GTA Championship Details Released - TBA Teams To Host
Sunday August 15th, 2021

ATL has learned further details of the final Championship Tournament of the 2021 season hosted in the GTA.  With a number of teams currently involved in games in the GTA the Toronto Baseball Association is hosting a double knockout tournament during the September Labour Day Weekend.  Games will be hosted by Etobicoke, East York and West Toronto.   

This tournament is akin to those of the OBA Championships in years past that would typically conclude the Minor Bantam season.  Such double knockout tournaments typically begin on the Friday (which would be September 3rd) and end on the Monday September 6th.  Its hard to know at this stage exactly when the tournament will conclude as the schedule has yet to be released.  However, with new OBA rules that teams cannot play more than 2 games in a day - expect a longer tournament for the teams that advance to the final rounds.

Teams are comprised of a majority from the TBA but also the addition of two additional teams from the YSBA.  These teams continue to maintain a relationship with the TBA group but are also having their own YSBA Championship on August 21st and 22nd.  For all it will be a great experience to see a true double knockout tournament return to crown a quasi OBA Champion for the GTA Region.

In other news and notes on a seperate path the OBA Madness tournament continues on as teams from the EOBA, Mississauga and Windsor compete on that path ... It goes without saying but its hard to avoid noticing what the impact of metal bats will be in the 2022 season ... 

Make It Three In The YSBA 
Wednesday April 14th, 2021

Around the League recently learned that there will be just three YSBA-AAA teams for the OBA season in 2021.  The three teams are Newmarket, Vaughan and Barrie.  These three teams faced off with each other in 2020 with varying degrees of success amongst some rather close games that will make the upcoming season within the YSBA a nicely competitive group to see who would potentially representing the division at the OBA Championships in September.  In most seasons past the YSBA has been awarded 2 representatives at the championship leaving perhaps only one team left without a chair (in this musical chair format) at the end of the season.

Other teams that are competing at the AA level that one have wondered about are Markham and Caledon (with a second Vaughan team as well).  That's not a lot of teams in the top two competitive divisions for the season.  If you look further down however there lies another 11 teams at the A level including some recognizable organizations that typically have higher level ranked teams for their markets (ie: Thornhill and Richmond Hill).

Reports are indicating that a meeting of the rep teams is scheduled for this upcoming Sunday where teams will learn about the nature of the season and how teams will be allowed to complete.  The dreaded "bubble" word is on the agenda and with only three teams at the AAA level in the YSBA one has to wonder the impact on schedule ahead.  Probably of more importance is just the opportunity to play and compete in 2021 and who it is your lined up against becomes less and less concerning.  Reports out of the OBA is a petition making the rounds to ask the Ontario government to all for the removal or changing of the 50 player competition limit to be altered for outdoor sports.  Hopefully more to come on that in a future edition of ATL.

For now, all teams can do is wait and see how things progress into the baseball season.  Opening day is traditionally May 1st which is just more than two weeks away.  Fingers crossed.

OBA Cancels All Baseball Activity for Month of April
Monday April 5th, 2021

In what as an unfortunate Easter egg left for the baseball community by the Easter Bunny during Easter Long Weekend it was announced by the OBA that they would be suspending all baseball activities in the province for the next 28 days in accordance with the Provincial Shut Down announced by the government.

In what the OBA had to do they followed the guidance by the province leaving the baseball community left to wait and see when activities will start up once again.  There is still the hope that teams will hit the field when normally baseball diamonds are opened as of May 1st - yet that is cutting it close for sure.  

The OBA in their announcement maintained that they plan "to provide a significant season in 2021" for their teams and recently the Vaughan Baseball Association sent out a memorandum to house-league teams to prepare for a season starting in June.  For the representatives of the AAA league as to when those teams might get to hit the fields no further announcements have been made.

What is abundantly clear is that current situations in the province are dire and the decision to wait for vaccinations to take hold is the most prudent decision at this current time.  Provincial and Federal authorities continue to indicate that there is an expectation that everyone in the province that wants a vaccine will be able to get one by the summer with full vaccinations completed by September.  That type of progress while seemingly a distance away today with the news of no baseball being played for the forseeable future will come into clearer focus by the time we reach the end of the current shutdown.   In the meantime teams work to maintain their efforts to stay active and prepared for the 2021 season that will one day get started as the warmer days arrive.

OBA Announces Covid Protocols For 2021 Season
Thursday March 26th, 2021

In a recent announcement the OBA released the changes to the COVID protocols for the 2021 season.  In what is a precarious position for the league and the province itself the announcement gave hope that the powers that be at the head office in Cambridge see something that will amount to a more traditional season in comparison to 2020.  Currently with the province in the midst of a third wave hope is eternal that vaccinations in progress will lead to a more enjoyable summer. 

