Josh Boggs

Benefits of #PitchingChat

Josh BoggsBaseball ArticlesLeave a Comment on Benefits of #PitchingChat

By: Alex Shapiro

On Sunday nights around 9 PM, I look forward to getting on Twitter. In fact, there are times where I set an alarm on my phone to remind me to do so. I probably sound like most teenagers in America as they are on social media quite frequently, as am I, but something in particular about getting on Twitter at this time allows me to become involved in an event that enhances my ability to do something I am very passionate about and love to do: coach baseball. What might I ever be talking about that involves coaching baseball, 9 o’clock on Sunday nights, and Twitter? The answer to that question is described by a hashtag: #PitchingChat. read more

Improve Mechanics By Starting At The End

Josh BoggsPitching Articles1 Comment on Improve Mechanics By Starting At The End

By Baseball Brains

Coaching pitchers can be very hard, and very time consuming. To add to the challenge, most of the guys we work with are not full time commits to our brilliant systems. They have school to attend, video games to play, girls to see, and couches to sit on. Hard to believe they would choose those things over working with us old guys, but somehow they consistently find a
way. This is why it’s so critical that pitching coaches keep it simple and focus on things that have the biggest bang for their buck. We’re looking for one thing we can teach a kid that will have a positive impact on all that other stuff. For me there are a few things that meet
that criteria:
1: Intent and goals
2: Mental approach and strategy
3: Strength and conditioning read more

The Two-Way Player

Josh BoggsPitching ArticlesLeave a Comment on The Two-Way Player

By Eric Peterson, Drury University Pitching Coach

As coaches we are always looking for or to recruit great athletes. Players who have the ability to perform at a high level while having the ability to play multiple positions on the field are the proverbial “gold mine” of all sports. Add in the ability to make an impact on the mound as a pitcher, you are now living the good life as a coach! But how does an athlete become successful at being a two-way player? Do we lose two-way players early in their career because of misguidance? How realistic is it to put those expectations on that player? How are they physically able to meet the demands of not just one position but two? Why are there not more of these guys out there? Is there enough time for a full time high school or college student-athlete to get the repetitions he so vitally needs? read more

Weird Submarine Guys

Josh BoggsPitching ArticlesLeave a Comment on Weird Submarine Guys

By Jon “Jonny Baseball” Bouza

How I Got Started:

About 3 years ago I decided to get back into baseball after I stopped playing just before the start of High School ball. Pitching just comes naturally to me and I love it. However, ever since I hurt my shoulder in Little League I struggled to keep my arm in a comfortable three-quarters which was why I decided not to play in High School. So I decided to throw sidearm for a little while because even prior to hurting my arm it felt natural, even though I always got yelled at for doing it, which is why I, and a lot of other kids didn’t. By the way, if anyone reprimands you for throwing in a way that is comfortable and natural for your shoulder, tell them to bite you (respectfully of course). However, always be coachable and open to suggestions. read more

Slow Down to Keep Up

Josh BoggsMental GameLeave a Comment on Slow Down to Keep Up

By: Casey Fisk

1/15/2015

You don’t know what you don’t know, and what you don’t know is stealing your joy and killing your success. That’s not exactly true. You know. You’ve played baseball, and many of you reading this are now coaches. The truth is in you already. A reminder is often more powerful than a new idea, because you get to say, “I knew that!” You knew it, but if you didn’t do it, that may be why you blew it.

Baseball, as in all sports, is filled with high-energy, Type-A competitors who share a passion for winning and a hatred for losing – at anything. They want to succeed so much that they and their parents invest countless hours and dollars on physical training, skills training, equipment, travel ball, showcases, etc. They run after success so hard and so fast that they overlook the truth they know: Their successes and struggles hinge on something they rarely, if ever, invest time working on. read more