Baseball Factory Four Point Checklist – Part 3

Steve Sclafani: All Access Pass

Are you playing against top competition?

This week we are going to discuss part three of the Baseball Factory four point checklist; What type of competition are you playing against?

We already discussed the cornerstone of the four point checklist which is academics. We have also discussed the importance of training and developing your strengths and weaknesses. Now it’s time to get down to business and test our new found improvements in a game situation.

Are you testing yourself against top-notch competition? Have you been outside of your state and competed nationally? Have you played against players who are a year or two older then you?

In the game of baseball (and life, for that matter) we need to constantly test ourselves and make adjustments to our game if we want to continue to improve and give ourselves a chance to play at a higher level.

While it is certainly fun to mash the local rec pitching and hit .500, in the long run a combination of building your confidence locally and getting humbled nationally will normally be the right mix for a high school player’s development.

Another important factor is the type of coaching you are receiving as the game gets more difficult and moves faster. Do you have a coach who can help you to interpret the game? For example, after swinging at a first pitch curve ball and popping it up, is your coach discussing your overall approach and game plan as a hitter with you?

Do all you can to play on some national teams with top notch coaching and competition. It will help you to grow as a player and you will better understand why accelerated training is important for your maximum development.

Think you have what it takes to play on an Under Armour/Baseball Factory National Team? See you at a tryout near you!


Steve Sclafani is the CEO and Founder of Baseball Factory. Steve's ability to create new opportunities for baseball players nationwide and to develop exposure vehicles for players has revolutionized the player development and recruiting industry. His contacts and strategic partnerships have led the way to Baseball Factory being recognized as the top recruiting service by The National High School Baseball Coaches Association. Steve's scouting ability and penchant for matching players up to the right college baseball programs has lead to over 10,000 Baseball Factory and Team One players playing college baseball, $500 million in scholarships, and over 1,500 players selected in the MLB draft. Steve is a 1993 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania where he played second base.

Listen Closely

Rob Naddelman: Through a Parent’s Eyes

Are you a good listener? Are you distracted when you are talking to your children? Are you thinking about something else, or are you living in the present moment?

Being a good listener is a wonderful character trait to possess. I work very hard each day on trying to be a respectful listener. A close friend of mine says that she tries to listen to her colleagues “with her entire body,” which I think is an accurate way to describe a good listener. I constantly have to fight the urge to cut someone off mid sentence and interject my viewpoint during a discussion. In the end, this type of behavior is disrespectful and the person on the other end feels not validated.

Do you really listen to your kids? Do you try and help them understand their feelings or do you constantly put your feelings and thoughts on them? I think so many arguments and inter-family conflicts could be avoided if people really listened to one another and respected the other person’s position.

Being a good listener will come into play many times in the college recruiting process and the baseball development timeline. Make sure you show your child some respect and really hear what he has to say when he expresses his opinion. You many not always agree, but it will go a long way to creating a healthy relationship with your son.


Rob Naddelman is the President of Baseball Factory. Naddelman is a former two-time All Ivy League Third Baseman at the University of Pennsylvania, where he competed in a College World Series Regional. He has served as the President of Baseball Factory for the past 13 years, and also is the Executive Director of Baseball Factory's charitable arm The B.A.S.E. - H.I.T. Foundation. Naddelman and Steve Sclafani (CEO) have been featured in Business Week and CNN for their work in building Baseball Factory into the nation's leader in player development and college placement.

The Power of Now

Kelly Kulina: Your Link to the Colleges

Greetings from Kiwanis-Wallas Park! For the past two weeks, the Baseball Factory has been operating the Kelly Kulina All-Star and Elite Summer Baseball Camps in the Howard County area. The camp was designed to teach and hone the fundamental skills of baseball, while all of the proceeds went to the B.A.S.E.-H.I.T. Foundation. Even as our focus shifted away from recruiting and onto youth development, I had a chance to speak with many of the campers about my experiences with the recruiting process, and I feel that there are still some excellent points to make to our younger prospective student-athletes.

As a former associate head coach and recruiting coordinator, I tried looking at prospective student-athletes in terms of the “Three Aces”: 1) Attitude, 2) Academics and 3) Athletic Ability. While athletic ability may be an obvious choice, I think too many players overlook attitude and academics. If a player can’t show me the attitude necessary to compete and willingness to learn, I don't want him on my team. And as for academics, coaches simply do not have the time to waste on athletes who are academic liabilities. Everyone loves to work on their game, but few spend the same amount of time on their studies, which ultimately, will make or break you in the end. For you younger players, you all can work on these two areas starting today- make them a priority!

