Wood bats were of course the first bats used in baseball, and they remain hugely popular. Made of ash, maple, hickory, or bamboo, wood bats are heavier and harder to swing than metal bats. They don’t have rubber or leather comfort grips on their handles to make holding the bat easier. For a new player, and especially a young player, the bats can unwieldy and too heavy for them to manage. They have a much smaller so-called “sweet spot,” the part of the bat that is best for hitting the ball with, than do metal bats.

On the upside, new players who learn to play using wood bats are learning to play the game with bats that are regulation for the major leagues. Any player with any hopes to advance that far in their baseball career must be able to perform with a wood bat. Additionally, wood bats are far safer than metal bats. The ball comes off the bat much more slowly than it does from metal bats, called the exit speed. Though no official studies definitively show that wood bats cause fewer injuries than metal bats, several high profile deaths of young pitchers hit by fastballs coming off of metal bats have caused wood bats to gain in popularity in youth leagues.

While wood bats are gaining in popularity with high school and little league teams, metal bats still have their fans. The bats are much lighter than wood bats and are easier for new and young players to learn to hit with. They have larger sweet zones than wood bats, giving players the widest zone in which to hit the ball. Because the bats are light, and because of the large sweet spot, they are also a favorite with high school baseball players hoping to be scouted for college teams. The light bats can help a mediocre hitter look like a standout player. Metal bats, which are usually made of aluminum or titanium, have come on leaps and bounds from their inception. They used to be flimsy and last a season at most. If they didn’t break completely, they would be too lumpy at the end of the season to keep. Nowadays, metal bats are stronger and can last through several seasons.

Metal bats still remain dangerous, though. Because of their lightweight, the bats can be tossed and injure another player. The exit speed of a ball coming off a metal bat is dangerous to the pitcher and anyone else at whom it takes aim.

One of the biggest benefits of metal bats used to their cost; they used to be significantly less expensive than wood bats. This is no longer true, however, with some metal bats coming in at $400 or more. Wood bats can be as cheap as $80.

Another con of metal bats is that players who learn to play with metal bats exclusively will be unprepared to take their baseball career all the way. Although only a small fraction of Little League and high school players actually advance to the Major Leagues, truly talented players will be at a disadvantage if they do not learn the game with a wood bat.

The wood bat or metal bat controversy has been going on for decades, but it may not be going on much longer. Local youth leagues and school districts are implementing their own bat policies, requiring teams to play with wood bats, in response to the increasing number of injuries and death blamed on fast moving balls coming off of metal bats. Experts expect it will not be long before national youth baseball leagues re-write their own bat policies. These policies currently only specify bat diameter, and that bats must be made of solid material. It is likely in the future that wood bats will become the norm.

Batting cages are used from batting coaches all the way up the big leagues to help players practice their hitting. The cages offer a safe, controlled environment for players to practice all aspects of their hitting. For new players, learning to hit with a pitcher at practice (who also may be a new player) can present several problems. If a player who is just learning the game is throwing the pitches, the pitches may be so inconsistent that the hitter does not get adequate practice hitting good balls.  A player can also develop bad habits when learning to hit with an inexperienced pitcher. There is a safety issue involved as well with an inexperienced pitcher; getting hit by a ball can be extremely dangerous for young players. In a batting cage, hitters get practice with balls that are of consistent speed and placement, allowing them to get comfortable swinging the bat.

Once they get comfortable swinging, the batting cage gives them the opportunity to improve that swing and their timing, as well as their speed and accuracy. In the batting cage, up and coming players can get comfortable hitting pitches of different speeds and learn how to judge what kind of pitch is coming at them. Experimenting with different kinds of pitches, players can develop the batting stance that works best for them.

Beyond the opportunity to experience different kinds of pitches and learning to hit with consistent pitches, batting cages offer one of the most important things required to learn any new skill – repetition. By drilling striking their stance, swinging at the ball, and aiming their hit, new players will become more and more comfortable and confident in their abilities. Their batting stance will begin to feel natural and their judgment of balls will become second nature. Seeing a ball coming at them at high speeds can be scary for new players; a batting cage can help them develop the skills to handle the situation confidently.

