Recruiting Video Critique?

Hi Mark,

I think you have done a good job with the video... format, angles, short length, information, all good.  If you are able to get some good in-game clips, that would be a nice add.  I think you have good P mechanics and decent IF fielding mechanics.  Regarding your mechanics and movement in general, If you were to map a chart that has "smooth/controlled" on one end and "quick/speed/power" on the other end, you would fall very far on the smooth/controlled side. it may benefit you to move toward the middle on that chart.  I'd like to see more effort with your pitches - looks like you are only trying to throw at about 70% effort.  Don't go beyond a reasonable level of control but it looks like you can move to a significantly higher effort level before you get there.  I'd like to see more quickness with your feet and your transfer when fielding ground balls.  I don't think you lack quick feet, I just don't see the intent to be quick. Again, I'd like to see more effort with the throws.  Similarly, with your swing, it looks like you are putting out 60-70% effort.  I'm not saying swing out of your shoes, but move the effort and power intent up a notch or two.  Lastly, you have a bit of a leak in the first half of your swing.  Once you load, you need to fire the barrel directly to the ball.  You are going around the ball a bit.  The combination of the leak and lack of intent results in a slow first half.

You are close with everything.  Just a few tweaks and moving that effort meter toward quick/power and you'll be fine.  I see you are with a good travel program.  If I am saying anything conflicting to what they are instructing, listen to them.  You can ask them about some of these things but don't go against your regular instruction because of someone's online snapshot observations. 

Agree 100% with Cabbage.

RE the IF -- I heard a Pac 12 coach reply to a question about what he wants to see in a recruiting video and he was specific about wanting to see the flight of the ball for both IF and OF throws. And of course he wants to see a ball that travels in a straight line, not a rainbow.

Sent you a private message...  

cabbagedad and JCG,

Thank you guys a ton for the response! I recognize that "explosiveness" is a part of my game I need to work on, and I will address this during the fall/winter. Regarding the swing, I have struggled with an early hitch since as long as I can remember. are there any drills to correct this "leak?" Lastly, I will be sure to compile some in-game footage this spring/winter. Thanks again for the insightful feedback, I will definitely keep your advice in mind!

Nice.  "Explosiveness" is a great word to use.  Bolts usually provides excellent info so if you get good direction from him with his PM, take it.  If he is addressing something else, PM me and I'll try to throw a few things out for you to work.

There are no verifiable measurable on this video - meaning no radar gun while you throw a bullpen or across the diamond and no stop watch or frame counter when you run the 60 (which wasn't on here). Measurables are very important.

agree with cabbagedad that you can up intent on pitching especially. im not a hitting guy so i wont comment on that.

also agree with kyle. kind of hard to tell how hard a kid is throwing from video. radar gun in shot is super good

As the saying goes,  "Control what you can control."  You can control the pants situation (wear them) but easy access to a radar gun for the average baseball family to use for a day to shoot a video I don't think is a reasonable expectation.

 I highly recommend "looking" like a ballplayer though when introducing yourself to a baseball coach via a recruiting video.  But the radar gun in screen?  It's nice, if you are throwing 85 or more, but 84 and lower is not going to help you, especially if you are a current Jr. or Sr. Won't hurt you in many situations but it isn't necessarily going to help you in all cases.  So I'd leave it out. 

Additionally, access to a radar gun is difficult for most baseball families.  Expensive to own and difficult to borrow from someone or some organization.  Trying to nail down the use of a gun could postpone a current Jr. from getting a video out for another month.  Time a Jr. does not have right now. 

My RHP has never had a gun in his videos and has gotten plenty of interest as a freshman and sophomore. Granted as a younger player they want to see mechanics, size, and projectability. 

I believe this young man is a Jr and because of that I will concede that velo is something a coach will want to know sooner than later, I'm just not sure you need to provide it up front in an introduction.  May help the coach in his initial screening process of what emails to keep and which ones to delete, but won't help your cause as a prospect if the velo numbers are say 84 and south.  Obviously this all depends on whether you are an LHP or RHP, size, age, and most importantly what caliber of baseball school you are targeting.  Plenty of RHPs and LHPs in "college baseball" sitting 80-84 as there is a wide variety of levels of college baseball. I will venture to say, most coaches will assume you are south of 85 if they do not see a radar reading in frame.  Nothing wrong with that.

Conversely, if you are 85 and north simply providing a PG profile page with velo numbers or online posted showcase velos is another way for an 85 and above prospect to provide velo #s to coach.  I wouldn't waste time trying to borrow a radar gun, or money by going out and buying one.  Not cheap. Bottom line, if you got it, flaunt it. If not, I'd leave it out.

I say, don't worry about the radar gun.  But wearing baseball pants is a must for this arm chair director.  Otherwise, I thought a very good video.

Couple of things:

I read some of the other comments the other day but didn't watch the video.  I just watched the video this morning and my first thought was that it didn't look like you were putting much effort into the hitting or fielding.  And I went up the prior comments and saw that Cabbagedad had the same sort of comments about smooth/controlled vs quick/speed/power.  I think the video itself is pretty good but I feel like the pitches you are hitting should be a little harder and you need to get after it a little more and look like you are really hitting the ball.  

Same with the fielding/throwing section - it doesn't look like you're making much of an effort throwing to first.  Think about what a coach gets every day.  He has 2 videos from 2017 players and both field the same way but one looks like he's throwing really hard and the other looks like he's taking it easy.  Which one would you look more closely at?  

Pants = yes

One small thing - in the fielding part you start the video and there are several balls behind you (like you had missed a whole bunch of them).  I'd remove those and make sure any footage you have has a clean outfield (like it is later in the video).  I'm sure it sounds crazy but my first thought was "he must have missed those" and as easy as you are going, you shouldn't have missed any.  

You have control of what the coaches will see the first time they see you.  Make every frame count.