| There are not too many feelings better than | | | | game on the line and here is the pitch," is a good |
| getting hits for baseball players. Actually, there is? | | | | batting practice idea. When players are put in |
| Getting a hit in the clutch is an even better feeling. | | | | clutch situations often enough, they will develop |
| Of all the great memories I have of playing | | | | the sense of having "been there before," which |
| baseball, the ones that are most memorable are | | | | may enhance their confidence and give them |
| those of clutch hits that I had. Many people think | | | | reassuring feelings. |
| of clutch hits as those that drive in runs or win | | | | 3. Explain to players that no one will remember |
| games, but just as important sometimes are hits | | | | for very long if they make an out but everyone |
| that players get to start a rally, break up a no | | | | will remember, for a long time, if they come |
| hitter or knock a good pitcher out of the game. | | | | through with a big hit. In this manner, players will |
| One of my great memories of a clutch at-bat did | | | | begin to feel like they do not have much to lose, |
| not involve a hit but a sacrifice fly that I hit in the | | | | which should ease the pressure. This also serves |
| 17th inning that drove in the winning run against | | | | to have players look forward to the opportunity. |
| the New York Yankees. This was as memorable | | | | 4. Good coaches do not over-coach by making |
| as a hit because, being a player with little power, | | | | more of a situation than it is. This can be done by |
| hitting a ball deep enough in the outfield was not | | | | staying calm and just telling hitters to "get a good |
| an easy chore for me. | | | | pitch to hit." Coaches should be careful not to |
| Developing young players to be good clutch | | | | change their demeanor or overload players with |
| hitters is one of my goals as a hitting coach. Of | | | | distracting instructional tips, especially during |
| course, the best clutch hitters are generally the | | | | intense game situations. |
| hitters who are the most fundamentally sound | | | | 5. Ask players in practice who wants to be up to |
| with their hitting mechanics. Having good | | | | bat with the game on the line. Most if not all will |
| fundamentals always give players the best chance | | | | say they want to be, even if they are not sure. |
| at success. However, just having good | | | | This "mental preparation" will help players prepare |
| fundamentals does not guarantee a great clutch | | | | for the situation before they are in the actual |
| hitter and all hitters can be taught to become | | | | situation. |
| better in the clutch. I have known many players | | | | 6. Occasionally saying to different players that |
| who have the knack of going 1 for 4 in games | | | | you want them to be the player up to bat with |
| for a.250 batting average, but that one hit always | | | | the game on the line shows your confidence in |
| seemed to be a big hit for the team. Some | | | | the player, which should help the player's |
| players just have a sense of the moment and an | | | | confidence. |
| inner confidence that they are the right person | | | | 7. Coaches should not show disappointment in |
| for the situation. Good clutch hitters are able to | | | | front of players when they do not come through |
| focus on the moment. They do this by focusing | | | | in the clutch, so that players will not shy away |
| on the things they can control, which is simply | | | | from wanting to be up in that same clutch |
| taking a good swing at a good pitch. These clutch | | | | situation the next time. Parents of players should |
| hitters do not over-swing, try to hard or get too | | | | be sure and follow this point also, because kids |
| "up-tight" to perform. | | | | definitely do not want to disappoint their parents. |
| With this in mind, following are coaching tips to | | | | Finally, one thing that I did as a player was to |
| help ballplayers become good clutch hitters: | | | | begin preparing myself for game ending situations. |
| 1. Explain to players what was alluded to above, | | | | When a game was close in score, I would begin |
| that "clutch hitting" involves more than just an RBI | | | | about the sixth or seventh inning to visualize being |
| hit or a game winning hit. For example, just | | | | up in the last inning with the game on the line. This |
| getting on base with a walk or single can be very | | | | was great preparation for the eventual situation |
| "clutch." | | | | where I came to bat with the game in the |
| 2. Put players in known clutch situations in practice | | | | balance. |
| as much as possible. "Two outs, bases loaded, | | | | |