samflamont:

Today’s post is a little more authentic as I accepted an assistant coaching position at Central Michigan University last night.  I start on Monday, and I will keep the information coming on here.  Have a great day. 

What are tools: An overview of the five tools coaches look for.

In baseball there are five physical tools, arm strength, speed, fielding, hitting for power, and hitting for average.  As we discussed in the opening chapter coaches will put a different emphasis on each of these tools, and since less than one percent of the baseball population is a five tool player you are going to have to find a program in which your tools fit.  Also, you must understand these tools will carry different weight at different positions and this is when you really get into fitting into a programs scheme.

Speed: If you have been to a camp you know the first thing you do is run the sixty yard dash.  Speed is important to coaches for offensive and defensive purposes.  Speed or the lack there of can make or break a player depending on their other tools and what position they play.  An average sixty time is 7.0

Arm Strength: This tool is rated for both position players and pitchers, and a small side not for pitchers would be endurance along with arm strength.  Endurance is having the ability to work deep into games.  Arm Strength is valued differently at each position as well.  The most important positions on the field for Arm Strength are right field, short stop, third base, catcher, and pitcher.

Defense: This is the ability to field your position and is sometimes projected out.  A coach will evaluate your defense on your feet, hands, arm strength, range, and the ability to make the routine plays.  Just because you catch every ball does not mean you can play shortstop.  You need to be able to throw it across the diamond and you will need the range to reach balls to your left and right.

Hitting for average: Can you put the ball in play and get on base? Even with the recent spike in popularity of the on base percentage coaches still want to know you can make contact and get on base by getting hits.  Coaches do not want a guy who gets on base with walks only, they need players to drive runners in and move runners up.

Hitting for power: Can you drive the ball to the gap and out of the park?  Although you may think it is simply home run power it is not, coaches want to know your overall ability to get extra base hits.