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RANCH REVIEW THE
MARCH/APRIL 2023
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THE RANCH DIFFERENCE Components of a Long-term Successful Culture
We can, of course, parse the status of our relationships, athletic teams, businesses, companies, and neighborhoods in multiple ways. This is only one way (of an almost infinite number) of viewing any specific culture. I personally like this particular perspective because it is simple and quite universal. It has also become central to our daily behaviors at the Texas Baseball Ranch® and how we interact with our clients. COMPONENT #1 — COMPETENCE. This component evaluates our skills and abilities in a specific culture. Are we experienced, proficient, practiced,
In our opinion, this applies to so many of our interactions in life. Our marriage, friends, and families are all specific cultures. Our business and coworkers
are a culture. Our church is a culture. Our athletic teams and schools are a culture. Our neighborhood is a culture. My questions to you are questions we ask at TBR quite often in our weekly staff meetings and After Action Reviews ... • How is our competence in any one specific area? Do we need more skill, capability, expertise, knowledge, or wisdom? What next-level questions are we not asking and/ or need to be asked? What abilities or capabilities do we need to further develop or add? • How is our environment for each area of focus? Do we need more humility, empathy, compassion, or clarity? Is our daily behavior in perfect alignment with our stated values and mission? If not, what do we need to adjust or change to make it so? This is what we refer to as the “Ranch Difference.” Because of this constant self-reflection, we are very skilled and knowledgeable in movement and how it relates to being a healthy, durable, and prolific throwing athlete. We also have cultivated an incredibly supportive, empowering, and uncommon environment for young athletes (ages 12–22) so they can flourish and develop.
accomplished, expert, skillful, adept, capable, efficient, and/or well-versed? In other words, are we productive and effective teammates? Do we add value? Do we make others around us better? Are we dedicated students in areas we have chosen as important? COMPONENT #2 — ENVIRONMENT. This component evaluates our culture, ecosystem, values, daily interactions, mission, and purpose. In other words, what do the leaders of the specific group espouse as important, and even more importantly, how aligned are their daily behaviors to what they have stated as truly important?
If we are exceptionally competent, but our environment is counterfeit, manipulative, toxic, or pernicious, the culture will eventually fail. If our environment is exceptional, but we are incompetent, inept, unskilled, or bumbling, at best, we as a team will not approach our true capability and, at worst, the culture will eventually fail. Obviously, both pieces are critically important to success. All too often, people get caught up in the chaos of life and become fixated on one and naively neglect the other.
–Ron Wolforth
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Where You Can DREAM as BIG as Your Work Ethic Will Allow! PHONE (936) 588-6762
• How impactful would it be for you to sharpen your control just a tad, create a little nastier out-pitch, and/or simply be more consistent every time you toe the rubber?
It has been well documented that just one extra hit a week over a big-league season would take a hitter from .200 to .250 or from .250 to .300. That’s just one more hit per week. One ... per week. That one hit per week can take a player from possibly being released to a solid major leaguer or from an established professional player to an All-Star. HOW CLOSE ARE YOU TO A BIG BREAKOUT SEASON? Service Highlight
Again, How Close Are You to a Big Breakout Season?
We’ve all said to ourselves, “I’m just SO close. I can feel it. I know I’m capable, I just need a little something.” Here at the Texas Baseball Ranch®, where our specialty is pitching, we’ve been that little something for thousands of athletes and families just like you. We have a very specific and time-tested approach to training pitchers. We’ve worked with numerous professional athletes, including three Cy Young award winners (Justin Verlander, Trevor Bauer, and Barry Zito), but we spend the majority of our time working with athletes like you, young amateurs working to get to the next level and know they just need a little guidance. Recently two different fathers said, “We’ve been thinking about coming to the Texas Baseball Ranch for 3–5 years now, and now that we have, I’m kicking myself for not coming three years ago. Just imagine how much further we would be along our path. We won’t make that mistake again.” Frequently they will follow up with something like, “We read all the comments from other parents and players who’d been to the Ranch, but it just seemed too good to be true. We
said to ourselves, ‘Could this place really be THAT good?’ And of course, now we know it is THAT good.”
Tiny tweaks can create big changes! Little hinges swing big doors! It is also true that just one extra strike thrown to every third batter can change you from a
Registration is now open for our Elite
Pitchers Bootcamps this summer with the first one taking place over the Memorial Day weekend. All seven dates and additional details can be found at texasbaseballranch. com/events.
55% strike thrower to a 64% strike thrower and from averaging one walk per inning to one walk every three innings. So, in other words, a pitcher can go from “okay” command to “excellent” command pretty darn quick.
Each camp is limited to 32 players, so if one of the dates works for you, we encourage you to lock in your spot as we routinely sell out each of the bootcamps.
So, the next question is, what about you? • What would a 3–5 mph increase in your fastball mean to you? • What would 25% better arm health/ recovery do for you?
If you are close to a breakout, we urge you not to delay. Don’t put it off
and then regret it later. Do it now!
