Play Baseball
@playbaseball.bsky.social
Helping youth baseball coaches and parents with practice ideas and tips. Keep baseball fun and classy folks.
Whenever I found a baseball that wasn't picked up after practice, I'd yell "Who left $5 on the field?"
Now it's $10. What are we doing to ourselves?
Now it's $10. What are we doing to ourselves?
April 6, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Whenever I found a baseball that wasn't picked up after practice, I'd yell "Who left $5 on the field?"
Now it's $10. What are we doing to ourselves?
Now it's $10. What are we doing to ourselves?
A good portion of baseball gloves come from Indonesia.
Parents, be ready to pay 35%+ more for your kid's new glove.
Parents, be ready to pay 35%+ more for your kid's new glove.
Trade war on—recession coming. He slaughtered our economy.
These price hikes on goods from...
Cambodia: +49%
Vietnam: +46%
Bangladesh: +37%
Thailand: +36%
China: +34%
Taiwan: +32%
Indonesia: +32%
Switzerland: +31%
South Africa: +30%
India: +26%
South Korea: +25%
Japan: +24%
Malaysia: +24%
EU: +20%
These price hikes on goods from...
Cambodia: +49%
Vietnam: +46%
Bangladesh: +37%
Thailand: +36%
China: +34%
Taiwan: +32%
Indonesia: +32%
Switzerland: +31%
South Africa: +30%
India: +26%
South Korea: +25%
Japan: +24%
Malaysia: +24%
EU: +20%
April 3, 2025 at 1:22 AM
A good portion of baseball gloves come from Indonesia.
Parents, be ready to pay 35%+ more for your kid's new glove.
Parents, be ready to pay 35%+ more for your kid's new glove.
Had a good couple of days in Millington TN
April 2, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Had a good couple of days in Millington TN
One of my favorite team handouts. Feel free to copy and share.
March 28, 2025 at 12:06 PM
One of my favorite team handouts. Feel free to copy and share.
Hot take - When runners are on 2nd and 3rd with 2 outs, the intentional walk to load the bases, and put the force on at every base, is drastically underutilized in HS and youth baseball.
March 27, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Hot take - When runners are on 2nd and 3rd with 2 outs, the intentional walk to load the bases, and put the force on at every base, is drastically underutilized in HS and youth baseball.
If you're a high school coach, you need to ask yourself, "Would my players run through a wall for me and their teammates?"
On championship programs, even the kids on the bench will run through the wall.
On championship programs, even the kids on the bench will run through the wall.
March 26, 2025 at 12:15 PM
If you're a high school coach, you need to ask yourself, "Would my players run through a wall for me and their teammates?"
On championship programs, even the kids on the bench will run through the wall.
On championship programs, even the kids on the bench will run through the wall.
Here's my favorite baseball saying - Baseball doesn't build character, but it does a good job at revealing it.
March 26, 2025 at 3:21 AM
Here's my favorite baseball saying - Baseball doesn't build character, but it does a good job at revealing it.
Hot take - As a coach and/or volunteer, you should know how to mark the batters boxes correctly without a template or a 3' rake.
(I've been known to grab the chalk pregame and re-layout the boxes after someone else's butcher job)
(I've been known to grab the chalk pregame and re-layout the boxes after someone else's butcher job)
March 24, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Hot take - As a coach and/or volunteer, you should know how to mark the batters boxes correctly without a template or a 3' rake.
(I've been known to grab the chalk pregame and re-layout the boxes after someone else's butcher job)
(I've been known to grab the chalk pregame and re-layout the boxes after someone else's butcher job)
This is one of the best videos I've watched in regard to coaching the modern changeup.
youtu.be/ANHhVqgECkE?...
youtu.be/ANHhVqgECkE?...
The New Way to Throw a Changeup - Grips, Strategy & More
YouTube video by Coach Dan Blewett
youtu.be
March 23, 2025 at 1:25 PM
This is one of the best videos I've watched in regard to coaching the modern changeup.
youtu.be/ANHhVqgECkE?...
youtu.be/ANHhVqgECkE?...
Of all the folks writing and posting about throwing a baseball, a few stand out.
If you really want to understand how 100mph is accomplished mechanically, Paul Nyman's work is a good place to start.
