Yoenis Cespedes - The Showcase

This has been all over the web over the past month, so I am late to the party. That being said, this deserves to get posted because it is the greatest thing I think I have ever seen. Sure, Cuban defector Yoenis Cespedes looks like a beast, but some of the exercises and drills he is using are downright comical. Enjoy, and feel free to leave a comment about your favorite drill!

The 2012 Season Starts Now!

With the New Year arriving within the week, I wanted to remind all of our players that the hardest work for 2012 SHOULD HAVE ALREADY STARTED! Nobody wants to show up to camp with a few extra pounds to shed when you are fighting for a job!

We are currently taking on new clients to help them prepare for domination of the spring, so drop us a line at incommandbaseball@gmail.com for special year-end pricing on private lessons through this weekend.

Greatest of All Time

(Photo courtesy of Getty Images)

In Command Baseball would like to congratulate Mariano Rivera on becoming baseball's all-time saves leader with 602. He has proven what we have preached for years over the course of his career: clean, simple, repeatable mechanics = success!

In Command Baseball is now on Twitter and Facebook!

Click on the above link to follow @InCommandNYCT , and check out the Facebook feed in the right margin to like our page on Facebook for exclusive updates and pricing specials!

Fundamentals in Photos

(Photo courtesy of Getty Images)

St. Louis Cardinals First Baseman Albert Pujols fields a ground ball

What should I be looking at?

Head positioning: As with everything in sports, the eyes are supremely important in fielding a baseball. Albert Pujols, known for his light-tower-power, shows perfect form as he watches a ground ball into his glove.

Base: Pujols' feet are square, a little more than shoulder width apart, and bent at the knees. Notice that he is not straight-legged and bent over trying to make a play. The solid, athletic base allows for the fielder to react to an unexpected hop and never be off guard!

**Special End of Summer Pricing On Private Lessons**

Are you looking to elevate your game?

In Command Baseball is looking to fill out the remainder of our summer and fall schedule, and passing that benefit to our clients. Please contact us at incommandbaseball@gmail.com for special end of summer pricing on single lessons, as well as even lower prices when you purchase a package!

Fundamentals in Photos

(Photo courtesy of Reuters)

Alex Rodriguez fires across the diamond.

What should I be looking at?

Arm Angle: The most important thing to keep in mind when throwing a baseball is the positioning of the elbow as compared to the shoulder. The ideal position is shown here as A-Rod attempts to throw a baserunner out at first base in a game in Detroit in May of this year. Positioning your elbow ABOVE the shoulder alleviates pressure on the elbow. When the elbow drops BELOW the shoulder, the elbow strains and, if done consistently, can result in injury.

Link of the Day

Over at on of my personal favorite baseball blogs, River Ave Blues, they took the time to break down the amazing success that Curtis Granderson has enjoyed since making the adjustments that I talked about in an "Major Leaguers You Can Learn From" post. Be sure to check it out!

Fundamentals in Photos

(Photo Courtesy of Getty Images)

This is a great photo of James McDonald of the Pirates during his gem last night against the Reds.

What should I be looking at?
Grip: By looking at McDonald's right hand, you will see a text book grip for a circle change. Although the positioning of the ball may vary from pitcher to pitcher on this pitch, two things remain constant: first, as you can see, the fingers are kept OFF of the seams, which automatically cuts down on velocity. Without the leverage created from your fingertips pulling on the lacing, the ball will inevitably slow down. Second, the grip is LOOSE. A changeup must be held like an egg. Choking this pitch will invariably result in the pitcher spiking it into the ground.

Reader Poll

Tonight, I am looking to keep my finger pulse of the public, so I am turning the tables and asking my readers to write a post for me by answering the following question:

Which Major League pitcher, past or present, would you qualify as having "perfect" mechanics?

Leave your answer in the comments section, and I will break the answers down tomorrow!

Fundamentals in Photos

(Photo courtesy of Getty Images)

This is the introduction of a new feature on the site, "Fundamentals in Photos". Every morning, I will post a picture from the previous night's Major League action depicting how sound fundamentals translate into results for players at the highest level!

Pictured here is Ryan Roberts of the Arizona Diamondbacks finishing a swing that resulted in an absolute BOMB in Phoenix last night.

What should I be looking at?
Head: Roberts' head and right foot. His head is down as he drives through the ball, with his eyes fixed at the point of contact.

Back foot: The back foot has the heel elevated, which has allowed Ryan to clear his hips and create that torque that I talk about so often. Again, all power in baseball, whether it be on the mound or at the plate, derives from the CORE.

Major Leaguers You Can Learn From: Curtis Granderson

Since he re-worked his swing with Yankee hitting coach Kevin Long at the end of the 2010 season, Curtis Granderson has been one of the most feared hitters in baseball. Since the tweak, Curtis has launched more home runs than anyone in the Major Leagues not named Jose Bautista. Not bad for a six-foot-one, one hundred eighty-five pound centerfielder. How is he doing it? Lets break it down.



(Video courtesy of MLB.com)

Set Up:
As you can see in this video, the "load" portion of Granderson's set up is very overexaggerated and deliberate (which makes it a perfect example for youg players). After the "load", Curtis' hands are drawn back to a perfect hitting position. Also, notice the LACK of extraneous movement in his set up. There is no energy-wasting bat waving going on, nor are there any extra "time mechanisms" to allow him to get fooled on the offspeed pitch. There is only one instance where movement is necessary, and that is when he goes from "ready" to "loaded".

Explosion:
As I mentioned before, Curtis Granderson is not a physical monster: in fact, many of the high school players reading this may be of comparable size. Even though he has a relatively small frome, Curtis generates light-tower power through the use of his HIPS. Watch as his rotation begins: as soon as the front foot lands, the front hip begins to clear in a violent fashion. POWER is not LINEAR in baseball, whether it be at the plate or on the mound. "Sliding" forward does not make the ball travel, it is the torque of the hips that increases bat speed, therefore increasing the force with which you can hit the ball.

Swing:
As the bat begins to travel through the hitting zone, notice the slight uppercut of the swing. We are not looking for a toes-to-nose hack, but rather a smooth transition that allows the bat to take the shortest, most effective route to the ball.

Finish:
In a word, perfect. Granderson's backswing is identical to what I have been teaching students for over a decade. Both hands remain on the bat throughout, with the barrell ending up directly ACROSS the numbers, avoiding an uppercut that is to exaggerated, while still producing backspin that allos the ball to travel.

These tweaks to his swing have allowed Curtis Granderson to become one of the most feared hitters in the Major Leagues, showing that even the smallest of adjustments can be the difference between an average hitter and a beast at the plate.

In Command Baseball Launches Website!

Welcome to In Command Baseball, a site for all of your baseball instruction needs. Check back fundamental mechanical breakdowns of your favorite players using the In Command philosopies and techniques. The site will also be used as a home base for In Command students to view videos of themselves working with us to get a perspective on their progress. We are excited to put our experience to work, and demonstrate what over ten years of experience receiving the finest coaching that baseball has to offer to the baseball community!