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Strikes 2

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KennySmallsKennySmalls500+ posts
baseball mom,

yea i have only gone there once so far but by the one thing he changed it is making me feel so much more comfortable up at the plate and i am hitting everything hard now

shaun, steve told me that i was spinning too much on my back foot and he told me to concentrate landing on the inside toe of my front foot.. i feel a lot more balanced now
P playhard100+ posts
kenny-if you remember i told you you were overpivoting which will make you fall though have not seen you in long while.landing the first two toes will help you keep your weight back for those of you that cant learn to hit agaist your leg but be careful because i find kids now then leaving their weight on their backside(it is a fine line,too much of 1 thing or not enough of 1 thing can be bad).if leaving wght. on backside then can lead to dropping shoulder,etc.,etc.also,can leads to making it difficult to pivot thus not allowing you to open your hips thus slowing your hands down(making hard to clear your hands).kids should hit against their leg unless you run like a deer.also by landing 1st two toes,can lead to a kid not utilizing his full weight shift to max his hitting abilities.eventually,you will learn to hit against your leg and the back foot(pivot)will actually come off the groung to max hitting.if teach that to kids the next thing you may see is kids lunging or hitting over their leg.if you want i can go on and on in more depth.also,could have saved you $!
CP college playerMember
I just wanted to stick up for steve,when that one coach(lol)said it wasnt worth the money,to work out with him,i would never be playing if it wernt for him ,and i have worked out with,Gerald Clark tulane,Bo flowers tigers,Joe landi,StFrancis,Kevin Morris Cod,Matt Martino Mesa,Bob Dilerberta Lsu,Jeff Maitland Iowa,Sun times PLayer of the year,Kyle Obrien,Todd Schultz,Paul Pedi,Ryan Anetsberger,Ask them if it was worth the money!
P playhard100+ posts
dear mr. college player-who ever said it was not worth the money? if you read the post correctly and were aware that kenny smalls plays for top tier then you would know i do not charge my ball players therefore that results in kenny saving dollars but kenny lives so far away it is hard to get together.scott and steve are good guys and do a good job.please do not read in between the lines because anybody that knows me know i am not afraid to say what is on my mind.if i thought they sucked i would tell them i thought they sucked.i also, like many other instructors have long ,long list of players that we also have helped put in college and pros.about 10 years ago when you were anywhere between 8,9,10,11,12 years old i , like many other instructors,were giving lessons to many kids that have now moved on.good luck to you in baseball. p.s. youy should give yourself more credit for making your dream come true,it up to the instructor to give you the knowledge and help motivate the players but it is the player that ultimately puts in all the hard work.again good luck to you!
B BoomerIL1,000+ posts
playhard, Strikes3100, talentforthegame, Malee

Take your pick!!!! All are talented instructors. Anyone of them might focus on a particular area of the swing, or might approach the 'swing' concept in a different manner.

Anyway you look at it, they all can, and have, contributed to some players success. There is nothing wrong with going to another instructor to get another viewpoint of this most controversial aspect of the game, the baseball swing.

It's your decision who you feel most comfortable with. Just don't go to the instructors who approach training like drill sargents, and make you do push-ups when you don't grasp a concept quickly enough for their likeing.

It's your future, you make the decision!!! Cool

"You observe a lot by watching."
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P playhard100+ posts
boomer-it is funny you say that.i tell some kids if they do not finish eyes contact,after a million attempts to do so,i say they will do10 push ups each time they look.when you put something on the table the results are great.actually though i never made a kid do a push up.i keep doubling ujp til they get it right.i continue to back peddle out of my bet.it works!
B BoomerIL1,000+ posts
playhard.....

Not kidding!! This happened 2 years ago. Now maybe this was just an isolated incidence with my son, I don't know. But I have talked to other parents who said this instructor does things a little bit differently.

My son took a combination hitting/fielding lesson for 1 hour. During the fielding part, my son wasn't doing the drill either correctly or fast enough. He made him do 10 push-ups "to get his attention", and 10 more evey time he didn't do it the way he wanted. He got my attention!!.

It'll be interesting to see how his travel team does this summer.

"You observe a lot by watching."
L lynxpitcher2210+ posts
last year, I couldnt hit anything, I batted .167 in the 13 varsity games I started. In the Off-season I worked on a stance. Right now I am batting .750 in the first 2 games we have played.

What I do is, stride before the pitcher throws it and then pivot and swing at the same time. THe only problem I think I will face is that, if a pitcher is smart he will throw me outside pitches, and since I stride really early I am not sure if I can reach the outside without hit a lazy pop fly, or groundball.

Do you think I should try something else? Or should I stick with this as long as it is working right now?

"Every pitch should be like your last"
L linedrive1110+ posts
>>>>>>>>>>>>MR jca pops. would you be mr bill sing ? your son was drafted by the cubs,from the joliet area.And i know he used to drive all the way to strikes for lesson.How is he doing?I know he went 2for 3 with the big club CUbs in spring training,saw him hit a doulbe with the Cubs in arizona,where is he now?
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B BoomerIL1,000+ posts
LTBaseball2....

It's funny that you mentioned this, since yesterday I was at Strikes talking with Steve. Scott Nelson walks in with this young man, who was wearing this cool Cool looking baseball cap. This young mans name is Justin Olson.