My staff and I spent a great deal of time trying to instill lessons that can be applied to both on and off the baseball field. The biggest point I made to our campers is that, no matter how hard you throw or hit the ball, you won’t be playing college baseball if you don’t show a coach:

• that you have the discipline to improve your skills beyond physical ability and, more importantly, study hard and effectively in the classroom.


• a willingness and an interest in learning about the game.


• character inherent to a team leader, and someone that will always represent themselves (and their school) in the best way possible.

Granted, not all of this has to start on a baseball field. Instead of finding ways to avoid chores, try actively volunteering to help your parents with everyday tasks around the house. As for school, be proactive and ask your teachers for areas they believe you can improve on, and how to do so. I believe you’ll find that if you change how you approach daily issues and activities, you’ll find a change for the better on the field, as well.

There is no better time than now to focus on being a better player, student and person. The intangibles such as leadership and self-discipline don’t happen overnight. It takes a concentrated effort to change your habits, whether it be how you approach homework, chores or taking extra infield groundballs. So, why not give yourself as much time as you need? Just like in the recruiting process, there is no such thing as “putting it off until later.” Unfortunately, in life, “later” happens in the blink of an eye!


Kelly Kulina is the Senior Vice President of College Recruiting at Baseball Factory. Kulina is a former Associate Head Coach and recruiting coordinator with the University of Maryland. As a former recruiting coordinator for ten years in the ACC, Kulina has vast contacts and is widely respected throughout the nation. From 1989 to 2000, Kulina coached 46 players who were selected in the MLB draft.

Carlos Quentin – Chicago White Sox

Justin Roswell: Where Are They Now?

During my high school career I had the privilege of competing against players including Cole Hamels (Philadelphia Phillies), Mark Prior (San Diego Padres), Adrian Gonzalez (San Diego Padres), Barry Zito (San Francisco Giants), Danny Putnam (Oakland A’s), Brian Barden (St. Louis Cardinals), and several other current big leaguers. But no other player that I played against stood out more than Carlos Quentin.

I remember one home game in particular. Los (as his teammates called him) had already hit homeruns to left center and right center. He came up for his third at bat, while facing a teammate of mine and future draft pick Joshua Muecke (AAA Round Rock-Houston Astros). Josh threw a split finger that grazed the dirt and Los proceeded to hit it 400+ feet over the batters eye. To this day, I cannot remember a high school player hitting a baseball that hard and that far. After his high school career, he went onto make a name for himself at Stanford University.

The Arizona Diamondbacks drafted him in 2003 and after getting the call to the majors in 2006, he received limited playing time at the big league level. Since being traded to the Chicago White Sox during the off-season, Los’s numbers have exploded. At the All-Star break he is hitting .275 with 22 HR’s and 70 RBI’s. As you can clearly see, Los broke out of his shell and has become the player we always thought he would be.

Carlos attended a couple of Team One Showcases during his high school career.

Team One West 1998
Team One National 1999

We wish him the best of luck and many successful years as a big leaguer. In addition to Carlos, eight other Team One and Baseball Factory alumnus played in the 2008 MLB All-Star Game. Check out the All-Star Review.

Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers, OF
Aaron Cook, Colorado Rockies, RHP
Roy Halladay, Toronto Blue Jays, RHP
Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers, OF
Ian Kinsler, Texas Rangers, OF
Brian McCann, Atlanta Braves, C
Nate McLouth, Pittsburgh Pirates, OF
David Wright, New York Mets, 3B

18 Team One and Baseball Factory alumnus have now played in the All-Star Game with a total of 29 appearances. Roy Halladay leads the way with five total selections (2002, 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2008).


Justin is the Director of Team One Baseball. Justin Roswell joined the Baseball Factory in 2001 serving in the scouting, event coordination, and player development departments. In 2007 he became the Senior Director for Team One Baseball, the showcase division of Baseball Factory. As Senior Director, he leads the player identification process for all Team One Regional Showcases. Justin also runs the Under Armour Tournament Division. Justin graduated from California State University - Fullerton, where he received his degree in Business Administration, with an emphasis on management.

