Players With Work Allergies Need Not Apply…

Julie Thompson – A Baseball Factory Parent’s Perspective

We’ve waited all winter for it—Welcome back, baseball! Our northern boys are smiling (despite some numb fingers from of our so-called ‘spring’ weather), and all you guys in the south and west…you lucky dogs….send some of that heat this way!

Hopefully, your player kept in shape in the off-season. If not, strongly suggest he does so next time around. You’ve probably heard by now, tryouts and practices for college baseball players are not for the work-ethic challenged. "Kyle" and friends from the DII and DIII levels report the process is demanding. While every school is different, here is what they’ve experienced:

Tryouts—Tryouts start a week or two into the fall semester. Cuts can take place at any point, with the final roster posted sometime during December or January. About 60 players tried out for the DII team, while roughly 50 players sought the DIII spots. The final rosters for both carried 30-35 players: 13-15 pitchers and 17-20 position players. The names of the players that make the team are posted. The names of those cut simply are missing from the list. Your son could get some feedback from the coach if he questions why he’s been cut; but typically, the player needs to seek out the coach for comments. It would be unusual for the coach to initiate the conversation.

Try-outs resembled a showcase. Coaches evaluated players based on Running—the baseball ‘60’; Hitting; and Arm Strength. Arm strength drills varied with position. For example, outfielders threw to home; infielders took ground balls and threw across the diamond; pitchers threw bullpen; and catchers were measured by pop time.

Practice – Again, coaches have their own approaches. Practice at the DII school was shorter and more intense, and could have been called, “Kill Me Now”. For one hour, five days a week, players would run for 30-45 minutes. Doesn’t sound bad? The running portion would take different forms: sprints; long distance, defined by two or so miles. Does your son run up those stadium steps when he heads to a game? Maybe suggest he try it say, for 20 minutes or so...up and down; first leading with his right foot, then his left, then alternating. When he’s done, have him run half a mile (c’mon you slackers, of course it’s timed…), then have him do some abs work…20-30 minutes of sit-ups, planks or supermans. It should come as no surprise that some players got physically sick on the field. “Kyle”, I said, “You must’ve looked okay—you’re always at the gym.” “You would think”, he replied, “but so is everyone else.” That’s right. All these kids want it as badly as your son does. It’s an eye opener to see the abundance of talent and their crushing work ethic. For these boys, though, it’s more of a challenge, and only partly a punishment. They love what they do and appreciate what it takes to be a part of the program. This routine took place for about a month, before it was replaced by scrimmages.

Players at the DIII school practiced five-to-six days a week for roughly three hours a day. Practice involved fielding balls, as well as hitting. There were several hitting groups, with players checking the lists each day to see which group they were in. Fielding drills depended on the position. Infielders took ground balls and did ‘bare-hand’ work. Outfielders worked on pop-ups. When it rained or practice got cancelled, players headed to the gym. There, they worked specifically on their rotator cuffs, strengthened their core, and conditioned their legs. While routines may be altered when injuries occur, players continue their regimen, resting only the part(s) of their bodies that need to heal.

The pressure is still on when practice is over—the pressure to get to the cafeteria before closing time, that is. Players scarf down a quick dinner, head back to their rooms and settle in to study. After squeezing in some sleep, they go to class and on many days, get on a bus for a game that is several hours away. Some of them play, and some of them root on their teammates. Then the team heads back to their own campus, and these boys do it all over again the next day…and the next…and the next…

As a parent, I’m exhausted just thinking about the schedule. More than that, I’m proud of the dedication and ability shown by my son and his teammates, inspired by their passion, and humbled by their selflessness. Their accomplishments transcend any game or season—the attributes they embody will carry them far in life.





Julie Thompson is a parent of a former Baseball Factory Exclusive Program player. She has volunteered to share her opinions, observations and general thoughts regarding the college recruiting and player development process. She will share what worked and what didn’t for her son, in the hope that other parents and players may benefit from her experience.

Top 10 "Don'ts" of Letter Writing Pt. 1

Kelly Kulina: Your Link to the Colleges

I’ve spent the last few weeks talking about taking care of business over the winter months leading up to your spring season. As e-mail will probably be your first step in communicating with college coaches, I want to cover several common mistakes that are made in letter writing:

1. Don’t include any baseball statistics.

While statistics are important to players and parents and play a significant role in professional baseball, college coaches have very little use for them in the recruiting process. High school leagues and competition can vary from region to region, so trying to establish your skills based on statistical performance will be meaningless, unless the coach is familiar with the area. On top of that, most scorekeepers at the high school level have little to no training, so a hit one day could very well be an error the next! On my recruiting trips, I never knew what a player’s batting average, earned run average or win-loss record was prior to seeing them play. The player’s overall athletic ability, tools and how he played the game were what mattered most. All in all, supplying statistics simply doesn’t carry much weight with college coaches- you’ll make a better impression on video or on the field.