Learning to play a new game in front of the watchful eyes of their peers can be especially stressful for young, new players. Parents can use the batting cage as a tool to help their children develop their baseball skills in a supportive, non-judgmental environment. They can be a great venue for confidence building exercises for new players, so they can attend their practices with some knowledge of the game.

Once a new player completes their first season, how do they keep using the skills they have learned, plus work on building up their game? Batting cages are great for this purpose as well. Many batting cages are indoors, so players can use them year round, whatever the weather. New players and old hat players alike should make use of batting cages to keep their skills fresh during the off-season. Conditioning is an important part of baseball, and practicing in batting cages all year can help players keep up their strength.

Baseball is a sport that requires a lot of training and a lot of athleticism, but confidence is an equally important part of the equation. Batting cages can help up and coming players meet all of these needs. They provide a safe and comfortable environment for practicing and developing new skills, conditioning and strength training, and increasing the confidence of any new player.

Who Hot:

1. Roger Clemens, P - Houston Astros - Clemens pitches for the Houston Astros and is currently in his final Major League season at 44 years of age.  Throughout his career which began in 1984, he has been a superstar; however, what makes Clemens even moreso special now is the fact that unlike most players who tend to see their skills decline in age, he has gotten better.  Arguably Clemens has had the best seasons of his career after the age of 40 as he has led the National League in E.R.A. for two consecutive years.

2. Manny Ramirez, LF - Boston Red Sox - Over his career Ramirez has made claim to going down in the history books as one of the best hitters to ever play Major League Baseball.  Even though his defense is a liability, throughout his career Ramirez has averaged a .330 batting percentage, 40 home runs, and 135 RBI.   Although this season he has not received the same hype that other players in the league have, he is quietly having what would be a career-year for many other players.  This season Ramirez is hitting .313 with 34 homeruns and 101 RBI.

3.  Ryan Howard, 1B - Philadelphia Phillies - In this, his rookie season, Howard has hit 57 homeruns and will likely reach the famous 61 homerun mark set by Roger Maris in 1961.  Such a rookie season is unprecedented in the history of baseball and will go down as one of the best years in the history of the league.  Howard has single-handedly carried the Phillies to the verge of earning a wild card by hitting .312 and knocking in 140 runs.

4. Albert Pujols, 1B - St. Louis Cardinals – Even though Pujols missed a month early in the season due to injury, he still managed to rack up MVP statistics once again.  This season Pujols is hitting .330 with 46 homeruns and 133 RBI.  According to a poll of his peers, Albert is the best baseball player in the Major Leagues as year after year he is contention for a triple crown while providing the St. Louis Cardinals gold glove defense at first base.

5. Joe Mauer, C - Minnesota Twins - In only his third Major League season Mauer has earned high praise and is considered a leading candidate for American League MVP.  While flirting with a .400 batting average throughout the first half of the season, Mauer has single-handedly carried the Twins to the post-season.  Although his power stats are not gaudy, he has batted .344 and played gold glove defense behind the plate.

6. Johan Santana, P - Minnesota Twins - Over the past four years this left-hander has quietly compiled one of the best stretches a pitcher has ever had in the baseball history.  Each time Santana toes the rubber the Twins are all but guaranteed a victory.  This season he has won 18 games to only 5 loses while compiling a 2.77 ERA with 240 strikeouts.  Along with Mauer, he has nearly carried the Twins to a playoff birth in the American League.

Who’s Not:

1. Barry Bonds – Even though Bonds is perhaps the greatest player the game has ever known, he has been under fire over the past three seasons for accusations of steroid use.  Given this, many people have criticized Bonds and questioned his place in baseball history.  Although this season he passed the immortal Babe Ruth as the second leading homerun hitter of all-time, he is engulfed with negative scrutiny that has cast a shadow on his all-time greatness.

2. The Chicago Cubs - The perennial losers have seen nothing but the same this year as they are competing with the Kansas City Royals for the first team to lose 100 games.  This year has seen the Cubs pitching staff lose two of its best pitchers as Mark Prior and Kerry Wood experienced career-threatening injuries.  What once seemed to be one the best pitching staffs in the National League has been reduced to yet another rebuilding attempt.  Making the Cubs struggles even worse is the fact that they have one of the highest payrolls in baseball; yet continue to be perineal losers.