Are you giving back?

Rob Naddelman: Through a Parent’s Eyes

As a parent, I think one of the most valuable gifts you can teach your children is to give back to your community at large. In my opinion, community service (and or donating to a cause) should be a part of every family in some capacity. It is important for young people to participate so they can gain perspective and appreciate all that they have. Here are some tips to start giving back if you are not currently making it a priority:

1. Find a cause that appeals to your family. Baseball would be a natural fit. You can find a local or national organization and donate old baseball equipment and uniforms that your child no longer uses. There are many groups that would be happy to take it off your hands and it is much better than throwing it away and having it sit in a garbage landfill.

2. On your child’s birthday, encourage folks that normally give gifts to make a donation to a charity instead. Have your child research the charity with you. My family does this each year for our daughter’s birthdays. We have collected books, pajamas, toys, and clothes and made multiple donations to local organizations like Bright Beginnings. The organizations are so grateful and it teaches our kids the importance of helping others.

3. As parents, instead of throwing away your old clothes, books, and house wear items that you no longer need, find a local shelter to give the items to. Bring your child with you when you drop off the items.

Giving back to the community has always been something that is paramount to my family and to our Company. Back in 1994, when the Baseball Factory was incorporated, we also started a non-profit organization called The B.A.S.E.-H.I.T. Foundation, which stands for Baseball & Academic Student Enhancement – Helping Inner City Teams. We run a six team middle school academic and baseball program for at-risk children in Baltimore City. We provide coaches, tutors, equipment, uniforms, bus transportation and training for the participants. It has been a great way for our Company and staff to give back to our community and provide an organized, safe, and motivational program for children to achieve success in the classroom and on the field. It has been one of the most gratifying parts of our work!

Rob Naddelman is the President of Baseball Factory. Naddelman is a former two-time All Ivy League Third Baseman at the University of Pennsylvania, where he competed in a College World Series Regional. He has served as the President of Baseball Factory for the past 13 years, and also is the Executive Director of Baseball Factory's charitable arm The B.A.S.E. - H.I.T. Foundation. Naddelman and Steve Sclafani (CEO) have been featured in Business Week and CNN for their work in building Baseball Factory into the nation's leader in player development and college placement.

Don’t Call it a Comeback…

Jason Budden: Un-Common Sense?

Josh Hamilton has been here for years. Well, it depends on how you define the word, “here.” Josh Hamilton’s talent has been “here” for years. The rest of him took quite a long and rocky journey to finally make it to the big leagues.

At this point, you’ve probably heard some of Hamilton’s story, but here a short recap: Hamilton went from one of the most hyped high school prospects in the nation*…to #1 overall pick by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 1999 MLB Amateur Draft…to cocaine and heroin addict…to baseball drop-out…to recovering addict…to working the wood chipper for his brother’s tree service business…to Rule 5 Draft pick by the Cincinnati Reds…to MLB outfielder…to MLB All-Star with the Texas Rangers…to the hero of the 2008 MLB All-Star Home Run Derby.

Not such a short story? How can it be with so many twists and turns? Talk about ups and downs, and once again, that is the short story. Back in 2007, ESPN the Magazine ran an amazing article on Josh, after he made his triumphant return to baseball. He has come a long way, and as he tells it, he is finally winning his personal “fight with the devil.”

Watching him hit 28 mammoth home runs during the first round of last night’s Home Run Derby, I was filled with a sense of joy. I have no connection to Josh, but I found myself rooting for him to succeed. Rooting for him to drill each pitch even farther than the last. I think that it was his joy and happiness that was coursing through the veins of almost every fan in Yankee Stadium last night. His humble approach to life, now that he has come back from the depths of addiction, makes it hard to root for anything but his success.

So where does this story go from here. Only time will tell. Addiction is a very serious thing that affects millions of people. No matter what he accomplishes on the field, he will be faced with that addiction for the rest of his life. But regardless of what’s next for Josh, I know I’ll be rooting for him, because if we changed places, I know that he would be rooting for me.