2. Don’t make your letter more than one page in length.

Given hectic travel, practice and office schedules, college coaches don’t have time to read a thesis paper! Even with e-mail as the primary medium, prospective student-athletes have to keep “quality over quantity” in mind when it comes to reaching out to coaches. Anything more than a page in length on a Microsoft Word document runs the risk of losing the readers’ interest, effectively ending your recruitment. Make sure that your letters to coaches have a purpose, such as introducing yourself or requesting a visit, and that you stick to that theme. Remember, the key to writing is not just catching the readers’ attention, but keeping it, too!

3. Don’t add photographs, symbols or other graphic art.

Just as the last tip pointed out, it’s hard enough to hold a college coach’s attention. So, why add something that may distract him? With technology today, it’s easy to be very creative in marketing yourself to a coach, but you are not being evaluated on your creativity! During my time at the University of Maryland, I saw everything from prom pictures to baseball stationary, and none of that made me like the player more. In fact, it usually did more harm than good. You’ll make your best impression by keeping to simple and professional.

Check in next week for the next installment!

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.

Need to Make a Change? Do it Now!

Steve Bernhardt: Building the Better Ballplayer

This is the perfect time of year to make a necessary change in your game. It takes time to “teach” your body to do something in a different way. These next few months offer you the time necessary to make a mechanical adjustment that will help you when your season arrives next spring.

I often work with young players who can benefit from making a minor adjustment to the way they are currently doing something. At times, they are having success at their current level of baseball and are reluctant to change anything. If you work with a qualified coach or instructor, you need to trust that they are looking out for your best interest. They see something that may eventually prevent you from reaching your full potential.

Keep in mind that change is difficult. It will feel “weird” to change a grip on the bat, or the width of your stance, or your leg lift on the mound, but give it some time. Through repetition, the feeling will change from weird to natural. If you are dedicated to making the adjustment, it will become second-nature to you by the time your high school season begins.

Remember to keep an open mind and don’t get discouraged. We all need to make improvements. Major League players are constantly working on ways to improve. On the golf course, Tiger Woods re-vamped his swing despite being the #1 ranked player in the world with several Major Championships already to his credit.

Good luck improving your game this off-season. It’s hard work, but you’ll be glad you did it.


Steve Bernhardt is the Executive VP of Baseball Operations with Baseball Factory. Bernhardt played for five years in the Colorado Rockies organization. As Executive VP of Baseball Operations at Baseball Factory, he oversees all events and instruction. Bernhardt currently serves as an Associate Scout with the Colorado Rockies. He received his B.S. from the University of Richmond where he was an All-Conference player.

What to Watch For This Off-Season

Jason Budden: Un-Common Sense?

With the next meaningful baseball game another five months away, the true baseball addicts need something to turn to during the off-season. For me, it’s a variety of things. The NFL and College Basketball are high up on the list, but I also try to keep a close eye on the MLB free agent market.

What players are changing teams this off-season? How is this going to affect next year’s competitive landscape? Are my Orioles going to pick up a few players so that they have a chance to possibly make the playoffs in 2009? Probably not, but I’ll keep my fingers crossed.

Here are a few players to keep an eye on during this off-season:

C.C. Sabathia – The Yankees courtship of Sabathia has started early. They have already made him a six-year, $140 million offer. Most of the experts expect Sabathia to sign with the Yankees, which will have an effect on the rest of the free agent pitcher’s market. If the Yankees don’t get Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Derek Lowe are the next best options. The Yankees may sign Lowe, even if they do get Sabathia. Watch for the Sabathia signing to have an effect on whether the Yanks sign Andy Pettitte, or pressure Mike Mussina to consider coming back for another year (he seems to be leaning towards retirement). There’s not much else out there, so this should be interesting. (Prediction – Anaheim Angels)

Manny Ramirez – This year, Manny “being Manny” took on quite a few different meanings. Manny was just “being Manny” when he shut down and for all intensive purposes, forced the Red Sox into trading him. Then there was Manny “being Manny” as a Dodger, which produced a .396 batting average, 17 homeruns, 53 RBI, 36 runs and an absurd 1.222 OPS in 53 regular season games. He went on to top that performance by just “being Manny” during the playoffs, hitting .520 with four homeruns, 10 RBI, nine runs and a 1.746 OPS in only eight games. Think he was playing for the last contract of his career? Regardless of his motivation, Manny put on a show last year and is going to be paid quite well because of it. But can you trust him to continue focusing and putting in this type of effort? I think the Dodgers believe in the West Coast version of Manny Ramirez. (Prediction – LA Dodgers)

