In-season lifting: FAQ’s and options

Note: This is an updated version of an article I posted back in 2012. Many players understand the importance of off-season weight training to prepare their bodies for the rigors of a long season.  Back when I played, the full transition of weight training into baseball was not yet complete. There was still a significant […]

The seven deadly sins of a ball player

In no particular order, the Seven Deadly Sins of a Ball Player according to me are listed below. Don’t like them? Make your own list! I will discuss all of them in more detail during an upcoming podcast! On that note, if you didn’t know, I started podcasting! Click the photo in the upper-right of […]

Wrapping up the year

Well, folks, this is my last post for 2018 due to the holiday craziness to come.  My viewership traditionally decreases this time of year so it seems I’m not the only one who is a bit busy with other things.  Over the next few weeks, please do me these two favors: Catch up on posts you may have […]

The best way to wash baseball pants

Watch and learn! https://youtu.be/sqdxglUnmJY

Heading to South Carolina!

Hi everyone! The baseball team from the high school where I teach (North Penn HS) is traveling to Mryle Beach, SC, next week for a Spring trip.  They will be playing at the Ripken Complex.  I am chaperoning and will be helping with the team.   If anyone lives/coaches in that area, shoot me an […]

Happy Holidays!

Yes, we’ve reached that time of year again! Thank you so much for being a follower of Baseball By The Yard!  The site is approaching it’s 7th anniversary and I appreciate all your support! I hope you and your families have a safe and relaxing Thanksgiving and winter holiday season!  However, don’t blink because baseball […]

The Training Lace

Hi everyone! I don’t often promote products but the Training Lace from LaceUp is generating a lot of interest inside and outside the sporting world.  It also has a lot of versatility on the baseball side of things.  I have personally tried them in a variety of baseball related drills and I have to say […]

Happy July 4th week

Hi everyone! No posts this week.  I hope you and your families have a relaxing and fun 4th of July week!   Next post will be Monday.  Good luck if you are playing this week!   Coach McCreary

If you know a young player, make him watch this

Young American kids typically wear $80 spikes.  They use $300+ mako bats.  They play on nice fields and they carry baseball bags filled with 20 pounds of other gear.  Some are the best players in their area.  They have dreams of playing professional baseball and assume their previous success in the game will carry well into […]

How to autograph a baseball

I’m a stickler for doing things right when it comes to the game of baseball.  Right down to how to autograph a baseball. In today’s video tip, I show the wrong way and the right way to do it.  If you are going to do it, do it right!

Happy Easter

Have a great holiday everyone!  Good luck if you are playing this weekend!  Family is going on vacation so the next post will be Tuesday! Enjoy the break!

If you can’t play catch, you can’t play baseball

The last part of the Bible is referred to as “The Last Days” and lists seven prophecies that some claim will predict and lead us towards the end of the world.  If my memory serves me, the first prophecy is “No child shall be able to play catch.”  If that is true then we are well on […]

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

As this year winds down, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank all of you readers and supporters of Baseball By The Yard.  Six years ago I created this website to get what I knew about the game out of my head so as to help players, coaches, and parents learn more about the […]

A note for subscribers

A reminder to subscribers to check their email! Friday is the last day to get a bonus video with the new eBook I created on Off-Season Workouts for players and coaches!  After Friday, 8pm (EST), the bonus video goes away and I make just the eBook available to everyone on the website. If you are […]

Support Baseball By The Yard this holiday season!

Hi everyone! It’s holiday shopping season and if you are like me, you hate going to the stores and standing in lines. That’s why more and more of my shopping is done online so I can have it delivered right to my door. Well, now you can do that and help support Baseball By The […]

Election day: Winners win

Well, it’s election day in America. I stay away from politics on this baseball site but today’s post adds a little to make a point.  After reading, I think you’ll see the connection to winning in baseball both as a player and a team. From scandals and corruption to vulgar language and bad jokes, both […]

Happy Halloween!

Get your halloween freak on!