There are several theories on how the term “bullpen” came to be used.  One theory says that it represents the fenced area where bulls would wait to be slaughtered, and the bulls symbolized the pitchers.  Another theory says that it may be a reference to when rodeo bulls are penned up just prior to being released into the arena.  In 19th century baseball games, fans that arrived late to the game were sent to standing room only areas in foul territory.  With so many people, they ended up being herded like cattle, causing the area to be known as the bullpen.  Another theory says that in the 1800s many jails were nicknamed bullpens after the officers that ran them – who were usually strong and short tempered.  Around the 20th century, the term bullpen became widely used in the form that it is known today – as the area where pitchers warm-up before entering a game, as well as the pitchers themselves.

The bullpen is a specially sectioned area for the players to warm up in.  It is usually situated in the foul territory down the baselines or just past the fence for the outfield.  Instead of waiting in the dugout with the rest of the team, relief pitchers will usually wait in the bullpen.  That way they can practice throws and do other warm up exercises to keep them limber and stretched.  They are ready at a moment’s notice to be called in to relieve the main pitcher.

In the bullpen, there are several types of relief pitchers waiting to get into the game:  Long relievers, middle relievers, LOOGYs, Setup men, and closers.  Each has his own role to play to try and help his team earn a victory.

Long relievers are expected to pitch until the point in the game when the starting pitcher would have been pulled.  He is usually put in when the starting player is pulled from the game early either because of an unexpected injury or an ineffectiveness at preventing runs for the other team.  If the game is beyond saving and the long reliever is put in for a lost cause he is also known as the mop-up man.

If it is later in the game, usually around the 6th or 7th inning, then a middle reliever is used.  Middle relievers are often only used to pitch one inning.  They are often used if the starting pitcher has allowed several batters to reach base, or in the late innings of games where there team is losing the game.

Left One Out GuYs, are also know as “LOOGYs”. These players are left hand relievers.  They are almost always used if there are runners already on base.  Their strength is to get one or two outs against the opposing team’s best left-handed hitters.

Setup men are used as fill in pitchers and are often saved for close games.  They are brought into the game typically during the 7th or 8th inning to fill in the gap between the starting pitcher or the middle reliever and the closer.  They will generally only pitch one or two innings.

Closers are the finishers of the game.  They are usually used to finish off a game that their team is already winning in the 9th inning and is several runs ahead.

Relief pitchers must stay in the bullpen in order to be ready to be called into the game at a moment’s notice.  Games can go from winning to losing in an inning, so a coach may decide to switch out pitchers at any time.

Players have to have an enormous amount of stamina in order to play a game that may last more than nine innings. This can be accomplished in a few ways. An exercise program that incorporates running, abdominal work, and weight training will help keep players toned, strong, and proved them with the energy they will need to play for many hours at a time. Players need to work out each day and rotate their exercise regimen in order to stay healthy.

Weight training will help improve muscle strength, stamina, and improve cardio vascular flow through the body. This will also increase energy levels. Weight training is how many athletes maintain their strength in the off-season. Many players have home gyms and gyms that they use at the ballpark during training sessions. There are different types of weights that can be used to target specific muscle groups and help them work more efficiently. Free weights are used to build muscles in the arms, shoulders, back, and leg muscles. These weights come in a variety of different pounds that can be used when resistance training. When using any type of weight equipment, you should always have someone else who can help you if you become too tired or if you injure your body in any way. This is especially useful when working doing chest exercises and you have to lift weights over your head.

Other weights include barbells, resistance equipment that is used for shoulders and legs, and arms. You should inspect the weights before using to make sure they are not damaged in any way. Practicing safe weight training methods will help players have a more productive workout session. When using weights, players should make sure their hands are dry and that they carry a towel with them so that they do not slip when picking up a weight. Weight training should be combined with other exercise in order to create a well-rounded exercise program.

Choosing one or two activities each day will help players maintain their strength so that they will be able to meet the demands of the game. It is also important to combine a sensible diet into this exercise plan so that players will be able to remain healthy at all times. Weight training is also beneficial because it will keep players on a schedule. There are many exercises that can be done using weights. Creating a weight-training schedule that targets specific parts of the body will help players stay focused and meet their goals. Many times trainers will set schedules for players each day. Combining this training with other exercises will ensure that all areas of the body are covered in a work out routine.

