Tagged With "tools"

I've often read about ranking the level of importance of the 6 tools depending on the position. How about ranking them by development? Rank the tools from the easiest for a player to develop to the tool that is hardest to develop. Do you think coaches look for players that were naturally gifted with the most difficult tool knowing the other tools can be more easily developed?

All of the tools can be developmentally improved. But some of them might be there to a point naturally. You can improve speed. But you can’t teach speed. Some kids have naturally quicker hands and feet (defense). Some kids are naturally stronger (power). Some kids naturally throw harder (arm strength). But if these skills can’t be refined into a baseball player their naturalness doesn’t matter. For example bad footwork and fundamentals-can undo the advantage of quickness. It doesn’t matter...

I’m going to chime in here, but I have a feeling my opinion may not be welcomed. I believe we’re all gifted with a genetic max capability on every attribute (baseball and non-baseball). I say gifted, in the sense that we don’t earn or deserve these abilities - we were born with both blessings and challenges. What I do believe is earned, is taking what we’ve been gifted, and working toward our individual physical, mental and emotional ceilings of maximum capability. For me, I think that...

@Momball11 , I think it not only depends on position, but also the player itself. When RipkenFanSon would go to third party showcases and events, a couple of coaches told him to strengthen a strength as one tool off the chart would get a player looks. To your last sentence, I think college coach's look for tools brought to the table and then look for what they think they can help develop. Son's RC knew son was fast, but as one of the Top infield coach's in the country RC was able to change...

"Rank the tools from the easiest for a player to develop to the tool that is hardest to develop." 1. Baseball IQ - you need zero athletic ability, skills or gifts to become an astute student of the game...if you are using the correct source materials and understanding them correctly. 2. Fielding - but with one condition, you have to be in the right position. Wade Boggs was never going to be a SS. That's why no one tried to position him at SS. He was a third baseman and inferior at it at...

Definitely no right or wrong answer. Also depends on what a player has naturally like what Ripkin Fan said. For my own son I'd say speed is the one that is the most difficult. I was a sprinter and form/technique can definitely be taught to improve speed. However, genetically some may not have been gifted with a lot of fast twitch muscles. Anyone can train to become an endurance runner, but you can't make just anyone into a sprinter. His second tool that he is developing is his arm...

Momball there are no tools "easy" to develop. 1. Hitting with power, very difficult requires special coaches and high level of competition. 2. Running can be improved with a track coach 3. Hitting can definitely be improved with self development 4. Be acquainted with the fungo bat 5. Throwing depends on the defensive position. 6. the 6th Tool: Study the game, self teach, observe the weather, the field, the opposition, the pitcher "warming up", your teammates, the umpires. "throw away the...

Asked the boy. In his opinion speed is the hardest to teach followed by hit tool. He thinks the rest are very dependent on the player. He initially said hit for power was the easiest to teach but then he walked it back a little.

You cant teach a donkey to be a race horse! Skills can be improved but the best of the best was born with a gift.

2023: recently finished the Tito Francona book "The Red Sox Years". The book ID the 6th tools on a daily basis which the GM Epstein and Tito utilized to win 2 World Series. When we sent our American team to Australia it included his son. Tito wanted to travel and Coach, however he was in discussions with the Red Sox to be their Manager. Observation and 6th sense are the assets of a SUCCESSFUL MANAGER! I always believed Joe Morgan would have made a good Manager. He and I had a discussion at...

Not much to add here, you can improve any of the 5 traditional baseball tools with good coaching and reps, but to get them to a point where a scout is going to care you have to be born with the potential--most human beings, regardless of training, will never be able to run a 6.4 second 60 or throw a baseball 90 mph or hit with 100 exit velo. The "6th" tool (hustle or attitude or baseball IQ, depending on you talk to) requires no talent whatsoever and can absolutely be improved by anyone who...