Comedian’s take on Little League

Thought you would like this.  Comedian Brian Regan about his time in Little League baseball. Enjoy!

Tips for the showcase circuit

It’s showcase season! The Fall is when many high school players hit the showcase circuit in the attempts to woo a college or pro scout into giving up some money.  If you are already a selfish, “me only” player then you may stop reading and move on to another activity.  You won’t learn anything new […]

Tuesday is the day!

Hi everyone!  Just a heads-up that new posts will be starting Tuesday, September 6th!  I hope everyone had a great finish to the summer!  As always, if anyone has any topics you’d like me to cover in written or video form, shoot me an email at BaseballByTheYard@gmail.com.

Thanks and have a great summer!

Hi everyone! Baseball season is now over for me so a break is now in order!  I’m taking August off when it comes to new posts on the site.  Thanks to all those who are avid readers and supporters of the site.  Your comments, emails, Likes, and Re-Tweets keep me going! Have a great rest […]

Need a summer camp?

FYI to any of you in the Philadelphia suburbs who are looking for a baseball camp from June 27-30 for your 8-12 year old … My camp that I run with a scout and former high school and college coach is still accepting players.  Click on the link below for more information!  Let me know […]

Brain teaser

Quick and without Googling it … give me a scenario where a triple play can happen without the ball touching a defensive player!     5-10-16 UPDATE:  Here is one way it could be done … Runners on 1st and 2nd or bases loaded.  Less than two outs.  Infield pop up.  Infield fly is declared and […]

Opening Day Quiz

This week kicked off the MLB season.  As always, one of my favorite columnists (George Will) had his annual quiz to mark the date.  Below is a link to the quiz.  Hopefully you will fare better than I did!  Have a great weekend and best of luck in any of your games! http://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/will040216.php3    

You find what you look for – A short story

A couple years back I wrote a short story called The Stubborn Hitter where the old groundskeeper teaches the young hitter a lesson.  To read it, click HERE.  Today’s post is the second installment.  It’s an old story, only this time with a baseball twist. One hot summer day, the league’s old groundskeeper was out […]

Updates for 2016

Happy New Year everyone!  I wish you all health and happiness … and a great bullpen … in 2016!  I am planning some changes and wanted to let all of you know about some of them. I am in the process of creating numerous full length video seminars on many areas of the game.  It is something […]

Happy Holidays 2015

Happy Holidays to you and your families! Coach Bob McCreary FYI: New posts will begin again on Monday, January 4th!

Happy Thanksgiving!

  I hope all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends!  See you back here for another new post on Monday!  

FYI’s and Resources page

I just wanted to use today’s post to give all of you a heads-up about a few things that are happening at BaseballByTheYard.com. The response to the Winter Seminar Survey has been great!  Thanks so much for all the comments and suggestions.  I hope to have several of the seminars made and ready to go […]

The Winter Seminar Survey

Wintertime means baseball seminars!  I have a bunch of titles in mind to produce but I’d like to get your input.  Could you please take a two-question survey for me?  I’d love to have your input about topics you’d like me to cover.  Basic, Intermediate, or Advanced.  Any area of the game.  Doesn’t matter.  Tell […]

Happy Halloween 2015!

Happy Halloween 2015! The Year of the (Baseball) Shark Attack!

New posts coming soon!

Hi everyone!  I hope your summer and early fall were good ones.  Just wanted to give you a heads-up that new posts (written and video) will be starting up again on Monday, October 20th. I missed doing them and I hope you missed reading/watching them! See you Monday! Coach McCreary

Summer update

Hello everyone!  I hope all of you are enjoying your summer! For a lot of you, baseball is over and you are now getting some much needed R & R.  I know I am!  Because of that, I will be taking a break from posting for the next couple weeks. If you are new to […]

Old batting glove smell

  You know you are a ball player when your old batting gloves smell like heaven and your mother wants to throw them out.   If that smell could be bottled in a cologne, a ball player would wear it!   True?

