Outfielders: knowing the pitch

This post can now be found HERE.

How to approach a ground ball

This post can now be found HERE.

Concentration grids

This post can now be found HERE.

Finding the seams as an infielder

This post can now be found HERE.

Another option from the stretch position

This post can now be found HERE.

Third baseman's bunt positioning

This post can now be found HERE.

How to film hitters

This post can now be found HERE.

Staying on top of the ball - Pitching

This post can now be found HERE.

Stay on top of the ball - Hitting

This post can now be found HERE.

Stealing signs - Part 3: How to prevent your signs from being stolen

This post can now be found HERE.

Stealing signs - Part 2: How to know if your signs are being stolen.

This post can Now be found HERE.

Stealing signs - Part 1: How teams get them and give them

This post can now be found HERE.

Video post: How to tag

This post can now be found HERE.

The importance of the shutdown inning

This post can now be found HERE.

The proper way to film pitchers

This post can now be found HERE.

Keeping the bat in the hitting zone

This post can now be found HERE.

Where do outfielders’ hands go?

This post can now be found HERE.

The one flaw of Roy Halladay

This post can now be found HERE.

Force the home plate ump to commit

This post can now be found HERE.

How to hit a 100mph fastball

This post can now be found HERE.

The basics of a hitting stride

This post can now be found HERE.

The season is a marathon ...

This post can now be found HERE.

Feel = Experience + Information

This post can now be found HERE.

Sometimes all you have is yourself

This post can now be found HERE.

Infielders and their elbows

This post can now be found HERE.

Remind them to "Hit the cutoff man!"

This post can now be found HERE.

Watching Roy Halladay

This post can now be found HERE.

Teaching little kids how to catch a baseball

This post can now be found HERE.

Video post: How to break in and train your glove

This post can now be found HERE.

There's more to legging out a triple than you might think

This post can now be found HERE.

Why do the best MLB teams lose so much?

This post can now be found HERE.

Dallas Green and scouting "Head and Heart"

This post is now HERE.

Pitching is not rocket science

This post is now HERE.

Flipping the switch

This post is now HERE.

Fielding a bunt is all in the footwork (Part 2)

This post is now HERE.

Fielding a bunt is all in the footwork (Part 1)

This post is now HERE.

Earned vs Unearned runs

This post is now HERE.

Focus inward - Focus outward

This post is now HERE.

Stepping down as head coach

About 10 days ago I officially announced that I was stepping down as head coach of my high school team.  This is something I have been mulling over for a couple years now and just finally came to the conclusion that it was time.  Being a head coach at any level takes up an enormous amount of time.  This, of course, is somewhat predicated on whether or not you want to do it right.  When I started as head coach of the school 13 years ago, I was not married and therefore my wife and I didn’t have the pleasure of chasing around our three little ones yet.  Times have changed.  Basically, I can no longer keep up with the schedule I created 13 years ago.  Those off-season morning and evening workouts, lifting and running sessions, etc. all have helped turn our program into a successful one.  When players enter our high school, they look forward to this schedule and usually ask to start even earlier and include more options.  This expanding program just doesn’t match my need to back off the time commitment.  As a result, it was just time for me to move on.

I feel very blessed that I have been able to decide for myself when it was time to step down.  Many coaches do not get that luxury.  I am lucky that school administrators, parents, and community members bought into our system and let it proceed as we saw fit.  The players played.  The coaches coached.  The parents cheered.  The administrators backed up our mission.  I know how fortunate I was to lead such a program.  Many of the pitfalls that throw large wrenches into programs just didn’t seem to occur for us.  Not really sure why.  I’ve heard many horror stories from and about other programs where good coaches are/were not given the same treatment.  I consider myself lucky.

When I was younger, I paid attention when players and coaches were interviewed on TV.  I also read books about and sometimes written by people in the game.  At the end of these players’ and coaches’ careers, ultimately the same question was asked to all of them.  “Do you have any regrets?”  In virtually every single case, the answer was “I didn’t get to see my kids grow up.”  I’m not sure why but even as a little kid, I remember hoping that if I was ever asked that question in the future, I would truthfully be able to give another answer.

Two of my kids are now playing their first team sport - the "S" word (soccer).  Watching them both run around in a swarm of players around the ball with gigantic smiles on their faces is priceless.  I want to see more of that.


We'll see when I decide to get back on a field to coach.  Expanding the blog, making some videos, maybe a book, organizing coaching seminars and player clinics certainly will keep me busy and connected to the game.

A big thank you to all those who played a role in our program.  My only request of you now is to continue giving the next coach the same treatment you gave me.

Tampa Bay Rays: Talented and having fun!

This post is now HERE.

Radio interview with Coach McCreary

This post is now HERE.

Outfielders: Give yourself a chance

This post is now HERE.

There’s no such thing as a “wrong pitch to throw”

This post is now HERE.

Curve ball adjustment – another option

This post is now HERE.