With that in mind here are the 15 most notable announcements to the changes to the 2021 protocols:

1) Removed limitation on number of non-participants in attendance (Pg. 4).

In 2020 spectators were limited to how many could watch and remain at games and practices.  This now reads as eliminated.

2) Reduced time between events on diamonds from 45 minutes to 30 minutes (Pg. 6).

In 2020 it was longer before teams could transition from one game to another making it harder on scheduling enough time for everyone.

3) Removed snack bar and concessions limitation from Venues section (Pg. 6).  

While perhaps seen as a minor change in the operations of games and events, the use of the concessions is a money driver for organizations and sometimes a last gasp for families looking for something to drink or eat.

4) Clarified that pre-game ceremonies are discouraged but not prohibited (Pg. 9).

Most games don't really have pre-game ceremonies but it does lend evidence toward the prospect of tournaments in 2021.

5) Removed limitation of participants at home plate meeting and required face covering by all participants while physical distancing at plate meeting (Pg. 9).

A chance again to return to normalcy when games resume even if it does require masking at home plate.

6) Removed the requirement for only defensive players to touch the baseball.

While everyone in the 2020 season became accustomed to the protocols of the game the idea that teams will be able to concentrate more on the games and whether they can touch or not touch the baseball will be a bonus.

7) Removed the requirement for the offensive team to have a representative over the age of 16 to retrieve the bat.

While this is rule that the league adopted it would seem that it was rarely enforced in most games so the removal of the requirement makes even more sense.

8) Added protocol to allow ball/strike umpire to work behind the catcher as long as they are wearing a PPE mask or face covering. If not wearing a face covering, ball/strike umpire must work 2 metres behind the pitcher (Pg. 9).

The chance to have the game return to its primary form with the umpire behind home plate would be a welcome development under new protocols.   Again, players and teams are very adaptive, but this will again bring a more traditional baseball experience.

9) Removed limitation on umpires not holding game balls.

Here the often experience of coaches not knowing to throw baseballs into game play due to the unorthodox nature of the experience 2020 makes this return to traditional baseball again more enjoyable.

10) Added new protocol: Umpires are required to sanitize hands at the end of every half inning (Pg. 9).

A small price to pay one would hope for the chance to provide the true in game experience for players wishing to enjoy the game in the traditional manner.

11) Changed verbiage allowing umpires working in the field to wear a PPE mask at their discretion on (Pg. 9).

If you can live through the day at school with a mask on then an umpire has the right to decide if they wish to wear a mask for the entirety of the game.

12) Added enforcement for when a pitcher goes to their mouth (Pg. 10).

Pitchers stay away from your mouth - period.

13) Removed limitation of lead-offs, new protocol: defensive players holding runners on base at 1B must wear a PPE mask (Pg. 10).

Big news here!  This is a big change back to traditional baseball that will impact games tremendously.  In 2020 teams worked on ways to incorporate as much of this part of the game as they could while maintaining the rules, but there was a real desire to have leadoffs.  The requirement that the 1B wear a mask is a small price to pay for the opportunity for players to enjoy this essential aspect of the game (ie: leadoffs, stealing etc).

14)  Removed limitation of throwing the ball around the infield after outs.

Players like to imitate what they see on TV and this one part of the game where they can get a chance now to express themselves in ways that they see others.  

15) New protocol: Coaches must wear a PPE face covering when approaching other participants (Pg. 10).

This makes a lot of sense to allow once again for there to be protections while allows to maintain the core principals of the game.

In other news and notes, as the off season starts to look forward to the beginning of the season there has been no word on scheduling games or what limitations there will be on developing schedules in 2021 ... There have been no new tournaments listed for 2021 since January ... Current ATL poll shows more believe that the season will be delayed in May (4 votes to 3) ... Does anyone remember the new pitch count rules and the app that were introduced back in the off season for 2020? ... 

Get To Know The Tendencies Of A Hitter Very Quickly!
Monday March 16th 2021

If you knew nothing at all about a hitter's strengths, what if I told you there is a way a pitcher can find out what a hitter's strengths are before he even gets into the box?

It is mandatory for baseball pitchers to find out the strengths and weaknesses of the baseball hitters they face. There are certain very clever things a pitcher can do. If the hitter takes a practice swing before facing you, pay attention to his practice swing!

If he appears to be hitting an inside pitch with it, he is probably a pull hitter. If he appears to be hitting the ball the opposite way with his practice swing, chances are he likes to go the opposite way. If he appears to be hitting a high pitch, he probably likes the ball up. If he appears to be hitting a low pitch, you guessed it, he's probably a good low ball hitter. One of the best baseball pitching tips to remember is that professional baseball hitters, all the way down to very young players like to practice what they do well and not what they do NOT do well. This very often includes their practice swings.

