Professional Baseball Instruction

"Ask Sam" Returns - More of Your Baseball Questions Answered By Phillies 1B Coach Sam Perlozzo

2011-12-27T13:56:00.008-05:00

Philadelphia Phillies 1B coach and PBI advisor Sam Perlozzo periodically answers your baseball-related questions. Email Sam directly - AskSam@baseballclinics.com. Here's the latest from the "Ask Sam" mail bag.

Q: Sam, I have a 16 year old who plays high school and summer travel ball. He had a short session with you at PBI last December and that few minutes with you made a very noted postive impact on his pitching. He now has a problem at the plate. He has always been an accomplished left handed batter, with power. He had a terrible accident where a foul tip came up, hit him in the face broke his nose and eye socket. He has healed but since has had a very difficult time at the plate. He is lunging at the ball almost every pitch and with that pulls his head off the ball. Do you have any hint as to what he can do to stop this bad habit. I don't think it's related to the injury. I have had his eyes checked etc. Please help!!! Thank you and best wishes. Jack

A: Jack, the injury to your son sounds as if it has affected him mentally and he may be shy of getting hit again. Hence, why he is pulling out away from the ball. You must remember that this is a natural reaction, especially to younger kids. Give as much positive reinforcement as possible and have patience. The last thing you want to do is scare him off. It takes time and everyone is different. In the mean time, when he is practicing his hitting, try and pitch on outside of the plate and make him practice steppping into the ball and hitting it to left field. This should help him get back to normal and not as much pulling out. Like I said before, BE PATIENT, and best of luck.

Sam

Q: Sam, if you had a 10 year old son with strong aspirations of playing college and maybe even in the majors, what would you be doing with him or for him? For what it's worth, he is often the best or one of the best players on the field in any game he plays in.

Thank you in advance, George.

A: George, if your son is only ten years old and has big aspirations....then good for him. Sounds as if he is a good player at his age level. Let's hope his skill level grows with his age and his does get the chance to play college ball. My advice is just let him play as much as possible. Repetition is key at any level. When he gets into high school there are alot of camps and tryouts that help slot your son into college. I would be able to help better at that time. Let him play,play,play. Best of luck.

Sam

Q: Hi Sam,

My 8-year old son is a great hitter. However, he was hit twice in his first 2 games by the pitcher and now he is petrified of the ball. He steps out of the box and doesn't even swing his bat. I've been pitching to him as well as his coaches and he has no problems. He gets scared when a kid his own age pitches, I guess from lack of trust. It's taken a big toll on his game and playing time. What can I do to help him overcome his fear of the ball?

Thanks,
Laura

A: Laura, this is similar to Jack's issue above. I will tell you the same thing. He is definitely shy of getting hit with the ball. Have patience!! This happens to alot of kids and it just takes time for the fear to go away. Give plenty of encouragement and positve reinforcement. Each kid is diferent and each one takes his own time. BE PATIENT ! Hopefully he will come around sooner or later. Sounds like if he was good before he will be good again. Just hang in there and continue to give him chances. Good Luck !

Sam

Q: Sam, a rather fundamental question here. In what situations should a catcher run down to back up first base? Thanks.

A: The catcher should back up first on all ground balls to infielders with no one on base. Anytime there is a runner on base there is always a chance that the ball could kick around and the runner try and score. There are times that he can cover with man on first as long as he tells the pitcher to cover home.... General rule is never to leave home plate uncovered. Hardly ever will he back up first with a man on second. There are different angles and balls hit that backing up first by the catcher would be a wasted effort..ie bunt to 3rd baseman. Situations change during play, but generally, as long a a runner is on, he has a chance to come around and score. Hope this helps!!

Sam

Thanks to everyone for all the great questions. Hope you all have a great New Year and I look forward to hearing from you. Send your questions to me via email - AskSam@baseballclinics.com.

2011-12-27T13:07:00.003-05:00

Registration is now open for the PBI Baseball League's 2012 spring season.

This is a Sunday league. Game times are determined by coaches. Games may be played on another day by agreement of both teams, but if you are not able to have a team of at least nine players on Sundays in the fall, this might not be the best choice for your team.

AGE LEVELS -

8U 40/60 - A, AA
9U 46/60 - A, AA, AAA
10U 46/60 - A, AA, AAA
11U 46-60 - A, AA, AAA
11U 50/70 - AA, AAA
12U 46/60 - A, AA, AAA
12U 50/70 - A, AA, AAA
13U 50/70 - A, AA, AAA
13U 60/90 - A, AA, AAA
14U 60/90 - A, AA, AAA
JUNIOR VARSITY - incoming freshmen and sophomores
VARSITY (wood bat) - incoming juniors and seniors

SKILL LEVELS -

AAA (formerly American Division) - top travel teams, including club
AA (formerly National Division) - talent equivalent to a town All-Star team
A (formerly Garden State Division) - talent level equivalent to a town recreation team

Please specify age, skill, and field size when registering.

NOTE - your team should pick the appropriate level based upon the combined skill of your players, not where they are from.

BAT REGULATIONS - On December 30, 2010 Little League International issued a moratorium on composite bats from the Majors Division on down. The PBI Baseball League will follow suit for the 2012 spring season at the 46/60 and 40/60 field levels. For ALL 50/70 divisions (11U through 13U), the PBI Baseball League will follow the guidelines that Little League International will be using for either their Junior League level or "transitional" 50/70 Pilot Program. Up-to-date information is available on the PBI home page.

PITCHING REGULATIONS - 9U through 14U uses a pitch count through all divisions. 8U has a 2-inning per pitcher rule. For the sake of clarification, an inning pitched consists of 3 outs. There is NO pitch count rule at either of the high school levels (JV or varsity). NOTE - New York public schools began using a pitch count at the high school level in 2011. If New Jersey public schools follow suit, the PBI Baseball League will then do the same. Until that happens, there will be NO pitch count at the high school level.

AGE CUTOFF - The age cutoff for the 8U through 14U levels of the PBI Baseball League's 2012 spring season is April 30, 2012. Whatever age a player will be on April 30, 2012 is that player's "league age." A player may "play up" an age level; he cannot "play down" under any circumstances.

REGULAR SEASON - The regular season for all age levels (8U through high school) will begin Sunday March 25 and continue through Sunday May 20 - 8 game schedule.

THIS IS A SUNDAY LEAGUE. IF YOU CANNOT COMMIT TO SUNDAYS, THIS IS PROBABLY NOT THE LEAGUE FOR YOUR TEAM.

PLAYOFFS - The top four teams in each skill division of each age level will meet in a single elimination tournament. Playoffs and championship games will take place Sunday June 3 and 10 respectively. PBI provides individual awards for players on the first and second place teams.

COST - REGISTRATION FEE - EARLYBIRD PRICE $200 if paid by FEBRUARY 1st.

AFTER FEBRUARY 1 - $225 if paid by MARCH 1.

AFTER MARCH 1 - the registration fee is $275.

NO REGISTRATIONS WILL BE TAKEN WHATSOEVER AFTER MARCH 9.

The league fee includes free insurance for teams that are in need. PBI cannot hold a space for you; teams are taken on a first-paid, first-served basis.

INSURANCE - FREE from PBI. If you need insurance, or for more information on the league, please contact Jim Monaghan directly - jim@baseballclinics.com

TO REGISTER CLICK HERE - https://www.skiltech.com/orders/pbi/leaguereg.html

"How Does My Son Get To the Next Level?"

2011-12-01T12:11:00.004-05:00

Your son has been playing baseball for a few years; he's progressed from his town team to a summer town travel team or maybe even a club team. Each time he's moved up the ladder you've noticed that he steps his game up to match the new level of competition. You're starting to look ahead to high school, maybe even college and beyond. How do you balance your expecations with his talent, his own level of interest in baseball and the desire to take his game to the next level?

That's a question we think about all the time here at Professional Baseball Instruction. Obviously we're in the business of training baseball players. But we're also in the business of being realistic. The chances of playing baseball at the Major League level are so small as to almost be ridiculous. Think about it - there are only 750 jobs at the Major League level. But for someone who wants to play at the high school level, or even in college, the odds are more in favor of the player.

With that in mind, here are some suggestions on how to help your son get to the next level of his baseball career.

First, have a conversation with your child. Find out how much he really likes the game of baseball. Find out what his own expectations are. It's very easy to live vicariously through our children. A child's expectations shouldn't necessarily be the same as a parent's, but it helps if each understands the other.

Second, consider professional training. That does not always mean private lessons. They certainly work, but they can also get VERY expensive VERY quickly. Our winter training clinics here at Professional Baseball Instruction have a low enough player-to-coach ratio that your child will get the needed repetition of the basic core skills needed to play the game as well as some personalized attention. Baseball is a game of repetition. Major League hitters work off a tee all the time, in fact some hitters do tee work every single day. The reason? The constant repetition of the skills needed to hit a baseball.

Third, let your child know that it's OK to fail. Baseball is a game of failure. Former Major League pitcher David Wells says that the reason he was as successful as he was during his professional career was that he wasn't afraid to fail. Think about it - a hitter with a .300 batting average in effect failed 70% of the time.

70%!

