Mark Gola

Put your game into overdrive with this complete guide to harnessing your athletic instincts.In baseball, a five-tool player possesses the five most important skills: hitting for power, hitting for average, defense, arm strength, and speed. But there is one essential skill that brings it all together: the sixth tool. It's that extra something, an X-factor that can make a good player great. In this fully illustrated, information-packed guide, coach Mark Gola shows you how to use your smarts to channel your instincts, psych out your opponents, deal with pressure, and much more. Whether you're in Little League or heading for the majors, Baseball's Sixth Tool will teach you how to:Fire up your baserunning without increasing speedStep up your defensive play using keen observation and communicationMaster pitching with super-smart strategiesPerfect your swing by getting prepared before you step to the plateBecome the all-around all-star player that every coach wants

Take your game from bush league to big time with these proven techniquesBaseball scouts and coaches at every level want players with the knowledge and ability to do it all. They're looking for someone who can dominate a game and showcase talent in each of baseball's five essential skills: hitting for average, hitting for power, fielding, arm strength, and speed. What they hope to find is The Five-Tool Player.In The Five-Tool Player, you'll get all the drills, step-by-step photos, and guidance you need to master the five tools. You'll learn how to:Hit for high average by understanding pitch patterns and expanding your hitting zoneDevelop power at the plate with proper technique, an aggressive attitude, and strength trainingDiversify your defensive skills by learning the nuances of each positionIncrease your arm strength with proper throwing form and conditioningImprove your base running with speed training

Who said the 400 best things about how to play baseball?From the wisdom of Mickey Mantle ("A team is where a boy can prove his courage on his own; a gang is where a coward goes to hide") to the wit of Nolan Ryan ("It helps if the hitter thinks you're a little crazy") to the banter of the Babe ("I swing big and I miss big"), this one-of-a-kind collection features the most quotable advice on how to play the game from the greatest names in baseball.Not your ordinary encyclopedia of baseball quotations, As Koufax Said . . . goes beyond the worn-out "Yogi-isms" and "Stengelese," beyond tales of players' drinking prowess and off-the-field blunders, right to the heart of the matter: How to play a winning game. The authors, baseball coaches themselves, have searched long and hard to fill this unique book with quotes chosen for their ability to teach something essential about the game or help improve skills on the field.Organized into chapters that cover practice, batting, pitching, fielding, baserunning, managing and coaching, character, and the game in general, this rich compendium is packed with hundreds of intelligent, useful, accurate, and entertaining quotes, quips, and words of wisdom from legends both past and present--players and coaches at the highest level of the game. You can't go anywhere else to find the collective insight of Greg Maddux, Sandy Koufax, Ted Williams, Cal Ripken Jr., John McGraw, and Earl Weaver under the same cover. This is the ultimate gift for players, coaches, and fans of every generation.Inside you'll find timeless baseball wisdom from all the greats, including: Johnny BenchWade BoggsGeorge BrettLou BrockRod CarewTy CobbJoe DiMaggioJoe GaragiolaOrel HershiserReggie JacksonDerek JeterWillie MaysMark McGwireStan MusialCal Ripken Jr.Pete RoseBabe RuthTom SeaverSammy SosaMo VaughanGeorge WillTed WilliamsCarl Yastrzemski. . . and, of course, Sandy Koufax.

The first guide to help you get to the next level of baseball playTo continue advancing up the ladder of competition, you need to master the game's advanced skills and techniques, those exciting plays that surface at crucial moments in competition and bring victory--the game-breaker plays and skills. The Louisville Slugger® Book of Game-Breaker Baseball moves beyond the basics. It features step-by-step instructions supplemented by major-league players explaining their styles in making the same plays.This book:Teaches you 30 key skills illustrated with 150 high-quality photographsOffers you a complete blueprint if you want to play at the game's higher skill levelsProvides approximate ages to master the skills and how long it should take to learn them

For a baseball player, there is nothing more frustrating than struggling at the plate. Hitters--no matter how accomplished--experience hitting slumps, for both mechanical and mental reasons. Their challenge--and yours--is to contain them for a short period of time. The Louisville Slugger Complete Book of Hitting Faults and Fixes identifies the sources of fifty distinct hitting faults that lead to problem swings and includes drills specifically designed to help you correct them.The step-by-step approach starts from the ground up, including:Problems in the stance: hot feet, poor positioning in the box Pre-swing movements: no coil in torso, overstriding, hitching before swinging Hip rotation and weight transfer: little or no weight transfer, over-rotating The swing: uppercutting, casting your hands, pulling your head off the ball Mental approach: fear of failure, poor judgment of the strike zone, failing to recognize pitch patterns The instruction behind each fault also features unique insight from a major league hitter or professional coach. These tips also allow you to get inside the best minds in the business and apply their wisdom to your own game. By applying the book's systematic approach, including lots of practice, you will be able to dissect your swing, identify mistakes, and put yourself on the correct path to recovery and success, becoming a true student of the swing.

There is no one way to throw a baseball; for this simple reason the pitcher has one of the most intriguing positions in baseball. Short or tall, gawky or athletic, lefty or righty, hard thrower or crafty nibbler, anyone who can find a way to get batters out can be a good pitcher. The Louisville Slugger Complete Book of Pitching analyzes the methods of stars such as Nolan Ryan, Greg Maddux, and Tom Seaver. In addition, this book reveals what all prospective pitchers--regardless of style or stuff--need to do in order to be successful. Among the topics covered are: Building proper mechanics, from stride and delivery to release point and follow-through Throwing fastballs with varying velocity and movement around the plate Moving hitters in and out and forward and back in the box with an effective change-up Responding to key game situations and defensive responsibilities Building strength and flexibility in the arm as well as the legs and torso through customized conditioning plans Scouting opposition before game day, analyzing field conditions, and being your own coach on the mound when your stuff isn't working Developing the mental game necessary to control emotions and deal with adversity The Louisville Slugger Complete Book of Pitching is more than just instruction. Its unique treatment includes historical sidebars and anecdotes from players that will delight baseball fans, making it the ultimate reference for pitchers, pitching coaces, and others who enjoy the thrill and magic of fooling the hitter. Doug Myers is the author of Essential Cubs and the forthcoming Louisville Slugger Presents Batting Around. Mark Gola is a sportswriter who also works as the assistant coach for the Rider University baseball team.