Mark Teixeira – Like Manny, Teixeira went off last season after being traded. During his 54 game stint with the Angels in 2008, Teixeira hit .358 with 13 homeruns, 43 runs batted in, 39 runs and a 1.082 OPS. As if he wasn’t already a top free agent, this performance, not to mention a .467 average in the playoffs, really bumped up his stock (and asking price). Many teams are in the running including the Angels, Baltimore Orioles and the Los Angeles Dodgers (if they don’t sign Manny). At age 28, don’t be surprised if he signs a seven+ year deal, especially with Scott Boras representing him. (Prediction – Baltimore Orioles…this might be more hope as an O’s fan, than intuition)

Francisco Rodriguez – Do you think there are a few teams out there that would like to have KRod at the end of their bullpen? Yeah, I do too. The Angels would love to keep him, but they can’t afford to and have already let him know this. The New York Mets made a splash last off-season by signing Johan Santana to a seven-year $137 million contract. He helped the front of their rotation, but the Mets still missed the playoffs, in large part because they didn’t have the pieces in their bullpen to close the door. KRod instantly provides them with consistency at the end of games. It’s a perfect fit, both on the field and off, as the Mets are ready to pay what it will take to get Francisco on the roster. (Prediction – New York Mets)

Here are the best of the rest. The top free agent players at every position, after the ones I listed above.

Catcher: Jason Varitek
First: Jason Giambi (probably more a DH, but not many 1B available after Teixeira)
Second: Orlando Hudson
Third: Casey Blake
SS: Rafael Furcal
Outfield: Raul Ibanez, Pat Burrell, Bobby Abreu
DH: Adam Dunn
Starting Pitcher: A.J. Burnett, Ben Sheets
Closer: Brian Fuentes


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.

There Is No Off-Season

Andy Ferguson: Another Day, Another Double Play

While there are still a few competitive team events around, the vast majority of players are done with their 2008 baseball season. For some, this time of year also signals football playoffs and/or the beginning of basketball. For others, the countdown to the first day of 2009 practice is on.

In any case, this is the beginning of the season of opportunity – not the off season. You have the opportunity to better yourself as an aspiring college baseball player - without the constant games, travel, showcases, travel, tournaments, travel and more games. Keep in mind that as an aspiring college baseball player, you have a lot of things to work on…so you shouldn’t have any trouble staying busy.

Over the course of the next several weeks, we will identify and review areas in which you should focus your “opportunity season” efforts.

ACADEMICS

If you think it’s tough to stay on top of your school work now, spend a couple of weeks as a student-athlete in college. And no, not just because of bus rides and weekday night games during the Spring semester/season. How about 6:00 am workouts, afternoon swimming and/or running, early work before practice, or extra time on the tee/extra flat ground work after practice…all while trying to handle a 15 or 18 hour course load during the Fall semester.

Take the time now to try and improve your academic standing. You don’t have as many demands on your time – you really need to take advantage of that. Get some extra help on a subject you are weak in, and make it important to prepare for the SAT and/or ACT tests.

Remember, ACADEMICS MUST BE CONSIDERED FIRST. You have heard it a million times, but you have to understand that student always comes before athlete. Ever heard of anyone being called an athlete-student?

STRENGTH TRAINING

There are very few, if any, high school age players that have any real amount of physical strength. To be fair, it is hard to actually get stronger over the course of the 500 or so game schedule it seems most play between March and October. However, that isn’t the case from November through the beginning of high school practice.

Skip the bench press (unless you are willing to keep the weight low and the reps high), and spend time instead on improving the strength in your legs and your core. You don’t want bulk in your upper body, so spend time strengthening the smaller muscles in your shoulders (Jobes) and work hard on your forearms. Jobe work can be done with a sand filled tennis ball can and/or elastic band, and forearm work can be done with rope connecting a weight to a small length of PVC pipe – simply roll the weight up, then back down. (For more information on these excercises, please feel free to email me at andy@baseballfactory.com.)

Baseball players must maintain range of motion while improving strength - flexibility is vital. Make sure to stretch often – whether you are lifting or not, you can make gains in your flexibility. I see so many players that are stiff and muscle bound, which makes it so hard to play a sport that requires quick and compact movements. It is so easy to do, it just requires time, effort and commitment – something most are not willing to give. For more on this topic, please read (or re-read) Dana Cavalea's entry on static stretching methods.

Coming next week: SKILL DEVELOPMENT, THROWING

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.