But hit .300 for 10 years at the Major League level and you stand to make an insane amount of money and hear whispers about making the Hall of Fame. Pittsburgh Pirates manager (and PBI advisor) Clint Hurdle is very fond of saying that there are two kinds of people in baseball, "those who have been humbled, and those who are about to be humbled." How your child reacts to that experience will help him not only on the baseball field, but in life, too.

And finally, let him have fun. Baseball is hard enough to play - Ted Williams believed that hitting a baseball is the single hardest thing to do in sport - without the added pressure of having to succeed. Kids have a difficult time living up to not only their own expectations, but also what they think our expectations as their parents are (never mind what a parent's actual expectations may even be). Maybe he's ultimately good enough to play at one of the local parochial power house high schools, or maybe his skills are better suited to the town high school. Further down the line, maybe a D3 college might mean being able to continue playing baseball while getting a good education. Keep the options open and the expectations reasonable.

We'd love to hear your thoughts. Comment below or call us at 800-282-4638 with your thoughts.

Eagles Baseball Association SUPER RAFFLE Grand Prize Drawing

2011-07-19T14:13:00.002-04:00

Very exciting! The Eagles Baseball Association's 50-week Raffle wrapped up with the SUPER GRAND PRIZE DRAWING on July 18, 2011.

GRAND PRIZE - $5000

2nd PRIZE - $2500

3rd PRIZE - $1500

Thanks to all who took part and helped to support the Eagles Baseball Association over these past 50 weeks.

PBI 2011 Fall League Details

2011-07-08T15:16:00.004-04:00

PBI BASEBALL LEAGUE 2011 FALL SEASON INFORMATION.

The PBI Baseball League fall season is a Sunday league. Game times are determined by coaches. Games may be played on another day by agreement of both teams, but if you are not able to have a team of at least nine players on Sundays in the fall, this might not be the best choice for your team.

FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF FALL TEAMS CONFIRMED, CLICK HERE

AGE LEVELS
8U 40/60 - A
9U 46/60 - A, AA, AAA
10U 46/60 - A, AA, AAA
11U 46-60 - A, AA, AAA
11U 50/70 - AA, AAA
12U 46/60 - A, AA, AAA
12U 50/70 - A, AA, AAA
13U 50/70 - A, AA, AAA
13U 60/90 - A, AA, AAA
14U 60/90 - A, AA, AAA

JUNIOR VARSITY - incoming freshmen and sophomores
VARSITY (wood bat) - incoming juniors and seniors

SKILL LEVELS
AAA (formerly American Division) - top travel teams, including club
AA (formerly National Division) - talent equivalent to a town All-Star team
A (formerly Garden State Division) - talent level equivalent to a town recreation team

Please specify age, skill, and field size when registering.

NOTE - your team should pick the appropriate level based upon the combined skill of your players, not where they are from.

BAT REGULATIONS
On December 30, 2010 Little League International issued a moratorium on composite bats from the Majors Division on down. The PBI Baseball League will follow suit for the 2011 spring season at the 46/60 and 40/60 field levels. For ALL 50/70 divisions (11U through 13U), the PBI Baseball League will follow the guidelines that Little League International will be using for either their Junior League level or "transitional" 50/70 Pilot Program. Up-to-date information is available at the top of the PBI home page.

PITCHING REGULATIONS
9U through 14U will use a pitch count through all divisions. 8U will have a 2-inning per pitcher rule. For the sake of clarification, an inning pitched consists of 3 outs. There is NO pitch count rule at either of the high school levels. NOTE - New York public schools began using a pitch count at the high school level in 2011. If New Jersey public schools follow suit, the PBI Baseball League will then do the same. Until that happens, there will be NO pitch count at the high school level.

AGE CUTOFF
The age cutoff for the 8U through 14U levels of the PBI Baseball League's 2011 Fall Season is April 30, 2012. Whatever age a player will be on April 30, 2012 is that player's "league age." A player may "play up" an age level; he cannot "play down" under any circumstances.

REGULAR SEASON
The regular season for all age levels (8U through high school) will begin Sunday September 11 and continue through Sunday October 30 - 8 game schedule.

THIS IS A SUNDAY LEAGUE. IF YOU CANNOT COMMIT TO SUNDAYS, THIS IS PROBABLY NOT THE LEAGUE FOR YOUR TEAM.

PLAYOFFS
The top four teams in each skill division of each age level will meet in a single elimination tournament. Playoffs and championship games will take place Sunday November 6 and 13 respectively. PBI provides individual awards for players on the first and second place teams.

COST
REGISTRATION FEE - EARLYBIRD PRICE $200 if paid by AUGUST 1st.
AFTER AUGUST 1 - $225 if paid by August 19.
AFTER AUGUST 19 - the registration fee is $275.
NO REGISTRATIONS WILL BE TAKEN WHATSOEVER AFTER AUGUST 31.

The league fee includes free insurance for teams that are in need. PBI cannot hold a space for you; teams are taken on a first-paid, first-served basis.

INSURANCE - FREE from PBI. If you need insurance, contact Jim Monaghan directly - jim@baseballclinics.com

2011 PBI Baseball League Rules

The entire PBI Baseball League Rule Set with full index.

REGISTER ONLINE! - online registration available using our secure server. PBI Baseball League Registration Page

"Ask Sam" - More Of Your Baseball Questions Answered By Sam Perlozzo

2011-07-06T16:12:00.008-04:00

Q: Hi there Mr. Pelozzo! My name is Omaira, and I have an 8 year old son, who I believe has natural talent with baseball. The reason I say this is because he tends to hold a bat and swingwith this incredible style; he is a good hitter. He is a good runner, has tremendous speed, good with his feet, he dives into bases.

My son also has ADHD. My question is do you think that having ADHD is an impairment , or have other people with ADHD succeeded in baseball? Also I live in Bergen County NJ, is there a place where you would recommend that he go for an evaluation as a player, or somewhere he can go to further his talent, and love for baseball?

A: Omaira - This is my 25th straight year as a major league coach and I can tell you I have had the pleasure of watching plenty of players like your son. We have a very productive star player on our team now that has the same thing. And I have been on other teams with very good players who have ADHD. So I would clear your mind of that issue and just worry about getting your son as much baseball as he can. I would contact PBI to see if they can help your son with more exposure. PBI is very connected with all facets of the game and have a tremendous facility. I have done clinics there and I know they can help guide you in the direction you desire.

So best of luck to you and your son !!! Sam

Q: Sam, I would love to guide my just-turned 10-year old son whose dream is to be a professional baseball player. Local coaches feel he has potential. He is a lefty pitcher, stands at 5’2” and 110 lbs with the potential to be at the minimum 6’ 3”. He throws any where from 50-55 mph with excellent accuracy. He also plays first base and center field. He has had no professional lessons or guidance. Any advice? Thank you. Lenora

A: Leonora - Sounds as if your son is moving in the right direction. He just needs to keep playing and learning. When he gets a little older, you can find places for him to play as much as possible. I will tell you that it sounds like he has the making of a good arm. I would tell him to play alot of long toss to keep his muscles stretched out and continue to build arm strength.

Where most kids go wrong is not using what they have. Getting him around someone who teaches proper, healthy techniques that reduce the chance for injury would be a good idea. Allowing him to play other positions as well, is a good idea. That also helps him to develop other skills that he will need down the road. Sounds like he really just needs to keep playing as he is still young and developing.

I am sure as he matures things will fall into place and finding someone who can evaluate his talents and help with his development will be a good idea. Going to some camps that instruct will be valuable in the long run. Keep him healthy and he will be fine. Good luck. Sam

Q: Sam - With the Red Sox just having been in to play the Phillies, I wanted to get your thoughts on interleague play. Fans seem to like it, but how do the players and coaches feel about it? The whole concept would appear to favor the National League teams. Are American League teams really at a disadvantage when they come to a National League city? Kim

A: Kim - Interleague play can work both for you and against you. Seems like the luck of the draw. Each year alot of the teams you play are rotated and some are not. Drawing Boston, Yankees, & any other real good team makes it harder for you. Drawing teams that aren't as good always works in your favor. It's nice once in awhile to face some different teams and go to different cities, but the goal is always to win the most games. American league teams don't like going to National league towns because they lose their DH and pitchers have to hit, which they aren't used to.

Personally, I would like to see a balanced schedule where everyone plays everyone. That way, no one has any advantage either way. Settling on a DH or no DH is also an issue. I suppose that's what makes for the great game of baseball !!! Thanks. Sam

Q: Sam - A little off the baseball beat, but do you still play golf & have you ever played Eagle's Landing? Maggie, Snow Hill MD

A: Nice to hear from you, Maggie. As you know well, I have played Eagles Landing many times. My brother Tom & I hosted a celebrity golf tournament for many years in Ocean City Md. , raising money for the youth recreation programs. They were very successful and a lot of fun. I still play golf and have moved to Tampa so I am able to play a lot more in the winter but I will tell you I have only gotten a little better....Ha. So what are you doing these days??? And thanks for getting back in touch. Sam

"Ask Sam" Returns - More Of Your Baseball Questions Answered By Phillies 1B Coach Sam Perlozzo

2011-04-25T14:45:00.007-04:00

Q: Sam, I got a chance to watch a lot of spring training games this year, plus the MLB Network's "30 Clubs In 30 Days" series. I got to wondering if the spring training regimen has changed in recent years. When I was a kid I seem to remember pitchers and catchers reporting a full two weeks before position players. Now it seems as if they report within a few days of each other. Also, what's your favorite part of spring training? Tom

A: Well, Tom, spring training has changed somewhat in certain areas. The most visible one is the fact that players used to come to spring training to get into shape. Nowadays, players come "in shape"and are more concerned about getting their timing down, pitch control, and other baseball activities. Players want to win jobs in spring training more than ever. Since the players come in shape now there is no need for the position players to come too much later. I think most players still think spring training is too long; their season is such a grind that they really are ready much quicker because they report to camp in shape. The day-to-day routine still remains somewhat the same. You still have to allow for time for all the fundamentals to be covered.