If you want to understand how to create a body that can do it, find Ben Brewster and Tread Athletics
If you really want to understand how 100mph is accomplished mechanically, Paul Nyman's work is a good place to start.
If you want to understand how to create a body that can do it, find Ben Brewster and Tread Athletics
March 22, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Of all the folks writing and posting about throwing a baseball, a few stand out.
If you really want to understand how 100mph is accomplished mechanically, Paul Nyman's work is a good place to start.
If you want to understand how to create a body that can do it, find Ben Brewster and Tread Athletics
If you really want to understand how 100mph is accomplished mechanically, Paul Nyman's work is a good place to start.
If you want to understand how to create a body that can do it, find Ben Brewster and Tread Athletics
Aggressive leadoffs and secondaries at 3B put pressure on the pitcher, and sometimes the catcher botches the back pick. Learn to be an aggressive baserunner when on 3B. Your normal 3B leadoff should match the distance that the 3rd baseman is off the bag
March 21, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Aggressive leadoffs and secondaries at 3B put pressure on the pitcher, and sometimes the catcher botches the back pick. Learn to be an aggressive baserunner when on 3B. Your normal 3B leadoff should match the distance that the 3rd baseman is off the bag
If you teach trying to finish way out front with the fastball, this will interfere with being able to spin a curveball. Finishing way out front also leads to pushy throws.
March 20, 2025 at 12:10 PM
If you teach trying to finish way out front with the fastball, this will interfere with being able to spin a curveball. Finishing way out front also leads to pushy throws.
Teach your outfielders to account for the wind. Remember the 5/15 rule. When wind is blowing out, every 5mph of wind adds around 15' of travel for a fly ball.
March 19, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Teach your outfielders to account for the wind. Remember the 5/15 rule. When wind is blowing out, every 5mph of wind adds around 15' of travel for a fly ball.
Baseball is a lot like real life. Much more so than other sports. That's why we love it, hate it, feel joy and embarrassment, and we keep coming back for more.
March 18, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Baseball is a lot like real life. Much more so than other sports. That's why we love it, hate it, feel joy and embarrassment, and we keep coming back for more.
Pitchers and catchers - at the start of every inning, both of you should be the first ones out. Get your warm-up throws done quickly.
Make their first batter feel rushed, and give him less pitches to see while on deck. If he stands inside the home plate circle, do what you need to do 😉
Make their first batter feel rushed, and give him less pitches to see while on deck. If he stands inside the home plate circle, do what you need to do 😉
March 17, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Pitchers and catchers - at the start of every inning, both of you should be the first ones out. Get your warm-up throws done quickly.
Make their first batter feel rushed, and give him less pitches to see while on deck. If he stands inside the home plate circle, do what you need to do 😉
Make their first batter feel rushed, and give him less pitches to see while on deck. If he stands inside the home plate circle, do what you need to do 😉
When throwing bullpens, mix up the home plate distance by 2 feet, longer or shorter. This helps your pitchers learn to make quick adjustments to throw strikes.
This will pay off later when they have to pitch on funky mounds.
This will pay off later when they have to pitch on funky mounds.
March 16, 2025 at 3:30 PM
When throwing bullpens, mix up the home plate distance by 2 feet, longer or shorter. This helps your pitchers learn to make quick adjustments to throw strikes.
This will pay off later when they have to pitch on funky mounds.
This will pay off later when they have to pitch on funky mounds.
Reposted by Play Baseball
"The Game of Base Ball," scene at Hoboken's Elysian Fields; from the New York Clipper, September 19, 1857 (at left). This game, played between the Eagles and Gothams, was captured separately by the artist for Porter's Spirit of the Times and published one week earlier.
March 15, 2025 at 3:03 PM
"The Game of Base Ball," scene at Hoboken's Elysian Fields; from the New York Clipper, September 19, 1857 (at left). This game, played between the Eagles and Gothams, was captured separately by the artist for Porter's Spirit of the Times and published one week earlier.
Reposted by Play Baseball
Reposted by Play Baseball
We do our best when we are challenged, but not threatened.
If you lose your mind when you lose a game or race, you are training your brain to see that pursuit as a threat...
Learn how to lose well:
substack.com/home/post/p-...
If you lose your mind when you lose a game or race, you are training your brain to see that pursuit as a threat...
Learn how to lose well:
substack.com/home/post/p-...
