Boston RED SOX MLB Baseball Lawn Garden GNOME New Gift

Boston Red Sox MLB Lawn Garden Gnome New Gift. This adorable garden gnome measures 11 ¼ x 4 x 5. He is decorated in Boston Red Sox colors and wears the Red Sox logo on his hat. Will look great in your garden or just for decoration! An excellent way to show support for your favorite team! A wonderful gift for Red Sox fans!

Last week was rough. That's all I can say. If you started Andre Davis, he rallied for ya late in the game for a touchdown. Jackson and Leonard forgot to show up.

Lookin' at the wire this week there isn't much out there. Let's see if I can still find something for you to use in a big bye week.

Ike Hilliard - WR Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The best thing that happened to the Bucs offense this week is the Jags losing David Garrard. Without Garrard Jacksonville will have a tough time moving the football and that will give Garcia plenty of snaps to work with. Hilliard has been playing well the last couple of games and I look for that to continue this week. If you need a receiver for a one week gap stop, go with Ike.

Reuben Droughns - RB New York Giants

If you've been riding the Kenny Watson bandwagon, this is your stop. Watson will have a tough day against Pittsburgh. Reuben on the other hand should see some touches later in the game as the Giants put the boots to the Dolphins. Miami's run defense is horrible without Zach Thomas in the line-up. Look for New York to go up quick and then lean on the run game for the closer. Not a lot of yards here but maybe a score.

Trent Edwards - QB Buffalo Bills

If Brian Griese is on your waiver wire, pick him up and start him. He's not available in most of my leagues though so I'm looking elsewhere. Trent Edwards has a favorable match-up today against the Jets. I think Marshawn Lynch will have a huge day but I also look for Lee Evans to find the end zone. That's a good thing if you start Trent.

This weeks IDP league waiver wire steal.

Morlon Greenwood - LB Houston Texans

His stats so far are solid (42 tackles), and with Demeco Ryans banged up he should be even more of a factor. He's a solid one week play against the Chargers.

Tim Campbell writes for the Steeler Maniacs fansite at http://www.SteelerManiacs.com

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2007 Topps Baseball Factory HOLIDAY Complete Set - 661 Cards!!

Contains every base card from series 1 and 2. Features an individually wrapped pack of 5 Hobby exclusive rookie cards in every Hobby Factory Set. ships 10-22-07
Customer Review: 2007 baseball cards
Nice set with some nice inserts. Much nicer than than whatthe 2008 cards look like ( a circus poster).

During the summer, the number of business networking events tends to diminish. In fact, the organizations that do have events usually just put on social gatherings. With fewer options during the summer, you need to create your own networking opportunities. Take advantage of playing and attending sports with other professionals. This is an excellent way to build relationships.

Spend Time Golfing

Golfing is a great way to get to know people outside the office. If you don't golf, it may be worth taking the time to learn the game. You will find that a lot people in the business world know how to golf. Many organizations put on golf outings throughout the summer. Take advantage of these opportunities because they are fun and it's a good environment to get to know your peers and meet some new people.

Other than formalized golf outings, invite people to golf with you throughout the summer. If you usually golf with the same group of people each time, make a point to mix it up and invite new contacts throughout the season. By inviting new people to golf with you, you will be able to further develop these relationships. At the same time, you may end up talking business during golf, which can actually be a benefit because you are in a more relaxing environment.

Spend Time at the Baseball Park

If you are lucky enough to live in a city that has a professional baseball team, make an effort to attend a few games throughout the season. Even if you're not baseball fan, it's still a fun and social activity.

Some organizations plan events around baseball games whether it's to watch it at the park or on television in a bar. People gravitate to each other around sporting events. Even if you don't want to watch the game, consider the gathering an opportunity to get to know people. If you don't attend any games with an organization, take the time to attend some games not only with some friends but also with some business colleagues. Buy some tickets and invite various people throughout the season.

People will appreciate your invitation and will usually reciprocate the gesture. If you get invited, make an effort to attend those games. Your relationships will only get stronger the more times you interact with people.