Some Guidelines To Use BEFORE You Actually See The Hitter Swing:

"Batter Has A Closed Stance." He probably likes the ball away from him and out over the plate. Find out if he can handle a pitch inside.

"Batter Has An Open Stance." He probably likes the ball inside. Find out if he can handle the low and away strike.

"Batter Stands Shallow In The Box." Well, if the batter wants to give me an extra couple of feet on my fastball, I'll take the extra foot or two he's giving me to see if he can catch up to my heater.

"Batter Has His Hands Held High." Almost always likes the ball LOW, with very few exceptions! You can check it out for yourself right now. Put your hands up high right now, by your back ear and pretend you are holding a bat. Move your hands like you are swinging at a chest high fastball. It doesn't feel right, does it? Pitch him primarily up in the zone until he proves you to be wrong.

"Batter Has The Bat Curled Around His Neck." Find out if he can handle a pitch that is up and in. His bat has to travel extremely far to hit that pitch well.

Some Thought Processes To Use AFTER You Have Seen The Hitter Swing:

Your first pitch is a real good fastball and he pulls it and hits a seed that's a foul about 350 feet from home plate. You now know there is a very good chance he loves the fast ball. You should strongly consider going off speed on your next pitch. The only risk is that if he's a good hitter, he might be thinking along with you after what he just did to your fast ball. (This is part of the chess match that takes place between a good pitcher and a good hitter.)

Good hitters are good hitters for a reason and that's because they are always thinking. OK, he has clobbered your first pitch fastball. I'm not saying that you should not go off speed but you do have another option, considering this guy appears to love the fastball. The thought process goes like this...OK, you love the fastball, well I'll give you another fastball. But this time it's going to be six inches or so off the outside corner. Remember, if he loves to hit the fastball, he may chase one out of the strike zone because he doesn't know if he'll get another one from you. After two fastballs, he may start to think that you are going to stay with your heater. You might then go off speed, on your third pitch. If this sounds like a chess match to you, it is because it IS a chess match that should be going on between a good pitcher and a good batter!

Let's make sure we are clear on something. Remember that even if I see that a hitter does not like a certain pitch or a certain location, it does not mean that you can throw that same pitch over and over and over again and expect to be successful. Good hitters will make adjustments at the plate. You still have to show him other pitches and other locations also. Be cautious that a batter doesn't start out one way and then when he is actually swinging, he changes. For example, a batter may have his bat curled around his head but when he's actually ready to hit, he changes and it's not curled any longer.

Another example is if a batter has an open stance. He may possibly close his stance just before getting ready to swing. You have to pay attention, just like a batter who takes your pitch and follows it all the way into the catcher's mitt to see how your pitch is moving. Baseball pitching tips require clever use of the mind as well as the body and pitching is not simply getting the ball and throwing the pitch. Please make sure you learn a hitter's tendencies as quickly as possible!

And DON’T ever forget to take that sneaky look at those practice swings, one of the best baseball pitching tips you will ever learn! 

Expectations for 2021 Season Coming Into Focus For OBA
Saturday February 27th, 2021

With the calander on the verge of spilling into March the 2021 season is coming up on 2 months from the start of baseball.  Two months might seem like a long time but there is much to be determained before the season is to start.  Many encouraging signs are happening right now in the Province that leads one to expect that a season will get of the ground during the first week of May. 

First, regions in Ontario are generally coming out of the lockdown albeit at different levels.  This has lead to teams getting a chance to do indoor workouts at varying degrees of flexibility.  Some teams have had the chance to practice for nearly a month while others in different territories only got the chance to practice this past week.  Those in Simcoe-Muskoka would have seen all their workouts get shut down as of Monday.  So it is the two steps forward one step back process that teams are having to manage through.  What does seem to be a consensus is that by the time May comes around the landscape will be far more encouraging to teams to get the chance to start a regular season.  As to whether teams will get to play whomever they choose at this stage is undecided.  One unconfirmed report is that the COBA organizations have decided to bubble themselves together pushing the likes of the Etobicoke Rangers out from their traditionally duel schedule of playing TBA and COBA teams.

As for the product on the field, reports are indicating a return to the more traditional game might be on the horizon.  ATL is learning that there was a meeting last week of the OBA to discuss on field rules and regulations in relation to COVID.  While nothing was finalized reports indicate a motion to return back to regular leadoffs during the game is currently "under advisement."  It is believed that we could see the return of stealing for the 2021 season.  Less likely to change is the location of the home plate umpire where it was determained umpires would be situated behind the pitcher.  Again, nothing has been finalized.

