FungoMan Baseball Blog

Dear Coach,

As you begin to feel the mantle of leadership with the upcoming season, I'd like to encourage you. This time of year coaches are preparing their rosters, training sessions, strategy, and budgets. Along with all the logistics that go along with coaching, I'd like to offer some intentions to consider as an empowered coach in this game.

Here at FungoMan, the best moments emerge when players make incredible plays look routine—because they actually practiced the play in a routine.

So how do you coach game winning plays? You break down big plays into small ones. You create an atmosphere for growth. You set the expectation for greatness. We have some great resources to share with you today. Make sure to check them out below!

There's a long going conversation about the benefits of live arm vs. pitching machine batting practice.

In a nutshell, here's how the debate sounds:

• The problem with pitching machine batting practice: the machine looks different than a pitcher, lacking the rhythm and timing you see with a live arm. The benefits of using a pitching machine are its consistency of pitches and unlimited energy.
• The problem with live arm batting practice: inconsistency of pitches and limited energy of pitcher(s). The benefit of having a live arm batting practice is that the hitter can practice rhythm and timing, unlike a standard pitching machine.

A well oiled practice regiment is a fantastic thing. But you know what's better than filling your hour and half with drills? Developing skills that lead into real game outs (video below).

The key to turning drills into skills is giving your player the chance to practice the exact feed (i.e. game ball) until he masters it. Too often, we focus on getting through the drills, giving everyone a handle full of tries to complete a play that isn't really the same ball. 

The instructors at Texas Rangers Youth Academy in Dallas, TX are making sure their players get quality feeds in practice—and it's already paying off.

While some drills specialize in position or game situation, Trent Mongero's Pick and Pop "Ozzie" Drill is a fundamental must for every player on the field.

You'll want to use this drill again and again in practice, working on the three zones that Coach Mongero breaks down in his video.

Read on to see the "PICK AND POP 'OZZIE' DRILL."

We all love a good diving play, but when it comes to practicing diving catches, our full-bodied dives can't take many repetitions.

Coach David Klein (Head Coach at Menlo-Atherton HS) may have just discovered our saving grace.

WATCH HIS DIVING DRILL BELOW!

Born from the baseball dad who wanted to give better fungoes to his son outside of practice, he figured: "surely there's a machine out there that can challenge my son with the exact reps he needs."

No such machine existed at the time. And hence, FungoMan was idealized for the baseball dad and player who just wanted extra practice.

Today we're sharing 5 coach reviews for the teams wanting better baseball practice.

Former San Francisco Giants All-Star, Dave Dravecky has provided countless coaches with hard-fought wisdom for life and anyone pursing baseball professionally.

His unbelievable story of coming back after less than one year after cancer surgery, and pitching a winning game is the stuff of legend. Only five days later, he won, but broke his arm. And then broke it again in celebration after the Giants won the National League Championship.

He shares how he faced dismal challenges with unflinching determination and resolve to make his comeback. 

When hosting a baseball event, it never hurts to go back to the drawing board to make sure it's up-to-date, innovative, and engaging for the players (and yes, for the parents, too).

USSSA Baseball just hosted the 2018 Championship Showcase, where 12U teams got to show their skills working off of FungoMan.

WATCH some great footage from the event, and see if FungoMan might be a good fit for your next event, fundraiser, or tryout!

Last week FungoMan participated in STATES PLAY, a tournament hosted by MLB Develops and USA Baseball, highlighting the best seniors of California and Texas.

Dallas, TX: At Mercy Street Sports Complex—Texas Rangers Youth Academy—MLB Develops served this year's top high school prospects with premiere opportunity to train with FungoMan, an automated fielding and pitching baseball machine, and showcase their talent.

WATCH HIGHLIGHTS FROM THEIR ELITE PRACTICE