Spend Time Watching Basketball

Now that the NBA finals are over, the WNBA is still happening during the summer. If your city is fortunate enough to have a professional women's basketball team, consider attending several games with some of your business contacts. Just like baseball games, basketball games are also a great way to have fun. It doesn't matter if you're a fan of the team or sport because your main reason for attending with colleagues is to build relationships.

Buy some tickets and start inviting people to games. People will always appreciate the gesture.

Get Involved With Community Sports Leagues

In addition to golfing or watching team sports with others, you can join a sports league. This will allow you to play team sports with various people in your community. For example, you could play volleyball, basketball, softball, soccer or tennis.

Most of these leagues are co-ed and are designed for you to meet new people and generate friendships. The great concept about these leagues is that you meet on a regular basis so you are guaranteed to build some new relationships. Also, many of these groups organize social events for their members. This is another great way to build your relationships beyond the field. Get involved with these leagues by helping organize teams and social events. Your involvement will allow you to meet some additional people.

A very popular club in Chicago is the Chicago Sport & Social Club, which organizes a dozen adult recreational sports leagues as well as a variety of monthly social events.

Final Thought

Take your relationships to a new level by not only attending sporting events but also by playing sports together. Summer is about having fun. Make fun a part of your networking as well.

Jason Jacobsohn is a seasoned networker who believes in relationship building as a key component to business success. He enjoys helping others succeed by making introductions, planning events, and sharing resources. In addition, Jacobsohn enthusiastically shares resources with his network through his e-mail newsletter, "Network Your Way to Success," and http://www.jacobsohn.com, a comprehensive business and networking resources Web site.

Further, he shares an additional perspective through his blog at http://www.networkinginsight.com

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Baseball Drapery Rod Set - 28-48"

There are numerous hitting methods and styles that exist for baseball. They all claim the same thing: that they are the best; whos right and whos wrong? They all can work depending on the ability of the individual.

Individual style from how you lace your cleats to the position of your hat and the 400 or so moving parts in between all add up to one result smacking a round ball with a round bat in the sweet spot of both while getting down the baseline as fast as possible.

Different approaches, stances and swing, wrist speed etc. See what works and doesnt work for you. The consensus is that there are 7 common traits shared among great hitters, no matter what hitting method is used.

1. Comfort What is there or worry about?

Relax, the guy 45 or more feet away is gonna throw a ball at you. You have seen it before, you will see it again. So what if you take one for the team, stay in there and drive it right back at the person who threw it at you. The batter is really in control of the outcome. How many times have you seen players hit the ball when its over their head, way inside or even bouncing off the plate. Calm down, you can put the bat on the ball whenever YOU decide.

2. Confidence Dont let your mind strike you out before you begin.

If you are convinced you can hit the ball, whats to stop you? Believe in yourself and let it happen. Be mindful of the count, when you are ahead, look for the good ones, when behind, smack it! If you leave it up to the Umpire to see it the way you do, chances are youll be walking back to the dug out. You have tons of time at the batting cages and practice, you can HIT IT!

3. See the Ball

Watch the pitcher, does he release the ball from over his head, off to the side, under hand? The key is the ball is in his hand and the release point will be within fractions of an each on each pitch. So, if it always starts in the same place, how does it get all over? Simple, its variation in the motions it takes to get to the release point. But get over all that, when you see where it starts, you can determine where its going and your bat will follow your eyes instructions.

4. The Twitch

Your reaction to the ball being released is the twitch, the quicker your twitch, the longer you can watch the ball. If your twitch is slower, start it sooner. I have seen batters wait for half the distance before they start their swing, I have seen others begin their step as soon as the pitcher leaves their balance point.

5. Core Power

It really begins with the feet, then torso then hands. But you need to have all three work in rhythm. Power is transferred form the feet to the torso which multiplies the power by expanding the circle and creating speed, which is then transferred into the hands. If any part over-powers the following, you loose the build up of momentum. Work on getting all three to work together.