If a player is injured during a game or during a practice session, they should not lift weights until their doctor says it is okay to do so. Trying to work out while recuperating from an injury may cause further damage to a player’s body. Depending on the injury, players may be able to walk for exercise, but they should allow their body to heal before resuming their work out routine. Since players have a rigorous training schedule and are on the road for days at a time, being healthy and fit is a priority.

While baseball players are on vacation, they need to stay healthy. This means that they must also watch their diets. Foods that are high in fat, slow the body down, and are not good for the body is generally not eaten in large quantities. Players must also monitor their alcohol intake. This can help a player stay in shape for training camps that will begin at the beginning of winter. Players will be allowed to choose which exercises they want to focus on during their time off, but they must maintain a schedule. Many players will use the team’s gym or they have home gyms. This can make exercising more convenient when they are on vacation.

When traveling, players will have to run or use gyms located in hotels. While this can be difficult because exercising while on vacation is not what most people want to do, in order to perform in the next season, players must keep up their training schedules no matter where they are. Training is a non-stop activity especially for players that are a little older than other players.

Running a few miles each day can take its toll on players after a while. Some player will choose to run indoors during colder weather, while others will want to run inside. The player must be comfortable while exercising. This will help keep them motivated. Working out during the winter months outdoors can be dangerous so many players will stay indoors and exercise in gyms and work out rooms. This is better for their bodies. Exercising in cold weather can be bad for the muscles. Players need to be able to stay limber during the season. Injuring their muscles could hurt their entire season.

Working out during the off-season is needed, but taking care of previous injuries is just as important. If a player suffered an injury, they will need to heal from that injury before exercising the area. If not, a player could be hurt again. This could postpone their entry into the season. Some players who have injured themselves while working out cannot play some of the first games in the season until they have healed. If they are a good player, this could seriously hurt that team’s chances for success. Baseball players have an obligation to play in all of the games during the season. While injuries are oftentimes unexpected, they can hurt the team. Exercising everyday will help prevent injury even during the off-season. When baseball players are resting, their bodies will begin to lose muscle and building and maintaining this muscle is very important to their success and the success of their team.

Baseball is still an important sport to be a part of. It is an exciting game that requires players to be in top physical shape throughout the entire year.  Sure, baseball players may not all have traditional “six-packs” but they are all in good shape.  In fact, some of them can run faster and further than any other athletes.  They do have a lot of downtime on the field, but their reflexes have to be great and on the point.

After the 1994-95 strike, baseball was in trouble.  The Boys of Summer where not attracting many fans. Stadiums around the country drew menial crowds and the future of many teams was in question.   Suggestions were few and those in charge had to deal with the problem quickly.  Their solution was interleague play.  While it left many in an uproar, it got people back in the stands and watching on television.  To criticize a move that had its intended result is a bit crass.  What were the options?  Isn’t it better to have baseball, in whatever form it may be, instead going without it?  Aren’t the clashes between teams coming from totally different perspectives more often interesting than not?

What about the teams that are in the same state but different leagues?  Surely the intensity of those match ups outweighs the occasional slow game between two not so great teams.  No one can argue that those highly anticipated games between the Yankees and Mets do not produce wonderful turnouts and mounds of money.

Interleague play also makes it possible for fans in smaller markets to see a bigger variety of teams.  No matter how much people say they hate them, everyone wants to see the Yankees walk into their building, at least once a year.  And over time, those teams that meet on a sporadic basis might develop a bad taste for one another.  Players and fans have long memories.

It is getting better with time.  Initially interleague play consisted of the pairs of East, Central and West division playing one another.  That meant that the same teams played one another over and over again.  The dominance of the team with the hot hand, and the inferiority of a team in the building stages, can occasionally cause the underdog to flare of and give a good show of it.    But over the last few years the MLB switched to a system that allowed the divisions to mingle.  So while your favorite team may play a few duds fans will be treated to exciting match ups on a regular basis.

