World Baseball Classic

The WBC should not exist. Just because some countries don't play baseball as much as the Americas do, doesn't mean that baseball should have been taken out of the Olympics. The WBC takes place when the players are out of shape and the quality of the game is not as good as it would be if baseball were to be part of the Olympics. The only way to spread the amazing game of baseball to those who don't play is to put it in the Olympics. Baseball is not as big in Europe because there are no games to watch in Europe. I think that if the Olympics included baseball, interest in baseball would continue to grow in Europe. Just as American football is spreading to Europe, baseball needs to do the same thing. The MLB needs to start playing several games in Europe like football does. That is the only way to spread the game of baseball to Europe and the rest of Asia.

Hitting Styles

Hitting is a largely comfort driven action. If you are starting in an uncomfortable position, you will not be able to swing the bat as fast with the correct swing path. I believe that a hitter could start in any stance they want as long as they get to the right load position when the pitch is coming. The correct load position is hands in a comfortable position above the shoulder with the bat pointed almost straight up. Feet are just beyond shoulder width apart, the front heel is off the ground with the ball of the foot down. The weight is spread about 60-40 front foot to back foot. The back elbow has to be in a comfortable position, not straight down and definitely not up, but somewhere in between. Another debatable topic is the point of contact. It varies from coach to coach. I have had people tell me to hit the ball as deep as I can and others tell me to hit the ball as far in front as I can without losing balance. I think contact should be with an almost straight front elbow and a back elbow bent just past 90 degrees. And after contact the arms should straighten out allowing maximum time in contact with the baseball. During the swing, I have felt it easiest to stay inside the ball to lead the start of the swing with the front elbow bent until the point of contact. This ensures that your hands are inside the baseball until you throw your hands to the point of contact. I love hearing about new drills to do. After my career is over I want to coach

Steroids

Steroids in baseball is a serious issue. My take is that steroids should obviously be illegal, but no one knows if anyone took roids back when there was no testing. If there is no way to know if anyone did or did not take roids, then I think that steroids should not be looked down on but should be punished. The test results should remain anonymous but the players should be severely punished for tainting America's pasttime. A-Rod for example. He is already the most hated player in baseball simply because he plays for the Yankees and is a huge asshole. His test was supposedly anonymous but it got leaked. He did not need the distraction of the media also attacking him for his roid use. Playing baseball is hard enough without distractions from off the field effecting how the game is played. I love baseball, I play baseball, but I would never take steroids because taking them is an insult to the game. However, taking roids will not give someone a better swing, or better sight at the plate, or make anyone a smarter pitcher. All roids do is make someone stronger and shorten their career. Roids only make someone stronger. Being stronger may only help to hit farther, throw harder, and run faster. But roids will not make anyone a better hitter. It takes finesse to hit. You don't hit with any part of your body flexed. Hitters need to be free and loose with their body in order to have it react faster. I would love to hear anyone else's opinion because I will prove you wrong.