6. Swing

Keep it short and sweet! You are closer to the plate than you think, so keep the hands inside and let the bat do the work. Step, turn the hips while keeping your hands back, power is loaded and transferred through the core, whamo.. let it all out at once! DO NOT BE TIMID ABOUT SWINGING AT THE BALL! Swing, Swing, Swing! Remember #2, believe in yourself, you can hit anything! And it does not matter how well it is driven each time, the point of the matter is putting the bat on the ball ::: PERIOD::::

7. Balance You cant hit well from the ground

There cannot be enough said about balance. It allows you to see the ball, transfer power to the ball and get out of the box. The quickest way to learn is hitting soft toss from a teeter board, if you can do it there, there is no question you can do it from the dirt. Learn to swing through the ball with the bat, not your whole body. If your body follows your arms you are taking away from the power sent up from your legs. Bring the bat around and keep your feet.

So what does it all add up to?

You will hit the ball the way your body, skill and ability sees best for you to assemble your 400 or so moving parts. Work on the elements of hitting on their own. And remember, batting practice is just that, batting practice! Plan your practice accordingly, some time on each of the pieces, then more time putting it all together. Dont try to do both at the same time, its a sure recipe for frustration. To commit good habits to muscle memory, do your conditioning first, get the muscles nice and tired; this is the moment you must make every effort to do motions correctly. If your lazy about the particulars when you are tired, it will come out at the game. You want to train yourself and your body to react quickly and correctly. Only perfect practice can make perfect (to quote from Cal Ripken Sr.)

Mr. Dowdy is the father of 3 and after re-entering competitive baseball with his oldest that lead to frustration of finding suitable glove, he became an Official Distributor for Kelley Athletic which is available at http://NW.kelleyusa.com You can also visit http://www.hirschgroupllc.com for more news/tips/articles on the subjects of baseball, construction, building codes and more that most will find a quick way to fall asleep. Thanks for reading my article!

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Do You Know How to Choose Batting Helmets?

Once upon a time baseball was a game of wooden bats and grass stained jeans on a carefree summer afternoon. However, today the bats are high-tech, almost like metal weapons and the players seem to be ready for battle instead of a game. Of course safety is the number one concern for all sports and baseball is no different. First and foremost you should be aware of the NOCSAE (National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment) as they have been a driving force in an effort to improve athletic equipment and reduce injuries. How to choose batting helmets is only a small portion of their guidelines.

When you learn how to choose batting helmets you will realize that paying for top of the line baseball helmets are worth every single cent that is spent on them. This is an even more important when you are talking about regular baseball (fast pitch). Keep in mind that polyethylene type shells (as well as a strong polycarbonate) are guaranteed to resist an impact even from a line drive or even fastballs. However, baseball helmet manufacturers do deny responsibility for an injury that was caused by using the equipment improperly, which is something that happens all too frequently.

The reason that these injuries occur, most often with youngsters it is because they feel their helmets are uncomfortable or clumsy. Knowing how to choose batting helmets is vital to the player's safety. When a helmet does not fit well there is a chance that the players view may become obstructed and this may result in a player not being able to see quickly enough and is not able to get out of the way if, for example, the ball gets away from the pitcher or even the catcher. This is something that can happen in any league all the way from little league up to the pros, there is no boundary when talking about wild pitches or throws.

How to choose batting helmets is a top priority for everyone's safety. There are some areas of well-built batting helmets that you should always be aware of and one of those must-haves is a padded (with foam) interior that acts like a shield of the head, keeping it away from the outer shell. Another important feature is to be sure there is some type of rear adjustable strap that will help the helmet fit looser or tighter (whichever is needed). They are not on the older model helmets much but they have been known to crop among the newer ones.

Knowing how to choose batting helmets involves another important feature which is to make sure that the helmet has some type of ventilation at the ear holes or on the top, actually having it in both places works best. This actually helps get kids used to keeping their helmets on. Not just when they are batting but also if they are on deck or even on a base.

