Once again I am talking to you about the importance of "Staying inside the Ball" For the right hand hitters as the ball is coming to you the bat must go out with the knob of the bat staying on the"inside of the ball" or staying to the left side of the pitched ball which puts you on the inside. This is the biggest difference between a good Major League hitter and an amateur hitter. The Major Leaguer stays on the inside of the ball, knob first ,bat then going through the ball while the amateur hitter the bat is on the right side of the ball and they do not use the knob correctly so the bat comes across the ball and a weak hit is produced. For the left hand hitter, the Major League hitter stays again on the inside of the ball , which is the right side of the pitched ball, knob first ,than the barrel of the bat going out to meet the ball and going through solidly. The amateur left hand hitter stays on the left side of the ball and does not use the knob correctly and again comes across the ball. A good way to practice "staying inside the ball" is to do soft-toss using a small bat that you can control with one-hand, your lead hand, concentrating on staying inside the ball with the swing and throwing the swing out. MIKE

The KNOB the Brain of the Bat..In this picture, I'm showing my student, Johnny, the importance of using the knob of the bat or the Brain of the Bat to dropped down at a 30 degree angle and bring the Knob directly toward the ball. This will cause the bat to go forward straight to the ball and go through the ball instead of across the ball. This is a big key about hitting, the knob doing its job during the swing keeping the bat in line with the ball.If the batter is not taking his knob toward the ball the knob is then going inside of the ball and across the ball and causes the swing to be too short and poor contact is made. If you bring your knob straight towards the ball this eliminates the problem of the swing being too short to be effective. So remember bring the knob straight to the ball FIRST, before you get into your swing. MIKE

Pay attention to Zachary Ramzy (the player swinging the bat in the picture) Last year while he was 9 years old,  he hit 7 Home Runs over the fence at the Cheviot Hills field in West LA. It was the 1st time in their league history that a 9 year old even hit one over the fence. So far this year , 5 games into the season, he has hit 2 Home Runs using a WOOD BAT (not the usual Aluminum bat players of his age use-that makes the ball travel further than a Wood Bat). He and His Dad, JayP, agreed that he should start using the Wood bat like the Major leaguers use so that he would have a "real feel" for how a Baseball should be hit plus not kidding himself with the extra distance because he was using an Aluminum bat . I have been training Zach since he was 6 years old, He has worked hard and continued to improve on his swing; also he never "quit"on me when I had to be stern with him to keep his swing on track. I feel he is a "Future Major League Power Hitter"  He hits with a lot of power to all fields and has the knowledge now when he comes to the plate of knowing what he is suppose to do and is doing it. It is hard to believe that a 10 year old can hit the ball so hard and so far on a consistent basis like he does at this stage of his life. Zach is a good example of learning the right techniques today can lead to a very bright future tomorrow.MIKE

The great thing about Baseball is it is a game for people of all ages and it's never too late to learn to play the right way. Two years ago , I started working with a man who had been playing on and off in various Adult Baseball Leagues who still had the desire to improve his game and get better at Hitting in particular. It really bugged him because he would get his pitch that he should really cream and he wasn't doing it. First off he was smart and knew he needed to get some instruction if he was going to be a better hitter and master the hitting game.So when he came to me for coaching he was willing to listen to improve himself. It was challenging at first because we had to get rid of all his old ideas and habits and get him to begin to start thinking like a "Major Leaguer" and develop their habits and techniques instead. Now he is no longer a margin-able player on the team, he has become one of the"Go To Guys" when the game is on the line. Last year he became a legitimate Home Run Hitter and a good hitter in the clutch with runners on base. He has lost some old friends who remember him like he was because they were better than the old him then;but now he  has some new friends who appreciate a good hitter; so you see how  hard work and right techniques pay off.He goes to the plate knowing he can turn the game around with one swing of the bat and he has the Major League attitude and skill set to do it.  So can you!! MIKE

Most hitters have a swing ; the swing goes to the ball or across the ball, the correct swing however (especially for power hitting or hitting the ball hard) must go through the ball . There is a difference between the guys who get paid and everybody else's swing. They have a "trained " swing that goes out through the ball . This is done by using the "knob of the bat "to delay the swing until the bat gets in front of the body then the swing takes place. If the hitter can do this on a regular basis he can name his price come contract time in the free agency market. For kid's just starting out the  they must learn that the  "knob of the bat" is the brain's of the whole operation of a good swing or a Full extension swing ( one that goes through the ball and not across the ball) . The knob must be on the inside of the pitched ball and going out toward the ball on a 30  degree angle FIRST then the barrel of the bat will follow the knob to make solid contact through the ball and you end up with the lead hand of the bat turning over and finishing up high. MIKE

When I was growing up, my brothers (my twin,Marshall and younger brother,David) and I were good at playing Baseball and we played it almost  every day (all day long!!). We were very competitive with each other and everyone we played with; WE LOVED PLAYING THE GAME. The advantage I had was the three of us had each other to play with all the time which kept us going and help make us successful. But our disadvantage was we had no Major Leaguer to teach us how to play the game the right way. I see how we spent so much time and energy playing but we were not developing into what it takes to be going all the way to the top of the baseball world. Sure the talent was there and the Desire too!! But the know-how wasn't there. All three of us back then really wished for some instruction or help on to become a Major Leaguer and live our dreams. Since we were from LA the Dodgers just before their home games and sometime after their games would have the then current and former Dodgers give tips to to the fans; little inside info to help you play the game. My Brothers and I loved these sessions and hated that they were so few. Now in my life, today, I'm happy to be able to teach the MLB Playing System to players of all ages and I enjoy doing what I do and I can't help but think of my childhood and see that I'm now able to give the world something I really wanted as a Kid.

MIKE

Can I be a really good ballplayer? Can I be like the ones I see play Baseball on TV. Baseball looks like it could really be fun, but what do I do with this BAT? This is what goes through the head of all kids as they start out their baseball journey. Their Dad's and Mom's are rooting hard for them but they don't really know what to do or how to do it. Baseball is a game of forethought , you can not live in the present tense and still play the game successfully. If you don't know what you are suppose to do when you get to the plate, the ball at any speed is past you before you know it, and that's not any fun for the Kid. By pre-thought and training of your skills to go with it, you slow the play and the ball down; your mind kicks in the skills you have learned and your body reacts with the proper response to hit the ball. Oh!! what a better way to play the Game and let the kid have some Fun!! Success breeds success and confidence and that is the right way to kick off your Baseball journey.All this comes from learning and using the best techniques in the world to play the game of baseball; that  is the MLB System . You are never too young or to old to take charge and stay in control of what you do on the field of play.-MIKE