Monday, June 30, 2014

Friday, June 27, 2014

Breaking it Down with Bill: 2B Set-Up



Bill gives pointers to young infielders on how to properly set-up to turn the double play as a second baseman.

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Mariners, Padres Pay Tribute to Tony Gwynn



6/16/14: The Mariners and Padres pay tribute to Tony Gwynn before the game, holding a moment of silence in memory of the Hall of Famer

Saturday, June 21, 2014

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Don't Miss Out!! Mike Epstein Hitting Camp 6/23-25th


MIKE EPSTEIN HITTING IS COMING TO THE BARN!!                                                                                                                  June 23, 24, & 25th

We still have a few spots available for this unique opportunity to take your hitting to the next level!!

Come and train with Jake Epstein in our June Hitting Camp for Baseball and Fastpitch

(Players attend all 3 days)

Monday (6/23):
       1:00 PM - 3:30 PM  
Tuesday (6/24):       1:00 PM - 3:30 PM   
Wednesday (6/25): 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM
 
Hosted by Certified Epstein Instructor Richard Lovell and The Baseball Barn (Camp will be run by Jake Epstein) 

Click Here to Visit Mike Epstein Hitting for more information and to enroll in this very special 3 day event!!

For more information or if you have questions, call or stop by The Barn.

Sunday, June 15, 2014

The Importance of Baseball Hitting Drills

The most exciting part of playing baseball is getting up to bat. Learning to watch a pitch and how to connect with it is a huge part of learning to play the game, but it is one that too many players tend to ignore. If you really want to be the best player that you can be, you have to spend time perfecting baseball hitting drills.

Why Hitting Drills are Important to Every Serious Player

Consistency is one of the most important parts of developing any baseball skill. Batting, even more than fielding, is a process that requires honing a very specific set of actions over time. When a player steps in for batting drills, he or she is learning how to perfect a swing and how to perfect his or her timing - something that can only be done with practice, and lots of it. If a player neglects his or her hitting drill, he or she will be left with only half a game - and left as a liability for his or her team.

Key Components for Baseball Hitting Drills

Crafting a good set of batting drills means boiling down the process down to three elements - reading a pitch, timing, and the swing itself. Each element is an important part of learning how to connect with the ball on a regular basis so you can be consistently great. A good set of drills will not just concentrate on something as simple as getting more distance out of a pitch - a major part of the process should be learning when to swing and why. Knowing how to place a ball in right field if the fielder has been weak all night is more important than being able to hit a home run off of a lucky shot. Learning how to exercise control while batting is perhaps the most important part of baseball hitting drills.

If you want to succeed with hitting drills, you have to use an approach that is going to make you better at the whole process of batting. You have to learn when it is time to swing and when it is time to wait. You also have to learn when it might be better to drop the ball into the infield and when you need to swing for the fences. More than anything, though, you have to learn how to be consistent - and that takes the right coach. Be sure to get a coach who will work with you to bring out the best in you so that you can be consistently great at the game, because it's fun to play, but even more fun to win.

The author has spent a lot of time learning about Baseball Hitting Drills and similar topics. Click here to read more about this at the author's website.
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Thursday, June 12, 2014

Cespedes Throws Out Kendrick at the Plate



6/10/14: Yoenis Cespedes makes and unbelievable throw to nab Howie Kendrick at the plate, keeping the game tied at 1 in the 8th

Monday, June 9, 2014

How It's Made- Baseballs



This clip about professional baseballs from The Science Channel's, "How It's Made," hits a grand slam.

Friday, June 6, 2014

Proper Baseball Bats For Youth

Batting is an extremely important, and some say the most difficult, element of baseball. Along with strong hand-eye coordination and strength that is gained through age and body mass, having the right tool for the job is something you must keep in mind when figuring out how to make the most of your turn at bat.

Baseball bats come in a variety of sizes, materials and weights. As your baseball player grows in age and size it's important to change their bat to optimize their batting successes. In order for a child to be comfortable hitting the ball they must be comfortable with their bat. One bat will not work for an entire baseball team; it's actually a very personal piece of sporting equipment.

Bat Length

One of the first things you can do to match your child up with the correct bat is to measure your child's height. For this purpose, make sure your child is wearing his/her baseball shoes. Children who measure between 3-feet and 3-feet, 4-inches tall should probably be using a 26-inch bat. If your child is taller than 3-feet, 5-inches start with the 26-inch bat and add an inch in size for every four-to-five inches your child has in height.

Once you've got a good idea of where to start with bat length, stand the bat next to your child to see where it measures up against your child's body. If the bat is too long it may be too heavy and awkward for your child to be comfortable with. With the top end of the bat on the floor next to your standing child, the knob area at the other end of the bat should be hitting your child right at their hip. If the knob area is hitting at your child's waist the bat is too long and you may want to go back down a few inches.

You can also size a youth bat according to your child's weight. This is not as effective as sizing for their height, but if you have an exceptionally tall and thin child who may not have the strength for a longer bat, this is a good way to have a secondary option. Children under 60 pounds will typically benefit from a 26- to 29-inch bat. Children weighing between 70 and 90 pounds can start with a 28-inch bat going up to a 32-inch bat if they are also over 5-feet in height.

It's probably a good idea to measure your child's bat range both with height and weight and see if they have a common thread where you know you are getting the correct bat for them undoubtedly. And while these are terrific starting points, the ultimate factor will be having your child actually swing the bat and get a good feel if they are comfortable handling the bat before you commit to it.

Bat Material

Most baseball leagues and starter teams use aluminum bats. Professionals and very specific leagues use wood bats; otherwise you probably can't go wrong with aluminum. If you're looking for non-wood bats here are some choices:

• Alloy - made completely with aircraft-grade alloys
• Composite - made of composite fibers
• Half and Half - handle is made of composite and barrel made with aluminum, alloy or hybrid
• Hybrid - made of two different materials, such as alloy and carbon

Composite bats are different from alloy in that their hits sound more like a wood bat, and once they are broken in they are able to surpass the ability of standard alloy bats. The break-in period before a composite bat reaches its optimal performance is such that a player should hit roughly 200-300 real leather baseballs while rotating the barrel of the bat so that the barrel's surface gets broken in. These are more expensive bats, but after getting broken in, they will be worth the extra price.

As your child gets older and joins a league, it is good to research what requirements their specific league has. Most leagues to have specific bat requirements and restrictions, so before you spend the money make sure you know kinds of bats to be looking for.

By Christopher Douglas Donohue

http://www.unique-sports.com/
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Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Open Hitting at The Baseball Barn

Sundays 12 Noon to 2PM

Come in and get a great hitting workout with our staff throwing soft toss in our hitting tunnels. A great way to get swings in for a very low cost!

Open Hitting is limited to 30 people per day, so Sign Up Now using our online scheduling system. Cost $10 per session.