The New York Yankees Captain, Derek Jeter, became the 28th player in Major League history to reach 3,000 hits.  Jeter also becomes only the second player in history to have their 3,000 hit be a Home Run.  In addition, Jeter is the first player to reach the 3,000 hits mark while wearing a Yankees uniform, and just the 11th to reach 3,000 with a single team.

Already a five-time World Series champion, 12-time All-Star and five-time Gold Glove Award winner, Jeter now has confirmed entry into a club that counts consistency and longevity among its mandates for inclusion.

After the game — a 5-4 Yankees win in which Jeter went 5-for-5 — the captain was praised by his peers and himself had a chance to reflect on the milestone.

“I’ve been lying for a long time, telling you guys there was no pressure,” Jeter said. “There was a lot of pressure to do it here. But I felt a lot of pressure to do it here while we’re at home. So I have been lying to you for quite some time.

“It means a lot. It’s a number that has meant a lot in the history of the game, because not too many people have done it. To be the only Yankee to do anything would be special; if I was the leader in strikeouts, I’d be happy about it because so many have played here. This is the only team I’ve wanted to play for, and to be the only one to do something like this, I don’t know if I can describe it.”

When asked whether it meant more to reach the milestone during a victory, Jeter didn’t hesitate.

“No question,” Jeter said. “It would’ve been really, really awkward to be doing interviews and waving to the crowd if we’d have lost. That was going through my mind up there, and it was nice to get a hit, but we needed to win this game. … If we didn’t win, it definitely would’ve put a damper on things.

Teammates Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera, who have played with Jeter since the mid-1990s, also expressed their pride in the captain’s milestone.

“I told him I was proud of him — I got a little emotional because I was so happy for him,” Posada said. “He looks forward to things like today. [Going] 5-for-5 [doesn't] come easily. I think he enjoys that moment, he looks forward to it. … And today was a perfect example for looking forward to that moment.”

“This definitely ranks up there, No. 1, to me,” Rivera said. “Being the first one who has done that for the New York Yankees, for me, it’s an honor.

In typical Derek Jeter style, the Yankees Shortstop was modest during his post game press conference.

A common problem with many young baseball or softball players is balance when hitting.  Many young hitters move their body too much during their swing.  When you think about it, a ball player only has a few moments to pick up the baseball from the pitchers hand, focus on the ball, decide whether it’s a good pitch or not, and then swing.  If your little league player is moving he/her body or head, their point of reference changes throughout their swing.  It make’s it tougher for the hitter to pick up the ball.  Here is an effective hitting drill that will help a baseball or softball player maintain good balance and movement.

• Proper Stance, Balance and Stride
• Proper Body Pivot and Rotation
• Level Swing
• Quick Swing
• Keeping Your Eye on the Ball and Keeping the Head and Shoulder in the Swing

• Hitting off a Batting Tee - there are numerous drills that can be done with a batting tee that will work on proper hitting fundamentals
• Soft Toss Drills – Soft Toss Drills are great for developing good hand-eye coordination and timing
• Coach Pitch Drills – No hitting session is complete without working on hitting a pitch ball

Many young players do not swing level.  Many have a looping swing where they swing under the ball.  Swinging under the ball will cause the player to either miss the pitch or pop the ball straight up for an out.  A looping swing also takes more time, slowing down a player’s bat speed and timing which in turn will cause the player to miss the pitch.

The looping swing is caused by a player lowering their shoulder and elbow during the swing.

It’s very important for a player to have a level swing.  Here is a few drills that will work on leveling out a player’s swing.

The 2 Ball 2 Tee Drill is another great drill to work on a players level swing. For this drill the player attempts to hit a ball off one tee and have it knock off a ball placed on another tee. This is tough to do, so a player should not get too discouraged if they can’t knock the ball off the other tee.

For this drill set up 2 tees at the same height directly behind each other approximately 3-5 feet apart. The objective of this drill is for the player to swing level, hit the ball off the first tee, driving that ball into the ball on the 2^nd tee.