*Josh Hamilton was named the Top Prospect at the 1998 Team One National Showcase


Jason Budden is the Vice President of Operations and Marketing at Baseball Factory. Jason joined the Baseball Factory in 1997 while still a junior in high school. After going through the Baseball Factory's college recruiting program he was placed at Johns Hopkins University where he played two years of college baseball before graduating with a degree in Economics. After working part-time at the Factory throughout college, Jason joined the team as a full-time employee in January 2002 when he was promoted to Director of Marketing. He currently oversees all marketing projects and sponsorship opportunities at Baseball Factory. He is also in charge of development and marketing for Baseball University, the leader in online baseball education and a division of Baseball Factory.

The Truth About the NCAA Clearinghouse

Kelly Kulina: Your Link to the Colleges

One of the more frequent questions our staff gets throughout the recruiting/college search process is the NCAA Clearinghouse. I’d like to take some time to explain what the Clearinghouse is, how it operates and what you need to do to make sure that you’re on track to accomplish what you want to at the next level, both academically and athletically.

The NCAA Clearinghouse, now known as the NCAA Eligibility Center, regulates, maintains and processes all eligibility certifications. In plain English, the Clearinghouse makes sure that all prospective student athletes at the D-I or D-II level are academically eligible for intercollegiate sports and are certified as amateurs. For more information on academic eligibility requirements, check out the NCAA Freshman-Eligibility Standards Quick Reference Sheet. Assessing a player’s “amateurism” simply means checking for professional contracts, prize money or placement on professional rosters. Your amateur status will determine your eligibility for scholarships, team practice and intercollegiate play. For more information on amateurism, please see the NCAA’s Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete.

Players that register with the Clearinghouse will fall into one of three categories: 1) qualifier, 2) partial qualifier and 3) non-qualifier. A qualifier is eligible for scholarship money, team practices and games. A partial qualifier is eligible for athletic aid and team practice, but cannot play in intercollegiate games for one year. A non-qualifier cannot practice or play games in his first year. One important distinction to make is that being academically eligible for intercollegiate play is NOT the same thing as being admitted into the school. It is possible to be eligible and not offered admission to a particular school, and vice-versa!

When I was coaching at Jacksonville University and Maryland in my early years, each individual university’s Admissions Office had to determine eligibility for their incoming student-athletes. When the Clearinghouse first came about, there were a lot of concerns of how it was going to work, and what benefit it would have for student-athletes, athletic departments and academic standards. More so, would it more trouble than it was worth? After seeing both ways, I can honestly say that, after some bugs had been worked out of the system, it has definitely made a tremendous difference for admissions and college coaches. The effect on academic standards is pretty obvious, but even for coaches, the ability of the Clearinghouse to provide accurate and updated information regarding a prospect’s academic record is a major help in the recruiting process.

For players, registering with the Clearinghouse during the junior year may prove to be a useful compass when deciding which level of athletics to pursue from an academic standpoint. For example, if a prospect has a 2.0 GPA and historically does not test well, it may be worthwhile to look into community college. As I have stressed in my previous blog entries, finding the right fit academically is very important for your overall happiness and success in college. If you’re struggling with academics now, playing sports at the D-I or D-II level may not be the best formula for success on the field or the classroom right now.

So, what does all this mean? College coaches can no longer afford to waste time with “borderline” players. There are too few spots for many prospective student-athletes out there that are comparable on the field. The players that get the job done in the classroom are the ones that will get the last spot on the team, not because they’re a better player, but because they are less likely to be a liability down the road. It’s important to remember that coaches aren’t just looking for the best players; they’re looking for the best players that are going to represent their school, community and program in a positive way. Position yourself to be an asset, not a liability, for a coach and a baseball program!

The Curveball

Matt Schilling: From the Batting Cage

On a daily basis I see hitters both young and old struggle with one particular pitch. Day in and day out I see guys swing and miss and wave at this demon of a pitch. I see the same mistakes over and over again and it drives me crazy. In college I majored in History. There is one quote attributed to history that I love and it crosses over all walks of life and especially into baseball. "Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it." In other words, if you don't pay attention you can make the same mistakes over and over again. Or even better, learn from your mistakes. This demon pitch that I am referring to is the curveball.

I see hitters struggle with this pitch endlessly. At the big league level Wily Mo Pena quickly comes to mind. This guy can hit the ball a mile and has tremendous bat speed, yet he is not a very productive hitter because he has one enormous weakness...he can't hit a curveball and pitchers know it. I go out and watch high school and youth games and I see much of the same.

