Forearms in Baseball

The hardest part of hitting the inside fastball is getting the bat head to the ball. This can be accomplished by improving forearm strength. Baseball may not require freaks of nature like football but forearm, core, and leg strength are pivotal in being a good ball player.

My two years in college I have ran across some HUGE forearms. I actually had teammates who looked for the biggest forearms on the opposing team. To get these pop eye like lower arms you must be dedicated to wrist curls. Other good forearm workouts include standing dumbbell wrist curls and the dreaded rice bucket. Standing dumbbell wrist curls consist of holding a dumbbell in each hand and curling your wrist inward until you can't do any more. The rice bucket is a college and professional favorite. A baseball bucket filled with rice and you stick a hand in and turn your hand side to side until reaching the bottom. It's a burning workout but well worth the Dan Uggla style forearms.

All of us ball players look for an edge over the opponent before the first pitch is even thrown. I'm telling you nothing is more intimidating then a pair of Uggla's!

Going Deep,

Alan

It's been a while... Almost two years since I have been on here blogging. To all 4 of my followers I deeply apologize. The past two years have been crazy!! Iv'e got two years of college baseball under my belt and what a ride it has been. Starting tomorrow I am going to pick the blog back up and continue blogging. Again I apologize for the time off and it won't happen again! Follow my twitter: @AlanHardistyII Going Deep, Alan

T-Ball Question & Answers

Recently I have recieved a bunch of questions from readers about their young kids playing T-Ball. I have to admit that watching your kid play is not the most fun but it means the world to them!

Question: Is it safe for my four year old to really start baseball?

Answer: Yes! 100% the coaches are usualy moms or dads who love to help out little kids. I have never watched or heard of a T-Ball game where a kid was legitamtily injured.

Question: (Yes someone asked this!) Should i worry if my son is not as good as the other kids?

Answer: No! T-Ball is just learning the basics of the game. You will see a couple kids who might have grown up with the game in their family and you can notice a little bit of talent diversity. You can though purchase a Fisher-Price Triple Hit Baseball or a Little Tikes TotSports T-Ball Set to help further development of their young swings.

Question: How do I get my little one more interested in the game?

Answer: You can't force it down their little throughts or beet it into their heads. Try reading them The Greatest Baseball Stories Ever Told: Thirty Unforgettable Tales from the Diamond, a great book on the rich history of baseball that will have them thirsty for baseball!

Question: Should my son or daughter be drinking sport drinks at a young age?

Answer: Yes! The more the better in my mind. While there out on the field running their little legs of having the time of there life it is important they refuel their bodys with the proper carbs and elctrolytes. I might propose Gatorade All Stars-(Eight Lemon Lime, Eight Fruit Punch, Eight Orange) Variety Pack! 24/12 Oz for the proper nutrietion and keep them at the top of there game.

Feel free to shoot me any questions you have. I hope this helped everyone wondering about the little Babe Ruth's in the making. Remember they are still learning and at that age it is not about winning but having fun.

Going Deep,

Alan

The Most Contraversal Element In Baseball!

The strike zone is the most argued thing in baseball. Even when youngsters are in coach pitch ball there are fans that moan and groan. I recently umpired a 14 year old game and told both coaches before the game 6inches in side and out, the letters and knees will be my zoan. Both coaches agreed and we played ball. About the fifth inning the game was 5-0 in favor of the away team. The home teams pitcher threw every other ball in the dirt and I wasn't about to call that a strike. The home coach asked me in between innings to call a lower strike. Seeing how he had my paycheck I opened it just a little bit, nothing in the dirt though. The pitcher continued to throw them there. About the sixth inning the home parents were letting me have it! "Come on blue, call a ******* strike please", or "Were not paying you to walk everyone". I could'nt help but laugh! After the game a couple parents made comments but I just shook them off. When the coach gave me my check he let me know that I wont be needed anymore. I have been umping this same group of kids for five years. It's funny how much heat umpires take even when the calls are blantly obvious. For now on when I feel a bad call at the plate, I'll be sure to remember that night! Go easy on those umps guys!! Make sure to take a look at the new polls on the sidebar of the blog.

Going Deep,

Alan

Ga Ga Galarraga

WOW! One of the most controversial calls in Major League Baseball 107 years of existence. Armando Galarraga pitched the best game of his career and through the only "bad" one hitter shut out in Detroit Tiger history. With two outs in the bottom of the ninth a ground ball to first basemen Miguel Cabrera and a throw to the covering pitcher at first Galarraga. Cabrera fist pumped for joy before looking down and noticing the call. Galarraga just dropped his head and returned to the mound to resume pitching. Veteran umpire Jim Joyce blew a call at first! After replay, after replay base runner Jason Donald was clearly out by a couple steps. "It was the biggest call in my career, I just cost that kid a perfect game.", a weary Joyce uttered after the game. Numerous Tiger players and coaches let Joyce have it after the game, shouting outragous but needed profane language. With the game being over and the scorebook being finalized the 28 Venesuelan native pitched a game he will never forget!

Going Deep,

Alan

That "Walk" Off Attitude

For any baseball player who has never had a walk off hit, trust me you are missing out. I experienced my first walk off this year, against a heated rival school. Oh it was awesome! The bottom of the 8th inning and we had bases loaded, tied 6-6. With one out I stepped up to the plate and drove a second pitch grooved fastball into center field and won the game. My entire team greeted me with some punches to the helmet and cheers so loud I thought I'd for sure go deaf. I found this video on youtube and it reminded me of that amazing feeling. So next time a coach ask who wants to pinch hit in extra innings trust me go for it all its worth it!!



Going Deep,

Alan

Baseball Superstitions

Baseball is a very superstitious game! I find myself staring at my feet when I walk before each game, determined to not step on the white line. Wade Boggs use to eat fried chicken before each game. It worked seeing how he won numerous batting titles and a World Series ring. You also have some rather disgusting superstitions as well. Moises Alou use to urinate on his hands (yes it's true!) during the season because he said it made his hands sturdier. When in reality urine contains urea which softens the skin. I want to know some other superstitions you guys have. So just shoot me an email or leave a comment. No matter how gross or if it makes PETA mad please share with me!

Going Deep,

Alan