Tournaments continue to listed on the OBA website but loosing restrictions will need to be provided before any of them will get to run.  It is hopeful also that as a third vaccine hits the market and more and more people get vaccinated the chance to see the return of tournaments will be in the cards for 2021.  With two months remaining before a regular season would begin much still is needed to be decided.  Fortunately thing are continuing to head in the right direction - even if it is slower than everyone would hope.

In other news and notes the non-OBA teams have listed a tournament they will be holding in Newmarket on July 8th ... National Sports is closing a large amount of stores in the GTA and if you shop there for sporting goods you might want to consider getting what you need before its too late ... Does anyone even remember the pitch count process anymore, it was to be released just when COVID hit - is anyone going to remember to use it? ... 

OBA Announces Introduction of Metal Bats For 2022 Season
Thursday January 28th, 2021

If you were to ask what series (minor or major bantam) the players would most understandable remain with metal bats you would certain say the minor bantam (14U) season as players get accustomed to the larger fields and make the most significant transition in their baseball careers.  So when the OBA announced just this last week the return of the metal bats to the bantam series common sense had you thinking that it would have impacted those players playing in the minor bantam series in 2021.  Not so fast.  ATL has learned that the introduction of metal bats into the bantam series won't begin until 2022 leaving 2021 the same as in past seasons. 

At first glance the impact on teams in the minor bantam loop would seem negligable  Teams will continue along in 2021 with what they expected and that would be return of the "crack" of the wood bat.  If your team for example was at the Major Bantam (15U) bracket your experience will never change as you'll step out of Bantam and remain with wood bats at the older age series.  However, if your in the Minor Bantam (14U) age group your experience will be significantly impacted in 2022.  

What is interesting when you look deeper into this announcement is that players in the minor bantam series will have to transition to new bat regulations each of their three seasons from Major Peewee (the season just completed) to Major Bantam (next season).  They go from metal bats, to wood bats and oddly back to metal bats.  One wonders if that impact was considered on the rules committee when drawing up this rule.  What is interesting about this switching of bats is that when the players perhaps need the metal bats the most (minor bantam) is the season in which they have to use wood bats.  How this will impact the development of players remains to be seen.  One theory is that teams will remain with wood bats on their own to harness continued development of the players themselves even if it puts them at a competitive disadvantage.  What is clear is that no other age group of players will go through this if the rules remain in place for the 2021 season.   

In other news and notes there were 9 new rules that were approved by the OBA rules committee that will be discussed further in an upcoming edition of ATL ... Teams continue to wait and see when they can get to work on indoor workouts as the province remains in lockdown, it is reported that different teams are engaging in different ways now that February is approaching ... The Vikings roster at last report was the healthiest it has been dating back to the fall ball schedule ... 

The Impacts Of The OBA Following MLB With Intentional Walk 
Tuesday December 29th, 2020

When it was announced in 2019 that the OBA would be following MLB on the ability to verbally announce the intentional walk questions remained on the impact of the decision.  The move didn't come as a surprise to many at the time that the pitcher would no longer have to actually make the four pitches to complete the strategy - but it did seem to take away another footnote in the historical aspect of the game that purists enjoy.   Still there are good reasons for the change. 

First, if MLB made the change to speed up the game for fans and television, the OBA needs to add as many ways as possible to allow for more game play during the time-limits that are attached to the majority of games played during the course of regular season or tournament play.

Second, the process of throwing balls to move the runner adds to pitch counts.  So, within the context of the OBA rules that saves a pitcher 4 additional pitches that they would have lost in the context of making the play to walk the runner.  That is at least one more batter or perhaps more depending on how the at bats go or if it is at the end of the pitchers pitch count totals.

Third, it helps to eliminate umpire and player error from impacting the game.  Often times the technique for how to do intentional walks are performed incorrectly.  Most of the time nobody cares.  However, from time to time in the execution of the play an umpire will choose to upstage the game and call odd rules such as the catcher balk call.  At the OBA level such calls are unwarranted and unduly impact the game.  This move to have the intentional walk made automatic pitchers, catchers and umpires need not be concerned.  A good thing.

Finally, the only real downside to the new rule the prospect that there remains a need for a pitcher to have to make the throws for an intentional walk because perhaps that player will throw the ball away allowing runners to advance or possibly score.  Which leads to the question, do we want a game decided on the basis of a miss thrown ball?   Maybe ... but really perhaps not.  One would rather see the game set to where it should be strategically and played out from there to the honest eventual outcome.   Runner, off to first you go!