From my point of view it appears that three major problems are happening:

1. Hitters have no idea how to hit a curveball.

2. Hitters have no idea what the pitcher is trying to do with the curveball.

3. Hitters do not practice hitting curveballs enough.

Over the next few weeks I will be discussing a plan of attack for hitters on how to attack this evil demon.

Quote of the week:

"Don't measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should accomplish with your ability" - John Wooden, legendary basketball coach


Matt Schilling is the Senior Director of On-Field Instruction at Baseball Factory. Schilling graduated from Coastal Carolina University, where he was an All-Conference and All-State player while being voted the fourth best second baseman in the country by the Smith Award Group. Schilling went on to coach at Coastal for five years, helping them reach the top 25. He is also a former Associate Scout with the Atlanta Braves.

Take Control of Your Actions

Andy Ferguson: Another Day, Another Double Play

When I get home from one of our Baseball Factory Player Development events, I am usually completely exhausted. We work extremely hard over long hours to try and produce a first class and memorable experience for each player. We are on the field early to prepare, keeping things moving during the day, planning for the next day in the evening, laundry and lineups at night, curfew checks and the occasional ER visit late night. The hours add up quickly.

I’m not complaining, it’s all part of the job. The only thing I ask in return is that each player gives an honest effort and behaves himself. That’s fair, isn’t it? Someone made an effort to get the player to the event, and the staff is making every effort to deliver a quality experience…the player has the easiest job doesn’t he?

Most of the time we have no trouble at all. Players show up, work hard, behave, learn and get better. However, a small number of players at some of the last couple of events I was involved with have left a bad taste in my mouth.

The two most common trouble areas are:

1. Lack of effort
2. Lack of discipline

Why wouldn’t those two things always be among the most important for each individual player? If you really think about it (specifically from a baseball player’s point of view), what else do you actually have control over? Nothing else, in my opinion.

You can have a great swing, but you can’t control whether or not you get a hit – sometimes they fall, sometimes you get robbed. You can throw a great pitch, but you can’t control whether or not you get an out – sometimes you get by with marginal stuff, sometimes you get lit up with great stuff. You can perfectly approach a ground ball, but you can’t control the hop – sometimes they go your way, sometimes they don’t.

So, what’s the moral of the story? Simple.

Wake up on time. Be on time. Make an effort. Look people in eye. Speak up. Don’t mumble. Follow instructions. Be responsible for your actions. Make an adjustment. Try to understand. Ask a question if you don’t. Treat others with respect. Respect yourself. Realize that at all times you represent yourself, your family, your team and/or the organization you are a part of. Be careful of the company you keep. I could go on, but hopefully you get the point.

You control all of these things. Someone may help you with certain ones now, but there will be a time when you will be on your own.

None of the items above have anything to do with baseball. However, they are all very relevant to life and to learning to be a quality human being and eventually a productive member of the work force. Keep in mind that only a very small percentage of baseball players will play professional baseball, and only a small percentage of those players ever make it to the Major Leagues.

Guess what. Late for stretch at camp may be no big deal, school may even be the same way a couple of times, but do it too many times at work and you’ll be in the unemployment line. Same thing with effort, and following instructions, and respect, and on and on….


Andy Ferguson is currently the Senior Director of Baseball Operations with the Baseball Factory. Ferguson joined the North Carolina State baseball team as a walk-on, and went on to solidify his role on a team that participated in four consecutive NCAA Regionals. He later coached with the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League, and then served as an Associate Scout with the Pittsburgh Pirates and the San Diego Padres.

Dynamic Warm-Ups: Part 2

Dana Cavalea: Performance Training for Baseball

So, we talked about Dynamic WARM-UPS in the last 2 posts, and this is the new buzz word surrounding training for sports, so, sometimes many think that since this is the new "way" to warm-up, its the only way to warm-up. Much like the Functional Strength Training Revolution that is now taking place, with med balls, physioballs, and training movements in a free environment rather than machines, Dynamic Warm-Ups are in, but we can not throw out the methods of the past.

With this being said, we must focus on static stretching methods as well as Dynamic. How do we use static stretching in a new world of Dynamic Movement? The way we do it is by using static stretching on the areas of the body that are typically overly tight on ballplayers. These areas of the body include the following:

1. Hip Flexors
2. Glutes/ External Rotators
3. Obliques/ Intercostal Mucles
4. Hamstrings

These 4-Major Areas of the body should still be addressed by static stretching, which will require the athlete to hold a stretch position, then back off, then repeat again. Back in the day, it was said to hold a stretch for 30 seconds, but the reality is, a more effective means to increasing tissue length and extensibility is to hold a stretch for 3-5 seconds, then back off, then repeat again through a larger range of motion.

