Know what the difference between hitting .250 and .300 is? It’s 25 hits. 25 hits in 500 at bats is 50 points, okay? There’s 6 months in a season, that’s about 25 weeks. That means if you get just one extra flare a week – just one – a gorp… you get a groundball, you get a ground-ball with eyes… you get a dying quail, just one more dying quail a week… and you’re in Yankee Stadium.

— Crash Davis

 

Playing great baseball is about doing the little things right. Taking advantage of every opportunity to become successful. As a baseball player, if you want to become a better hitter, someone who is consistent and able to stand out among other players there are plenty of things you can do.

Fortunately, if you are a baseball parent and you’re not quit sure what advice you can give him, there are plenty of resources to use. Including here;)

Apart from having sound physical mechanics, being a good hitter has a lot to do with the value you bring to the line-up. Do you get on base? Can you drive runners in? Or do you strike-out a lot while leaving runners on base. Do you find yourself ending the inning with the last out more than others?

All it takes is a few simple minor adjustments to turn things around.

Have a” get on base” mentality

A lot of players think that what truly matters offensively is there ability to get a “base it”. To an extent this is true but is only one half of the coin.Being young and not truly understanding the true value of each at-bat may force a player to take simply getting on base for granted. You have to have the mentality that, “No matter what, I’m going to get on base”! This comes down to knowing the situation, what your capabilities are as well as your opponents.

Getting a base hit is great, but a walk, hit by pitch or even an error is just as valuable. It may not help you batting average wise but it will help your team win.

Have a “Put the ball in play” mentality

No doubt about it, a strike-out has absolutely no value what so ever. Unless you battled and had a 10 pitch at-bat, saw all his pitches, and made him work hard to get you out, strike outs have no value.

You could have done the best hitting drills and have developed the quickest bat speed, but if you don’t put the ball in play. It’s worthless.

When I was in high-school I would call this the “Bull Dog Mentality”. I wasn’t sure if I was going to get a hit but by god, I wasn’t going to let the guy strike me out. And they rarely did.

Having a “refuse to strike out mentality” opens the door to a lot of good  things for the offensive team because it forces the pitcher to throw more pitches, puts pressure on the defense, and allows for your team to get to the bull pen. The pitchers in the bull-pen are there for a reason. They’re not as good as the starter.

Have a “Its about the process” mentality

Its very easy to get attached to results in this game. As a baseball player gets older, he may become more aware of stats and tangible results that show his value compared to others. Nothing will ever be more important to understand than the truth that this game doesn’t need to be played  in order to show us we are successful. If you can show up every game, give it your all and leave everything on the field, then you are already a success. No statistic, coach, or fan can ever tell you other wise.

Baseball is not about the destination. It’s about the journey. Think of each at-bat as an adventure and you can’t go wrong.

You are your own hero. When you come up to the plate, remind yourself of this. Forget about succeeding. Focus on being the best ball player you can be from moment to moment, and leave everything else up to the universe!

Good luck!!!!

    2 replies to "Baseball Hitters Mentality"

    • Haunted Ptr

      Great advice, like always.  It makes for a great discussion at home and a lot more productive than talking about things that he should have done or other players or coaches should do.

      A coach once told my son something similar that he’s never forgotten.  He said “You cannot control where your coach will play you, or where you’ll hit in the lineup.  But, if you’re batting 9th, then try to be the best 9th hitter that team has ever seen.  If you’re in right field and you’re a bit bored, make it your job to try harder than any right fielder that coach has ever seen.”  This advice really helped him to stop thinking of how unfair this or that was.  Every situation can be worthy of your best effort.  

      • Art of Baseball

        Now that is some fantastic baseball advice! “Be the best ninth hitter that team has ever seen.”

        Spoken like a true baseball philosophier. You son is truly in good hands.

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