Tommy John article

Hello everyone!  I hope all of you have great plans for the Fourth of July weekend!  Today’s post is another article written by a friend and coach who is also in the medical profession.  This one is on the Tommy John surgery epidemic.  I hope you like it! Have a great weekend and if you […]

Baseball Dads – Part 3

Comment, like, or share if this is true …

Baseball dads – Part 2

No disrespect to all the baseball moms out there but … only a dad would have thought of this!

Baseball sayings from baseball dads

My father was by far the biggest influence on my baseball career.  I’m sure a lot of people can say the same thing.  I’m sure there is a cave drawing somewhere showing a cave-dad having a stone catch with his son.  He probably grunted “keep your elbow up!” too. My dad had a saying for practically […]

Still looking for summer camps?

Just an FYI if you are in the Philly suburbs … A good friend and I are running our 2nd summer baseball camp at the Central Perk Little League complex in Schwenksville, PA.  You probably know my background but my friend (Coach Rich Coletta) is another former high school and college coach who also coached […]

12u USA Baseball workout

Just a heads up for those in the Philadelphia area …  I will be helping to run a 12u camp for USA Baseball at the end of May.  These camps are where USA Baseball learns about players who might make up their future national teams.  If you or anyone else you know has a player who […]

Spring is just around the corner

Why is it that Fall and Winter are right on time every single year but Spring seems to take forever?  I admit that I might be a little jaded though since I just plowed 8 inches of snow off my driveway. I sure hope all you readers in the warmer climates appreciate what you have. […]

Happy Holidays!

My holiday schedule is getting pretty nuts so today’s post will be the last until Monday, January 5th! So … from all of us at Baseball By The Yard (actually it’s just me), have a wonderful holiday season and a great start to your new year!  I wish you and your family all the best! If you […]

Happy Thanksgiving

To everyone in the Baseball By The Yard community, I wish you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.  We all have much to be grateful for and I hope all of us spend some time focusing on those things over the holiday. Enjoy the break!  I’ll be back on Monday with my next post! […]

A message for hitters

Happy Halloween everyone!  Hope you have a great weekend! My son also wanted to send out a (not so subtle) Halloween message to hitters who like to dive out over the plate …

Baseball By The Yard bats 1.000!

Actually … it’s not 1.000 but 1,000 as in 1,000 POSTS!!  That’s right, today’s post is my 1,000th post for Baseball By The Yard. Way back on Sunday, December 12, 2010, I hit “Publish” for the very first time with a post called First impressions.  To see it click HERE.  I also published my second […]

Correction

Welcome to another week everyone!   I need to make a correction on a video I posted a little while ago.  The post was called Footwork for holding runners at first base.  In the video I mentioned that according to the rules, the only player who is allowed to be in foul territory is the catcher. […]

Cliff Notes and watching baseball

Be honest … how many of you used Cliff Notes instead of reading the entire book in high school English class?  I did.  In my eyes, being forced to read about a big whale or some old guy and the sea were clearly examples of cruel and unusual punishment.  I’d rather take some swings outside. […]

Baseball By The Yard Updates

Hello everyone!  I hope you are all enjoying your summers.  I wanted to pass on a couple updates about the website. 1. The next post will be early next week.  I will be enjoying the July 4th holiday in a super-secret baseball location. 2. A good friend who is a pro scout and I are […]

Random tips for summer ball

To me, there was nothing better than summer ball.  I woke up and other than some chores around the house, the day was just about baseball.  No school and no homework.  Just baseball.   Although every level of summer ball was fun for me, it wasn’t always easy.  The heat and humidity along with multiple […]

Balance and the brain in baseball

The human body is an incredible machine.  Take balance as an example.  When we perform a task such as walking, our body and brain are performing an amazing number of things to make sure we stay in balance.  Balance is so central to our functioning that our body and brain takes care of it all […]

A college coach’s letter about showcases

About a year ago I wrote a post called the Showcase Dance.  I was somewhat critical of the ratings players get at these showcases and more importantly, how some players and parents interpret those numbers.  If you have not read that post, click HERE. The video below proves I’m not the only one who thinks […]

Hang in there!