It turns out that this man, along with Blake Whaley, was an instructor at Strikes during the summer of '98, and was working with my 10 year old, at that time - 15 year old now, on hitting and fielding. Justin and Blake both went to OPRF, and Steve Hayward was there 14 year old baseball coach.

Well, to make a long story short, Justin Olson went to Univ. of Illinois for 4 years under Itch, and was just promoted to high 'A' ball for the Minnesota Twins. Pitches 96-97. Justin then tells us that Jason Shelly, also an off-season instructor at Strikes, just got promoted to AA for the Milwaukee Brewers.

Also, I forgot to mention that Bo Flowers was promoted to high 'A' ball for the Detroit Tigers.

LT......you hit the nail-on-the-head smash when you said, "inspirational", "confidence boost", "comfortable". That's why my son goes to Strikes!

"You observe a lot by watching."
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MO mom of baseball player10+ posts
Thanks Beenthere and Rawlings, you two are so knowledgeable,i went to strikes to see the place and my son was blown away with all the pictures on the wall,and the baseball music playing,and he liked how the instructors worked with the kids,i think we found a new home Smile!Mr beenthere we also saw your son's baseball card there on the wall,nice looking kid,how long did he play for the mets?
B BeenthereILHSBBWeb Old Timer
He was drafted in the 8th round out of Mississippi State and he played in the Mets organization for 3 years and then Independent Ball for 2 years. He has tons of friends in the big leagues, including his teammates from the USA Junior Team (1990 edition), Scott Spiezio (Angels), Jay Powell (Texas Rangers and Paul's roommate at MSU in 1990-1991) and Shawn Green (Dodgers).

My younger son, Ryan (now nearing 6'3", 185#), has more skills than Paul(about 5'11", 160" when he was drafted) had and is bigger, stronger and faster.

He just doesn't have Paul's work ethic and "I'll run right over you!" attitude on the field. Maybe it it too easy for him right now and it will change a bit this spring and into next year in college.

--

As an aside...Paul was/is a big fan of Strikes. He was tutored by Steve Hayward.
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B BeenthereILHSBBWeb Old Timer
Mom...I am.

I am also very proud of the fine young men that I watched earlier in their careers and then coached in the summer of 2002 with the Upper Deck Cougars team.

Two that are gone are Daryl Maday at Arkansas; and, Griffin Baum at Emory U in Atlanta.

The 2004 graduating crop (when they all commit) will reflect a "Who's Who" of college baseball programs in America.
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B BoomerIL1,000+ posts
Been.......

Now, now, remember "priorities"! His, not yours!!!! You and I have had this conversation before.

I will tell you this, that since my son stopped having a girlfriend, or at least spending a lot of time with her (they're just friends now), he is doing many more things with baseball, and HIS friends. I think he is in some ways happier now.

When baseball season starts, and then later on, going-off to college, he will become more focused. You'll see. Highly intelligent individuals seem to be able to handle more things.

"You observe a lot by watching."
DD Double Deuce10+ posts
Boomer.....
I totally agree with you on becoming more focused. I just started my freshman year in college and it isvery hard balancing baseball and school. I have learned that you canno neglect any of your priorities in college, family, academics, and baseball. Everything else comes last and many people need to get that straight in college because some people choose to not go to class and then their grades suffer. I have finally gotten used to the college life and balancing a healthy dose of baseball with my academics. I totally agree with you that going to college really disciplines you because it really has for me.
B BoomerIL1,000+ posts
Double Deuce......

You say you have become more disciplined, which means you were also focused in high school. It tells me that hard work pays-off.

You see, we as parents maybe push or shove you kids along to do things that you don't like very much, i.e., chores around the house, homework, cleaning-up after youeself, laundry, etc. This is not for our benefit, but for yours.

That school you are going to is your school. You made the choice. You worked hard to get the grades to get there. You made the choice to become a CPA, or doctor, or pilot, or architect, whatever.

The point I'm trying to make is this.......this your life, your future!!!!Not your parents or your friends. You need to be happy with your decisions, not your parents(I'm going to catch flack on this one).

Doing your school work is of the utmost importance!!! NO COMPROMISES!!! Yes, you will have other activities, but you have learned how to "juggle" that time. You realize the significance of hard work. Knowing this has, and will prepare you for greater things down the road.

I'm not directing this post at you personally, and this so important for young people to understand, there is life after baseball. Hopefully an injury doesn't sideline someone, or a change of interest. Without that education, life in the working world is much more difficult.

It sounds like your having fun. Maybe you could share some of your experiences with the other websters on the other 'thread', on these boards.

Keep up the good work.

"You observe a lot by watching."
deucedocdeucedoc500+ posts
Hey pops, you sound like a guy who might know a good friend of mine that I played a few years for in Joliet back in early 80s. Do you know Don Reed? Don was this past Winter inducted into the Cape Cod Hall of Fame as the winningest coach in Cod History. I am not from the South but I played 7 days a week for him with Bob Mussers Sports.
JA just a dad 4410+ posts
Surfing the topic's, Wanted to point out that Joe Despensa, Dan Weston, Connor POwers, Bill Bookford,2006, All-State player's all of whom took lesson's at Strikes. Last year 05 was Powers and Brewer,and the year before was Schultz, Anetsberger,Angel,then iam not sure,but I know Rodeghero,Kyle Obrien,Matt Bolt, well Strikes must be doing somthing right,20 some all-State player's in the last 9 year's.

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