Little League Baseball Has Placed a Moratorium on Many Composite Bats

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa.
January 20, 2011 The first test result has been received at Little League International regarding composite-barreled bats for use in the Little League (Majors) Division and below. Little League has created a list for those bats that receive waivers of the moratorium that was enacted on Dec. 30, 2010.

Little League International’s moratorium on the use of composite bats extends to all of its baseball divisions, including the Little League (Majors) division.

Information on the composite baseball bats that have received waivers of the moratorium for the Little League (Majors) Baseball Division and below can be found here:
http://www.littleleague.org/learn/equipment/approvedcompbatssmall.htm The list will be updated as more information comes into Little League.

Information on the composite baseball bats that have received waivers of the moratorium for the Junior, Senior, and Big League Baseball Divisions of Little League can be found here:
http://www.littleleague.org/learn/equipment/approvedcompbats.htm

By definition, a moratorium is: An authorized delay or stopping of some specified activity. As applied by Little League International, the moratorium disallows the use of all baseball bats constructed with composite material in its barrel unless a specific model shows in laboratory testing that it will not exceed the standard that is printed on the bat, after the bat is broken in.

There is a process through which manufacturers can submit individual models for a possible waiver if they wish to seek it. Individual bat models are tested at an independent laboratory, and the results are conveyed to the manufacturer. If the manufacturer provides the results to Little League, and the bat passes the test, it will be noted on one of the two lists noted above.

Wooden and aluminum metal/alloy bats are not subject to the moratorium. Bats that have only a metal or alloy barrel (and no other material, unless it is in the end cap of the bat), and if it meets the other standards (length, diameter, etc. for the respective division in which it is used) are not subject to the moratorium, regardless of the composition of the handle or the transition to the barrel.

A listing of licensed, non-wood/non-composite baseball bats for use in the Little League (Majors) Division and below can be found here: http://www.littleleague.org/Assets/forms_pubs/2011ApprovedNonWoodBatList.pdf This list also may be updated frequently.

Because of the moratorium, several common questions have arisen. We have addressed the most common questions in a Frequently-Asked Questions page here: http://www.littleleague.org/media/newsarchive/2010/Sep-Dec/LLBBCompositeBatMoratoriumFAQ.htm

If you have further questions, we encourage you to sign on to Little League’s Facebook page. At that page, over the past few days, Little League International staff has answered hundreds of questions regarding the moratorium. The Little League Facebook page is here: http://www.facebook.com/LittleLeagueBaseballAndSoftball

Little League International first placed the moratorium on composite bats in the Junior, Senior, and Big League Baseball Divisions of Little League. Subsequent to that moratorium, scientific research that began on October 18, 2010, showed the need for the same moratorium on composite-barreled bats with 2 1/4 inch barrels as well. Starting in September, and throughout the following weeks, this information was conveyed multiple times to every local Little League, every district, to the media, on Facebook, on the Little League web site, and to more than 250,000 parents who had signed up to receive updates from Little League International.

The original announcement regarding the moratorium, enacted on September 1, 2010, is here: http://www.littleleague.org/media/newsarchive/2010/Sep-Dec/CompositeBatMoratium.htm

The moratorium on composite bats, which now applies to all baseball divisions of Little League, does not apply to any softball divisions of Little League.

According to the Associated Press, Pitcher Andy Pettitte is going ahead with his decision to retire, leaving the New York Yankees. A five-time World Series champion, Pettitte became the third-winningest pitcher in team history.

Pettitte had said he increasingly felt the tug to return to Deer Park, Texas, and his wife and four children. Once the school year ended, his family traveled to New York where they could be together during homestands, but the distance from his loved ones now has trumped whatever desire he had to climb higher in the Yankees record book.