Here at the Baseball By The Yard complex in my super secret location in SE Pennsylvania, we are once again under a winter storm warning.  We just got hammered with 10 inches of snow yesterday and it looks like more snow and ice to deal with today.   (On a side note, the face of […]

Cold weather gear for baseball

As I type this post, the low temperature for this evening is 2.  No, that’s not a misprint.  For those in the warm states, there is not supposed to be a 7 or an 8 before the 2.  Just 2 degrees.  Tomorrow is supposed to improve dramatically and be six times as hot.  12 degrees. […]

Happy Holidays!

Today will be my last post until Monday, January 6, 2014.  Things are getting pretty hectic with school, the holidays, family gatherings, and such so I just won’t have time to create quality posts.  Here are some things to look forward to in the near future:   I will be posting another interview shortly after […]

Holidays gifts for a Baseball Mom

  Ok, men.  This time of year can be pretty tough for us.  Us guys really don’t care what we get for Christmas.  At least I don’t.  But for the women in our lives … well, let’s just say this is one of those holidays you have to get right. Let’s face it.  The women […]

Happy Thanksgiving!

All of us at Baseball By The Yard (actually it’s just me) wish you and your family a great Thanksgiving holiday!  The next post will be Monday.  For those of you who are subscribers that received the free eBook called Stuck Inside! : A baseball coaches guide to KILLER indoor practices, I hope you are […]

800 posts and counting!

Hello everyone!  Little bit of a milestone today.  It’s the 800th post for Baseball By The Yard.  Wow.  It seems like yesterday I clicked “publish” for the very first time.  For those who are avid readers and viewers of the site, I am very grateful.  For those who are new to the site, I hope […]

What is your baseball IQ?

Last year I read a book called Intangibles by a guy named Geoff Miller.  He is a sports psychologist who has worked with a few major league teams including the Pittsburg Pirates and the Atlanta Braves.  His approach to working with players is very down to earth and his writing is along those same lines. […]

The double whammy of incompetence

This school year I am teaching a course I have never taught before.  It is AP Psychology.  It certainly is a lot of work but it has definitely been rewarding already.  I’ve always been fascinated by the field of sports/performance psychology so when another teacher was needed, I volunteered.   To brush up on my […]

Too much body

When you watch talented players perform they always seem to make the skill look so easy.  For example, a batter like Miguel Cabrera seems to hit effortlessly no matter who is pitching and where the ball is thrown.  Matt Harvey My father always says, “You can’t beat genetics.”  Some people are just naturally gifted athletes. […]

Update

Hi everyone!  Hope all is well with you and your families. I am currently at a baseball coaching summit meeting in a secret facility discussing the future of the game.  Actually, I’m on vacation visiting family.  That means I cannot guarantee posts this week and maybe into next as well.   If you are new […]

You have to be pretty darn good

A few days ago Cole Hamels lost his 12th game of the season.  If they have not yet brought it up, someone is bound to start talking about the possibility of a 20 loss season for Cole. That certainly would be a nightmare of a season for Hamels but on the other hand, you’d have […]

Sorry … back Thursday

Hi everyone! I apologize for the lack of posts Monday and today.  We extended our 4th of July vacation and I am one of those people who have no trouble setting aside the phone and computer for a few more days! Next post will definitely be Thursday! Coach 

Happy July 4th

Last week I helped my college coach run a baseball camp that was about an hour from my house.  To get there, I had to drive right through Valley Forge National Park.  On the way there and back I passed by George Washington’s Headquarters and the rolling hills where his army camped for that famous […]

A view from the third row

A couple Saturdays ago, I attended a Phillies game.  My seats were incredible.  Third row directly behind the catcher.  And I mean directly.  The pitcher, the catcher, and me were in an exact straight line.  See for yourself. Here are my take-aways from the experience: The other half – those who can afford those seats […]

My baseball nightmare

For as long as I can remember I’ve had the same recurring dream.  Actually, it’s more of a nightmare.  It’s always some version of the following. I get called up to the major leagues and I’m the first to arrive at the field on the big day.  My uniform is in my locker and everything […]