I love teaching, so my favorite part is being able to work with some of the youngsters who are so eager. And even some veterans want some skills to be refined. It is really fun and rewarding to see your players accept and implement your own work ethic and talents. Best of luck. Sam

Q: Hi, Sam. Thank you for this opportunity allowing us to ask you some questions. I'm a father of a 16yr old HS junior, I know this is a big year for recruiting. Right now he's 6' 1' and 205lbs with a strong arm, with three solid pitches and if I had to guess his velocity is in the low to mid 80's. He hasn't been on the gun since his freshman year because I didn't want him to get to hung up on his velocity. He plays in Bergen County in a Group 1 school and his team is made up of mostly under-class-men this year. His era was the lowest on the team as a sophomore with a winning record. My question is what can we do as a (parent/school) to get his name and talent out there for colleges? Not knowing if he's good enough for Division 1, 2 or 3 and trying to find the right fit for him. Should we be going to showcases, club teams etc. to get him some attention? I don't want to waste our time or money. Thank you. Chris

A: Chris - If your son wants to go to school and play baseball then I would suggest he go to some showcases or even better, to a place where they actually work out your son and help him get into a college for his level of play. PBI would be the best place to ask. I know my son went to one and they sent film out, evaluated his talent and suggested schools that were of his talent level so that he would be sure to get the best chance to play.

His ERA does not concern me. It's just a number. I am more concerned about his velocity, secondary pitches , movement , and control. His size is certainly something in his favor. Scouts will project him as time goes on. If he is good enough now, trust me, someone will have seen him. Nothing beats an education though. Let me know how things progress and I will be better able to help you along the way. Good Luck! Sam

Q: Hi Sam. Question - what do you think is the best transition in weight drop for My son that is 11u '5 ft - 4inch and about 110lbs. At the moment he is training with a -9 30/21 inch bat for travel ball and I'm thinking about buying a -11 for in house ball? Thanks. Phil

A: Phil, I have to be honest with you...I have no idea of the weight differences that you speak of. There are certain regulations in some leagues that only allow for a certain ratio difference for safety's sake. What I do know is that bat speed is what generates power. Therefore, the faster your son can swing a bat through the strike zone, the more power he will generate. And that doesn't always means home run power. Good hard line drives could very well be what we may be talking about. Always, always remember that bat speed is the key. Never take a bat up to the plate that you can't swing fast. Swinging slow with a bigger bat will not increase power!! Whatever your son swings the best....is the best bat ratio. His, nor your, ego should come into play. Hope this helps....hoping for lots of hits!!!!! Sam

PBI Advisor Leo Mazzone On New York's Sports Radio 66 WFAN

2011-02-23T16:55:00.005-05:00

Former Major League pitching coach extraordinaire and PBI advisor Leo Mazzone appeared as a guest with long-time New York radio veteran Richard Neer on Sports Radio 66 WFAN on Sunday, February 20.

Leo talks about his own radio career, how the Yankees pitching staff looks for 2011, working with legendary Atlanta manager Bobby Cox, those great Braves pitchers, as well as some nice words about Professional Baseball Instruction.

Click here to listen.

"Ask Sam" - More Of Your Baseball Questions Answered By Sam Perlozzo

2011-02-21T14:45:00.013-05:00

Q: Sam, how could it be that a pitcher doesn't have a particular pitch on a particular day? You hear all the time that a pitcher "doesnt have his curveball" etc. I know of no other field where a person doesn't have a particular skill on a particular day, even in sports.

A: I think you are misunderstanding the real meaning of not having a pitch that day. They don't mean he doesn't have that skill that day, they mean that he isn't throwing it as well as he normally does. In other words, he has his curveball but it isn't curving much therefore opposing hitters are hitting it better. Or he has a fastball but his velocity is down for some reason, therefore making it easier to hit. Or that his fastball is not hitting the corners as it usually does, therefore the other hitters are hitting him better. Basically, that expression means that you have all your pitches all the time, but sometimes they aren't as good as normal and you won't enjoy the same success as you would if they were working better.

Hope that helps!! Sam

Q: Sam, is it your experience, feeling, opinion, that there is a place for retaliation in the game? I.e. a hard slide into second deserves a fastball in the ribs the next at-bat? Curious to hear what you have to say. Thanks. Mike

A: Mike, I am not so sure I would necessarily call it retaliation, but I do think you should not let the other team push you around. I've never believed you should do anything dirty or cheap to injure the opposing player. Never throw at someone's head as to really harm them. I do feel like if the other team is sliding hard into 2nd, then our team should do the same. There are ways to take people out that are clean and still not be considered dirty play. If it is obvious that an opposing pitcher hits a few of your team then you may want to hit one of their players but that pitch must never be thrown in the head area. It is sort of an unwritten rule in baseball. The only time it gets ugly is when there is a stupid player that causes problems....not good, and thats when fights break out. Major League Baseball has done a much better job of controlling unruly play by certain players and it helps things from getting out of hand. Sportsmanship is always first and foremost. Cool heads prevail as we continue to count on our Umpires to ward off trouble before it escalates too far.

Stay Cool!! Sam

Q: Hey Sam! Growing up in Brooklyn I lived baseball and football. I have tried to push both my boys to play their hearts out, one is 9 the other is 11 . They play club and tournament ball and take lessons all year round. My wife says I am extreme and I am pushing the boys too hard. I have given up vacations for games and tournaments . I want my boys to play college and highschool ball as I did . Am I an extreme parent ?How can I explain my love for baseball and the commitment that needs to be enforced to my wife? Help! Doc

A: Doc, without getting into too much trouble it sounds as though you are living your love of the game through your children. Trust me, I know how you feel. I had a son who was drafted but never made it. I would have loved to see him make it to the big leagues. But you can't make it for them. They have to want it bad enough or they will fail for sure. I always pushed a little, more so as to get more practice in but never forced them to love something just because I did. You sound like a great supporter of your kids and that is very helpful to their efforts. Give them some breathing room...talk to them and find out where they stand; it has to be their passion also. After you find out what they really want, you will be free to be the "phanatic" fan that I know you are. We have many of them in Philly!!! Enjoy your kids....it doesn't last near as long as we would like!! Get them an education first...they will be eternally grateful for that.

Best of Luck. Sam

These questions from you are great! Please keep them coming. - Sam Perlozzo

PBI Instructor Logan Pevny Preps For Pirates Spring Training

2011-02-21T13:57:00.007-05:00

Logan Pevny played his high school baseball in nearby West Milford. During his senior year, he started working more seriously on his pitching and progressed to the point that some Major League scouts started to take notice.

Signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2010, Logan spent some time pitching for their A-ball affiliate in the Gulf Coast League.

Logan has been splitting his time this off-season working here at Professional Baseball Instruction and getting in shape for Pirates minor league camp which opens shortly.

Pittsburgh Pirates blogger Kristy Robinson recently featured Logan in her MLBlog column. Click here to read.

"Ask Sam" - More Of Your Baseball Questions Answered By Sam Perlozzo

2011-01-25T18:37:00.007-05:00

Philadelphia Phillies 1B coach and PBI advisor Sam Perlozzo answers your baseball-related questions. Do you have a question for Sam? Ask it here - AskSam@baseballclinics.com.

Here's the latest from the "Ask Sam" mailbag:

Q - Sam, this question may be too soon because my son Chase is only 7. But he is a Lefty and he likes playing SS or 3B. I am trying to guide him to a pitcher hopefully but also 1st base. Should I get him a first baseman's glove and keep guiding him towards that or just let him play wherever he like for now? If it is too soon now, when will it be the right time to specialize in a specific position? - Michael

A - Mike,

It is good your son likes to play those action spots in the infield but the reality is that it is not going to happen at a somewhat higher level..so it looks like 3rd base, shortstop, and 2nd base will not be somewhere he will play, probably even in Little League. If he can play those positions that is a good sign. There is alot of action and it seems like he digs that. Realistically, another position is going to be his spot. But let's not limit him to first base. Maybe he can be an outfielder or even a pitcher. So there are other options that could fit him as well. Three outfield spots, 1st base, & pitcher gives him some options.

Until he plays in a higher organized league he will be fine doing what he is doing. Good for him!! - Sam

Q - Sam - my son is 15 years old, he has been playing varsity baseball since his freshman year. He is a 5'10, 210 lb catcher, arm velocity 88 mph pop-time bet 1.87- 1.93, 60- 7.1. I am aware that these numbers are great for a kid that's 15. Although we have played in several national tournaments (Ft. Myers, Perfect Game, etc.) I have not taken him to an individual Perfect Game
showcase so that he can be rated because I feel that it should be done as a junior. I am a disabled vet on a fixed income and it's hard for me to take him to these big events. My son clearly has alot of talent and I feel that he is losing out because I cannot do these events that clearly I know he would stand out in.

