Shelby County Today

June 15, 2020 - Continuing with Brad Taylor and his second installment of "letters of baseball and softball data that can dictate the success or failure of every boy or girl playing those sports in Shelby County. The first three issues will deal with "common sense material" to some parents, but your children should he encouraged to read them, if only to help them understand the pitfalls they may encounter."  Taylor's Issue #One titled "How Much Sense Does This Make?" was posted on June 8, 2020.

Issue #Two: Maturation

 

 

This segment is dedicated to all boys and girls who, from age six to sixteen may be smaller than their teammates.
 

My simple advice to you ---“don’t quit and don’t ever give up,” and memorize these three words ---“Late growth spurt.”

 

It is extremely commonplace for a seven or eight-year old who may be six inches shorter than a teammate, to have a late growth spurt, then be taller than that same teammate two years later. It is equally common for teenagers not to complete their growth until they reach adulthood.

 

The following can happen: Five feet, six inches at sixteen, then six feet, two inches at nineteen.

 

Or---that big growth spurt may never happen to you. So what? Some of the greatest hitters in major league history have been less than tall.

 

Joe Morgan: Five feet, seven inches, 22 years, Hall of Fame
Yogi Berra: Five feet, eight inches, 19 years, Hall of Fame
“Wee” Willie Keeler: Five feet, four inches, 19 years

Craig Biggio: Five feet, eleven inches, 20 years, Hall of Fame

Jose Altuve: Five feet, six inches, still active (Houston Astros)

 

Those names are but a few. There are many other “average” size players who enjoyed extremely productive major league baseball careers.
 
Possible signs to look for:

 

If both of your parents are tall, it is likely that you will be tall, too. If one of your parents is tall, and the other is short, you could inherit the genes of either one --- kind of the luck of the draw.

 

If your father is five feet, four inches, and your mother is five feet, two inches, heredity and gene factors will signal that it is unlikely that you will ever be six feet tall --- possible but unlikely.

 

Still --- “do not give up.”

 

Like my father used to say, “size don’t mean a thing. I saw a bumblebee chase a bull all over a field one day. It’s the size of your stinger that counts.”

 

Do you want some day to become a good or even great baseball player? Here are some extremely strong words of advice.

 

If you are a good fielder, but a poor hitter, continue daily to work on your fielding. But, put in twice as much time on hitting. Always spend more time on your weaknesses than you do on your strengths, that is the only way you can ever hope to become a complete player.

 

Weak arm? Not to worry. Continue to throw, continue to play catch with a friend, or with your parent. Words of caution --- throw from the top (overhand). Throwing overhand creates spin that gives the ball lift ---making the ball rise, more powerful, and keeping it on a more direct line to the target.

 

Throwing the ball “sidearm” creates a spin on the ball that forces it to curve sideways, eliminating a direct path to the target --- and losing valuable “lift.”

 

Be smart --- be “complete" --- from the top.

 

Do you personally have any “hitting” problems? If you say “no,” I will congratulate you. (but I might not believe you.) No one has ever been perfect in the batter’s box. If you realize that you do have a weakness in the “box,” call me. Together, you and I can eliminate anything that may be affecting your growth as a hitter. If you are wise, you will call me. If you are less than wise, you will not. Your choice.

 

Thank you.

Brad Taylor
(281) 216-1048