So, its simple, stretch the hamstrings by using the stretch above, leaning into the stretch for 3 to 5 seconds, then get off it, then get back on it at a new range of motion.

As we continue to speak about static stretching, we will talk about using angles to increase depth.

"TRAIN HARD"

For more from Dana please check out his blog.


Dana Cavalea and Major League Strength serve as baseball performance strength and conditioning consultants for all Baseball Factory events. Dana currently serves as the Director of Strength and Conditioning for the New York Yankees. He has also spent time with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Toronto Blue Jays. Dana founded Major League Strength, a company that works to provide athletes with first class professional training and a dynamic program designed to elicit positive results in all aspects of Human Movement and Sports Performance. Dana is certified by the CSCS, NASM-PES and the USAW.

All-Star Beef

Jason Budden: Un-Common Sense?

Every year there is a debate about the players selected to the All-Star Game:

- “How did the fans vote in that guy?”
- “I can’t believe the manager is playing favorites and taking him over a guy who really deserves to be in.”
- “Why do they need to have a player from each team? So-and-so should definitely have made it before that guy.”

There are always going to be a few players that got the All-Star snub. Who fits the mold for this year’s game?

What A Snub:

A.J. Pierzynski, Chicago White Sox, Catcher
Pierzynski is hitting .296 with the same number of homeruns as Jason Varitek, and six more RBI. Not to mention 21 more runs scored. Varitek clearly got preferential treatment from Terry Francona. No one hitting .215 should be chosen as a reserve.

David Wright, New York Mets, Third Base
Seriously, how did he not get selected? He has scored 56 runs, hit 17 homeruns and driven in 70, while stealing nine bases and hitting .288. Hopefully he receives the “Final Vote” from the fans because he should be there.

Jermaine Dye, Chicago White Sox, Outfield
Head-to-head, his stats match up with J.D. Drew and Manny Ramirez, both of whom are in the game. While I personally would put him in over Drew, I can’t fault that selection by Francona. Dye is another candidate who could get in the game through the “Final Vote” by the fans on MLB.com.

Carlos Lee, Houston Astros, Outfield
I think the fact that Lee was left off the team is a complete reflection of the fans voting in Alfonso Soriano and Kosuke Fukudome. Soriano and Fukudome both have solid numbers, but not in comparison with Lee and some of the other reserves that were selected. It would not surprise me if Soriano was still hurt and Lee was named as his replacement.

Cole Hamels, Philadelphia Phillies, Pitcher
Of all the pitchers not selected, Hamels can raise the biggest argument. He is 9-5 with a 3.22 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 110 strikeouts in 128 2/3 innings pitched. This may be another case of favoritism as Clint Hurdle selected Aaron Cook from the Rockies. Cook is 11-6 with a 3.66 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and only 64 strikeouts in 132 2/3 innings pitched. He is having a career year, but Hamels deserves it more.

Regardless of the snubs, the game should be a classic and help bring an end to the era that is Yankee Stadium. I know that whatever players are competing, I’ll be watching.


Jason Budden is the Vice President of Operations and Marketing at Baseball Factory. Jason joined the Baseball Factory in 1997 while still a junior in high school. After going through the Baseball Factory's college recruiting program he was placed at Johns Hopkins University where he played two years of college baseball before graduating with a degree in Economics. After working part-time at the Factory throughout college, Jason joined the team as a full-time employee in January 2002 when he was promoted to Director of Marketing. He currently oversees all marketing projects and sponsorship opportunities at Baseball Factory. He is also in charge of development and marketing for Baseball University, the leader in online baseball education and a division of Baseball Factory.

A Few Life Lessons

Matt Schilling: From the Batting Cage

I was recently glued to the College World Series coverage on ESPN. It was a great series with a fantastic champion, the underdog Fresno State Bulldogs taking the national title. That in and of itself is a great story and a great lesson. When you get a group of people together who work hard and believe in each other, greatness is possible.