In other news and notes the role out of the vaccinations in Ontario has begun with little word on the impact from the OBA on the impact on the 2021 season, probably too early to tell ... Do you think this year will bring back the return of 1B holding runners and baserunners stealing bases? ... It certainly won't be the return of the long ball this season as minor bantam has the least amount of home runs in any of the seasons ...

The Minor divisions At Peewee and Bantam Are Major Steps For Players
Sunday December 20th, 2020

It is often debated as to what transition is the biggest for a baseball player in the OBA.  Is it when they step into Minor Peewee or Minor Bantam?  Minor Peewee exposes players to the more realistic form of the game.  Coming out of the Mosquito division players now are exposed to traditional lead-offs and steals.  They have to run longer base paths (80 feet) making the defense have to cover more ground and make longer throws.  Meanwhile, pitchers now have to learn the rules of the mound while still adjusting to a 50 foot distance - while also having for the first time to throw from a mound.  On the flip side, when players reach minor bantam they now make the largest field expansion in their careers.  They go from the peewee distance of 80 foot bases to the major league distance of 90 feet.  And what would argue is the most difficult transition from the 50 foot mound to the major league distance of 60 feet 6 inches.  Either way you look at it the moves at both Minor peewee and Minor bantam are dramatically significant.

Minor Bantam is a move that is significant before the dramatic jump in distances on the playing field.  Minor Peewee is a more radical change to the game being played on the field.  Players will find that the new distances will become irrelevant shortly after good practice time and game opportunities, but the way the game is played is something that takes more time.  Yes, the OBA has incorporated a number of measures to continue to allow for these players to feel the same comfort found in a mosquito game (ie: extra hitters, pinch runners for pitchers and catchers etc), but ultimately the game is more pure at the peewee level.  Players are going to find in the Minor Peewee bracket that they can watch a game on television and start to associate their games with what they see from their older counterparts. 

Interestingly when you ask a player entering the Minor Peewee year what they want to do the most, the majority will tell you "steal."  Again highlighting a desire for the more traditional aspects of the game.   This transition doesn't happen overnight but as the players get more attuned to the Minor Peewee game they will come to enjoy it so much more than their previous Mosquito experiences.  It is one of the most exciting seasons for a player to have and enjoyable for a coach to impart their influence.  

In other news and notes vaccinations are up and running in Ontario (to some level) and the implications of the vaccinations will be interesting to watch as the baseball seasons start to approach, who will be required to have them - who won't, will it allow for a traditional season? ... So far there are 9 tournaments posted for the 2021 season, maybe three of them at AAA level ... 

If you want to consider the strength of your pitching rotation ATL thinks it has the comparison for you.  In baseball standards your best pitchers are ones that in a major league season win 20 games.  It is the measuring stick for true top performers.  In the major leagues however they play a whopping 162 game season and therefore the measurement with those playing in the Peewee loop (or any non Major League or professional loop) is different.  Interestingly however if you break the numbers down in a Peewee  season you'll find that there is a close relationship between 10 game winners in Peewee and 20 game winners in the major leagues.

When you examine the numbers of the pitching staff the totals show that there is a real consistency between the wins and loses for a Peewee / Bantam season and that of a MLB season when doubling the totals of the Peewee / Bantam numbers.  The Blues in this example had nobody achieve the magical 20 game winner mark when doubling the totals, but that doesn't mean they didn't have the opportunity.  Consider the numbers of Jafine and Lee.  Jafine had 5 losses on record and had he been able to flip just one of those looses he would have been a 20 game winner.  Look at the total number no decisions with Shawn Lee's numbers and the opportunities there with 13 no decisions certainly left many opportunities for him to be a 20 game winner for sure - perhaps even 25?  Lee happened to pick up the majority of his wins as a reliever. 

OBA Tournaments Prepare for 2021
Saturday December 5th, 2020

in recent developments ATL has seen an uptick in developments in OBA tournaments for the 2021 season.  With the uncertainly that one could presume for the 2021 season with COVID cases at all time highs in the province, it is reassuring to see that tournament directors already are planning for a return of the "tournament" in 2021.  Already there are 7 tournaments that are "out" ready to take on teams.   Seven tournaments are only a fraction of the amount of tournaments that will be listed for all the different cities and levels that get organized (ie: A, AA, AAA).  Yet, still the fact that they are pushing forward is a comforting sign.

One of the more interesting tournaments already posted is the Kevin Siddall tournament in Windsor.  Teams from Whitby and North Toronto have already been registered and are preparing for an away over night tournament.  Such a possibility brings hope and excitement at the thought that teams will be able to make such arrangements.  Some of the big name tournaments have not come out for 2021 yet and that will be an interesting development in the coming months.  When will Vaughan, Mississauga North, Mississauga South and more start to show up (if at all).  Bottom line the fact that organizations are making the plans to hopefully bring a traditional schedule in 2021 is something we can all take pleasure in during what is probably the most difficult time of the pandemic.

