Red Sox Spring Training infield drills

Although, I have not always been a Red Sox fan, I found this video of the Red Sox Spring training last year.  I just enjoyed how smooth and under control Adrian Gonzalez and Big Poppy move.  When you practice work to find that comfort level and control.  Get as many ground balls as you can in each practice and make sure you stay sharp.

Texas Rangers infield drills

I found this the other day and it really shows hard players work to make the routine play look easy.  Every day players work on just the basic skills then progress to the more difficult plays.  However, you must make the routine play consistently and get that out.  The hard plays start to come naturally with all the hard work but it still takes at least one hundred ground balls for each one you will see in a game.

A new way of working your infield!

Here is a clip from the 2011 Diamond backs spring training camp.  Two coaches, one left handed, the other right handed are in the batters box. Another coach underhands baseballs alternately to each and the coaches hit groundballs and line drives to the position players.  In my opinion, you can get work more done in a shorter period and the players can react to "live" hitters.  Simple fungoes are great pre-game but this drill can work all aspects of infield play.  Try it!

Fair or Foul??

This is Brandon Inge, newly signed by the A's, watching the flight of the ball to see if it fair or foul.  It was fair and a grand slam homerun to win the game!  I love the anticipation cause it could have easily gone the other way.

4 Homeruns in one game

Last night, Josh Hamilton connected for 4 homeruns for 18 total bases.  He hit the ball all over Camden Yards in a 10-3 win.  The first thing I noticed is the consistency of all four hits.  He has a hitch but gets it all back together prior to making contact.  He is so strong that he goes to all fields with power.  Congratulations Josh!

YouTube catchers drills

There are a great number of videos on YouTube that can help your game.  Visitors and fans post their videos of spring training drills that can really help your game as well as your practices.   Here is a great one from this year at the Marlins camp.  Kyle Skipworth played with the Greensboro Grasshoppers in 2009 and 2010.  The drills are used to make the catchers "soften" their hands and receive the ball cleanly.

One of Kevin Long's works in progress that epitomizes the hard work that goes into hitting.  During the 2009 Playoffs, Nick Swisher struggled big time.  He worked with Kevin between games and got Swisher to square up his body in relation to the pitcher. Nick got hot and helped the Yankees to their 27th World Championship.

Here you see the hands in tight to the body, back knee turning inward, the head still, top hand up, bottom hand down. I will try to find a picture of his stance prior to the swing to show being square.