DEVELOPING ASTROS OFFENSE

TODAY’S LINE-UP

• Team Offense

• 2 Strike Hitting

• Pitch Selection and Count Control

• Gaining and Maintaining Confidence

• Building Work Ethic and Accountability

• Morning Early Work

• Mechanical Instruction Plan

• Camp and In Season B.P. Routine

• Home Game Pregame Routine

• Cage Clean Up

SPRING TRAINING

BATTING PRACTICE ROUTINE

• Routine: 2-Bunts each hitter as a group prior to swing

rounds (Last bunter starts the 1st round)

1) 7 Swings pull gap to the opposite side

2) Situational round: 2 H&R, 2 Runner 2nd 0-out,

2 Inf. Back, 2 Inf. In, SS or Safety

3) 3 Rounds 7-5-5 (Gap to Gap)

BATTING PRACTICE APPROACH

• Preparation and Approach:

1) Soft toss station (Top hand-Bottom hand drills and both hand soft toss)

2) Organized and timely to create professional atmosphere

3) Concentration (Focus on focusing)

4) Line-drive approach (NO HOME-RUN DERBY)

5) Pride and concentration during situational rounds

6) Instruction should be concise and to the point

7) Lay off the pitch up and in

8) Stay gap to gap

SITUATIONAL HITTING APPROACH

Hit and Run:

• Set sights for FB at the top of the zone

• Look to attack the ball on a low trajectory

• Attack the ball where it’s pitched

Runner @ 2nd 0-outs:

• Low trajectory from middle of the diamond to the right side

• Aggressive, efficient swing

• Don’t try to manipulate the ball

Runner @ 3rd with less than 2-outs:

• Eliminate the corners

• Look to drive the ball through the center of the diamond

• Control emotions

HITTING APPROACH (ON DECK TO BATTERS BOX) • Consistent on deck routine:

1) Timing with the pitcher (weighted bat ?)

2) Route to the box

3) Ritual to enter the box

• Presence and confidence:

1) The ability to project a sense of ease, poise, or self-

assurance

2) Intimidation through how one carries himself

3) Put Confidence ahead of success

• Trust:

1) Eliminate any mechanical thought and feel the swing

2) Trust the automated athlete (the hay is in the barn)

3) Detach from results and simply focus on putting together a QPA

HITTING APPROACH (BATTERS BOX) • Aggressive mind set:

1) Quicker pitch recognition

2) Fewer chase swings

3) More swings taken with conviction

• Zone into area of strength with less than 2-strikes

1) Aggressive focus put into concise location

2) Hit off the FB and expect every pitch to be there

3) Eliminate the corners, top and bottom before 2-

strikes

• Competitive at bats:

1) One on one combat

2) The pitcher must work for his outs

3) Productive outs do damage to the opposition

TWO STRIKE APPROACH * THE DEFINITION OF A GOOD HITTER IS ONE THAT IS COMFORTABLE HITTING

WITH TWO STRIKES!

• Stay aggressive mentally

• Early pitch recognition

• Fewer chase swings

• Instills determination

• Must cover the whole zone as well as velocity discrepancies

• Eliminate tension

• Allow the ball to travel (may get deeper than optimal)

• Accept the possibility of getting jammed

• Keep the body square to the hitting area

• Still look to stay through the middle of the diamond

• Take ownership of personal two strike approach

• Understand the importance

• Learn and log from past experiences

PHYSICAL ADJUSTMENTS

Choke up* Spread out

Tone down movements:

-Leg kick

-Knee tuck

-Stride etc.

*Mandatory

TWO STRIKE ADJUSTMENTS

Psychologically, becoming a

good two-strike hitter inspires

confidence. A batter knows he

can still hit with authority.

PSYCHOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT

PREGAME PREPARATION

• Individual Work (Assigned)

• Daily Maintenance Program (Personal Drill Series)

• B.P. Routine

• Pepper

• Standing in during pitchers side work

• Pre-game flips at home

“Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your

best to become the best that you are capable of becoming”

John Wooden

PROGRESSION OF SKILLS BY LEVELS

PROGRESSION OF SKILLS BY LEVELS

1) Begin to understand individual swing.

2) Develop a routine for swing maintenance, (Drill series).

3) Begin to identify location strengths.

4) Build a basic two-strike approach.

5) Gain an understanding of the situational hitting

approach.

6) Emphasis on getting into a good firing position on time.

7) Focus on hitting the fastball.

8) Learn to take a professional B.P. (focus on focusing).

Rookie

1) Continue developing pre-game routine and maintenance

program.

2) Improve ability to develop and execute a plan geared to

hit the fastball.

3) Better understanding for area of strengths and discipline

to that zone.

4) Take on ownership of two-strike approach.

5) Improve application of situational hitting approach.

6) Gain a feel for game awareness and team offense.

7) Walk to strike-out ratio begins to improve.

Low A PROGRESSION OF SKILLS BY LEVELS

1) Start understanding his offensive role, (Specific and organizational goals).

2) Mechanics should be more refined with small adjustments and not overhauls.

3) Should be able to lock into strength locations with fewer empty swings.

4) Gain a strong grasp of his two-strike approach and understands the importance.

5) Build enough trust in the swing mechanics to consistently swing the bat with conviction and demonstrate the ability to advance to the next level.

6) Develop and execute a consistent game plan.