In other news and notes the rules committee will be voting on significant rule changes in mid January, stay with ATL for the latest developments ... Reports indicate that the entire Vaughan coaching team has signed up for the Best Every Coaches Clinic (virtual) in January in hopes of bringing new ideas and techniques to their players ... 

Baseball Quiz: Do You Know When NOT To Slide Into Second Base?
Sunday November 23rd, 2020

There is one situation where sliding into second base should be avoided! Do you know what situation is? If you are a player, a coach, or a baseball parent, you can show everyone how well schooled in baseball you are.

The situation is that there are less than two outs and you are a runner on first base. If a ground ball is headed to the second baseman, make a quick observation as to where the second baseman is going to field the ball. If the second baseman has to go pretty far to his left to field the grounder, it would be very wise for you not to slide into second base.

If you slide, you are opening up a throwing lane for the second baseman to throw to his shortstop. A much better choice is avoid sliding and run slightly to the right side of the baseline. It's one of the better baseball base running tips that not too many base runners and baseball coaches put to good use. By not sliding and running on the right side of the base line, there is a very good chance that when the second baseman fields the grounder, he will look toward second base and see you and not be able to see his shortstop. A simple thing like this can create chaos for the team in the field.

One possibility is that the second baseman will not even attempt to get the force out at second base and the base runner will now be in scoring position. Another possibility is that if the second baseman does attempt the throw to second base, he will alter his throw because he has to either get it over the base runner or around him. He could very well throw the ball away and you may now have two runners on with one less out. Just a little simple thing like that creates an entirely different scenario and this simple thing can lead to a big inning and a big inning often determines the outcome of a game.

Most people in attendance at the game, including players, coaches and baseball parents won't even notice what happened because it is a very good play that not too many players or coaches are aware of. Sometimes it seems like too much emphasis is placed on baseball tips on hitting and baseball pitching tips but don't ever overlook baseball fielding tips and baseball base running tips as well. They often determine the outcome of a baseball game.

In other news and notes little noteworthy news came out of the OBA Annual General Meeting, new rules will be voted on in January ... ATL things that one can be relatively optimistic that a more traditional season can be expected for 2021 ... 

Are You Ready To Pitch Deep Into The Game?
Thursday November 20th, 2020

With the changes forthcoming for players as they step into the bantam age bracket in 2018 there is one more additional change that coaches and players will need to take into account.  First, we’ve already established a number of changes coming:

• An increase of approx 10 feet from the mound to the plate. 
• An increase of approx 10 feet between the bases.
• Going from metal bats to wood bats for the first time.

One more change that perhaps has flown under the radar revolves around pitch limit increases for the pitchers.  In previous seasons pitchers were limited to 80 pitches on a given day along with 55 pitches in a day (if they wanted to return the next day to pitch).  In Bantam (going into 2018) pitchers will now be able to throw 90 pitches in a day along with 65 pitches to remain eligible to pitch the next day.  The same rules will apply from previous seasons when it comes to pitchers not being allowed to throw three days in a row.

So what does this mean?  Well, remember that the total innings in the game is remaining the same, so those pitchers who are having great games have a greater likelihood of being able to complete the 7 inning game when in previous seasons they would have to be removed.  While the pitch count is capped at 90 a day the pitcher is still allowed to finish the batter he is pitching too allowing him to exceed the 90 pitch limit should circumstances allow.  Furthermore the additional 10 pitches allowed before a pitcher has to be removed will allow for teams to wait on having to pull their pitchers.  Many times pitchers have had to come out in the 3^rd inning based on these limits; this for sure will see pitchers reach deeper into games. 

Overall, this again pushes the nature of the game to a more natural form.  If you’re a dominant starter you should have a real shot at completing what you started when in previous seasons it was unlikely.  Like so many things coming up in the 2018 season this is just another example of how truly the game is taking a dramatic change.

What Inning Is the Most Important - The First or the Last?

In a recent conversation ATL tried to determine which inning in a 7 inning game is considered to be the most important.  Often games can be reduced to one inning competitions and as many a manager has said, "you want to try to win as many innings as possible.  If you win more innings in a game you’re most likely going to win the game."  Therefore, ATL was curious to try and figure out if you had to select just one inning to win - which one would be the best?

If you talk to enough baseball minds you''ll find there has been no resounding choice.  Votes have been made for the 1st inning with the idea that getting a lead and the quick upper hand has such an impact to the game that the 1st should be your focus.  One might suggest the idea of getting runs right away in a game could lead people to wonder why more teams don't start taking the visitor team in tournament play?  One manager recently commented "well I'll tell you one thing, in an important game you often find yourself in the 5th or 6th inning before you know it.  To have quick lead does give you a key advantage."