And finally, when learning how to choose batting helmets it is advisable to get one that also has a chinstrap. Obviously this is to help keep the helmet on the head instead of flying off after some type of impact, which of course then lessens the chance of an injury.

Rick Grantham is the owner of the site BooYah Village He has written numerous articles on sporting goods, sporting tips, and fan gear.

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What Makes A Great Radio Baseball Broadcaster?

I consider myself a very fortunate human being. Over the course of the first fifteen years of my life I learned most of my professional baseball knowledge over the radio. Being a Philadelphia Phillies fan, I was lucky to have grown up listening to two of the best broadcasters in the game in Harry Kalas and Richie Ashburn.

I've also had the opportunity to hear the voices of Harry Caray, Vin Scully, Jack Buck and Bob Uecker. Recently, through the beauty of satellite radio, I've been able to pick up every major league broadcast on my XM radio.

What do the great radio broadcasters do better than everyone else? Well, there are a few things that separate them from the pack and I'd like to share them with you now.

A. Dead Air

"The pitch to Gonzalez is downstairs for a ball." This type of statement is made constantly throughout the course of a nine inning baseball game. It is quite innocent in and of itself, but it's what comes after these words that makes the difference.

Your great broadcasters will often fill this time by not saying anything. This is a key element to their success. They understand that they do not have to talk incessantly about what is on their stat sheet or their personal opinions. On the contrary, they allow the listener to hear the crowd, visualize the scene and anticipate the next pitch.

B. When these folks do talk, it's generally to update you on the game

"We're in the bottom of the fifth inning, with one out and the Cubs are leading the Phillies 5-3." Now if you are a Phillies or Cubs fan and you've just recently turned the radio on, you're thankful for a sentence such as this. It gives you an opportunity to instantly become up to date with the game.

A few years ago I remember listening to a broadcaster, whose name I don't recall, state that he used to place an hourglass right beside him in the booth. Why did he do this? Well, he did so because every time the hourglass emptied it reminded him to update his listeners with the inning and the score.

I've listened to more than my fair share of baseball games where the announcers spent more time telling stories than discussing the game. It is extremely frustrating to hear about family lives, old time stories and birthday celebrations, when all you really want to do is listen to a ballgame.

C. They love their teams, without over dramatizing everything

"Longggggggg Drive deep left field, outta here homerun Mike Schmidt", "Oh Brother", "Harry, I don't believe what I just saw."

As I reflect back on the memories of my childhood, these are some of the emotional phrases that come to mind. Harry and Richie gave them to me and I'll never forget them. But I often wonder how important these phrases would have been to me if they had been part of the everyday broadcasts.

You see, Harry and Richie saved their most dramatic statements for the right moments. They knew the game well enough to know when something extremely important had happened that needed to be recognized with an emotional voice. Unfortunately, not all sports announcers have this same sense, just spend a few minutes listening to Brent Musburger on radio or television and you'll know what I mean.

The great announcers love their teams. You can hear it in their voices when things go right and when things go wrong. Yet, their emotion does not ruin the integrity of the broadcast. As a matter of fact, it endears them to the hometown fan who comes to anticipate that dramatic ninth inning base hit/strikeout call that tells them that their squad has emerged victorious.

Hey, the next time you listen to a baseball game pay attention to these three elements. I guarantee that without the silence, updates and emotion, your experience will be anything but entertaining.

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Demarini A0950 VD133 13 1/3" Hex Web All Posisitons Baseball Glove

Customer Review: Great price Great Quality
My Wife purchased this item for me for my birthday. I can't wait to actually use it during the season, but from the time I received it until the time I officially broke it in, this glove is the best one I've had. For Baseball/Softball,As some may not no is made by Wilson, who is affiliated with Demarini. Deep pockets, great secure fit around your hand, requires some breaking in, but most good gloves do. Works great with the Wilson Pro stock glove conditioner for softer leather and quicker break in. It is big, so if your not an outfielder you may want to look for another size. This glove is a great buy for the quality and style of the glove, I'm certain it's one of the better gloves out there. Highly recommended.

