ALL STAR BASEBALL ACADEMY TIP OF THE WEEK

This week’s All Star Baseball Academy Tip of the Week comes to us from Marc Brown. Marc is a hitting and pitching instructor at ASBA Downingtown, and starred at Stony Brook University. Marc talked about the importance of timing the pitcher’s rhythm when trying to steal a base.

When many pitchers throw with runners on base they fall into a pattern. The pattern can be recognized after the pitcher comes set. Most pitchers come set and pause for the same amount of time on every pitch before delivering the pitch to home plate. They can also fall into a pattern with how many times they look over to check the runner. Some guys will look just once and fire home. Other pitchers will rock back before they lift their front leg to deliver to home plate. Not only does this give the runner more time to steal a base, it gives them a cue for when to steal.

The opposing team can make this pattern a nightmare for the pitcher and catcher by counting the amount of time the pitcher stays in the set position, his number of looks, and seeing if he rocks back. If this pattern is seen, the runners can easily steal the next base.


When you or another teammate gets on base and the pitcher comes set, count the number of seconds that pass by until their first movement, along with how many times they look over. If the pitcher consistently throws home on the same amount of time and with the same number of looks, you have recognized the pitcher's throwing pattern. If given the steal sign, take off on the exact count and you will find yourself standing up at second or third before the other team knows what happened!

Stay tuned for next week’s All Star Baseball Academy Tip of the Week. If you have questions about base running or want to schedule lessons, please contact your local ASBA facility.

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INSTRUCTOR SPOTLIGHT: Josh Rickards

Featured in this week’s All Star Baseball Academy Instructor Spotlight is Josh Rickards. Josh is an instructor at ASBA Broomall, and gives lessons on pitching. Josh has been working at ASBA since October of 2011.

In high school, Josh excelled at Cardinal O’Hara High School. While there, he was named to the All-Catholic team twice, and was an All-Delco selection once, as well as being a team captain his senior year. Josh went on to have a great career at Marist College, where he was named to the MAAC All Conference Team as a junior. He was also a team captain for both his junior and senior seasons.

After graduating from Marist in 2009, Josh went on to play professionally overseas. In 2010, he was named the Pitcher of the Year in the German Bundisliga, and received the same award in 2011 in Italy’s Seria A. This summer, Josh will be playing for the Lake Erie Crushers of the Frontier League.

We asked Josh why he likes giving lessons at All Star Baseball Academy. “I enjoy watching young players develop and get better at baseball, it’s my passion, that’s why I do it”.

Off the field, Josh spends his time fishing.

To schedule lessons with Josh, please call ASBA Broomall at 610-355-2411.

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ALL STAR BASEBALL ACADEMY TIP OF THE WEEK

This week’s All Star Baseball Academy’s Tip of the Week comes from Brian Good, an instructor at ASBA Warminster. Brian played at Temple University, and today he stresses the importance of solid fundamentals and proper alignment in the swing and pitching motion.

“Solid fundamentals in the swing should start with the proper alignment,” Brian said. “The alignment of the feet, hips and shoulders will promote a linear hand path both on the mound and at the plate.”

To demonstrate this, Brian suggests having a young pitcher draw a line down the center of the mound, or placing a 2X4 in the batter’s box lined up with the batter’s feet. This will help younger players focus on their alignment. Another drill coaches can use with their players is the mirror drill. Younger players are not always aware of what their bodies are doing. Standing in front of a mirror allows them to see what their body is doing. Batters can take dry swings with a bat and no ball while looking into the mirror. Pitchers can go through their pitching delivery and motion using a towel or rag instead of a ball as they look into the mirror. This translates to the mound or the batter’s box by helping them visualize proper alignment. Coaches should also be diligent in checking for proper alignment when players are working off the tee, taking batting practice, and working off the mound.

Stay tuned for next week’s ASBA Tip of the Week. If you have any questions about hitting or want to schedule lessons, please contact your local ASBA facility.

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