The FungoMan Baseball Blog

Case Study: Mastering Ground Ball Hops [Video]

Posted by Camille D.C. Sutton on Nov 18, 2016 1:00:00 PM

Infielding ground balls is no job for the dazed and confused. Only the quick, sharp, and agile survive the split-second decisions that must be made to get outs. Alright, alright, alriiiiight?

Let's get to the business of fielding ground balls and making sense of ball hops.

We've all been there. We've seen a player over-anticipate the second hop, fumble the ball, give a late throw, or even worse, make an error. So in this post, we will be dissecting ball behavior, addressing common mistakes, and giving fielding notes for the intermediate to advanced player.

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Topics: Baseball, Coaching, Groundballs, Infielding, Ground balls, Ground Ball, Ball Hops

Baseball's Statistical Revolution: What It Is & Why You Should Care [Video]

Posted by Camille D.C. Sutton on Oct 27, 2016 3:01:38 PM

Every smart coach wants to develop skill in players that he hopes will put their team in a winning position on every play.

In the age of Moneyball and MLB Statcast, the data captured for entertainment and competitive purposes alike, have opened up new ways of thinking about developing skill and maximizing talent.

According to the architects at MLB Statcast uses the same technology that tracks debris during the launch of space shuttles to change the way we watch baseball on TV.

Thanks to this technology, organizations are giving overlooked talent a second chance to compete in the Major Leagues, because the data shows the potential of players where we might not expect to find it.

The smart data revolution has fundamentally changed the way we watch a baseball game on television; could it change the way we think about other aspects of the game?

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Topics: Baseball Training, Baseball, FungoMan, MLB, Statcast

Drills and Advice: All-USA Baseball Coach of the Year, Glenn Cecchini

Posted by Camille D.C. Sutton on Aug 3, 2016 8:00:00 AM

With 9 State Championship titles, 826 wins, and 29 players drafted, it's no wonder that Coach Glenn Cecchini was bestowed the honor of 2016 All-USA Baseball Coach of the Year.

Last week Cecchini generously shared some of his advice and championship-winning drills with us at FungoMan, and with his go-ahead, we're elated to share them with you.

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Topics: Baseball, baseball drills, Baseball Coach, Coaching Baseball, Glenn Cecchini, Baseball Advice, High School Baseball

Anatomy of an Ideal Coach: Todd Oakes [Infographic]

Posted by Camille D.C. Sutton on Jun 8, 2016 1:24:00 PM

Most of us can pinpoint one or two coaches who changed the game for us. But every once in a while, a great coach will not only change a few dozen lucky ones who got to play for him, but touch thousands with the impact of his legacy and of what it means to be a champion.

Todd Oakes is one of those coaches. Read on to see his legacy.

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Topics: Baseball, Coaching, Coaching Baseball, Minnesota Gophers, Todd Oakes, Gophers Baseball

The Stockdale Paradox: Baseball Team Intangibles That Win Games [Pt.1]

Posted by Camille D.C. Sutton on Apr 20, 2016 1:43:22 PM

I've seen a lot of baseball games in my day. And that's okay. I like seeing my team win, but when the alternative happens, a sense of powerlessness has a way of creeping in, you feel me?

When teams lose, we usually find it rather easy to spot where things fell apart. And we're cavalierly quick to make mention of unsufficiencies and mistakes. But what about when the team wins. Do we make note of how that triumph came together? Do we notice the small things that kept the momentum of success in the palm of the coach and player's hands?

I've written the first installment of a 3-part blog series covering Baseball Team Intangibles That Win Games, which usually go unexamined in this game. The idea is that once you get a hold of the intangibles of championship teams, you'll be more empowered to nurture those attributes in your own. Let's walk through the first intangible together ...

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Topics: Baseball, Baseball Coaching, Coaching motivation, Coaching Baseball, The Stockdale Paradox, Coaching techniques