Fill-In-The-Blank for parents

Ever play Mad Libs?  Of course you have!  Well, here is one for parents at the end of this season.  Just fill in the blanks with a word or phrase that fits.  Be kind or be harsh.  Your choice! But be careful, there is another coming shortly for coaches! Enjoy! ** FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY […]

You’ve got to be kidding me (Part 2)

So, I’m watching the Phillies game the other night and I have another “You’ve got to be kidding me” moment.  Before I tell you why, take a look at the game’s box score from ESPN.com.   If you just looked at the box score, you’d probably think it was a good game.  A good amount […]

Merry Christmas

Christmas blessings from Baseball By The Yard to all of you and your families!  Wishing the holidays bring you joy, happiness, and a great bullpen! Coach Bob McCreary

$300 for a baseball glove?

Recently I bought a new baseball glove.  That doesn’t sound like a big deal but it’s the first glove I’ve bought since 1990.  I was fortunate that after a season of pro ball under my belt, I received a Rawlings contract which provided me two free gloves of my choosing per year.  Not the million […]

Greater Philadelphia Area Coaches Clinic

For those living in the Philadelphia area, the Greater Philadelphia Area Coaches Clinic at the Grand Slam facility in Malvern will be on February 1 and 2.  I will be presenting a seminar titled “An indoor and outdoor approach to developing outfielders.”  My seminar will be leading off Saturday morning at 9:00am.   I am excited […]

Website updates

Just wanted to pass on some updates from the Baseball By The Yard website. The comments section of the posts are now working.  Up until now there was a very annoying error message that appeared for those trying to comment on a post.  Please feel free to comment now on any post you wish.  I […]

Trout or Cabrera

The Great Political Divide has spread to baseball.  Not between Democrats and Republicans but between people on the field (players and coaches) and Sabermetric people.  If you’ve been following Major League Baseball closely over the past few years, you had to have noticed the increased emphasis on Sabermetric calculations on the worth of players.  A […]

Hurricane Sandy

No game today! My parent’s house is the second roof down on the right.  This photo was taken on the morning before the storm landed.  Will be checking it out this weekend. Cross your fingers for us!

Optimism of baseball

In the last couple days, we’ve seen some remarkable playoff games that
 have come down to the wire.  Specifically, the A’s and the Yankees, just 
the other night, both won in walk-off fashion to the delight of their 
hometown fans and, I’m sure, to the executives of Major League Baseball.
  The Nationals won with a […]

Starting up!

Hi folks.  Just a heads up to tell you that the posts will be starting up again on Monday, September 24.  Hope all is well.  As always, if you have any questions or ideas for posts, send them along!   Coach McCreary

See you soon!

Hello everyone! With summer coming to a close and school starting up soon, I will need to take a break from posting for a little while.  I hope you are enjoying the posts and are finding them useful.   As you might have seen in my bio, I have been fortunate to have been surrounded […]

Disney World USA

Just got back from a week at Disney World in Florida.  I don’t know which is tougher:  hitting a Justin Verlander fastball or corralling three little kids at Disney for a week.  I need a vacation from my vacation.

Curse of the little things

When you are obsessed with the finer points of baseball, it sometimes makes it difficult to watch a game.  The other night I took my five year old son on a “guy’s night out” to watch an American Legion state tournament game.  My son was wide eyed and attentive.  He watched the game like any […]

The realities of being traded

Over the past few years, there have been multiple changes in my teaching profession.  Being a public school teacher today is very different than it was when I started almost 20 years ago.  Curriculum changes, teaching methods, accountability measures, work load, special education, and many other things have radically changed the teaching profession.  That being […]

Create your own “good luck”

The Phillies had a tough, 9th inning loss the other day to the Mets.  It’s been a tough year for the Phightin’ Phils and many     have used the phrase “bad luck” when describing the Phillies woes.  When it comes to the injury bug, sometimes bad luck does come into play.  Being hit by […]