7) Show the ability to get on the fastball.

High A PROGRESSION OF SKILLS BY LEVELS

1) Can keep pace with the competition and the pitchers ability to exploit weaknesses.

2) Shows mental strength and discipline as pitchers will double up and pitch backwards.

3) Strike zone and ability to handle certain areas becomes more defined.

4) Ability to use the whole field improves.

5) Doesn’t miss pitches in the “do not disturb” zone with any frequency.

6) Can hold the firing position and handle hanging off speed pitches.

7) Understands the concept of team offense and how it applies to him in any given situation.

8) Can compete and defend himself with two-strikes.

AA PROGRESSION OF SKILLS BY LEVELS

1) Swing mechanics are defined and daily maintenance program is consistent.

2) Can keep his emotions in check and execute an approach to situational hitting.

3) Has improved ability to handle a larger portion of the zone with authority.

4) Can set a plan for veteran AAA pitchers as well as young strong arms and can identify pitchers tendencies in RBI situations.

5) Understands how to sit on pitches to eliminate from the repertoire.

6) Can mentally cope with slumps to expedite recovery.

7) Swing miss %, chase % and walk strike-out ratio are in check.

8) Has the “court awareness” to manage an at bat.

AAA PROGRESSION OF SKILLS BY LEVELS

SELECTIVITY AND COUNT CONTROL

SELECTIVITY AND COUNT CONTROL

• Know your location of strength

• Be mentally ready to hit before entering the box

• Expect the pitch to be in your attack zone

• Aggressive mindset leads to early pitch recognition

• Comprehend swing counts

• Confidence in hitting with two strikes

• Let the automated athlete handle the mechanics

“The first rule to hitting, get a good ball to hit”

Ted Williams

BUILDING PLATE DISCIPLINE

• Feedback from game experience

1) Pitch selection chart

BUILDING PLATE DISCIPLINE

• Feedback from game experience

1) Pitch selection chart

2) Individual daily log book

• Physical Training

1) Concise Soft Toss

2) Blind Tee Work

3) Tracking

4) Visualization

HITTERS DNA CHART PROVIDED BY STATSPASS.COM

1-2

3-0

2-0

2-1

0-0 1-1 2-2

0-1

1-0

0-2

3-1

3-2

Even Counts

Pitchers Counts

Hitters Counts

Count AVG

Ahead .342

Even .257

Behind .206

2 Strike Counts .180

.330

.167

.152

.316

.318

.340

.348

.360

.355

.335 .218

.186

-154

-151

+173 Pts

+162 Pts

WINNING : TEAM OFFENSE SYNERGY= THE WHOLE IS GREATER THAN THE SUM OF ITS PARTS

• Selflessness

• Accountability

• Leadership

• Preparation

• Competitive heart

• Game awareness

• Instincts

• Mental toughness

• Determination

Winning Offense

SIMPLE TEAM GOALS

1) Score First (Win 60% of gms)

2) Add on to our lead

3) “Be the best team in the 7th, 8th

and ninth innings”

Tony La Russa

Getting 15 hitters to 1st base

averages 5.5 runs a game

It takes 18 to 20 QPAs to win

a game offensively

DID YOU KNOW?

The average MLB hitters sees 2500 pitches per year.

47%-49% of MLB at bats occur with two strikes

(Just under 50% in 2011)

2011 MLB two-strike average was .180

70% of Fastballs are thrown for strikes

30% of Breaking balls or off speed pitches are thrown for

strikes

Lowest average in the zone - high middle

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF FOCUSED HITTING

1) Runs Batted In....41%

2) On-base percentage.....19%

3) Batting average.....13%

4) On-base plus slugging.....11%

5) Runs.....6%

6) Home Runs.....4%

7) RISP Average.....2%

8) Slugging.....1%

9) Two-out RBIs.....1%

10)Strikeouts (Batter).....1%

WHICH INDIVIDUAL HITTING STATISTIC IS THE MOST MEANINGFUL?

COACHING PHILOSOPHY

• BUILDING CONFIDENCE

• DEVELOPING STRONG RELATIONSHIPS AND TRUST

• POSITIVE TEACHING THROUGH ENCOURAGEMENT

• UNDERSTANDING INDIVIDUAL MECHANICS

• CREATING GOOD WORK HABITS

• TIME AND PLACE FOR INSTRUCTION

• DON’T USE THE WORD DON’T

• VIDEO ANALYSIS

BASIC INDIVIDUAL GOALS

1) At least two quality plate appearances per game

2) On-base percentage of .350 or higher

3) One walk per every ten at-bats (10%)

4) At least 50% as many walks as strikeouts

5) No more than one strikeout per five plate appearances (20%)

MENTAL GAME PLAN & VISUALIZATION

VISUALIZATION

Seeing your swing mentally

Recording good swings in your mind

Take mental batting practice

MENTAL GAME PLAN

If you think you can hit, you can!

Body language with confidence

Engage in the one on one combat to win

Focus on one thing at a time (Multi-tasking)

Control emotions, anxiety and stress (effect mechanics and vision)

Want the 5th AB

Put confidence ahead of success

Make mastering the art of hitting the goal

• Team Offense

• 2 Strike Hitting

• Pitch Selection and Count Control

• Gaining and Maintaining Confidence

• Building Work Ethic and Accountability

IN SUMMARY