Baseball Pitchers: Why Are You Acting Differently On The Mound?
Friday October 30th, 2020

Pitchers, coaches and baseball parents who want to help their son should realize it's no big deal if the opposing team has a couple of runners on and less than two outs or even if they score a couple of runs. Too many baseball pitchers have a tendency to start to try to do too much. There are certain things you should and should not be thinking about!

Too many baseball pitchers have a tendency to get "off track" when they have runners on base. They try to have perfect control. They overthrow the ball instead of just throwing it in a natural manner. Basically what they are doing is they are getting away from what made them successful in the first place and are no longer themselves on the mound.

If you start to press too much, the odds increase that the other team will have a big inning and a good part of the reason is you may have brought it on yourself because you stopped being yourself and tried to do "too much." Sometimes it's not so much them as it is you. It is simply not the end of the world if the other team scores a couple of runs. One of the best baseball pitching tips for damage control is to stay within yourself!

Some excellent baseball pitchers actually pretend that there are no runners on base. Of course they are aware of the base runners and have to pitch from the stretch, etc. But their primary focus is on making their regular good quality pitches and let the chips fall where they may. It's almost an "I don't care" attitude.

Quality pitches are quality pitches whether nobody is on base or if the bases are loaded so don't let the base runners stop you from making those quality pitches. Relaxing and focusing only on the next pitch and not the tough situation you may be in is one of the best baseball pitching tips you will ever learn. Your catcher's target is the point of focus and not the tough situation.

In a very important playoff game, here is what a fabulous pitcher once did. The opposing team had the tying run on third base with two outs in the last inning and a very good hitter at the plate. The pitcher visualized the worst possible scenario that could take place. The worst scenario was that the hitter got the game tying hit off him and then his team scored an additional run to win the game. The pitcher reminded himself that even if that happened, the following day he would be vacationing at one of his favorite spots. I'm well aware that you may not have that option of vacationing the following day but that's not the point here.  The point is that this totally relaxed the pitcher and he retired the very good hitter on a pop up to end the game and win this very pivotal playoff game!

Remember Baseball Is 80% Mental and 20% Physical
Thursday October 15th, 2020

Its funny how often players and teams focus most on skills and physical attributes.  Yet if the old adage is true, that the game of baseball is 80% mental than why are we not focused more on the mental aspects of the game.  So keeping that in mind here is food for thought versus food to fuel the human engine.

It is possible to snap out of any emotional state instantly, and become totally relaxed; anyone can instantly banish fear, stress, anxiety, anger, sadness, and confusion from their mind. How? By simply changing you’re breathing. Stress can come in many forms; even excitement can cause us to change from our normally relaxed breathing. When we are stressed it is noticeable that our breathing is restrained, and focused in the upper chest region at the point beneath the sternum. Our breathing becomes shallow and irregular.

Stuck in this tense, shallow, and irregular breathing state, we are thrown into a negative trance with the belief we might or could fail; and it's under the surface. What is causing this tense and abnormal breathing are emotions of fear and worry. Nobody admits to being afraid, especially to themselves, and fear can be a good thing and we can use it to motivate us and give ourselves extra energy. If a tiger was chasing you, your fear would help you run faster than you've ever run before; fear can also make you see better and hear better, and it can cause chemicals and hormones to be released into your body that make you quicker and stronger.

Look to your breath. How are you breathing? Is your breathing relaxed or shallow? If it is shallow, then you need to calm down just a little bit and here's how: While you are exhaling you pull your lower abdomen in at the navel toward your spine and then lift your rib cage upward. This is an ancient warrior teaching from Egypt and India. This was called in ancient times in Egypt the Men Ab and in India this was called The Great Marhabanda. Take a deep breath, then as you blow it out slowly pull your navel in towards your spine and lift your upper chest. Three movements, breathe out, pull navel in, lift chest up. Make sure the only place you are feeling tension in your body is in the lower abdomen. 

This cannot be overstated. If you practice this when you don't need it, it will be there for you when you do, much like a martial artist practices everyday so he'll have tools when he needs them. This breathing technique can be practiced three times in a row to clear your mind/emotions. The emotions we feel are our energy and converting our emotional energy into power energy is a very useful and important skill. Today's science explains, when we forcibly contract the lower abdomen inward while exhaling the lower abdomen applies pressure on the Pneumogastric Nerve, which stabilizes the Heart and sends a reflex stimulus to the Brain Stem.

There is a part of us that operates on automatic. When we are asleep, it controls our breathing and we digest our food. When we are relaxed we can tap into that part of us that is spontaneous. If we trust our own spontaneity we tap into our own intuitive information that may otherwise be buried beneath tension and fear. This is why when we are going good and feeling good we sometimes know things, and more often than not you can trust your own instincts.