Radio show

I had the pleasure once again to appear on Silvio Canto’s radio show out of Dallas, TX.  The episode is below.  Along with Joey Norris (former college player), we talked for awhile about all things baseball at the half way point in the season. Listen to internet radio with Silvio Canto Jr on Blog Talk […]

Minor league survival kit (Part 2)

My parents said “You will not be ‘friends’ with everyone but you should be ‘friendly’ to everyone.”  That being said, we all know that some friends have a little more value than others.  Below are people every minor league player needs to befriend and why.  I don’t mean to befriend them in a manipulative way […]

Minor league survival kit

Every year, the Major League Amateur Draft brings me back to June, 1989.  It was the year I was drafted into pro ball.  A couple days later a scout from the organization arrived at my house and officially signed me.  He told me I was going to Sarasota, FL, for a mini-camp with other signees.  The organization […]

Thanks Dad!

This website would not be possible with out my father.  Although my dad was never officially a coach of mine growing up, he was the best coach I ever had.  He passed on a passion for the little things within the game of baseball.  Those little things turned into the (currently) 400+ posts you’ll find […]

Errors are part of the game (and life)

There are many things that are great about baseball.  The list could go on forever.  High on that list for me would be that after every inning, the mistakes that the team made are announced for all to hear.  “Three runs on two hits and one error and after four full innings of play, the […]

The pressure of high school baseball

The American League East and the National League East are currently seen by most baseball people to be the best divisions in baseball.  Here are the teams: AL East NL East Baltimore Orioles Atlanta Braves Boston Red Sox Miami Marlins NY Yankees NY Mets Tampa Bay Rays Philadelphia Phillies Toronto Blue Jays Washington Nationals   […]

Importance of team leaders

I’m listening to the Rangers-Yankees game the other night and the announcers are just raving about the Rangers squad.  Over the past two seasons, I admit that I was a little skeptical of the Rangers and their ability to contend in the American League.  Probably not seeing them much on the East Coast didn’t help […]

Is Philly a baseball town?

There certainly is quite a lot of baseball in and around the Philadelphia area.  The Phillies are one of the best teams in the Major Leagues, the suburban public high schools have dominated the state tournament for the past three or four years, and the private schools in the area have done extremely well in […]

My All-Played With/Against Team

I wrote a post the other day about Chipper Jones and how he will be the last guy still playing that I played with or against.  It got me thinking about if I were to come up with a team of guys that I personally played with or against, who would be on that team? […]

Bill O’Reilly: Take me out to the ballgame

The following post was one of political commentator Bill O’Reilly’s latest columns.  The link to this column is here:  http://townhall.com/columnists/billoreilly/2012/03/31/take_me_out_to_the_ballgame/page/full/ It is also reprinted below.  Sad, but this is becoming more of a reality each day.   The urchins were startled. “Hey, let’s go outside and play some baseball,” I said. Outside? Are you kidding […]

The last of the dinosaurs

With the announcement of Chipper Jones’ retirement at the end of the season, the last of my dinosaurs will be moving on.  Of course, he’ll only be 40 so “dinosaur” might not be appropriate, especially with Jamie Moyer still out there.  However, Chipper will be the last guy that I played with or against who […]

Sabermetrics

I feel sorry for Harold Reynolds.  Over the winter on the MLB Channel, the “Top 10 players Right Now” by position shows were a big part of their programming until spring training started.  This year they threw Sabermetrics into the mix.  If you are not aware of Sabermetrics, it is a number/data crunching system that […]

Happy Birthday! … and a survey!

