Play Ball Like the Pros

Major League ball players explain the mechanics of how they successfully field, pitch, catch, hit, and more. Who should a young baseball player turn to when he or she wants to know the best way to handle an infield ground ball with players on first and second? How about New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter or Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia? In this inside look at the fundamentals of baseball, author and seasoned sports writer Steven Krasner offers an in-depth...
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Major League ball players explain the mechanics of how they successfully field, pitch, catch, hit, and more.
Who should a young baseball player turn to when he or she wants to know the best way to handle an infield ground ball with players on first and second? How about New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter or Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia? In this inside look at the fundamentals of baseball, author and seasoned sports writer Steven Krasner offers an in-depth interview with a Major League athlete, a glossary of baseball terms, a historical anecdote, and an example of a real-life game situation and the solution for handling it. Best of all, the players share their childhood baseball memories. More than just a how-to guide for playing baseball, Play Ball Like the Pros is an intimate look at how professionals do what they do, and how the struggles and influences of their early years informed their later successes.
Major League Ball Players featured:
PITCHING
Jon Lester, Boston Red Sox-Stretching and Warming Up
CC Sabathia, New York Yankees-The Art of Pitching
Scott Baker, Minnesota Twins-Fielding the Position
CATCHING
Geovany Soto, Chicago Cubs-Throwing Out Base Stealers
Chris Iannetta, Colorado Rockies-Catching Foul Pop-ups
Russell Martin, Los Angeles Dodgers-Blocking Pitches in the Dirt
INFIELD
Mark Teixeira, New York Yankees-First Base
Akinori Iwamura, Tampa Bay Rays-Second Base
Derek Jeter, New York Yankees-Shortstop
Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays-Third Base
Jimmy Rollins, Philadelphia Phillies and Dustin Pedroia, Boston Red Sox-The Double Play
OUTFIELD
Rocco Baldelli, Boston Red Sox-Catching Fly Balls
Jacoby Ellsbury, Boston Red Sox-Outfield Throwing
HITTING
Ian Kinsler, Texas Rangers-Bunting for a Base Hit or a Sacrifice
Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins-Basic Hitting Fundamentals
Ryan Howard, Philadelphia Phillies-The Power Stroke
Jason Bay, Boston Red Sox-The Art of Clutch Hitting
ON THE BASES
Kevin Youkilis, Boston Red Sox-Rundowns
Carl Crawford, Tampa Bay Rays-Running the Bases