The Importance of Learning How to Lose Well
Don't Throw a Tantrum. Get Out of Defensive Mode and Into Learning.
substack.com
March 15, 2025 at 1:13 PM
We do our best when we are challenged, but not threatened.
If you lose your mind when you lose a game or race, you are training your brain to see that pursuit as a threat...
Learn how to lose well:
substack.com/home/post/p-...
If you lose your mind when you lose a game or race, you are training your brain to see that pursuit as a threat...
Learn how to lose well:
substack.com/home/post/p-...
I've read a lot of books on coaching baseball. This one is my favorite.
March 15, 2025 at 1:21 PM
I've read a lot of books on coaching baseball. This one is my favorite.
Reposted by Play Baseball
Hanshin Tigers 3, Cubs 0
Tokyo Dome
Tokyo Dome
March 15, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Hanshin Tigers 3, Cubs 0
Tokyo Dome
Tokyo Dome
If you're 6'6" and throwing BP over the top from 30' to 10 year olds... you're doing it wrong. Angle is way too steep.
Try to mimic the path of the fastballs that they will see in a game. Underhand from 25' to 30' is much better. Or get on one knee and throw BP.
Try to mimic the path of the fastballs that they will see in a game. Underhand from 25' to 30' is much better. Or get on one knee and throw BP.
March 14, 2025 at 12:04 PM
If you're 6'6" and throwing BP over the top from 30' to 10 year olds... you're doing it wrong. Angle is way too steep.
Try to mimic the path of the fastballs that they will see in a game. Underhand from 25' to 30' is much better. Or get on one knee and throw BP.
Try to mimic the path of the fastballs that they will see in a game. Underhand from 25' to 30' is much better. Or get on one knee and throw BP.
The low outside pitch is the most difficult pitch for umpire to see correctly. On full count, 6" low &/or 6" outside is often called a strike.
Why? Because the ump wasn't sure if it was a strike or ball, but he didn't want to award the batter for not swinging either.
Crowd the plate on FC & swing
Why? Because the ump wasn't sure if it was a strike or ball, but he didn't want to award the batter for not swinging either.
Crowd the plate on FC & swing
March 13, 2025 at 11:53 AM
The low outside pitch is the most difficult pitch for umpire to see correctly. On full count, 6" low &/or 6" outside is often called a strike.
Why? Because the ump wasn't sure if it was a strike or ball, but he didn't want to award the batter for not swinging either.
Crowd the plate on FC & swing
Why? Because the ump wasn't sure if it was a strike or ball, but he didn't want to award the batter for not swinging either.
Crowd the plate on FC & swing
Reposted by Play Baseball
Baseball was introduced to Japan in 1872 by an American school teacher named Horace Wilson.
Generations later, his decedents still lived on the same farm in Maine and had no idea he changed baseball forever.
The written article is fine, but the aired radio piece is better.
Generations later, his decedents still lived on the same farm in Maine and had no idea he changed baseball forever.
The written article is fine, but the aired radio piece is better.
Japanese Baseball Began On My Family's Farm In Maine
After the Civil War, Horace Wilson left his farm for Japan, where he introduced baseball. He's a legend there, something his relatives, including NPR's Theo Balcomb, didn't know for generations.
www.npr.org
March 12, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Baseball was introduced to Japan in 1872 by an American school teacher named Horace Wilson.
Generations later, his decedents still lived on the same farm in Maine and had no idea he changed baseball forever.
The written article is fine, but the aired radio piece is better.
Generations later, his decedents still lived on the same farm in Maine and had no idea he changed baseball forever.
The written article is fine, but the aired radio piece is better.
After games and practices -
Clean the dugout.
Rake and fill holes in the mound and batters boxes, and sprinkle with water if available.
Show respect to the facilities being provided, and leave them better than you found them.
Clean the dugout.
Rake and fill holes in the mound and batters boxes, and sprinkle with water if available.
Show respect to the facilities being provided, and leave them better than you found them.
March 12, 2025 at 2:05 PM
After games and practices -
Clean the dugout.
Rake and fill holes in the mound and batters boxes, and sprinkle with water if available.
Show respect to the facilities being provided, and leave them better than you found them.
Clean the dugout.
Rake and fill holes in the mound and batters boxes, and sprinkle with water if available.
Show respect to the facilities being provided, and leave them better than you found them.