Former Coach Joe Torre said, “Andy was probably the consummate team player.”  “He’s been a huge favorite of mine because he’s such a standup guy, and he hasn’t changed from day one. He’s a great teammate, and I think that’s why he won so many games. The guys that play behind him understand how intense he is, and it becomes contagious.”

Pettitte will finish his career 240-138 with a 3.88 ERA in 16 major league seasons. He excelled in the postseason, setting a major league record for wins by going 19-10 with a 3.83 ERA.

A member of the “Core Four” along with Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada, Pettitte helped the Yankees win World Series titles in 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2009.

Stephen Strasburg has a torn elbow ligament and will likely have Tommy John surgery, bringing the pitcher’s promising rookie season to an abrupt end.

Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said Friday an MRI on the right elbow revealed a “significant tear.”

Strasburg will travel to the West Coast for a second opinion, but Rizzo anticipates the 22-year-old right-hander will need the operation that requires 12 to 18 months of rehabilitation.

The Nationals initially labeled Strasburg’s injury a flexor tendon strain in is his right forearm. Recovery from that injury includes rest and rehab, according to one major league team doctor, and does not require surgery.  However rumors were rampant that the injury is much more severe and may require Tommy John surgery.

Was Strasburg Over Pitched?

While the Nationals are stating that they believe that the injury was due to a pitch thrown and not over use, the facts my indicate something different.  Strasburg, has been  throwing on a five-day rotation for the first time and he has never thrown this many innings, 123 1/3 between the minors and majors, in a such a short duration. The increased workload can make a young pitcher fatigued.  Many times to make up for their fatigue and not to lose velocity on their pitches, a pitcher will rely on changing their mechanics.  The altering of mechanics can lead to injury.

The debate continues as to restricting pitchers to pitch counts.  Nolan Ryan of the Texans does not believe in them.  However, Strasburg’s injury may be one of the strongest signs that pitch counts and restrictions are the way to go. Strasburg was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 draft and signed a record $15.1 million contract a year ago.

As a way to protect young arms, Little League International institute pitch count restrictions in 2007 and have revised the rules in 2010 call for longer rest periods between games.

In any event, a pitcher that not only electrified the city of Washington, but the entire Major League Baseball community, may be out for 12-18 months.

George M. Steinbrenner, the principal owner of the New York Yankees since 1973, died Tuesday 7/13/10. He was 80

“He was an incredible and charitable man,” the family said in the statement. “He was a visionary and a giant in the world of sports. He took a great but struggling franchise and turned it into a champion again.”

Steinbrenner was the longest tenured owner in Major League Baseball. Through his purchase of a downtrodden Yankees franchise in 1973 for $10 million, Steinbrenner became one of the game’s best-known personalities; a demanding type who earned the long-standing nickname, “The Boss.”

Steinbrenner’s career in sports started as serving as a football coach, first at Aquinas High School in Columbus, Ohio, before accepting football assistant coaching positions at two Big Ten schools: Northwestern in 1955 and Purdue in 1956.

According to Yankees.com

On Jan. 3, 1973, a group headed by Steinbrenner purchased the Yankees from the CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting Company, for a net of $8.7 million, re-injecting funds — and more important, hope — into a franchise that had experienced a period of dormancy in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

At a press conference announcing the deal, Steinbrenner famously told reporters that he did not intend to be a hands-on owner, a statement that Steinbrenner himself would later laugh at.

“We plan absentee ownership as far as running the Yankees is concerned,” Steinbrenner said. “We’re not going to pretend we’re something we aren’t. I’ll stick to building ships.”

Instead, Steinbrenner helped the Yankees build a dynasty through heavy utilization of the free-agent market. Though once critical of free agency, saying that it could “ruin baseball,” Steinbrenner soon became one of its biggest proponents.

Steinbrenner’s ownership of the Yankees spanned seven championships, 11 American League pennants and two dynasties, one of which — the team’s run of two World Series victories and three appearances from 1977-1981 — is remembered as the controversial “The Bronx Zoo” era.

