21 - Tim DeJohn ”DJ” ”Developing the Infielder”

Bio

• Current Infield Coach for the Baltimore Orioles
• Former Assistant coach for University of Memphis
  • 2nd in School History .974 Team Fielding Percentage 65th in Nation
  • 53 Team Errors, 2nd in School History for Fewest Errors in a Season
• Former Assistant coach with the Milwaukee Milkmen
• Former Assistant coach at the University of Hartford
  • School Record Fewest Errors in a Season (45)
  • School Record .975 Team Fielding Percentage, 49th in Nation
  • 2 Infielders taken in MLB Draft

 

Show notes

• Hand shake distance (visual out in front)
• Know your player to know how much they need to know 
  • Some guys need more, some less
• All about relationships
  • Ask guys and open communication
  • Just need to talk
• Understanding the learning style - verbal, picture, kinesthetic
• Know how much you care before they care how much you know
• They need to trust me with their career and show them they can trust me
• Have a plan with open communication
• Get feedback after a drill about how they feel and if it work for the players
• Foundation is the relationship with the players, and its not about ME! 
• Once base skills are there then go position specific
• Corner guys lower and different groundballs
• Middle guys more lateral and different groundballs
• Base skills
  • See it in (hand/eye drill)
  • Glove isolation
  • Play catch
  • Hip hinge and knowing your body
• First basemen
  • Cuts and relays
  • Pick work
  • Approach to bag
  • shifting/positioning - every step towards 4 hole you take one step in
  • Tags
  • Starting double plays with accurate throws
• Good first baseman and good catcher will prevent a lot of runs and will not lose games for you!
• Playing multiple positions to perform different movements to help with athleticism
• Wall drills!
  • Throw over shoulder
  • Throw bag down and first baseman steps to bag and picks
  • Shuffle off bag and catch groundball off wall
• Instruct it first, model it, and be there, and then float and let them go
• Make a checklist of everything you want to cover as a group
• Make a checklist of everything you want to cover as individual (position)
• Spend time on the things that happen in the game more frequently
• Stick to your time and just end it! 
• Angles towards the base or ball. Be deliberate on the practice that they do more frequently
• Collect data that will help you design practice and specifically get better
• Pay attention to angle taken
• Pay attention to the time needed to make play
• Where are they consistently making errors? Chart that so you can practice their errors
• Good infielders have:
  • Footwork - 
  • Proper way to play catch
  • Develop arm strength and proper arm angle 
  • Hands
• If there is a problem with their body that is symptomatic of them making errors then you have to put in the time to determine when to work on it
• Foundationally kids catch the ball one handed and we have to teach them to put the other hand there, so let them be free and promote one hand more
• Catcher, pitcher, and first baseman are all one handed catchers.
• High IQ as an infielder
• Keep the game slow, can slow the game down, control their breathing
• Fail more in practice
• Short memory - take glove off, turn around, and then come back to the hitter when you are ready
• Practice each moment and those time you are trying to stay under control
• Practicing even in your life, not just in baseball
• Put a success rate on a drill, high or low difficulty to allow them to push themselves
• At intersquad every batter is 3-2 count to create game like atmosphere and chaos!
• Twitter - @DeJohn_5