Saturday, June 20, 2009

Batting Tips: Increase Your Power

Many people think that professional baseball players can hit the ball as far as they do because they have big muscles from either working out or using steroids. While that may be true for a few choice cases most power the pros have, the real power, comes from correct techniques and proper training.

While lifting weights can make you stronger, it's not always a guarantee you will be able to hit the ball harder. In fact, if you become to strong you may lose your full range of motion hindering your swing or even worse lose bat speed which is the most important element of any hitters approach.

To truly gain a good approach and increase your power I suggest Baseball Fit. It is the best organized program I have found yet that increases your power legitimately. Not only does it not just tell you to beef up and add more muscle but it instructs you on how to have a proper swing to add power and gives you techniques and reasoning behind all of it's training.

Friday, June 19, 2009

Sammy Sosa Testing Positive for Steroids

As reported by the New York Times, Sammy Sosa tested positive for performance enhancing drugs in 2003. This is according to "what was supposed to" be an anonymous study in 2003 to see how prevalent steroids were in baseball. The result of the study in which 104 of the players tested, resulted positive for performance enhancing drug(s). This study became widely known after it was reported that A-Rod's name is on the list adding him to the list of players who are known to have used steroids. Even though the study was supposed to have been anonymous, Sammy Sosa has now become the second person reported to be on the list.

Sosa's lawyer denied comment when asked about the report but no one can be sure if Sammy Sosa's name is truly on the list because the list itself has not yet been made public. It is my personal belief that it shouldn't be made public because the players who took the test were told the tests and results would not be made public. I also think that the players' union should personally apologize to both A-rod and Sammy Sosa for not destroying the list themselves.

Although now that it is out there, speculation will take place. A-Rod did admit to using steroids from 2001 to 2003 which was when he trained with Angel Presinal who has been banned from MLB clubhouses and is under investigation for his role with A-Rod. Sammy Sosa also trained with Angel Presinal during these years and often traveled to the Dominican Republic for training sessions. Although no definite conclusions can be made, you can make assumptions from the allegations, which can be just enough to destroy careers or chances of making it into the Hall of Fame.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Manny Ramirez Playing Class A Baseball

According to the Associated Press Manny Ramirez is considering playing class A baseball for the Island Empire 66ers. Even though he is serving a 50 game suspension for violating Major League Baseball's substance abuse policy he is eligible to play low level A baseball to get ready to return to the majors. Joe Torre said that he could begin playing by next Thursday to begin a three-game series at Lake Elsinore. After that the 66ers have a three game home stint against Rancho Cucamonga.

Manny is available for reinstatement for the Dodgers on July 3 when they play at San Diego. "That's still conversational right now. There's nothing been scheduled," Torre said, according to the newspaper. "We've got to get him back on the field first."

This means Torre is most likely waiting to see how Ramirez plays after been away from the team for a while. Although it his decision when Manny returns to the lineup I believe it will be as soon as he is available.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Recap on Baseball Predictions

This is just a recap on all the predictions I have made before today. I said earlier that I was perfect in my NCAA predictions I had made 4 before today so I am 4-0 I'd like to just repost my MLB predictions from the other day and whether I was right.

NY Mets @ Baltimore
winner=Orioles wrong

Milwaukee @ Cleveland
winner=Milwaukee correct

Washington @ NY Yankees
winner=Yankees correct

Toronto @ Philadelphia
winner=Philadelphia wrong

Florida @ Boston
winner=Boston correct

Atlanta @ Cincinnati
winner=Atlanta wrong

Houston @ Texas
winner=Texas correct

Chi White Sox @ Chi Cubs
winner=Cubs ppd.

Arizona @ Kansas City
winner=Kansas City correct

Pittsburgh @ Minnesota
winner=Minnesota correct

Detroit @ St. Louis
winner=St. Louis correct

Tampa Bay @ Colorado
winner=Tampa Bay correct

Seattle @ San Diego
winner=Seattle correct

Oakland @ LA Dodgers
winner=Dodgers correct

LA Angels @ San Francisco
winner=Angels correct

These plus my NCAA results not counting the postponed game brings my Baseball predictions record to 15-3. That's 12 games over .500; I plan on making many more predictions in the future.

NCAA Elimination picks

After my astounding picks yesterday I am now 4-0 when it comes to picking College World Series games.

So to keep up my streak I have decided that for the rest of the tournament I will be picking games two at a time.

Tonight is Arkansas and Virginia. Both are good teams or they wouldn't have gotten this far but I think there will be one dominating factor in deciding this game. It is momentum. I believe because Virginia is coming off a win they will have more confidence and more determination then Arkansas who is coming off a crushing defeat from LSU.

Tomorrow night's game will be Arizona State and North Carolina. I think there will be a similar deciding factor in this game seeing as one is coming from a loss and the other from a win but I think more importantly than that North Carolina is the more experienced team. I believe that after being in a program like North Carolina has prepared the players for a game like this. This is not to say that Arizona St. is not as good of a program or that the the players aren't as experienced but I believe the North Carolina players will have the will and the courage to win tomorrow night's game and avoid elimination.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Rapid Fire MLB Predictions for 6/16

I think I'll try something a little different and do some rapid fire predictions.