The safety squeeze

This post is now HERE.

Communication tips for defense

This post is now HERE.

APPROACH - result - RESPONSE

This post is now HERE.

Focus on the NOW

This post is now HERE.

Never forget

This post is now HERE.

I'm looking for some help!

A graphic designer I am not.  Because of my artistic shortcomings, I am struggling with the creation of a logo for Baseball By The Yard that could be placed on hats, shirts, jackets, etc.  I thought I’d throw it out to all of the readers and try to tap into the collective creativity of the group.  I’m now accepting any and all ideas on a symbol or logo for the blog.  To make it worthwhile, if I choose someone’s idea, they’ll get some free merchandise with the logo.  If anyone is interested, please send your ideas, pictures, artwork, etc to BaseballByTheYard@gmail.com.

Ideally, I'd like to finalize one in a week or two.
Thanks in advance to anyone who takes time to help.

I hope you are enjoying the posts.  As always, if you have any ideas for posts, comments about posts, or questions, please do not hesitate to send them along as well. 

I can’t tell you how much I enjoy reading the feedback I get.

Have a great day!

Coach McCreary

Catchers: Be sure to protect your hand

This post is now HERE.

Recognize the little things

This post is now HERE.

Second basemen – Back up first base!

This post is now HERE.

Two fungo drills you may not have done

This post is now HERE.

A tip for improving location for pitchers

This post is now HERE.

Report card for off-season planning

This post is now HERE.

Be on time in fastball counts!

This post is now HERE.

Which one of "The Five" are you going to pin your name to?

This post is now HERE.

Vance Worley, Phillies Rookie

This post is now HERE.

Don't speed up the hitter's bat

This post is now HERE.

Everyone can hit a fast ball

This post is now HERE.

AJ Burnett needs to "trust his stuff"

This post is now HERE.

The flaw in 1st pitch hitting stats

This post is now HERE.

The Suicide Squeeze - Part 5: Defending the squeeze play

This post is now HERE.

The suicide squeeze - Part 4: The mechanics

This post is now HERE.

The Suicide Squeeze - Part 3: The timing

This post is now HERE.

The Suicide Squeeze - Part 2: Giving & receiving the sign

This post is now HERE.

The suicide squeeze - Part 1: The why's and when's

This post is now HERE.

There's more to pro ball then just playing baseball

This post is now HERE.

Book Review: Catching 101

This post is now HERE.

Jim Thome vs Carlos Zambrano

This post is now HERE.

If you're good, they will find you.

This post is now HERE.

By The Yard Update

Hello everyone.
The family and I have a lot going on in the next few weeks so I will be taking a bit of a vacation from posting largely because my access to a computer is not guarenteed. 

This may be a good opportunity to go back and check out some of the posts you may have missed!

Below is a list of posts that are coming in the near future:

• A multiple part series on getting out of hitting slumps.
• Another series on everything involving turning a double play as a second baseman.
• The suicide squeeze and the safety squeeze.
• Defending the 1st and 3rd situation
• and many more.

My readership has consistently been growing since I started about 200 posts ago and I can't thank you all enough.  I will be adding some Baseball By The Yard merchandice section (t-shirts, sweatshirts, has, etc) in the near future.  Also some give-aways involving those things as well so stay tuned!

Should anybody have new ideas for posts or things you would recommend for the site, please do not hesitate to pass them along.  Just shoot me an email at BaseballByTheYard@gmail.com.

Coach McCreary

The game shows no mercy

This post is now HERE.

Catchers: Tips before giving the pitch sign

This post is now HERE.

I belong at this level

This post is now HERE.

Pay vs Job Security

This post is now HERE.

Which eye is dominant?

This post is now HERE. 

Learning to pitch by casting a fishing rod

This post is now HERE.

Coaching vs Managing

This post is now HERE.

Talking hitting

This post is now HERE.

Pitching: Keeping the foot under the knee

This post is now HERE.

Catchers and throws to third base

This post is now HERE.

Don't leave scouts guessing about your arm strength

This post is now HERE.

Another option for defending the double-steal

This post is now HERE.

Don't ignore your star players.

This post is now HERE.

Can a pitcher throw too many strikes?

This post is now HERE.

Double-Relays

This post is now HERE.

Outfielders: Know the steps to the fence

This post is now HERE.

Bat label up and bat label down

This post is now HERE.

I got it, you take it!

This post is now HERE.

When two runners are at a base

This post is now HERE. 

Hitting behind a runner at first base (Part 2)

This post is now HERE.

Hitting behind a runner at first base (Part 1)

This post is now HERE.

Practice vs "Deliberate" Practice

This post is now HERE.

The new and improved (?!) Justin Verlander

This post is now HERE.

Infield footwork

This post is now HERE.

Inside for effect and inside for a strike

This post is now HERE.

How can you get mad at young players?

This post is now HERE.

Long-Tee Drill

This post is now HERE.