Please advise me in what I should do thats cost effective, so he can be seen. I think we have taken the first step this week; he was selected to the Bobby Valentine All-American national team. - Jose

A - Jose - Thanks for writing and let's see what we can come up with. It sounds like your son is doing all the right things at his age. You are probably right on getting him in to be rated at a little later time. It is great that he is playing in some showcase leagues!! One thing I can vouch for is the fact that major league scouts don't miss very many players. Those showcases usually are well scouted so I would say your son is being properly exposed at his development. What you want out of the showcases of ratings is mainly for college level ball. My son went to a showcase once and it helped him find a school and expose him to college baseball.

So at the right time,as a jJunior or even a senior, I would try and find a way to get him to a showcase if possible. It all depends on what his desires are. Getting a good college education is always a great way to go, and playing baseball along the way is awesome. Just remember, if it's pro ball your son is leaning to, rest assured that some scout somewhere will get a look at him.

One last thing that is free are tryout camps for kids of all ages. You can probably find out from the Major League Scouting Bureau when camps are being held in and around your area. If at all possible, go to them! They will have a record of your son throughout the rest of high school and college. So enjoy the ride, stay positive and take care of yourself because it sounds like your son is on the right course to take care of you!!!

Best of Luck - Sam

Q - Sam - My 12 year old son plays ball on a travel team. A few years ago, he had a really nice coach that he liked, hanging on every word in training sessions. Everything this coach said, my son remembers. But, there is one thing that I don't agree with, that drives me crazy at his games.

When up at bat, my son always lets the first pitch go by - good or bad. When I asked him why he doesn't swing at good pitches, he says his past coach said to let the first one go by. Is there something I'm missing? Is there a strategy to letting the first one go by? Or, should my son swing if he knows he can get a solid hit?

Thanks - Rich

A - Rich - There is something to taking the first pitch and there is something to swinging at the first pitch (and we are going to assume that we are talking about strikes). Like anything else in your everyday life, we need to use common sense. The thoughts behind taking the first pitch is, one, to see as many pitches as you can so you will be better able to hit them, and two, to make the pitcher throw as many pitches as your can to get him out of the game. Like I said, use common sense. If there is a pitcher that is wild, you want to make him throw more and not swing at his wild pitches. And the more pitches you see from someone the better you know him and supposedly be able to hit him better. These have their merits.

On the other hand, I used to be a lead-off hitter so I had that decision to make every game. If I didn't know a pitcher too well and didn't feel that comfortable against him yet, I would take some pitches to get to know him better and be a better hitter later in the game. If I knew a pitcher and felt comfortable, I would swing at the first good strike. Now when your son gets into higher ball where pitchers can command the ball very well, that first pitch may be the best pitch you get all night! Therefore, swinging at the first pitch and getting a hit was a good thing. It sounds like your son's coach is trying to teach discipline at the plate and that's not a bad thing. Some of the best hitters in the major leagues like to hit with two strikes on them. Get to know your son, see how he reacts, and then try and make some adjustments and let'er fly sometimes!! Tie game, bottom of ninth, if you are a singles hitter, take a strike and try to get on base....if you can hit the ball out of the park, jump on the first good one!

Hope that answers your fears and thoughts. There really is no right way or wrong way all the time. The game you are playing that day will dictate the style for the night.

Best of Luck - Sam

"Ask Sam" - More Of Your Baseball Questions Answered By Sam Perlozzo

2011-01-05T15:11:00.010-05:00

Philadelphia Phillies 1B coach and PBI advisor Sam Perlozzo answers your baseball-related questions. Do you have a question for Sam? Ask it here - AskSam@baseballclinics.com.

Here's the latest from the "Ask Sam" mailbag:

Q - Sam - I'm a Phillies fan here in central New Jersey and VERY excited about the Cliff Lee deal! Everyone had Lee penciled into the Yankees rotation. Did you have any sense that the Phils were going to get involved? And how much of a difference do you think he'll make this season? - Eric, Somerset NJ

A - Eric, I never put anything past our organization. In the short two years I have been with Philly I have seen the desire, brains, and guts to go out and make this team a winner. Ruben Amaro is not afraid to pull the trigger and our group of investors give him the resources to make it happen.

I was not surprised that we ended up in the deal for Cliff Lee. All the players and coaches expressed how much we had missed him this year. And a tribute to the organization and all the city of Philadelphia that he liked it so much in just a short period of time. His family had fallen in love with the Phillies and that's easy to do. They have the knack of knowing what makes it click for not only the players & coaches , but also to the fans.

There is always a period of time when you feel you can win and they are giving us every opportunity to cash in on it....Go Phils!! - Sam

Q - Sam , My name is Ahmed. I'm 18 years old and a freshman at college in Providence, Rhode Island however my home is Fair Lawn, New Jersey. I'm 5 foot 10 and 210 lbs. I have been playing baseball all my life with hopes of making it to the major leagues someday. I'm open to all criticism and I learn from my mistakes. Due to injuries during my high school career (that have been surgically repaired successfully) I don't have any stats worth looking at. All I have is my heart, love, and dedication for the game.

Unfortunately after I had what I believed the best tryout of my life, I was cut from my college team, simply because I wasn't going to beat anyone one out especially the recruited players according to the coach. I was devastated. I've battled back from my 3 surgeries, and physical therapy just to hopefully play competitively again, and I'm still in the gym 3 times a week and working on my swing so that I can be ready for my next tryout. I have emailed so many coaches in and around Rhode Island and unfortunately, they either have not gotten back to me, or they are asking for ridiculous prices that I simply can't afford. I have found 0 club teams for 18 years and older and nothing for spring baseball that I wish to play. I want to play competitvely, and I want to showcase my talent to scouts because I know I have talent to back myself up.

My main question is....Is this the end of my baseball dream? It'll be a hard pill to swallow but I need an answer from a true professional....truth is I simply don't think I have a chance with the already recruited players at my college, and I don't know how much money I can pay to play for training or club teams. Please, if there is anything, any information or advice that you can give me, any league, club, training, ANYTHING that can help me get any closer to my dream, i'll be greatly greatly thankful.

A - Ahmad, it sounds as though you certainly have the desire, the next question is do you have the talent. I am at a disadvantage from that standpoint but I'll see if any of what I have to say may help. You are most definitely not too old to play baseball and think it is over for you. You just need to find someone or something that allows you to showcase your talents. One thing I would certainly do is contact Major League Baseball and find out about any and all tryout camps they may be holding in your area. They are free and scouts with be there to see what you have. I know how it works at certain places that have already made a commitment to their recruiting class so you should not take that as a barometer of your skills. The 2011 dates have not been announced yet, but you can check out last year's information here - http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/official_info/about_mlb/tryout_us.jsp

I do know this, Ahmad - you must have at least one good skill to progress to pro sports (strong arm, running speed, power,fielding skills, good hitter, etc). Most teams will take a second look at you if they see one of those skills. They always feel they can help you get better in the other areas. So I would suggest you evaluate yourself, and then if you know you have it, then do everything possible to get seen. Keep your head up, there is time. Best of Luck! - Sam

Q - Sam, I'm running a baseball camp for 5th-8th grades for my senior project. The project is supposed to help me with my future goals, and since I want to be a baseball coach one day I would like to run a camp. So I was wondering what general information I need to know to run a camp and what drills would be good for these young kids? - Carow

A - Carow, that is a nice idea to hold a camp for kids. Since there is a limited amount of time in a camp and you want to cover everything, then you should stick to the basics of the game. By that I mean baseball is made up of hitting,fielding,throwing, & running. So I would set up four stations with each one of these areas being covered and rotate the kids through the stations. Give each station a time limit, and at the end of the program, have a question & answer session for whatever they feel the need to ask. Keep everything basic since they are so young and don't make the time at each station too long as to lose their attention. And just as importantly, try to keep them involved as much as possible.

This is not an easy project and you will need some help. If you are the only person, then you can run the whole group through the stations yourself and you may have to give them a short break after you are halfway through. Like I said, stay basic and let the Q & A at the end be your venue for individual problems. Best of Luck in your clinic!!

Drill ideas:

Hitting - Tee hitting, soft toss hitting into a net

Running - Have kids run to bases and make turns

Fielding - Usually rolling balls to them can do the trick

Throwing - Playing catch with each other, covering proper arm angles and grip on the ball

Sam

Little League International Issues Immediate Moratorium On Composite Bats

2010-12-30T14:29:00.003-05:00

On December 30, 2010, Little League International imposed an immediate moratorium on the use of composite bats. From the official Little League website -

Little League International has placed a moratorium on the use of composite bats in the Little League (Majors) Division and all other baseball divisions of Little League, effective immediately.

“Today’s decision of the Little League International Board of Directors Executive Committee is based on scientific research data from the University of Massachusetts (Lowell), which was contracted by Little League Baseball,” Stephen D. Keener, President and Chief Executive Officer of Little League Baseball and Softball, said. “The maximum performance standard for non-wood bats in the divisions for 12-year-olds and below is a Bat Performance Factor (BPF) of 1.15. The research found that composite bats, while they may meet the standard when new, can exceed that standard after a break-in process.”

