schellinger

Philosphy of Baseball

 

Mentality

• Mental game just as important as physical skills

  • Spend time on it

  • “Culture beats strategy”

• “1 Pitch Warrior”

  • Forget the past à good or bad (“Flush it”)

  • Stay in the moment à focus on “one pitch at a time”

  • Breathe à “Get B.I.G.”

  • Routine à Get ready for next pitch and get into comfort zone

• Remember baseball is a game (Perspective)

  • Enjoy the game – and more importantly share that enjoyment with teammates

• Pride in yourself, the team, the program, the school (Attitude)

• Expect to win (Attitude)

  • Have to build confidence in individual and group à Off-season workouts, in-season practices

• Control what we can, don’t worry about the rest – “Uncontrollables”

  • Field, other team, umpires, fans, weather, etc.

• No such thing as “little things” because they become BIG things

  • appearance

    • facial hair (none)

    • hair length, style

    • hats → only forward

  • Language

    • NO swearing

    • body language just as important

    • “can” and “will” NOT “can’t”

  • addressing umpires → “Sir”

  • hustle at all times (Effort)

    • run out EVERYTHING à pressure on the defense

    • be where you should be defensively à moving on every play (back-up)

    • run to and from positions every inning à set tone for the inning; send message that you’re ready

• Aggressive in all phases à put the pressure on the opponent to stop us

  • Pitchers attack strike zone

  • Fielders want the ball and be ready for it à attack ball when it comes to you

  • Hitters attack pitches in the zone – “hunt” fastballs

  • Runners sprint and take the extra base

 

Coaches

• Treat players with respect

  • SHOW players that we care about them as people not just players à make connections

  • kids respond to toughness, not cruelty

  • no sarcasm when correcting

  • no demeaning

  • no swearing at them

• Set the tone → show players we are dedicated to making them better as individuals and as a team

  • be on time (early) and visible right from the start

  • be excited à kids will feed off of excitement/energy

  • have a plan à practice plans will be posted

• Make expectations clear → kids will do what is expected of them

  • highlight positives

  • address negatives

• Always teach before yelling à don’t assume kids know what they are supposed to do

• Don't accept mistakes

  • hold kids accountable

• Fundamentals

  • coach them so our kids know them → can't take anything for granted

  • put players in pressure positions EVERY DAY in practice

  • situations, situations, situations, situations

  • pitching and defense wins

• Let players know where they stand – give feedback

  • Chart and post results

 

 

Offense

• Pre-at bat

  • start in the dugout

    • Watch pitcher warm-up to see what he’s throwing

      • What pitches?

      • Release point?

      • Anything particular about wind-up?

      • Pick-off move

      • Delivery time for steals – “G.R.I.T.S.” Chart

    • Watch for patterns

      • What does he throw when ahead? When behind?

      • Do certain pitches tend to go certain places (ex: CB always in dirt)

      • How does he hold runners?

    • Talk about pitcher’s stuff, tendencies with teammates (Pitcher Tendency Chart)

  • Get timing on deck – come up with a routine to get mind ready to hit

• At-bat

  • Look to hit – hunt fastballs in the zone

    • Think swing, be ready to take

  • “Own the box” – be confident

    • Be loose – can’t hit tight

    • Focus on drills in practice, let skills show in games

    • Routine to get AB started – clear mind, focus on pitcher and release point

  • Know and command the strike zone

    • Good swings don’t matter if swinging at balls out of the zone

  • Know count and situation

    • Hunt Fastball; adjust to off speed pitches – short and quick swing, especially when behind in the count

    • 2 strike approach – put ball in play = keep pressure on defense

  • Gap-to-oppo (Ex: RH: left-center gap to RF)

    • Stay inside (stress in drills)

    • Stay through – drive the ball (stress in drills)

  • Quality ABs à don’t worry about Batting Average

    • QABs help team; BA is selfish

• Bunting

  • Need to be able to bunt up and down order à Speed not a necessity

  • Put pressure on defense – force them to field and throw

    • Stress in practice – bunt everyday (be great and show players it’s important)

  • Bunt down 3rd base line – harder than 1st base line for RHP

    • Expand to push bunts for good bunters

  • Use as a weapon -- hits and sacs

    • Bunting for a hit until 1 strike in sac situations – especially “bunters”

  • Work on different situations in practice

    • Hits, sac to 2B, sac to 3B, squeeze

    • Create pressure in practice

• Baserunning

  • Aggressive -- always running on the base paths

    • Pressure on D to make plays clean

    • Look to take extra base on any misplay by defense

  • Always know the situation

    • How many outs?

