Stike Outs string

See the ball. Hit the ball.
And get a good pitch to hit.

OK RON, my 1st thought would be is he taking to many pitches early. Is he remaining agressive? If he is always hitting behind in the count strikeouts will become a problem.

Slumps happen and with no explanation, even to the best hitters


As for thoughts--take a game off and relax--get away from the game--don't even think about it

quote:

Slumps happen and with no explanation

Nah......

clearly Bluedog another clueless blunder by trhit!

On the topic of slumps...what is the most common cause...timing, pitch recognition, swing mechanics or a combination of factors?

See it.... Make sure he is seeing it and not pulling his head off the ball. All to common a problem.

Darn it--I only wish I was a "smart" as BD and Vance, the cyberspace experts

OK Ron,
I have always felt the best approach in solving a problem is the direct approach except when it comes to the “slump”. There is no such thing as a slump! However there is something we CALL a slump that appears as a dark cloud that creeps over every hitter's head and rains on his batting average from time to time. It rears its’ ugly head as a mechanical or physical problem but it is all mental. To make sure a slump is well engrained in your son’s head be sure to point out his problem areas when his batting average drops. This makes him try harder and the slump thrives on “tying harder”. Let me talk in riddles here. The best way to handle a slump is to recognize that “it” is a slump and then immediatly avoid recognizing it as a slump because a slump only effects a batter if he allows “it” to be present. There are no “slump discussions” in our house. However, if I had a dollar for every time my son experienced a drop in his batting average I would be a rich man. 0 for 6 is only bad if you bat six times. Did you realize you can turn an 0 for 6 performance into a .500 BA if you bat 12 times! Stay positive and ignore the slump because ignoring it is the only way to effectively handle it. Instead of saying slump, say things like ---- “Baseball is a game of averages” ---- and my favorite saying that I have used at least twice this week ---- “Anyone can handle hitting a home run; it takes a real ballplayer to handle striking out”.
Every ball player has to continue to improve. Repetition under the guidance of a good hitting instructor is essential to for a hitter to get better. Let’s not focus on a negative aspect of hitting (the slump) and amplify that obstacle to where it destroys his ability to hit the baseball.
If you feel you need to talk to your son about a slump, you need to do that when he's at the top of his game.
Fungo

Aside from the mental aspects, something COULD have changed physically. He could be facing some slightly faster pitching.

He could be swinging a little to hard. When this happens they seem to be moving everything besides the bat barrel.

I would take a little off during some front toss and feel the barrel releasing through the ball in an exaggerated pepper.

I would hit oppo from a tee daily.

His release might be lost is a long swing that is taking his head off the ball. His perceived power source could have changed

Hitting slumps are mechanical breakdowns.....Efficient body movement becomes not so efficient......

I don't want to speak for Bluedog, but would like to take this opportunity to explain an extension to what he stated about movement.

When a player slumps his movement does change. Yes, we all have been through bad luck where we hit a few missiles and they are caught. This is different. Inefficient movement can be something as minute as Central Nervous System fatigue causing a delayed reaction to a pitch or something as obvious as stepping into the bucket.

Slumps certainly can happen at any time and in my experience start upstairs.

This is why I preach practicing with purpose over and over. Too much going through the motions IMO.

Sorry I missed a day....in that time he has put the ball in play twice but also 2 more Ks. If he was putting the ball in play I would feel better but the fact that he is swinging at good pitches and missing or fouling them was a concern.

Vance - he isn't taking too many pitches. I've paid attention to what he is taking and while they are strikes they were not hitters pitches early in the count. He is swinging but on some good pitches just fouling them or missing them.

Coachric - I don't believe he is pulling his head off the ball but his instructor asked me the same question last night so I'll watch more closely tonight.

Fungo - thanks for some good perspective, I try not to dwell on it but I'm sure I could be more positive. I like you're quote on "it takes a real ball player to handle a strike out". He lost his cool earlier this week and while his Varsity coachs were not at his game they all let him know that was not acceptable.

Jon - do you think the fact that he is doing lawn work with his coach and probably not eating like he should could be that small something you referenced?

All - I took him out to the cages last night after his game and threw to him. While he missed a few pitches it probably wasn't any more than usual (except that I noticed it more) and he was ripping balls as he should. Of course I can't throw a curve and mix things up like he sees in the game. Hopefully that will build his confidence as he (along with 3 other to-be sophmores) was asked to come play up with the JV/Varsity tonight so there is added pressure.

tr hit, you reading?

Okron your son will have bad streaks as everyone says. They all do. It is how they handle it the matters. Let your son and his coach work on it. At 15 he is going to have a lot of streaks both good and bad. Over reacting and over obssesing is going to make it worse.
The best thing you can do is make him realize that failure is what baseball is all about and the ability to deal with it. Not every kid is the same so teach him to deal with it. Pitchers have it even worse.

Not an expert opinion, but it worked for me. First of all like many have stated it is all in how he handles it more than how he stops the slide in batting. Keeps his head up. He knows he can hit and knows he is going to.

When I was in college I went through a "slump". My coach told me to take my bat with me everywhere. I slept with it, ate breakfast with it, carried it with me in my truck where ever I went. He was also my Biology prof so I even took it to class three days a week. I don't know if that is what helped me kick the "slump", but it didn't hurt. The bat became an extension of who I was.

Hope this helps.

Tim

Vance

I always read and digest---but I need not listen to condescending remarks from unfounded sources who just throw things out there with no background to review

I still say that slumps happen with no apparent explanation-- something just happens in the mind and things go from bad to worse---I saw my son as a junior in HS, he went to play Division I ball, go 2 for 32 for his summer travel team to start the season--he asked the coach for and was Ok'd to take a day off--- he came back and played the remaining 35 games of the schedule and ended up hitting around .450 for the season along with winning the MVP in a very prestigious tournament where he went 8 for 11 with 3 HRS in the final two games needed to win the title--

Vance are you reading ?---you do the math pal-- no instructor--no lessons--no internet gurus-- he simply got away for a day--baseball is much more mental that you want to admit and one does not need to ask for help from unfounded sources in cyberspace to cure the ills of a slump

I truly believe the mental aspect controls the players game as much as the physical aspect

Vance and Doggie--one simple question--how do you diagnose a hitters problems without seeing them in person--you cannot do it with words and terms because words and terms mean different things to different people--- do you take a doctors advice without he seeing you and checking you out--will he take your word on your symptoms over the phone? I do not think so

Anyone can be a an expert in cyberspace with it being only words and terms but can they be that smart be one on one with the "patient"--think about it folks !!!!

Vance--are you reading !!!!!!

deaconspirit

You confirm what I said about the mental aspect

I wonder how many baseball coaches are still teaching biology these days -- or teaching anything, for that matter?