Local Little Leagues were first informed of the research last September.

“From the beginning, and throughout this process, we wanted to keep everyone informed,” Patrick W. Wilson, Vice President of Operations at Little League International, said. “Our intent was to provide local league constituents clear direction regarding composite bats. There is a process through which manufacturers can submit individual models for a possible waiver if they wish to seek it. Going forward, we will let our leagues know which ones meet the standards for the Little League Baseball (Majors) 12-and-under divisions, if any.”

On Sept. 1, Little League International placed a moratorium on composite bats in the Junior, Senior, and Big League Baseball Divisions of Little League. Subsequent to that moratorium, some composite bat models have received a waiver and may be used in those divisions. Information on the composite bats that have received waivers for the Junior, Senior, and Big League Baseball Divisions of Little League may be found here:

http://www.littleleague.org/learn/equipment/approvedcompbats.htm

At present, no composite bats for the Little League (Majors) Division and below have received a waiver. If and when any models do receive a waiver, Little League International will inform its leagues of that decision.

The moratorium on composite bats, which now applies to all baseball divisions of Little League, does not apply to any softball divisions of Little League.

The PBI Baseball League will follow suit.

"Ask Sam" Returns - More Of Your Questions

2010-11-30T15:00:00.012-05:00

Philadelphia Phillies 1B coach and PBI Advisor Sam Perlozzo answers your baseball questions directly via email!

Want to improve your game? Send your email directly to Sam Perlozzo - AskSam@baseballclinics.com

Here's the latest from the "Ask Sam" mailbag.

Q - Sam, I've always been interested in what I watch during batting practice and stretching. I was wondering what kind of pre-game stretching the Phillies do. - Jeff

A - Jeff - Almost all Major League teams go through a 15-minute stretch program that covers just about every body part to get the players loose for their pre-game routine. We have a strength and conditioning coach full time and it is his job to see that the players do a proper warm-up as well as conditioning during the season. Most people don't realize how early the players get to the park for a 7 PM game.

We actually have two stretches at home, one for pitchers & extra men and one for the starters. The stretch is pretty basic and may involve a weighted ball to swing around. Once the players are loose, they take turns to hit in assigned groups and to get infield and outfield work. This is a daily routine and we hardly waiver from that except for Sunday day games where we may hit inside. But even that day we have an organized stretch.

Hope that helps, Jeff. Thanks for your interest. - Sam

Q - Sam - I have a few questions for you.

1) I am worried that my son's playing wiffle ball with his friends will get his swing into bad habits for baseball season: the bat is so light, and the kids seem to swing with so much emphasis on snapping the bat with the left arm and uppercutting. What do you think?

2) Do you think if things had gone differently early in Chris Coste's career, he had the talent to be a regular Major League starting position player for a period of time?

3) Can Major League hitters really see the spinning seams on a baseball?

4) Do you think Brian Wilson's nasty pitch to strike out Ryan Howard to the the NLCS was actually too low for a huge hitter? - Dave, Kinnelon NJ

A - Dave, the first question about playing wiffle ball is a good one. What I like to think is that playing the game and swinging is still working on hand/eye coordination. Although I would perfer playing baseball over wiffle ball, of course, at least the kids are out there playing. What I would do is to watch closely to make sure to correct any bad habits as fast as you can. In short, it's nice to get the kids out of the house and away from the TV, computer, hand-held games etc. and actually play the game. I loved wiffle ball as a kid and turned out pretty good. I wouldn't worry too much and I would be thankful they enjoy playing the game!!

I'm not as familiar with Chris Coste's early playing days so it is hard for me to summarize his playing. What I saw from Chris is that he was a very good game caller and had the trust of the pitching staff, which is very important. I would say that when he was younger he was a very good defensive catcher, with average arm strength. Most good back-up catchers are back-ups because they don't hit well enough to start and I would be speculating on that in Chris's case.

Most good hitters can see some sort of spin on the baseball. The really, really good ones have a special talent with that and can see even better. If you have ever hit a knuckleball you would see very well that the ball is hardly spinning. In the days of specialty pitches like a split-finger there are a lot of spins out there. I wouldn't make too much of that; you still have to see the ball and hit the ball and you have very little time to do that. Working on your timing and figuring out what the pitcher is going to throw you are the most important things when you are hitting. Your eyes will react the way they should, and you will get better with seeing the spin and making more consistent contact.

The pitch to Ryan Howard to end our season was a borderline picth. As much as I would like to have seen Ryan hit that ball, or it be called a ball is irrelevant now. It certainly was a reachable pitch for him to hit but still a little unfair for any of us to ask a hitter to swing at something that he deems a ball.

Thanks for your questions, Dave. Hope I answered them well enough for you and keep rooting for the Phils! - Sam

Q - Sam, my son Dylan is 11 years old. Is there a good exercise he can do to develop his hitting power? Thanks. - Ben, Westwood NJ

A - Ben, hitting for more power is something we all want but some of us are just not born to do it. What we can work on is hitting the ball as hard as we are capable. Harder line drives, harder ground balls that make it through the infield, longer fly balls that get us sacrifice flies are all going to make us a better hitter. Power usually comes from bat speed, how fast the bat goes through the strike zone. That being said, working on hand, wrist and forearm strength are excellent ways to increase power. Hand grippers are a good way to increase all those areas. Any little exercise that works the hands, wrists and forearms is what I would concentrate on and not get too bulky in the big areas so that your son's bat speed can work with his hand strength.

Try that and stay with it. Over time he will reap big benefits. Best of luck. - Sam

Thanks for your questions. I'm looking forward to the next batch - AskSam@baseballclinics.com

PBI Introduces "Ask Sam" - Send Your Emails To MLB Coach Sam Perlozzo

2010-11-10T19:00:00.014-05:00

PBI Advisor Sam Perlozzo, first base coach for the National League Eastern Division Champion Philadelphia Phillies is regarded as one of the finest teaching coaches in professional baseball and now you can email Sam directly with questions you have about how to improve your game from one of the best in the business!

To send your email, click on the link below. Your questions and answers will be posted here.

AskSam@baseballclinics.com

We have some terrific questions from you this week to kick off this feature so let's get started.

Q - Hi Sam. My son and I have been to PBI to see you demonstrate your defensive skills. Can you recommend any at home exercise routines to increase arm strength and leg strength for a 14 yr old? - Julio

A - Julio - That's a great question and I wish I knew more about those things when I was younger. You do want your son to get stronger but not too bulky. He needs to stay flexible with his strength. Nothing beats throwing, and throwing long to keep the muscles stretched. The most common injury you hear these days are rotator cuff related. Any set of light dumbells can work on cuff strength. Also, I would recommend hand, wrist, and forearm strength. The dumbells will also take care of that. It is hard for me to actually put in print the precise excerise, but I am sure if you go online for roator cuff excercises etc. you will be able to find some good info. I would always find a way to throw alot first and foremost. Possibly rig up a net in the garage or basement where you can throw balls into and have a sensible routine of throwing, whether it is everyday, to every other day, or even two days on and one day off. Just use common sense on how his arm feels.

Leg strength is also important in throwing! Quad lifts, hamstring lifts, and squats are all good. Try holding a dumbell in one hand and bending down to touch the dumbell to the floor while holding the opposite leg off the ground. That's a good one! Also get a medicine ball,(any larger ball,basketball even) and put it against the wall behind your back, and do squats with the ball rolling against the wall. Killer for your thighs!! You can be creative with limited equipment. Find some surgical tubing and make it so that both feet fit inside a circle and gives resistance to your legs as you try to walk. All these are good.

And remember with both arms and legs.....STRETCH....No pulled muscles!!

Good Luck - Sam Perlozzo

Q - Sam after reading Ted Williams' book The Science of Hitting, and having a multitude of batting coaches for my kids I feel more confused than ever. Ted advocates hitting slightly up on the ball versus inside and down. What are major league hitting coaches telling their rookie players. Is hitting a baseball different for everybody? - Doc

A - Doc, first of all, hitting a baseball is probably the single hardest thing to do in all of sports. Think of how close you are to the pitcher, how little time you get to decide if it is a strike or a ball, if it's a fastball or offspeed pitch, and then to hit it where no one will catch it.......and then fail 7 out of 10 times and hit .300 !!!

That being said, most instructors are teaching to hit down and thru the ball. The reverse spin by hitting the middle to bottom part of the ball gives it a trajectory of backward spin and more carry. Think of what I said about how hard it is to hit, then you'll realize how much harder we make it by swinging up and having to connect at the very precise moment to hit the ball, as opposed to a more downward to level swing which helps to keep the bat in the zone of the ball longer therefore making for more consistent contact for the hitter. It also helps to keep our head and eyes from any excessive movement.

Hitting is basically timing. Getting the barrel of the bat into the hitting zone when the ball gets there. Any sort of dipping of the shoulders or head can make the bat take a longer arc to get to the ball. And as hitters advance in talent and leagues, it becomes more and more important to be able to get the bat in the zone as short and quick as possible.

Hope this helps....hitting is a daily grind filled with ups and downs....stay with it and good things will happen !! - Sam Perlozzo

Q - Sam - When leading off of first and attempting a steal off of a right handed pitcher: What part of the pitcher's body is the key thing to look for if trying to get the best possible jump from first? - Tom

A - Tom, there are many keys to watch for and they are different for each individual. I can give you a few things to look for and then I will give you what I think is most common and the one I used more than any.

