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Relief pitcher Rod Beck dead at 38

Rod Beck was a menacing sight on the mound, with a bushy mustache and a searing stare that intimidated batters throughout his 13-year career as one of baseball’s best closers.

Yet his friends in the game knew Beck as a hardworking teammate and a jovial character whose early death saddened players all around the major leagues.

Beck, an All-Star relief pitcher who earned 286 career saves, was found dead in his home Saturday. He was 38.

Some More Curveball Drills

In order to master the skill of hitting a curveball, it is essential to practice certain curveball drills regularly.

Following are a few curveball drills that are necessary to conquer the great curveball:

#Underhand Lob Drill
The best way of hitting a curveball is to first allow it to come down to you. The underhand lob drill is actually meant to make you practice waiting for the ball to come down to you. Here are some techniques to do this drill:

• The one who tosses is supposed to position himself at least 10-15 feet in front of the hitter. He should be behind a screen.

• Finally, the hitter has to wait for the ball to come down to him. He is supposed to stay inside the ball and drive it up the middle.

#Back Toss Drill
While hitting a breaking ball, it is important to stay inside the ball. The back toss drill will help you to develop the habit of staying inside the ball when hitting. It will also help you to practice the feeling of hesitation that is very much needed to conquer the great curveball.

• The ball should be tossed into the contact zone standing at least 5-6 feet behind the hitter.

• Also, the hitter is supposed to concentrate on hitting the ball right back up the middle.

#Bounce Drill
This drill is important as it reinforces the feeling of hesitation in the hitter. This feeling is very important when hitting a breaking ball.

Here are some techniques to do this drill while seated:

• The one who tosses has to sit at least 15 feet in front of the hitter. He should make sure that he is behind a screen.

• The tosser is then supposed to bounce the ball 4-5 feet in front of the home plate, thereby, allowing the ball to bounce into the strike zone.

This drill can also be done while standing. Here is the way in which you can do it:

• The tosser is required to stand behind a screen, at least 25 feet in front of the hitter.

• Next, the one who tosses has to throw the ball overhand. This helps the ball to bounce about 3-4 feet in front of home plate. This, in turn, will allow the ball to bounce up into the strike zone.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sumit_Bhatnaga

 

 

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