Something Afoot With Private Teams In The Market
Tuesday October 13th, 2020

Around the League has learned that some of the private teams in the market are starting perhaps to feel the pinch of the COVID-19 Market.  Reports indicate that additional players have hit the free agent market within the past week that was not foreseen.  Calls have been hitting OBA teams locally in regard to their roster avaliablity.  One organization recently indicated that they had no idea and then "the phone rang" as one private team specifically has folded from the Toronto market.  While another was struggling further north of the city also was making inquiries for its players.

Perhaps this is the first time where the OBA teams pull an advantage versus those that are private teams?   Season after season it has been advantage private teams as they dip into the local OBA teams for players (often players already developed by the local association).  Now, these OBA teams have the greater stability with the government backing the organizations for youth sport.  

By no means does this mean that private teams are in "critical condition" but we are seeing a shrinking in the market as nobody is able to avoid the implications of the pandemic.  What is perhaps the most concerning result is that most OBA teams have already finalized the rosters perhaps leaving some players without a home.

In other news and notes a former Vaughan Vikings player is dealing with an injury suffered during the fall ball season ... Reports that Vaughan is struggling with indoor facilities for the 2021 season ... Teams currently in the Toronto, Peel and Ottawa markets were reduced to only practice when the regions were rolled back ... 

Hitters or Pitchers?  Uncertainly The Answer Between Who Will Be Stronger At Minor Bantam.
Tuesday October 6th, 2020

Three Keys To Hitting Going To Major League Distances

Sunday September 27th, 2020

Hitters are way too often bombarded with too many baseball tips on hitting. The guilty culprits are often teammates, coaches, parents and occasionally even your Aunt Mary. Take your time and take hitting in stride. No pun intended. Try to learn a little bit at a time and you will be just fine. Relax and here are three things you might want to focus on.

Work On Your Weaknesses:

Human nature can be very funny at times. When a lot of hitters practice, they have a bad habit of practicing what they do well and not practice on their weaknesses. It probably has something to do with the fact that hitting the ball well, whether it's during a game or at practice, makes us feel better. Now you can decide. Do you want to temporarily feel better and have your ego massaged or do you want to improve as a player? It is a very simple fact of life that real good hitters do not have glaring weaknesses! They may be able to handle some pitches better than others, but the differences are not that great. The reason they don't have any glaring weaknesses is quite simple. They work on their weaknesses to eliminate them as soon as possible! They don't practice and spend time working on their strengths. That's why they are real good hitters.

Keep The Bat In The Hitting Zone:

One of the baseball hitting problems that many hitters encounter is they do not keep the bat in the hitting zone long enough. On the other side of the coin, the one thing that all great hitters have in common is that they do keep the barrel of the bat in the hitting zone longer than other hitters. An outstanding baseball hitting drill is to visualize four baseballs being pitched to you when you are batting, instead of just one. They are one after another, and maybe two inches apart. The batter who keeps his bat in the hitting zone longer, will have a better chance to hit all four of the baseballs. A batter that does not keep the bat in the hitting zone long enough would probably only be able to hit the first ball and not the next three. Getting back to one baseball, the longer you keep the bat in the hitting zone, the better chance you have to make solid contact.

Line Drives Are The Goal:

Try to hit line drives and the doubles, triples and home runs will come, as well as the good batting average to go along with the extra base hits! If you hit it squarely, you have a very good chance for a hit. If you slightly top the ball, it may be a hard grounder for a hit. If you are slightly under the ball, it just might be an extra base hit. Many great power hitters say over and over again that the home runs almost happen "by accident." The reason is that they simply try to hit a line drive. If they are a hair "under" the ball, it may very well leave the yard. It may seem a little ironic, but it's true. They truly try to hit line drives and yet they are tremendous power hitters! I'm well aware that some power hitters try strictly for the home run, and in almost all their cases, they have lower batting averages that reflect just that. Why not try to have both a high batting average as well as some power to go along with it? One of the better baseball tips on hitting to remember is that the home runs almost happen by accident. Line drives should be your goal.

In other news and notes teams continue to play out the 2020 season into the October month with reports that some teams have already played as many as 8 fall ball games to day ... OBA executive are having a rep council meeting where they will be accepting suggestions on rule from the 2021 season, I wonder if they will bring back leadoffs in the current COVID protocols ... So far ATL would contend that the TBA teams seem stronger than the YSBA teams so far ... Wood bats are showing their immediate impact on the game transitioning the nature of the baseball being played to a competition of who walks the most and who makes the least amount of errors ...