Today is Baseball By The Yard’s first birthday!  On December 12, 2010, I launched the site with two posts: First Impressions and By The Yard. Everyday since then (with the exception of a family vacation during the summer) I have tried to post something valuable for players, coaches, parents, and/or fans.  I hope you found them useful! […]

Baseball books

Of course, being a school teacher by day, I always encourage reading.  If you are approaching the holiday season and not sure what to get that special baseball person, how about some books?  Below are some good choices.  All these books are linked in the upper right of my page.  Clicking on each takes you […]

Cast of characters

The baseball card of a former manager of mine who now is the current 3rd base coach for the Twins. Notice theteam “comedian” between his legs. Probably the best thing about playing baseball is the relationships you build with other people.  When players retire from the game, they often say that what they miss the most is […]

The season is a marathon …

… and the playoffs are a sprint.Going into the playoffs, the best teams in baseball were the Phillies and the Yankees.  Both were built to be successful over the course of 162 games and their records proved that they were.  But playoffs are different.  The 5 game playoff series is a sprint.  It’s just not […]

Why do the best MLB teams lose so much?

A couple weeks ago I was on an online radio show and had a chance to talk about Baseball By The Yard along with many other things in and around baseball.  The show ended with the host bringing up an interesting statistic.  He said that major league baseball is unique in that the best teams […]

Stepping down as head coach

About 10 days ago I officially announced that I was stepping down as head coach of my high school team.  This is something I have been mulling over for a couple years now and just finally came to the conclusion that it was time.  Being a head coach at any level takes up an enormous […]

Never forget

Today is a tough day for America.  Like many others, I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing on that morning ten years ago.  The stories of sacrifice of everyday people on that day will last forever.  Americans are a very forward thinking people.  It’s in our nature as a culture.  It’s […]

If you’re good, they will find you.

I just got back from a family vacation that took us into the Mount Vernon area of Ohio to visit relatives.  My wife is a high school guidance counselor who takes every chance she can to visit colleges and universities so that her students can be more informed about their college choices.  We went to […]

Pay vs Job Security

In every career there are varying degrees of pay and job security.  Professional baseball is no different.  Some players are extremely high paid and others make closer to the league minimum.  Some players have their “cup of coffee” in the major leagues and others seem to stick around forever.  There could be entire books written […]

What can we learn from a chicken?

Ok.  So I occasionally look for stupid things online.  Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on your perspective), I tend to see just about everything through the eyes of a baseball coach and usually end up asking myself “how can I apply this to baseball?”  You might say it’s a gift or, if you are my wife, […]

The game is hard

You can hide here … You have to give a lot of credit to baseball players if they are still playing at the high school level and beyond.  So much of our modern society pushes them away from a sport like baseball.  Playing the game well takes an incredible amount of skill.  Acquiring that skill […]

The big inning

Want to see how important the “big inning” is in baseball?  Try this experiment.  Look at the box scores of all the games played on a particular day.  Could be MLB games, college games, and/or high school games.  Look at them all and do the following.  Count how many games the winning team scored an […]

Good or bad?

I saw in the paper the other day that Blue Jays pitcher JoJo Reyes finally won a game.  He almost broke the record of consecutive starts without a win.  It ended at 28 with his win against the Cleveland Indians.  29 games without a win is one of those records that no pitcher wants to have. Here […]

Ladder of Accountability

About a year or so ago, I was flipping through the TV channels and came across a speaker who was speaking at a conference.  It turned out that the speaker was a gentleman by the name of Bruce Gordon, who served as the CEO of the NAACP for a stretch.  What caught my attention was […]

Kevin Manero – The case for American Legion baseball

Today is Baseball By The Yard’s first guest post.  It comes from my right-hand man, Coach Kevin Manero, who along with being an assistant of mine at the high school level, is also an American Legion coach.  He is a former high school and Division I pitcher at LaSalle University and is a tremendous baseball guy.  […]

Good v Great

Although there are a lot of Yankee haters out there, most baseball fans would concede that Derek Jeter has been a great player.  His longevity and career stats prove it.  But what makes him great?  Does he have a great arm?  No.  He has a good arm.  Does he have great speed?  No. He has good speed.  Does he have great […]

Track the ball to the catcher

In a previous post called Off-season Hitting: An overlooked Drill I talked about the advantages of standing in when pitchers are throwing indoors or in the bullpen.  One tip I recommended while doing it was to follow the ball all the way back to the catcher’s mitt.  This allows the hitter the ability to see any late […]

