Posted by: Scott B (baseball@integritycorp.com) on Tue Jun 11 17:16:38 2002

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We run 12-14 kids through a 30 min BP, in 2 cages plus one net. We start them all out with Tee's, paired off, then to soft toss for about 20-30 swings each. After the first 10 swings, Tee work is good for setting up inside/outside, down the middle, high/low, etc.. Soft toss can be effective at working on timing if you toss "fastballs" from 3/4 front of the hitter, and "offspeed" from 3/4 behind the hitter (or bounce it off a cinder block, if you have one available).

We then go on to machine (players not hitting warm up their arms), and live pitch. The machine grooves their swing. We work "hitting situations" with live pitch (depending on who's available to do the pitching), hitting corners, working with "no strikes", ahead in the count, behind in the count, and 2 strikes.

It's a lot to cram into 30 minutes, and it won't work unless the players and coaches know the drills, and spend 100% of their time working them (the jokes can wait for the dugout).

When can get to the field 1/2 hour early, I work Epstein's drills (Torque, 1,2,3, 1-3, full swing) with them first, dry swings first, then Tee, and then with soft toss. It's a great workout, but combined with our regular work out, it's 45 min to an hour BP, which is usually too long for a team practice.

Regards.. Scott