Being an east coast guy, I was actually pulling for the Georgia team to win it all and particularly for one player. Dawgs centerfielder Matt Cerione. Cerione had a rare accomplishment, he struck out five times in one game. Can you imagine, 0-5 with 5 K's on national TV in the biggest game of the year at the World Series. The reason that I am writing about this is because in his next game he went out and had two super clutch hits including a double late in the game that plated two and put the Dawgs ahead.

The mental toughness this kid showed to bounce back from such a dreadful night at the plate was incredible. Many young players would shut down and quit if this had happened to them. But what Matt Cerione understands is that in baseball, these things happen, that you must learn to deal with both the good and the bad. And no matter how bad you are at the plate one day, the sun will rise and you will get a chance the next day. To be a good player in baseball you must be able to deal with failure. Face it you are going to fail a heck of a lot more than you are going to succeed. How you deal with that failure is going to go a long way towards whether or not you are going to be a success in the sport or a failure. My hats off to Matt Cerione...tremendous bounce back.

This April, Manny Burriss was called up to the big leagues to play short stop for the San Francisco Giants. Manny is a local product from Washington DC. I had the pleasure of doing some one-on-one lessons with him at the Baseball Factory when he was just a junior in high school. While he was an athletic kid, he was very skinny and not a huge powerhouse like you might expect a future big leaguer to be. What I do remember about him was that he was working on switch hitting and when the time was up on our sessions, he never wanted to stop. He always wanted more swings and I had to kick him out of the cages.

While I did not think at the time he would play in the majors, I do remember thinking that he had that one ingredient that you have to have to be great...desire. He wanted to be good and he willed himself to be good. To put it simply, he worked his butt off. Many young players say they want to make it to the big leagues, but few truly are willing to do what it takes to get there. Manny Burriss knew what he wanted and made the sacrifices and put in the time and effort to do it. He was recently quoted in Sports Illustrated as saying "practice, practice, practice, drive your parents crazy." That means get off the video games and get off the couch and go work at whatever it is you SAY you want to be great at.

Lastly, if you didn't catch it on ESPN, you can watch it on youtube.com. You will see a 8 minute long piece on a young man named John Challis, battling for his life with cancer. He loves sports and in particular baseball. While his cancer is terminal, his courage and attitude are incredible and should inspire people for a full life time. This young man is incredible. Parents do yourself a favor and make your son watch it.

Lastly I will leave you with a quote that I recently heard:

"If people accomplished everything they are capable of they would astound themselves"

-Thomas Edison

Matt Schilling is the Senior Director of On-Field Instruction at Baseball Factory. Schilling graduated from Coastal Carolina University, where he was an All-Conference and All-State player while being voted the fourth best second baseman in the country by the Smith Award Group. Schilling went on to coach at Coastal for five years, helping them reach the top 25. He is also a former Associate Scout with the Atlanta Braves.

The Incredible (and Potentially Scary) World of Social Networks

Rob Naddelman: Through a Parent’s Eyes

After much prodding from my brother and friends, I decided to get with the times and join a social network. For me, the network of choice was Facebook. Instantly upon joining, I was connected to hundreds of people from my past. My old next door neighbor, middle school classmates that I have not seen or heard from in 25 years, friends from high school, teammates and fraternity brothers from college, and tons of family. It is an incredibly powerful tool and one that allows me to communicate in a centralized location with many people that I have wondered and thought about for years.

For parents, your children are probably social network obsessed. Whether it’s Facebook, MySpace, or TAKKLE (Baseball Factory’s social network partner for High School athletes) chances are that your son has a page created with at least one social network. It probably is one of their main sources of communication with their friends.

It is important for parents to know that college coaches have started to use these social networks as a way to check in on their current players and their targeted high school recruits. College coaches are really big on “make-up” and character. How a player spends his time off the field is a very good indicator for what type of person he will be on the field. As such, many college recruiters are combing these social networks to see what kids are like. What are they posting? Who are their friends? What are they talking or bragging about on their pages? How do they spend their time? What are their interests? Coaches can learn a lot from what they can find on-line. Employers are also frequently using these web sites to do reference checks on aspiring high school summer job candidates as well.

As a parent, make sure you are familiar with these social networks and speak to your children about how college coaches are “checking up” on players. Social networks are here to stay and they are quite powerful tools, but just make sure your son is using them responsibly!