    • Game situation? – inning, score

  • On base

    • Aggressive, but comfortable lead – good lead off position (Work this in practice so players know it)

    • Get aggressive secondary lead then run back to base

      • Read ball in dirt and get a good jump

    • Use stolen base as a weapon

      • Be able to steal on pitcher or catcher

  •  Make our players comfortable being aggressive

    • Know difference between aggressive outs and poor decisions

 

 

Defense

• Must be able to catch & throw

  • Starts EVERDAY with being able to play catch

    • Throwing routine

    • Long Toss to strengthen arm

  • Make it important à Games won/loss on the ability to play catch

• Always be ready – want the ball

  • Know the situation

    • Baserunners

    • Outs

    • Score

    • Inning

  • Glove out front

    • On your toes

    • Field ball left of middle

  • Know where the ball will be going

    • Anticipate making the play

  • Go get every ball

• Always be in correct position

  • Backing up

  • Covering bases

  • Relays à single cut, double cut

  • Defensive coverages – 1st & 3rd, bunt coverages, picks

 

Pitching

• Take command of the game

  • Attack hitters – make them uncomfortable

• Worry about “controllables”

  • NOT:  mound, catcher, umpire, opposing dugout, fans, etc.

• THROW STRIKES

  • Eliminate walks à make hitters earn 1B

    • 1st Pitch Strikes, After 3 Pitches

  • Don’t be afraid of contact

  • Keep pitch count low = Quick Innings

  • Good, consistent mechanics

    • Balance (focus in bullpens)

    • Extension (focus in bullpens)

• Live low

  • Up with a purpose

• Be great on 0-2, 1-2

  • Hit spots à nothing “too good”

• Work quick

  • Stay on dirt between pitches

  • Get in a rhythm

  • Keep DEFENDERS and UMPIRE involved

• Pitch with a purpose

  • Keep hitters off balance – make them uncomfortable

    • Mix up speeds

    • Mix up location

  • Have a plan – base on previous pitches in AB

    • Hitter knows what you threw, not what you wanted to throw

• Hold runners

  • Different looks, holds, timing

  • Pickoffs

  • Slide step – give catcher a chance

• 5th infielder after ball is released.

  • Never a spectator

    • Field position

    • Cover/Back up bases

 

 

Measurables

• Goals based on the process not the final outcome

  • Quality ABs (Team Goal: 50%)

    • No such thing as batting average

    • Make sure hitters understand what a QAB is – post and quiz them over it

 

• B.A.S.E.2. (Complete 3/5 categories per game)

  • Big Inning

  • Answer Back

  • Score first

  • Extend the lead

  • Score with 2 outs

 

• Freebie War (Add up and compare with opponent)

  • BBs/HBPs (-1)

  • Errors (-1)

  • Stolen Bases (-1)

  • Wild Pitch/Pass Ball (-1)

  • 0-2 Hits (-1)

  • Double Play (+1)

  • Pick off (+1)

  • Caught stealing (+1)

  • Less than 10 pitches in an inning (+1)

**Winner of Freebie War wins 89% of time à 94% if win by 3+

 

• Quality Innings (All of the 1st 3 OR the last one)

  • No leadoff walk

  • 1st Pitch Strike over 60%

  • Ahead or over after 3 Pitches

• 1,2,3 Inning

 

• S.T.R.1.K.E. (Earn Points per Category)

  • Shutdown inning (+2)

  • Throw 15 pitches or less (+1), 10 or less (+2)

  • Retire leadoff man (+1)

  • 1,2,3 inning (+2)

  • Ks -- Strikeouts (+1 per)

  • End the inning (+1)