Schedule writing is difficult.  With different time zones, teams on opposite coasts and taking into account what fans want, the guys that set the MLB have a tough assignment before them.  The complaints about unfair scheduling are unwarranted.  Let’s face it; things will always be unfair from someone’s point of view.  If you are a baseball fan, appreciate the MLB flaws and all.  You still get to see a season chalked full of excitement.  Be thankful for that.

Are there glitches or possible ways to improve interleague play?  Sure.  Interleague play may be improved by eliminating some teams.  There is a habit in professional sports to over expand leagues.  When times get lean, those expansion teams that don’t have the loyal fan base often fall on very hard times.  Maybe it would be best to do away with those clubs and stick to the ones that are turning a nice profit.

Then again, it might be nice to have those unnatural rivalries going on.  Perhaps, over time something could come of San Francisco playing Detroit.  Maybe over time, those teams that don’t have natural rivalry can build up some tension.  If the National League teams play American League teams enough times there is bound to be some type of friction.

Interleague play does not take away from the competition in Major League Baseball.  The initiation of interleague play has brought the fans back to the game.  Instead of criticizing the Commissioner, congratulations may be in order.  No matter what stance is taken, it is better to have baseball than to not.  Without interleague play, the future of Major League Baseball might be in question.  So let’s enjoy the spectacle the Major League Baseball Association has created.

First thing is to find a hitting device that is right for you.  Most popular are different versions of tethered balls, which prevent you from having to fetch and re-tee balls that you have hit.  Some versions are simply a ball on a bungee that attaches to a pole.  When hit, the ball wraps around the pole, and then unwraps to send itself back at the batter for another hit.  A second option is a tethered ball that you hit into a net.  The ball is hit straight out, so that you can view the flight path it would have taken, and then the tethers pull it back into starting position.  Both styles allow for adjustments for players of different heights and areas of the strike zone.

Another good thing to have for training is a weighted bat.  Weighted bats help build up your swinging muscles, which can increase your bat speed and power.  Using these bats can add up to 30 feet.  They usually come in a variety of weights and lengths so that you can find the size that is perfect for you.  Look for a bat that requires you to do the work, not balanced in such a way that it swings itself.  That way you get the most out of your practice workout.  Hands, arms, and wrists will benefit the most, though be careful to get a bat that is at a weight you can handle to prevent injury.

Weighted gloves can benefit players by building up both their throwing strength and their hitting power.  These gloves will fit just like a batting glove, but add additional weight to both hands, often incrementally.  They can be worn during all types of practice; whether it is while warming up, using a batting cage, or during batting practice.  Wearing the gloves help strengthen all of the muscles needed in an entire swinging motion.  For throwing, it also helps strengthen the muscle groups needed, and weighted gloves are perfect for stretches, warm ups, and practices.  It also helps to build up your arms stamina, preventing future injuries.  Do use caution when increasing the amount of weights though, to avoid inuring yourself.

A pitching machine can be a major help if you do not always have someone around to throw pitches for you.  These machines use a variety of balls, from waffle to actual baseballs, depending on the style of the machine.  They also usually have variations available in the pitching speed.  That way you can have the balls come at you one right after the other, or have a moment in between each one, depending on your skill level.

If you are a pitcher, getting a training ball may be of big help to you.  These are often weighted, giving your pitching arm a more thorough workout.  That way when you go back to throwing a regular ball your muscles are built up and ready.  Other training balls will also include markings for the proper finger placement for different styles of pitches, such as a fastball versus a curveball.

Do keep in mind that practice equipment is good only for that – if you use it for practice.  They are not a guarantee of a dramatically improved game.  Only practice itself, along with a trained coach or sports trainer to guide you, will be able to do that.  So go out and get working!

In the area of saves, the record set by White Sox Bobby Thigpen n 1990 has almost been beat on more than a few occasions. Thigpen set the record for fifty-seven saves that season. While many players have hit fifty-five, players will need just a few more to break the record. While many players concentrate on the game itself, some players also concentrate on trying to break records. It is fun and another way for a player to be remembered. The doubles record set in 1931 by Earl Webb, which was sixty-eight doubles in a season, is one of the longest records in baseball history. While doubles are very common, the record has yet to be beat. Many players have come very close over the years, but Webb’s record still remains. One player even hit sixty-seven doubles at the close of the season. Other players have hit doubles into the sixties. This is a strange record given that doubles are common during the baseball season.