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UNDER CONTROL The Truth About Command
You might have heard the phrase “It’s simple, but not easy,” and nothing could be more accurate about players developing command and control of their pitches. Many experts will tell you that command and control are about developing “good mechanics,” but they’re way off-base. Some of the most successful pitchers of all time used movement patterns that strayed far from the classic model but remained remarkably consistent. Meanwhile, control is one of the most essential components of golf, but swings among the greats often stray considerably from the traditional form.
KEN GRIFFEY JR. HITS IT OUT OF THE PARK This Month in Baseball History Ken Griffey Jr. had baseball in his blood; his father, Ken Griffey Sr., was an All-Star outfielder for the Cincinnati Reds. Expectations were high when “The Kid” was the first pick in the 1987 MLB draft. Griffey proved that faith wasn’t unfounded when he played his first major league game on opening day in 1989. The 19-year-old rookie stepped up to bat for the Seattle Mariners on April 10, 1989, and hit a home run on his first major league pitch. The game took place on his father’s birthday, making the achievement even sweeter. It was clear to everyone watching that Griffey would be a star. The younger Griffey hit 630 homers throughout his 22-year career and holds the record for seventh-most home runs in MLB history. His games were a must-see for baseball fans throughout his tenure, and the first-ballot Hall of Famer remains a legend today. No team wants an unreliable pitcher. The ability to occasionally throw a great curveball will mean little if you can’t do it on command. Raw talent alone won’t cut it. The pitchers with the best control spend thousands of hours working on their craft and engaging in trial and error. Now, you can start to see why command is straightforward yet incredibly difficult. While every pitcher needs a repeatable delivery, “repeat” in this scenario is a verb, not a noun. Repeatability is a constant process, not something you master and then put aside. It takes years of hard work and dedication. At the Texas Baseball Ranch, our team knows that the mechanics of each player’s pitch will vary. Our goal is not to create a textbook-like form but to find the most efficient and effective movement pattern for the player we’re training. Once we discover that pattern, we can begin establishing command or control through diligent practice. Our facility has unique insight into mastering command for all types of pitches. If you struggle with control, you may benefit from our 126-minute training program DVD, “Command Enhancement.” This video and companion manual will help you comprehend command in more detail and understand where many pitchers go wrong. Order your copy at www.CommandEnhancement.com. SAVE 50% when you order by May 31 !
Command is not a technique, and it’s not about perfecting “ideal” movements that look pleasing to the eye. Instead, having excellent command requires replicating movement patterns that work well for the player. And the only way to build that type of control is through good old- fashioned practice.
UPCOMING RANCH EVENTS
ELITE PITCHERS BOOT CAMPS:
SUMMER INTENSIVE PROGRAM (STAY 3-11 WEEKS):
• • • • • • •
MAY 27-29 JUNE 9-11 JUNE 23-25
•
BEGINS MAY 30TH AND
RUNS THROUGH AUGUST 10TH.
JULY 7-9
JULY 21-23
AUGUST 4-6
SEPTEMBER 2-4
WWW.TEXASBASEBALLRANCH.COM/EVENTS
A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR OATES SPECIALTIES ! EQUIPMENT PROVIDER,
www.OatesSpecialties. com/Durathro
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Where You Can DREAM as BIG as Your Work Ethic Will Allow!
PHONE (936) 588-6762
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FIRST-CLASS MAIL US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
www.texasbaseballranch.com 5451 Honea-Egypt Road Montgomery, TX 77316
(936) 588-6762
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
PAGE 1 The Cultures That Matter to You PAGE 2 How Small Tweaks Can Lead to Big Leaps
PAGE 3 How Pitchers Develop Command
This Month in Baseball History
PAGE 4 Want a Vitamin Boost?
Health Benefits of Vitamin D SOAK UP THE SUNSHINE VITAMIN
IT’S POSSIBLY LINKED TO WEIGHT LOSS. While it’s not fully proven that vitamin D helps with weight loss, many studies have found links between vitamin D supplements and shedding a few pounds. In one study, one group of people taking vitamin D and calcium supplements lost more weight than another group taking placebos. IT PREVENTS AND HELPS MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS. Not only is vitamin D proven to lower a person’s chances of getting this horrible disease, but for those who already have it, it can also reduce symptoms or slow down the disease’s progression. This spring, be sure to get outdoors and soak up some vitamin D; however, don’t forget to protect your skin, too! To avoid overexposure, only about 10–15 minutes a day of unprotected sun is recommended.
With spring on the horizon, we all will be able to get outdoors a little more and soak up some sun — and extra vitamin D! Bring on the picnics, pool days, hiking, sports activities, and leisurely walks through the park! Let’s take a look at the many benefits this vitamin provides for our bodies. IT BOOSTS YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM. Vitamin D helps your body fight off sickness. In fact, it’s been proven that deficiencies in vitamin D are connected to an increased possibility of developing infections and autoimmune diseases such as the flu, heart disease, and diabetes. IT COUNTERS OSTEOPOROSIS. Osteoporosis, a loss in bone mass, is common as we get older. However, vitamin D is one of the key players in helping to slow down bone loss and
prevent or treat osteoporosis so we can maintain a healthy skeletal system. IT REDUCES THE RISKS OF DEPRESSION. Studies have shown that those who are deficient in vitamin D become more prone to mood disorders and depression. To ensure that you support your mental health, step outside and get some happy, feel-good rays!
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