NY Mets @ Baltimore
winner=Orioles

Milwaukee @ Cleveland
winner=Milwaukee

Washington @ NY Yankees
winner=Yankees

Toronto @ Philadelphia
winner=Philadelphia

Florida @ Boston
winner=Boston

Atlanta @ Cincinnati
winner=Atlanta

Houston @ Texas
winner=Texas

Chi White Sox @ Chi Cubs
winner=Cubs

Arizona @ Kansas City
winner=Kansas City

Pittsburgh @ Minnesota
winner=Minnesota

Detroit @ St. Louis
winner=St. Louis

Tampa Bay @ Colorado
winner=Tampa Bay

Seattle @ San Diego
winner=Seattle

Oakland @ LA Dodgers
winner=Dodgers

LA Angels @ San Francisco
winner=Angels

Well lets see how this works out if I get a lot right I will consider continuing this type of entry.

College World Series Predictions for 6/16

Well not to toot my own horn but I thought since I got both of my predictions right yesterday I would add a couple more today.

The first game today is North Carolina and Southern Miss. Now I think this will be an interesting game for a couple of reasons. This is an elimination game so the loser goes home this means both teams are going to give it 110%. However more interestingly is probably the comparison of the two teams batting stats. North Carolina's batting average is .309 while Southern Mississippi's average is just .002 lower at .309. And the number of base runners shouldn't be a big difference as both schools have an on-base percentage of .401. The real difference comes in the pitching. North Carolina has a team ERA of 3.61 and 650 strikeouts as a whole while Southern Miss. has an ERA of 5.04 and only 435 strikeouts combined. I think North Carolina has the definite edge and will keep their tournament hopes alive.

In the second game is Arizona St. and Texas. They are both great teams and they both have great stats but in this era of homeruns and aluminum bats this game will be an oddity. Both of these teams have incredible pitching stats Texas with an ERA of 2.86 and Arizona St. with an ERA of 2.76. With these great stats I think it will be a difficult game for both teams but I think Texas will have better poise and more confidence coming into this game so I think they win it in a close game.

Monday, June 15, 2009

Batting Tips: Use a T

This blog, being about everything baseball, I'm going to start giving baseball tips, tricks, and drills. I figured I'd start with something simple but is severely over looked: The use of a batting T.

I think the most popular reason for people to pass on using a T is they think its only for children. They would be mistaken because there are pro's that swear by the T. The T can be used in several drills and with proper use just simply hitting off the T can improve your swing.

Consistent use of the T can help hitters shorten their swing, make better contact with the ball, and gain comfort and confidence in their swing. These can all be gained with simple repetition but, for even more benefits, you can do different drills with the T. The most simple drill is every time you take a swing at the ball move to a different spot of the batters' box to simulate different types of pitches. What I mean by this is in a game the pitcher is not going to throw the same pitch in the same spot every time so why would you practice like that. When you move do not move to where you can't hit the ball comfortably you just want to move far enough for the T to simulate an outside or inside pitch. To get the best results when you swing always try to go with the pitch. If the ball is on the outside part of the plate hit the ball the other way, if it's an inside pitch pull the ball, and if it's down he middle try to hit the ball down the middle.

I hope this helps and remember the T doesn't have to be just for T-ballers.

Today's College World Series Preview

Well there are two games on today from the college World Series both on ESPN2. The first one is CAL STATE FULLERTON (47-15) vs. VIRGINIA(48-14-1). Cal State Fullerton has jumped out to early leads in almost all of it's games this season and look to do the same today. They need to make sure they get a sizable lead early because Virginia's bullpen allowed only 2 runs in the Super Regional. Although they did struggle against LSU giving up 6 in 5 innings. In this Game I like Virginia to bounce back, have a solid outing, and pullout a close win.

In the late game it is LSU (52-16) vs. ARKANSAS (40-22). LSU's Louis Coleman is expected to make his third start against Arkansas on Monday. He almost threw a no-hitter against the Razorbacks in his shutout against them earlier this season. He looks to be dominant again today. Arkansas is looking for it's power hitters to have another strong showing after the 3-4-5 hitters drove in all of there ten runs on Saturday. This being an all SEC game and me being an SEC fan, I'm definitely going to be paying close attention to this one. Going with my earlier predictions I say LSU wins it and they do it with pitching.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Predictions for Chicago Cubs this Season

Well the Chicago Cubs Had the best record in the National League last year but where unable of even getting out of the first round of the playoffs. Many people have blamed their infamous curse of the billy goat but I think it's just mindset. Now I am not saying if you think you can win you will, because that's just stupid. I could believe I'd play in the MLB but it'll never happen. I think they were in the mindset that they couldn't win which led to there downfall.

Now this season the Cubs haven't shown near the dominance they did last year when they finished 33 games over .500. This year they are currently sitting on .500 and are currently sitting 2.5 have games off the lead in a very competitive division. There have been times this year that the cubs have looked like championship contenders but others when they have struggled with the fundamentals. I believe their most glaring weakness is that there power leader with 14 homeruns, Alfonso Soriano is there lead off hitter. They have a solid pitching staff which has a collective ERA of 3.85, which is the 4th best in the MLB.

My prediction for the Cubs is a slight improvement from last year; they make the post season when the first round but lose the NLCS thus continuing the belief of the curse.

Torii Hunter is a Strong Man

Torii Hunter not only showed off his immense strength but also his ability to constantly hit the ball with his three homeruns yesterday. It is an insane feat that is rarely seen even today with the Steroid era and baseballs that seem to fly out of the park. Not only were they homeruns they were solo homeruns which means he was having success off of the pitchers his teammates might have been struggling with. The last time this was accomplished in the MLB was Alfonso Soriano for the Chicago cubs against my Atlanta Braves but that was way back in 2007.

This wasn't an accident though as Torii Hunter has been putting up solid power numbers all year. The three homeruns yesterday were his 14th, 15th, and 16th this year, and he has a great slugging percentage with .627. There's no question about whether or not Hunter still has power at 33 years old but one may still wonder how long he can put up these kinds of numbers.