* If you watch the pitcher's right heel (foot), he has to lift that foot to throw to first. If it stays on the ground, he is going home.

* Watch the pitcher's left elbow....if it comes back at you, he is throwing to first and if it goes forward (inward), he is going home.

* Sometimes a pitcher will try to look at the runner with his left shoulder slightly open(toward the runner); when he closes his shoulder, he goes home.

* Now my favorite....anyone who throws a ball,(INF, OF, P)....usually has to move his shoulders back to get some power behind the throw. I call that a lean back. That is usually the most common tip for the runner because that is usually the very first movement a pitcher makes. Therefore, that would be the quickest attempt for the runner to steal a base. If you use slow motion it is easy to see and the runner just has to concentrate on the pitcher's upper torso.

Like I said, Tom, there are many things that are specific to each pitcher. Sometimes a head movement, sometimes a bend in the knees. It is a great art...take your time and try to find the best for you. And remember....some pitchers, you just can't steal on!!! - Sam Perlozzo

Q - My sons and I have the following question. If a fielder is holding the ball with his throwing hand, and tags a base runner with JUST the index finger of his throwing hand (i.e. NOT the ball - even though the fielder is holding the ball in the palm of his throwing hand), is the runner out, or does the fielder actually have to touch the runner with the ball? Thanks. - Hyman

A - Hyman - Interesting question with an easy answer. As long as the fielder has the ball in his hand he can tag the runner with any part of his hand. Think about a fielder with a ball in his glove...he tags the runner with the glove and the runner is out. Same with his hand. Best of luck to you and your sons!!! - Sam Perlozzo

PBI Baseball League Fall Registrations Now Open

2010-07-16T18:21:00.003-04:00

Registrations for the PBI Baseball League 2010 fall season are now being taken.

The PBI Baseball League plays on Sundays in the fall. Teams are able to play on other days as per agreement by both coaches, but be aware coming into the league that this is designed for Sunday play. The majority of the teams in the league come from Bergen, lower Rockland, and Passaic Counties.

AGE LEVELS
8U - field at 40/60 (A)
9U - 46/60 (A, AA, AAA)
10U - 46/60 (A, AA, AAA)
11U - 46-60 (A, AA, AAA)
12U - 46/60 (A, AA, AAA)
11U 50/70 (AA, AAA)
12U 50/70 (A, AA, AAA)
13U 50/70 (A, AA, AAA)
13U, 14U - 60/90 (A, AA, AAA)
High School 16U and 18U - 60/90 with one skill level each

SKILL LEVELS
AAA - club and elite town travel teams
AA - talent equivalent to a town All-Star team
A - talent equivalent to a town recreation level team
NOTE - teams should pick the appropriate level based upon the skill of their players, not where they are from. It's possible to have players from a couple of different towns and still be a AA or A-level team.

9U through 14U will use a pitch count through all three divisions. 8U will have a 2-inning per pitcher rule. For the sake of clarification, an inning pitched consists of 3 outs. There is no pitch count at the high school levels.

AGE CUTOFF - The age cutoff for all levels of the PBI Baseball Leauge's 2010 Fall Season is April 30, 2011. Whatever age a player will be on April 30, 2011 is that player's "league age." A player may "play up" an age level; he cannot "play down" under any circumstances.

REGULAR SEASON - The regular season will begin on Sunday September 12 and continue through Sunday October 31.

PLAYOFFS - The top four teams in each skill division of each age level will meet in a single elimination tournament. The first round will take place on Sunday November 7 and the Championship game will take place on November 14. The PBI Baseball League provides individual awards for players on the first and second place teams.

COST - $225 per team. The league fee includes FREE INSURANCE for teams that are in need. PBI cannot hold a space for you; teams are taken on a first-paid-first-served basis.

REGISTRATION - We are now taking registrations. All registrations are made online - https://www.skiltech.com/orders/pbi/leaguereg.html

INSURANCE - FREE from PBI. If you need insurance, contact Jim Monaghan.

RULES - the current PBI Baseball League rule set can be found online - http://www.baseballclinics.com/pbibaseballleaguerules.pdf

"Why Are We Here?'

2010-06-14T17:01:00.005-04:00

Sunday June 13 was Championship Sunday for the PBI Baseball League 2010 spring campaign. By all measures, this was a tremendous season with well over 200 teams from around the area competing each Sunday since the end of March; it was easily our biggest spring turnout ever.

I coached the 9U PBI Eagles team this spring. All through our pre-season training and during our weekly in-season practices I would frequently ask them, “Why are we here?” And the players would answer, “CHAMPIONSHIP!” On Championship Sunday, after compiling a perfect 9-0 record in the regular season and semi-finals, the players finished things off with a gritty 3-0 win over a VERY tough 9U Ridgewood team. The smiles on the faces in the picture above tell most of the story of how hard work and determination leads to success.

But there’s another side to the whole “CHAMPIONSHIP” story that I would like to relate to you.

Despite some inclement weather on Championship Sunday, most of the scheduled championship games were played; some scores were actually still coming in on Monday afternoon. Sunday afternoon, I received a phone call from the PBI representative who was covering the 11U AA game between North Haledon and Ridgewood. Rain was coming down and there was a request for clarification on what constitutes an official game. Under the circumstances as detailed to me, the game was indeed official, and my understanding was that the umpires were going to call the game shortly on account of rain.

What follows is a note I received from one of the Ridgewood parents who knows I work here at PBI, but was unaware that I run the PBI League.

“I wanted to pass along a story of baseball sportsmanship that I experienced yesterday...

Our Ridgewood 11U team was in the PBI 11U 46-60 championship game yesterday. We were down 4-2 during the bottom of the 4th when the rain hit hard and they delayed the game.

While we were waiting out the rain delay, the coaches called the league commissioner, who said they game was "official" and they could stop it and declare the other team (North Haledon) the winner. The North Haledon coaches flatly refused, saying they didn't want to win a championship that way -- they wanted to win it by playing a full game. Then the rains let up and play resumed. We rallied in the 6th to win 10-5.

But hats off and due respect for the North Haledon coaches -- they showed true sportsmanship and set a great example for their kids.”

In a day and age when so often we hear stories of attempts to win at all costs, I can’t begin to tell you what a tremendous reminder the North Haledon coaches and players gave us about why we compete, what good sportsmanship is all about, and truly why we are here.

Bravo, North Haledon!

Jim Monaghan
Professional Baseball Instruction

Breaking In A Glove

2010-05-17T16:27:00.004-04:00

It's the age old question - "What's the best way to break in a new baseball glove?" And it seems there are dozens of suggestions such as sticking it in water, to putting baseballs in it and sticking it between your mattress and box spring. Some of the more drastic (and NOT suggested) methods include driving over it with a car, and sticking it in the microwave.

What do Major League players suggest? How about just playing catch with it?

Some tips to help you:

OIL - If you're going to use oil, do it sparingly, and only on the pocket. Oil will definitely soften a glove but there's such a thing as too soft. Your glove should have some firmness to it. Oil also makes a glove heavy and will eventually break the leather down. If you have a young player, the last thing you want to do is make the glove feel heavier to him.

CREAM - Use a lanolin-based cream. Lanolin helps soften the leather and doesn't add weight to the glove. Rawlings makes a good product called "Glovolium" or you can even try shaving cream (honest). Just make sure the cream has lanolin in it.

MICROWAVE - Other than leaving your glove out in a soaking rain for a couple of days, this might be the WORST thing you can do to a baseball glove. The bad news if you do this is it will make the laces brittle and they will fall apart when you play catch with your new glove. The good news is we do expert re-lacing at PBI (we've already re-laced three brand new gloves that were put in a microwave).

PLAY CATCH WITH IT - Hands down, this is the best way known to man to break in a new baseball glove. Try it, it's fun!

PBI's Conversations With:

2010-04-26T18:00:00.022-04:00

When PBI founder and president Doug Cinnella's professional playing career came to an end, he knew that he wanted to find a way to both stay involved in the game and pass on his passion for baseball to children, and in the process teach them strong fundamentals about not only baseball, but life too.

In this latest installment of "PBI's Conversations With:" the tables get turned a bit. Doug recently was interviewed by Joe Connolly of The Wall Street Journal for the Small Business Report which is heard weekdays at 1:23 PM and 5:23 PM on WCBS Newsradio 880.

In this first segment, Doug talks about getting PBI out in front of people on a town-by-town basis. "How you win and how you lose in Little League sets the tone for life."

Marketing PBI At Town Baseball Opening Day Celebrations

In the second segment, Doug talks about how PBI consistently creates new programs to help specialize in various age groups.

Coming up with new ideas to help grow the company - from 3-year olds to college players

Did you know PBI has a facility in Illinois? PBI Illinois is run by former Met minor league pitcher Dave Trautwein has PBI's first franchise location.

Franchising by making your business model tighter

Baseball imitates life in so many ways. Doug talks about getting out of the dugout (or office) to keep a handle on how your business is running.

You HAVE to get out of your office...or in PBI's case...the dugout

Running a business like PBI means being a coach, psychologist, and business owner all at the same time.