Rob Naddelman is the President of Baseball Factory. Naddelman is a former two-time All Ivy League Third Baseman at the University of Pennsylvania, where he competed in a College World Series Regional. He has served as the President of Baseball Factory for the past 13 years, and also is the Executive Director of Baseball Factory's charitable arm The B.A.S.E. - H.I.T. Foundation. Naddelman and Steve Sclafani (CEO) have been featured in Business Week and CNN for their work in building Baseball Factory into the nation's leader in player development and college placement.

LIVE: From the Omaha Pro Select Training and Tournament - Recap

Dave Lax: We're There

When Mother Nature decides that there is going to be rain, there is not a whole lot that man can do to change her mind. After a great start to the week with players going through workout rotations early in the day and finishing with competitive games in the evening. However, the best laid plans often go awry as rain descended on the Omaha area for the final two days of the event, knocking out any chance for any team to officially be crowned champion. Despite the weather, the Omaha Pro Select Training and Tournament was a successful event again this year. Four teams remained in the Championship hunt at the conclusion of the event. They were the Shockers, Hurricanes, Owls and Seminoles.

The event was also highlighted with some great college baseball. All players were able to attend two College World Series games, including the epic North Carolina dismantling of LSU and the Georgia comeback against Fresno State in the opening game of the Championship series. It was truly a great atmosphere for baseball!

At the conclusion of the camp, the coaching staff decided to give out the grand prize, Under Armour bags, to one deserving player on each team. The coaches for each team chose the player based on a combination of performance, attitude and work ethic during the week. The winners were:

Anteaters – John Peluso
Bulldogs – Ryan Debo
Cardinal – Joseph Riley
Hurricanes – Michael Howard
Owls – Adam Decker
Seminoles – Sanchez Tucker
Shockers – Scott Ackley
Sun Devils – Andrew Soto
Tar Heels – Trevor Ramos
Titans – Thomas Mora
Wolfpack – Sam Bruner
49ers – Tyler Hauf

Here at the Baseball Factory, we tip our caps to those players, as well as all the players who consistently worked hard to polish their craft as a baseball player. Good luck to each of you.

My Nemesis

Jason Budden: Un-Common Sense?

Why do I torture myself? Year after year I make the same mistakes. I don’t learn and in the end, it just leads to constant suffering. I’m talking about Fantasy Baseball, or as I like to call it…My Nemesis!

Fantasy Football and me are boys. We get along great. I check in with Fantasy Football a few times a week during the NFL season and our relationship always seems to be positive. Even when we fight, it is normally just for a week and then we’re great pals again once Sunday rolls around. And come December, we always make time to celebrate a few championships together. Fantasy Football takes a vacation during the first half of the New Year and then we reconnect again in late summer.

I’d even call Fantasy Basketball a good acquaintance. We get along great, but at times Fantasy Basketball struggles because I spend so much time with Fantasy Football. In the end, come March, things are always back on an even keel. We’ve had some good runs and in the end, we appreciate each other.

But Fantasy Baseball clearly hates me…and these days, I hate Fantasy Baseball. After a rough year last year, I thought we had made our peace this winter. We put in a lot of extra time researching players and preparing for the start of the season, but it seems to all be for naught. It was like a charade that Fantasy Baseball was playing with me. Trying to get my hopes us so that I’d come back and try to re-kindle the relationship. Fantasy Baseball has a way of pulling me back in each spring, even when I tell myself that I’m not going to get fooled again.

Too late…I’m stuck to rot out the rest of the season in the bottom of the league, waiting for David Ortiz to get healthy, Alex Rios to start hitting and Jimmy Rollins to figure out what has gone wrong.

Next year, I’ll be smarter. Next year will be the year that Fantasy Baseball and I can finally bury the hatchet. Next year, is our year…

Jason Budden is the Vice President of Operations and Marketing at Baseball Factory. Jason joined the Baseball Factory in 1997 while still a junior in high school. After going through the Baseball Factory's college recruiting program he was placed at Johns Hopkins University where he played two years of college baseball before graduating with a degree in Economics. After working part-time at the Factory throughout college, Jason joined the team as a full-time employee in January 2002 when he was promoted to Director of Marketing. He currently oversees all marketing projects and sponsorship opportunities at Baseball Factory. He is also in charge of development and marketing for Baseball University, the leader in online baseball education and a division of Baseball Factory.