LEACHYS THOUGHTS DREAMS I swear its been 10 years since Ive put my spikes on but for some strange reason Im still having the same baseball dreams that I had every January and February before the start of Spring Training. For as far back as I could remember once I got my pro career under way in the early 90s I would have a reoccurring dream of me playing. I still dont or didnt know what it meant but in my dreams I always failed. For instance when I hit I always swung and missed, when I ran I ran slow or in place and in the field I couldnt catch the ball or even throw it back into the infield with authority. Now I know all these things happened at some point (a lot...lol) during my 15 year career. I think I had these dreams of failure because it motivated and pushed me with my offseason training. I never wanted to come into spring training not in shape so I made sure I ran distance and sprints 6 days a week. I also made sure I swung the bat a lot in the offseason to prevent getting blisters because one of the tell-alls about if a player was hitting in the offseason or not was if he got blisters within the first few days of camp. I remember my 1st spring training with the Yankees when I realized pro baseball was serious business when I saw fellow players crying and pissed-off when final rosters were set at the end of Spring Training. For the first time I saw grown men crying, cursing and ready to beat the mess out of someone when they were demoted, had to repeat a level or flat-out released (which is code for being fired). As I learned fast there was a draft every year and every time the Organization would sign a player someone would have to be released. It was and is a cut-throat business. Really on the good and strong survived. Now as I watch young aspiring ballplayers other than there talents I look at their mental fortitude and toughness. If a player cant handle failure theres a great chance he/she will not survive in pro ball. Baseball is a game based on failure. I tell people as a hitter if you can get a hit 30% of the time you can end up in the HOF but in anything else in life like school thats an F. The hardest thing to do in all of sports is hit a baseball. Ya know the round ball, round bat and trying to square it up, which really doesnt make sense.....LOL Back to the dreams, just the other day I was laughing at myself because Im still having these baseball dreams 10 years after retiring and I swear after January 1st my mood changes and my motor really gets going because I start feeling like Im getting ready for Spring Training....LOL. I can promise you this there is no league for a soon to be 45 year old and I feel all the aches and pain from my playing days. Plus why would I want to embarrass myself. Ive decided I will embrace the dreams and I hope they never go away. I truly love baseball because to me it mirrors life. I learned so many life lessons playing this silly game. I dont know much about the effects of other pro sports but I do know playing pro baseball and the brutal schedule of playing night in and night out lead to many sleepless nights and the game had the power to bring the physically strongest of grown men to their knees. Trying to hit that little white ball nightly coming in there at 95mph wasnt an easy task. I would say it was humbling because I never knew where I was going to hit the ball or hit the ball at all. I can tell you this someone asked me what did you do to hit the ball and I said I use the same approach that I used in LL even when I was in the Big Leagues. Outside of learning the various mechanics of hitting my approach was rather simple, See ball, hit ball. I heard this same thing from the guy with the most hits of all-time Mr. Pete Rose who when I met him I was less concerned about getting his autograph but wanting some of his time to watch me hit in the cage when I was in the minor leagues with the Phillies. Cool thing was I got to spend 30 min taking a batting lesson from one of the Greatest (boy I wish we had YouTube and the IPhone then). This guy knew so much about hitting but his approach was so simple. I loved it! It made me think of when my dad use to tell me attack the ball. See I think hitters or hitter mentalities are born. Guys I played with or against that were Hitters were all very aggressive and their approach was like a snake quietly coiling before it strikes its prey. Guys who could hit had that it factor. My dad even had a tshirt made for me that I wore-out that had a batter on it striking the baseball and the letters ATB. Another cool but mysterious thing was I never actually saw the ball hit my bat. My approach really was I swung in the vicinity of the pitch location. My approach was rather simple as well, until I got to 2 strikes I would wait for a pitch I could really smash then with 2 strikes I would choke-up on the bat and in my mind and guard/protect the plate. I hated striking out because my dad use to tell me and so did a lot of coaches I had early-on if you strike-out the scouts will never be able to see you run. And the tools that carried me were I was a good athlete, fast runner and I could throw. So in closing I guess like my parents use to say to me follow your dreams! Until next time _______________________ MLK DAY-CLINIC (STILL SPACE AVAILABLE) WHEN: MONDAY JANUARY 20TH WHERE: BMP INDOOR FACILITY COST: $65 (sign-up online) PER CAMPER TIME: 10:00am to 2:00pm AGES: 8 AND SKILL LEVELS WELCOME TOPICS INCLUDE: *PROPER HITTING FUNDAMENTALS *HITTING DRILLS *MENTAL APPROACH TO HITTING *DEFENSIVE WORK *LIVE BATTING PRACTICE *AND MORE MLK CLINC-PDF *Any questions contact us at jdleachy@bmp18 SUNDAY HITTING CLASS BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!! WEEKLY SUNDAY HITTING CLASS 2:00pm - 3:00pm (GET THOSE NEEDED EXTRA SWINGS...ALL AGES/SKILL LEVELS WELCOME) Cost: $20 **Limited Space** Due to the popularity of the Sunday Hitting Class all participants must enroll online. (Click on the above $20 to reserve a space for your child) BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL LESSON PACKAGES 1 Player (30 min.) $40 - Single Session $190 - 5 Lessons $360 - 10 Lessons (ALL LESSONS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE) *GROUP PACKAGES 7 players *One Instructor one Tunnel: 60 min. $100 90 min. $130 2 Hours $160 *Two Instructors two Tunnels: 60 min. $200 90 min. $250 2 hours $320 * Batting Cage Rental based upon availability: Half Cage- for 30 min. --$20 Half Cage- for 1 hour --$35 Full Cage- for 30 min.--$40 Full Cage- for 1 hour--$60 Batting Cage w/Machine Half-hour $40 One-hour $65 *Memberships discounts do not apply. *Prices subject to change. At BMP all Baseball & Softball lessons are designed by a former Major Leaguer. Only real baseballs are used throughout our facility just like the pros do. We utilize the Sports Tutor pitching machine; which throws real baseballs and customized pitches. BMP Memberships 6 Mo. Membership: $400 Includes 5 lessons 10% camps and clinics Discounted lesson rates Open hitting (upon availability) 1 Year Membership:$600 Includes 10 lessons 10camps and clinics Discounted lesson rates Open hitting (upon availability) *No cash or credit card refunds on any packages, lessons, or purchases. HOURS OF OPERATION Monday thru Friday: 4pm - 9pm Sunday: 10am - 3pm Phone:916-285-8775 CONTACT US Facility 1513 Sports Dr. Ste: 400 Sacramento, Ca 95834 (Facility is around back)
Posted on: Wed, 15 Jan 2014 22:08:02 +0000
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