Strikeouts is an honor that many pitchers enjoying having. Holding the record for the most strikeouts is Nolan Ryan, who has three hundred and eighty-three strikeouts to his name. Other pitchers have tried and failed to beat Ryan’s record. Since pitchers do not pitch in as many innings as they used to, it will take a fast pitcher to beat his record.

Barry Bonds holds the record for the most homeruns during any season. Babe Ruth was the first person to ever hold this title. He held it four times by beating his own record four times. These days, hitting most homeruns does not seem as spectacular as it once did because they are more common than ever. In an effort to bring back fans to base ball, many teams have encouraged their players to hit balls farther in order to impress the crowd.

The fifth most talked about record in baseball is runs scored. This record is held by a few players who have has more homeruns that anyone else. In 1894, Billy Hamilton scored one hundred and ninety-two games during a season. In 1921, Babe Ruth scored one hundred and seventy-one. This record has not been beaten. Players have come close, but not close enough. This is one record that may never be beaten.

Records in baseball can take many years to break. Each season players attempt to break records that have been held by other players and many of them fail. This is because anything can happen during a season. Injury, bad playing, and other reasons may prohibit a player from reaching their goal. This can be frustrating for some players, while others work on setting their own records and trying to beat them each season. This is a better way to improve stats and increase player value.  However, most players will say that they are driven by records and want to try their best to break them. After all, that is how most of the greats are remembered!

Once your team is drafted, study it closely.  What are the strong points? What areas could use some bulking up?  Early on in the season, pay close attention at how things pan out.  Once a good feel for the team has been developed, it is time to begin thinking about ways to make it better.

Do your homework.  It is important to be well schooled on what players are just under the radar.  Those players that are on the verge of becoming the next big star but are not marketed that way.  Reading prospects and using stats are not always a sure fire way to determine these things.  Having a good feeling about a player might be enough of a notion to go on.  Fantasy baseball is a gamble.  Those that fair well are a little bit lucky and a lot aware of what is going on in the league.

The faster the connection, the quicker players and predictions can be perused.  If you are spending an extra five minutes waiting for a website to show up, another player may have already made the vital trade you were counting on.  Of course, that does not mean going broke trying to enhance the speed of the Internet that is used.  But, if it is no problem, enhancing Internet speed.  Splurge a bit.  If significant others wants justification of this move, explain that a faster Internet connection is good for every online project.  Not just fantasy baseball league play.  Making sure you have the highest speed possible on Internet connection contributes to success in fantasy baseball.

Extremes are bad.  Don’t overdose on the great prospects and don’t bet the farm on the underdogs.  Balance out the team by choosing a variety of players with different skills and experience levels.  Pick up an underdog here and there-usually a star or two and a few jack-of-all-trade players.  The team packed with all stars could end up with mediocre stats.  Your potential miracle team could never get off the ground.  The smart team builder will have a decent team full of potential, both realized and otherwise.   If things do go as planned, there will be chances to make deals.  Remember that variety is the key.

Don’t be afraid to trade.  Make multiple trades if it will help get the desired player in the long run.  Picking up a guy and planning to on dumping him later as collateral, is okay.  Investigate the rosters of other player’s teams so that the other fantasy manager that might need or want a deal are evident.  Be familiar with everyone else’s team at all times so that when trade time come the deals can go through with some speed.  Also, be ready to explain why the trade is a good one.  Study the opponents and find out who has what and who needs what.  Any squad that is overflowing with talented, or inexperience rookies, is bound to need some aging talent.  The person that chooses all of the old guys will be looking for young blood.  Be one step ahead of the competition.

Figure out what goals you have, and how they will be reached, before the season starts.  Once the team is drafted take stock in the possibilities and what moves will be needed to be successful.  Have a working plan to go on.  If the plan goes off track, revise quickly and make a move that will help raise the team in the standings. Remember that there is more than one fantasy baseball factor to considered when winning is the object.  Be open to previously unnoticed nuances of fantasy baseball team management.