It goes beyond just playing the game - there's a mental side of the equation for players and parents

Special thanks to WCBS Newsradio 880.

PBI & the Culture Of Competition

2010-02-04T15:36:00.005-05:00

Professional Baseball Instruction has been on the cutting edge of youth baseball instruction since our first summer camp in 1993. And we really raised the bar nine years later when we opened our state-of-the-art indoor facility here in Upper Saddle River.

Over the course of the past 17 years (and to a greater extent since the opening of our USR facility), we have noticed how dramatically the culture of youth sports has changed, especially as it relates to baseball training and conditioning.

Competitive youth sports as an industry has exploded. It’s happening all over the country, too, not just here in Bergen County. We’re seeing it in soccer, basketball, baseball, hockey and even wrestling. Kids are playing at much higher levels of competition at younger ages all the time. There are national T-ball tournaments, for heaven’s sake! Along with that explosion has come an increase in both the desire and need for specialized instruction. Parents looking for an edge for their child are willing to invest both time and money for private instruction.

A few years ago, an article appeared in The New York Times talking about the pressure on both parents and children to train and compete at these higher levels. The author spoke with parents, players and youth sports authorities, trying to ascertain whether all of this pressure is 1) good for the kids and 2) good for the health of the sport they are playing. (In some instances, there is actually a fear that club/travel teams will eventually force the shutdown of the sport at some high schools.) The conclusion was somewhat vague, which isn’t surprising. What we’re seeing is merely the Culture Of Competition that has in some ways defined the American Spirit since the early days of this country. We are a highly competitive culture; as the author wrote, “…the intensity of travel and club teams represents nothing more than Americans doing what Americans tend to do instinctively: compete zealously.”

In that same New York Times article, a San Diego youth sports official cautioned, “The shame of it is you see how hardened these 14-year-olds are by the time they get to high school. They’re talented, terrific players, but I don’t see the joy. They look tired. They play so much year-round, they are like little professionals.” The author of the article continued by saying, “Why did we fight the Cold War, some critics are saying half in jest, if we planned to adopt the East German sports model?”

Here at Professional Baseball Instruction, we're aware of the benefits of private and group instruction. We also know some of the pitfalls surrounding it, too. We'd be interested in hearing from both parents and athletes on what you like and perhaps don't like about how youth sports have changed over the past few years.

Please share your thoughts with us by clicking on "comment."

GameChanger - A Whole New Way To Keep Score

2010-01-27T18:37:00.004-05:00

For the past two months Professional Baseball Instruction's annual indoor league has been home to three men from Fungo Media, Inc. and a new product called "GameChanger." GameChanger is designed to provide mobile apps that replace pencil-and-paper scorekeeping and online tools that distribute real-time game updates for amateur sports.

Recently, Lisa Winston of MLB.com blogged about this great new innovative way to score youth baseball games. Reprinted with Lisa's permission, take a look at the future of scoring youth baseball games.

GAMECHANGER: WHERE WERE YOU WHEN DANA PLAYED LITTLE LEAGUE?
I am constantly reminded by my computer-savvy daughter, my music producer husband, my online editors and the poor folks at Comcast customer service who have to listen to me implode about how "the thing" isn't working, what an utter technological moron I am.

But every so often even I will come across an "app" that I recognize as so brilliant and simple that I wonder how it wasn't thought of earlier.

Parents, scouts, amateur coaches from all across the globe, meet your new best friend: GameChanger, the brainchild of Ted Sullivan.

In a nutshell, GameChanger, a new free iPhone application, does for amateur baseball from Little League to colleges what MLB's GameDay does for pro ball.

It brings you, in real time, every pitch, every play, every run of a game. And you don't have to be computer-savvy to use it, either!

This week, Sullivan and his business partner Kiril Savino will be in Dallas, Texas, for the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) convention's trade show, introducing amateur baseball coaches from all over the country to GameChanger in what will be its official launch.

I have a strong suspicion this will be the start of something very big.

GameChanger is a free application for users that allows them to input "real time" scoring of any baseball/softball game into his or her iPhone. Each play is then beamed immediately to the GameChanger website with the box score constantly updated and real-time play available.

While an iPhone is required by whomever is doing the input (and these days, really, who other than me doesn't have one?), it's not required to follow along. Fans can keep track on the web at the GameChanger site or the individual teams' sites (if they have them) or just on their own cell phones.

This is, needless to say, huge news for any mom or dad who has had to miss one of their kids' baseball or softball games because of work commitments, meetings, illness, or any other number of conflicts that come up in everyday life.

And for youth athletes' relatives that don't live close enough to come cheer them on.

And for the booster clubs of schools and even colleges across the country who want to keep tabs on their Lions and Tigers and Bears (oh my!)

In addition, local online news outlets, ranging from established dailies and weeklies to the ever-more-popular trend of websites devoted to local amateur sports for a given region, will also have the opportunity to add real-time widgets from GameChanger.

This is particularly notable in this sad era where sports journalism is being downsized by economic woes, with one of the first casualties being the coverage of local sports.

The idea for GameChanger came to Sullivan as he read a New York Times article about a company called WePlay, an online platform for youth-based sports teams (not limited to baseball).

"It was sort of a Facebook tailored to families of kids playing youth sports," Sullivan explained.

The concept intrigued Sullivan, but he also had a vision of focusing more specifically on baseball and what was really needed for the thousands upon thousands of people across the country that were involved in all that sport's amateur levels.

"To have lots of data and interesting content on a team or player's page, it takes a lot of effort to get it there," he explained. "And to expect youth coaches to come home after every game and enter commentary is just expecting too much. So I started thinking that if we could capture the data in real time and deliver it instantaneously to a platform, it could be an interesting business venture.

I'm not terribly surprised that something this innovative and baseball-fan-and-family-friendly would have been developed by Sullivan. I've known him and his older brother, Brendan, for more than a decade thanks to my own history covering Minor League Baseball and living in the Washington, D.C. area.

The two, both former Minor League pitchers and D.C. natives, co-founded Headfirst Baseball as an off-season business where they gave private pitching and hitting lessons to local kids. In the intervening decade it has become the biggest youth sports program in the D.C. area and continues to grow.

While Stanford-grad and former San Diego Padres minor league closer Brendan is heading up Headfirst now, Ted, a Duke University product, forged out on his own in 2000 after his two years in the Cleveland Indians system, eventually getting his MBA in 2006 from Harvard Business School.

Through Headfirst, Sullivan has done his share of coaching amateur baseball from Little League on up so he knows first-hand the challenges of finding the parent who will sit there and score any given game while also cheering on his/her kids (had to get the "her" in there since I've been in their folding chair).

"I thought it wouldn't be too long before somebody who was scoring a game with their scorebook and pencil would take out their iPhone to do something slick and sophisticated, and then say, 'why am I using a paper and pencil to do this when I have an iPhone?'" Sullivan said. "So I thought if we could put this together and capture the time sensitivity of it, with zero marginal cost of capturing that data, there could be an enormous audience across the country that would want it."

The 18 months since Sullivan first got the glimmer of the GameChanger concept has been a busy period (and not just because he's also getting married in two weeks). As luck would have it, though, he found two perfect partners for the venture in Savino, whom Sullivan calls "a ninja when it comes to software development," and Calvin Kuo, who spent seven years in computer programming at MLB.com, who is handling the front-end web interface design for GameChanger.

Sullivan's background is more in marketing, so he admitted he was surprised to discover just how complicated the creation of the program would be.

"I could do zero from a technical perspective," he said. "I understood mobile apps, I had worked in business development and I understood what happened behind the scenes, but I couldn't write one line of the code."

He has made sure, though, that would not be the case for the users of GameChanger.

Knowing that different parents or fans might be drafted to score a team's game on any given night, it was crucial that learning how to input the GameChanger data be as simple as possible.

"If we had to hold people's hands through teaching it, it would never succeed, because we need to grow virally and get it out there fast," he said. "So what we spent most of our time on was figuring out how to make this incredibly simple and I think we've achieved it. We've been testing it for six months and I watch people who aren't even iPhone users pick it up in two minutes."

Sullivan knows that the fan base he is targeting is devoted but scattered into small clusters. Little League teams might each have 20 parents (and a few tech-savvy grandparents) who want to follow along from home. High Schools, a few hundred fans, friends and family members. Small colleges, such as Division III powerhouse Amherst College which has already expressed interest in working with GameChanger (and full disclosure is my own alma mater) a few thousand.

So one of the challenges for GameChanger will be for it to spread via word-of-mouth (or computer keyboard).

"We've gotten great reactions from the people using it but for something like this to spread, the product is going to have to market itself," he said. "The person using the product, the scorer who doesn't have to add up and enter all the stats after the game, the fan or parent who can consume the data at another sibling's game or while stuck in the office, all of them have to be telling their friends about this for us to be successful."

Getting the word out to the grassroots of the game will be Sullivan and company's quest in the coming months, especially as the winter begins to melt away and diamonds across the country start turning green again.

Some folks have already stumbled across it prior to any official launch simply by browsing the iPhone "app store." As of Jan. 1, over 300 people had already signed up for GameChanger.

Of course, like any work in progress, the technology continues to be tweaked.

"Software development is a constant cycle of build, test, refine, build, test, refine, which is never ending," Sullivan said.