A dog and her ball

The past week has been a tough one for my family.  Our 11 year old Golden Retriever (Cassie) passed away unexpectedly last Monday morning.  So why would I mention this on a baseball blog?  Because she was a great role model for any young person who wishes to become a great baseball player.  If they […]

Learning from baseball photos

There are probably a thousand reason why this time of year is great for baseball fans, players, and coaches. One of the things I look forward to is all the great photos from spring training.  These pictures showing warm, sunny skies and terrific fields let you know that warmer days and baseball games are right […]

How to wear a baseball uniform

Now that players and coaches are gearing up for the approaching season, I thought it appropriate to write about something I find to be very important with regards to treating the game with respect.  There are many ways players and coaches can disrespect the game without most people even noticing.  That’s not the case when it comes […]

A parent talks to a child before the first game

I don’t remember where I found this and still don’t know who wrote it but I always get the chills when I read it.  Great players usually are supported by great parents who have a good perspective on the game. This is your first game, my child.  I hope you win. I hope you win for your […]

Cardinal sins of baseball (part 3) – Pitching

Cardinal Sins Part 1 and Part 2 were on Defense and Offense respectively.  Here’s a separate one for pitching. Click HERE for a site that sells a t-shirt for this design. A come-backer to the pitcher and he does not know who he’s throwing it to at second base on a double-play.  The middle infielders […]

Cardinal Sins of Baseball (Part 2) – Offense

Yesterday it was Cardinal Sins on defense.  Today it’s offense! Click HERE to go to a site thatsells t-shirts with this design! Taking a called third strike, especially with runners in scoring position.  Probably the thing that aggravates me the most as a coach. Missing a sign from a coach. Swinging at the first pitch […]

Cardinal Sins of Baseball (Part 1) – Defense

A “Cardinal Sin” refers to the most important behaviors people should avoid.  In baseball, cardinal sins involve the worst mistakes players can make on the field.  Old Timers probably have a more extensive list than today’s players which is why it is tough for some in the older baseball generation to watch today’s modern game. […]

Parents after tryouts: This one’s for you

Dear Parents/Guardians,                 This time of year brings mixed emotions to the baseball coaching staff at _____High School.  Although we are excited for the start of another season, we know that this time of year involves tryouts and the painful reality that not all the players can make the team.  The number of kids trying out provides […]

Don’t be this kid.

Funniest manager / umpire interaction?

Studio 42 on the MLB Network had a show on the other night about umpiring.  Lots of great stories about the sometimes funny, sometimes turbulent interactions between managers and umpires.  Here are my two best true stories involving a manager and an umpire. First Place This story involves a minor league manager. I became the pitching […]

Best mound conversation ever

The other day a friend asked me “what do coaches tell pitchers when they go to the mound?”  It reminded me of the best mound conversation I ever heard.  First, here’s some background on the story.I was playing shortstop at the time but because I had pitched in college as well, I always was interested […]

Breaking in a new glove

I’m sure many players received a new glove for the holidays and now are itching to get outside and try it out.  Here are some tips for breaking in your new glove correctly and how to care for it afterwards.Put away the oil.  Remember smearing glove oil all over your brand new glove to help […]

Show up, suit up, shut up, and play hard!

The motto “Show up, suit up, shut up, and play hard” is a good guide for success on and off the field.  I first saw this motto on the blackboard of my father’s high school wrestling room.  He was a longtime teacher and coached baseball and wrestling at the high school and college levels.  I […]

Practicing in the off-season months

Looking outside and seeing practically blizzard conditions outside of Philadelphia brings back memories of practicing baseball when I was younger.  I recognized early on that if I wanted to play professional baseball my competition was not just the kids in my neighborhood or just my school.  It was not even going to be the kids […]

Bench Player Mistakes

Possibly the hardest job in baseball. The final post in the common mistakes players make series.Failure to accept their role.  I have never met a baseball player who was happy that they were not playing in the game.  As you move up in levels, the game gets tougher and the players get more competitive.  Telling […]