In that time period, Steinbrenner became famous for his headline-grabbing statements and frequent changes of managers and general managers, all in relentless pursuit of a victorious Major League club.

“Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing,” Steinbrenner once said. “Breathing first, winning second.”

In his first 23 seasons, Steinbrenner switched managers 20 times — including hiring and firing Billy Martin on five occasions — and went through 11 general managers in 30 years. The payoff came in the form of back-to-back World Series titles over the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1977 and 1978, the Yankees’ first consecutive titles since 1961 and 1962.

The Yankees’ more recent dynasty of four World Series championships from 1996-2000 was constructed behind Steinbrenner’s decidedly more hands-off approach. Joe Torre lasted as manager for 12 seasons, and a blossoming farm system allowed the Yankees to reap the rewards of developing players like Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera and Bernie Williams to great success, while still adding free agents to round out talented rosters.

Steinbrenner’s ownership of the Yankees was by far the longest of any owner in the storied franchise’s history, exceeding the stewardship of Col. Jacob Ruppert, who purchased the club in 1915 and served as owner for 24 years until his death in January 1939.

Steinbrenner was a brilliant capitalist, and changed the face of the Yankees again in 2002 with the formation of the YES Network, which created new revenue streams for the organization and swelled the value of the team past $1 billion.

In 2002, Steinbrenner was honored with the Gold Medal Award from the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame for a lifetime of “outstanding commitment, dedication and dynamic leadership in both his business and personal lives.” It is the highest and most prestigious award bestowed by the College Football Foundation.

Many of Steinbrenner’s philanthropic endeavors were performed without fanfare. However, he was repeatedly recognized by the communities in which he immersed himself. In March 2008, Steinbrenner tearfully attended the renaming of the Yankees’ Spring Training facility to George M. Steinbrenner Field, following unanimous resolutions by the Tampa City Council and the Hillsborough County Commissioner’s Office.

In fall 2009, George M. Steinbrenner High School was opened in Lutz, Fla. The school was named after Steinbrenner by the Hillsborough County School Board in recognition of his philanthropic involvement in the community, particularly with the school system.

“In the end,” Steinbrenner was earlier quoted as saying, “I’ll put my good acts up against anybody in this country. Anybody.”

He had endured two public health scares in recent years, limiting his public commentary mostly to statements released through his longtime publicist, Howard Rubenstein, and passing on control of the team to his family. He once acknowledged his stepping down by saying, “It’s time to let the young elephants into the tent.”

Steinbrenner’s final legacy was completed in 2009 with the opening of a dazzling new ballpark in the Bronx, in the first-class image that Steinbrenner had demanded the Yankees represent.

Steinbrenner’s last appearance at Yankee Stadium was on Opening Day of this season, when manager Joe Girardi and shortstop Derek Jeter ventured up to the owner’s suite and presented Steinbrenner with his 2009 World Series ring.

The “House that Ruth Built” may have been the Stadium that Steinbrenner called his office, but the one that the Yankees will occupy for the foreseeable future is, clearly, ‘The House that George Built.’

He is survived by his wife, Joan; sisters Susan Norpell and Judy Kamm, children, Hank, Hal, Jennifer and Jessica; and his grandchildren.

A carpenter doesn’t leave his tools out in the rain; that would be foolish.  So why do so many player’s treat their tools (bat and glove) so poorly.  In the pros, players go to great lengths to protect their “tools”.  Ichiro Suzuki keeps his bats in a humidor and cleans it after each at bat.  While we don’t suggest that a player run out and buy a humidor, there are many simple things that can be done to take care of a bat.

Mariano Rivera of the NY Yankees is 40 years old and has been in the Major Leagues for 16 years.  He has been dominating hitters for more than a decade now.  What makes this even more astounding is that he has been striking out hitters with essentially one pitch – the cutter.  Here is a great video from the NY Times that shows how Rivera does it.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/06/29/magazine/rivera-pitches.html