The big rollout is planned for this spring, when baseball games start getting played not just in California and Texas and Florida but in all 50 states.

Speaking for myself, I would have loved to have had access to GameChanger years ago when my daughter was playing Little League baseball. I was often the one chosen to keep score (I will say my hand-written scorebooks are masterpieces).

But in her last year of organized ball, the only girl in the league that year, she played for a team led by "Coach Larry" (I don't think he ever knew my name, referring to me simply as "Danasmom").

"Coach Larry," unlike any other coach she had over the years who were pretty laidback and of the "let the kids have fun" school, was very vehement that the scorebook be a little more detailed than you would usually find in Little League. He insisted I count pitches thrown by every OPPOSING pitcher (hello, these were 9-10-year-olds) so that he'd know which pitchers' arms were burnt out before he chose players for his summer All-Star travel team.

"Coach Larry" would have loved GameChanger. But you, gentle readers, can have it now. Ain't modern technology grand?

You can find out more about GameChanger at www.gamechanger.io or via iPhone's app store.

PBI Baseball League 2010 Spring Information

2010-01-13T15:09:00.004-05:00

The PBI Baseball League is a Sunday league. Teams are able to play on other days as per agreement by both coaches, but be aware coming into the league that this is designed for Sunday play. If your players are playing for other teams, or are playing other sports, or you are playing in a second league, please be advised that PBI will expect your team's games in our league to take precedence. Your cooperation coming into the spring season will make things easier for all concerned. If you know your players will not be able to play on Sundays, this is probably not the best league for you to enter.

There is a mandatory league meeting for all registered teams for the spring league on Tuesday February 9 at 7 PM at PBI in Upper Saddle River.

Registration for the spring season is now open. ALL registrations will be taken directly by PBI via our website. NO REGISTRATIONS WILL BE TAKEN OVER THE PHONE. Teams are taken on a first-paid, first-served basis. PBI will NOT hold a spot for teams without payment.

PBI League Registration Page - https://www.skiltech.com/orders/pbi/leaguereg.html

AGE LEVELS
8U - field at 40/60 with AA and A Divisions only
9U - 46/60 with all three skill levels (AAA, AA, A)
10U - 46/60 with all three skill levels
11U - 46-60 with all three skill levels
12U - 46/60 with all three skill levels

11U 50/70 - two skill levels (AAA & AA)
12U 50/70 - two skill levels (AAA & AA)

13U, 14U - 60/90 with all three skill levels

SKILL LEVELS
AAA (formerly American Division) - top travel teams, including club
AA (formerly National Division) - talent equivalent to a town All-Star team
A (formerly Garden State Division) - talent equivalent to a town recreation level team

The AAA diivision is for elite travel teams; the AA Division is for town All Star teams and the A is for town recreation teams. PBI will be offering 46/60 and 50/70 for both 11U and 12U in 2010. Please specify when registering. The 8U will have two divisions - AA and A.

NOTE - your team should pick the appropriate level based upon the skill of your players, not where they are from. It's possible to have players from a couple of different towns and still be a B or C-level team.

9U through 14U will use a pitch count through all three divisions. 8U will have a 2-inning per pitcher rule. For the sake of clarification, an inning pitched consists of 3 outs.

AGE CUTOFF
The age cutoff for all levels of the PBI Baseball League's 2010 Spring Season is April 30, 2010. Whatever age a player is on April 30, 2010 is that player's "league age." A player may "play up" an age level; he cannot "play down" under any circumstances.

REGULAR SEASON
The regular season will begin on Sunday March 28 and continue through Sunday May 23. We will not play on Easter Sunday (April 4) OR the Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend (May 30). We will play on Mother's Day. The 8-game regular season will therefore be spread out over 10 weekends, which should give teams plenty of time to get all regular season games in.

PLAYOFFS
The top four teams in each skill division of each age level will meet in a single elimination tournament. The first round will take place on Sunday June 6 and the Championship game will take place on June 13. The PBI Baseball League provides individual awards for players on the first and second place teams.

COST
REGISTRATION FEE - $225 if paid by February 5.
AFTER FEBRUARY 5th - the registration fee is $275.
NO REGISTRATIONS WILL BE TAKEN WHATSOEVER AFTER MARCH 1

The league fee includes free insurance for teams that are in need. PBI cannot hold a space for you; teams are taken on a first-paid, first-served basis.

REGISTRATION
Now open at all ages and skill levels. All registrations will be made through the PBI website - https://www.skiltech.com/orders/pbi/leaguereg.html

LEAGUE MEETING
Tuesday February 9 at 7 PM at PBI. This is mandatory for all paid teams entering the league. You must have someone representing your team at the meeting. NO REGISTRATIONS WILL BE TAKEN AT PBI DURING THE LEAGUE MEETING.

INSURANCE - FREE from PBI. If you need insurance, contact Jim Monaghan directly.

RULES - the current PBI Baseball League rule set can be found online - http://www.baseballclinics.com/pbibaseballleaguerules.pdf - any changes made between now and the beginning of the spring season will be discussed at the league meeting in January.

Please feel free to contact Jim Monaghan with any questions you may have - jim@baseballclinics.com.

Little League Adds 50/70 Pilot Program

2010-01-12T15:42:00.004-05:00

Rumored to be happening for awhile now, Little League made it official on January 11, 2010 with the announcement that it would offer a 50/70 "pilot program" for 12 and 13-year old players beginning with the 2010 spring season.

“We have seen more requests for the intermediate-size field recently,” Patrick Wilson, Little League Vice President of Operations, said. “We are constantly looking for ways to provide more flexibility and to respond to the needs of our local leagues. For those leagues with the ability to create a new field for this program, or to modify an existing field, we hope this will be another way to provide an enjoyable experience for the families in their community.”

The PBI Baseball League has offered 50/70 at the 11U, 12U and 13U age levels for a few years now. In the past, players went from the traditional 46/60 youth field dimensions right to the bigger 60/90 field and found themselves in a "sink or swim" situation. Even for many of the better athletes, the additional 30 feet on the baselines seemed to go on forever, and it wasn't unusual to see the frustration on a 3rd baseman's face as he realized that he didn't yet have the arm strength to make the throw across the diamond to first base. And sometimes that meant the end of a young playing career even before it started when players found the adjustment to the "big field" overwhelming.

The introduction of the intermediate 50/70 allows players a chance to play a more challenging kind of baseball - runners allowed to lead, dropped third strike, pickoff moves, etc. - on a field that isn't going to overwhelm them the moment they step onto it.

This is a terrific move by Little League Baseball and we hope that the 2010 Pilot Program turns into a full-fledged commitment to the 50/70 intermediate field in 2011.

PBI's Conversations With:

2009-10-27T17:40:00.006-04:00

With the Philadelphia Phillies looking to repeat as World Series Champs, PBI President and Founder Doug Cinnella spoke with Phillies 3rd base coach and longtime PBI Advisor Sam Perlozzo on prepping for the World Series, the importance of good defensive and offensive fundamentals, working with Phillies manager Charlie Manuel, and Sam's relationship with PBI.

Click on each link to hear the audio.

Segment 1 - Doug and Sam talk about prepping for the World Series.

Segment 2 - Doug and Sam talk about defense, including Ryan Howard's improvement this year and some of the great infielders Sam has worked with over the course of his career.

Segment 3 - Doug and Sam talk about hitting, and doing drills from Little League through the Major Leagues.

Segment 4 - Doug and Sam discuss Sam's coaching future, working with Phillies manager Charlie Manuel, and coaching 3rd base at the MLB level.

Segment 5 - Doug and Sam talk about Sam's role as a PBI advisor.

Special thanks to WDHA for their assistance in producing these interview segments.

Floating Clinics are back at PBI!

2009-08-17T20:15:00.001-04:00

Professional Baseball Instruction's "floating" hitting/fielding & pitching/catching clinics allow you to design your own clinic program around your schedule. Choose one day per week for each of the four weeks.

Click here for a full list of dates/times and skills to be featured at the floating clinics!

Want in? Call PBI at 800-282-4638 to sign up today!

Professional Baseball Instruction (North Jersey Baseball)

2009-05-13T10:33:00.000-04:00

A Welcome Note From Doug Cinnella

Dear Parents and Players,

Thanks for taking the time to check out Professional Baseball Instruction. Baseball has been a life-long passion for me and I look forward to imparting that love of the game on your child in PBI's 16th year of baseball and softball training.

One of the things I am most proud of here at PBI is the continued development of our offerings for local high school and college players including our 17U Elite Eagles showcase team and - new for 2009 - PBI's entry into the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League, one of the premier college summer leagues in the country! I honestly believe that PBI offers the best high school training programs around - we're talking Major League-quality training!

PBI will start its annual summer camps - both indoor and outdoor - in just a few weeks, which is one of the high points of the year for us.

Teaching baseball, and teaching the life-lessons associated with the Game Of Baseball is such a wonderful thing. At PBI, we do both with a passion, and a respect for The Game. The PBI staff is trained to teach The Game in such a way that makes it both fun and exciting. Creating great baseball memories that last a lifetime is our goal for all of our students and their families.

Thanks as always for your enthusiastic support. You are a huge part of New York and New Jersey's fastest growing baseball family - the Professional Baseball Instruction Family!
Play Ball!

Doug Cinnella
President, P.B.I.