Play Better Baseball

Focuses on the fundamentals that produce winning baseball teams. This book offers advice on: coaching baseball at various levels; developing winning players; using videotape and high-speed film; using practice time efficiently; the psychology of coaching; pitching: the foundation of every team; and, pitching mechanics.

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This straightforward, easy-to-understand book helps prepare coaches and players to meet the challenges of tough competition. New revised, Play Better Baseball is the state-of-the-art source for baseball fundamentals and mechanics, illustrated with hundreds of photographs and accompanied by helpful new drills. Based on actual team situations drawn from author Bob Cluck's 20-plus years of coaching, this reader-friendly handbook emphasizes the fundamentals that produce winning baseball teams and offers a wealth of advice on: Coaching baseball at all levels

Developing winning players Using videotape and high-speed film Using practice time efficiently The psychology of coaching
Pitching: the foundation of every team

Pitching mechanics The pitches: Tools to get hitters out Setting up hitters: The game within a game First-pitch strikes, from Little League to the Majors
Playing the infield

Using the right glove Throwing with strength and accuracy The game situation and positioning Fielding mechanics for infielders
The catcher: team leader

The tag at home Blocking pitches in the dirt Pop-ups, bunts, and cutoffs Helping the pitcher get hitters out
Playing the outfield

Backing up plays Throwing from the outfield Balls hit in the gaps Outfield positioning Playing the sun
Baserunning

The steal and the hit-and-run Effective and safe sliding techniques Running the bases
Hitting

Bats and grips Stances Stride and weight transfer Tracking the ball Bunting Situational hitting
The playbook

Defensive assignments Infield pop flies Bunt defenses
The athletic machine

Weight training for baseball players Conditioning for baseball
Bob Cluck is a major league pitching coach and scout and the founder of the San Diego School of Baseball.