Have you ever heard of John Dowd? I discovered who he is this past weekend when my son brought home a new baseball video game. Ordinarily, I figured my son and I could spend a few lazy summer hours bonding, talking about baseball and the reasons why my Angels are better than his Diamondbacks. This particular day featured a game on the video screen between my son's Diamondbacks and the San Francisco Giants. The Giants lineup featured a clean-up hitter named John Dowd. He was a hulking figure who hit and threw lefty and played left field. I shook my head and chortled heavily when I first saw this image. Then I proceeded to explain to my son that Barry Bonds doesn't allow his likeness to be used in video games like this one. The reason escapes me. Perhaps Mr. Bonds isn't getting paid, or perhaps he feels this particular game is beneath him, but in any case I had to explain to a 14-year-old that John Dowd is, in fact, Barry Bonds. My son's gut reaction was, "How stupid!" It's unfortunate that in a simple video game like this, we fans yet again are reminded about baseball's greatest monster. Does it seem like Karma should be giving Mr. Bonds a serious kick in the pants?

Then, I got to thinking about this situation. Mr. Bonds must be one miserable human being. How else would you explain John Dowd? Every kid in the country who plays baseball would love having his name in a video game as a tribute to his talent. It's easy to see that Mr. Bonds has a serious image problem. It's not just the John Dowd thing though. As some people watch with awe as he approaches one of baseball's most hallowed records, I wonder how many people will miss the telecast thinking he is off that day for "rest". Good grief. Could you imagine Cal Ripken taking a day off for "rest"? Any of the old school baseball players that we remember from our youth must laugh at this idea. I won't even mention the legal issues, the fights with past managers, or the stories of his treatment of people in his own locker room. But, in regard to my feeling about Mr. Bonds breaking the big homerun record, all I can say is that Cal Ripken and his record was better. Nolan Ryan and his seventh no-hitter was better. Seeing the Angels win the World Series was better. Even Craig Biggio and his 3000th hit was better.

Do you get the feeling Mr. Bonds would love to retire at 754 homeruns just to cheese off baseball fans who have waited this long to see the record finally broken?

I don't hate Mr. Bonds because that would imply that I care about him. I feel sorry for him above everything else. I feel sorry for him because this should be the happiest moment in his life. He is about to eclipse a great record, yet it will always have an asterisk. He is set to retire and ride off into the proverbial sunset, yet he may have to answer federal charges soon. He's got no reason to smile. As a son of affluence, he can't even give back to his community. When it is all said and done, Barry Bonds is not likely to have any fond memories to look back on either. He'll have no championships, a tainted record, and hatred from the vast majority of baseball fans. I feel sorry for him. He has reached the point where he is hanging on like an aging hipster who doesn't know when to put away the bell-bottoms for good.

Why do people hate Mr. Bonds so much? Simple answer is that he owes us. We made him great. Without us fans, Barry Bonds would be just another flabby office worker who hits cleanup for his church league softball team. He doesn't deserve to be the one to break the record. There is something unnerving about this whole scene to us baseball fans. It feels like Karma messed up somewhere in a big way. Short of meeting Hitler in Heaven, there is little else we mortals could experience that could come close to watching this home run event transpire. As a result, I protest Barry Bonds in the only way I know how. When he shows up on my TV, I change the channel. Period. No questions asked. His record is meaningless to me, and the reason is because my devotion as a fan seems meaningless to him. When the big homerun is about to be hit, I hope to be watching John Dowd strike out in a video game. When Barry Bonds refuses to give a press conference after the big blast, I promise to not give a rap about the reason why. Barry Bonds will never be more than a footnote in my book of baseball history. Yeah, he'll have records, but it's only a matter of time until they'll be broken. Yeah, he'll be the homerun king, but he can't and won't affect me.

We fans should measure athletes by their ability to give us what we can't get ourselves, like that elusive dream of sports glory. We should measure them as an ideal of how we would play if we had the chance. We should measure the greatness by intangibles, like the one player who has that X-factor which can heroically bring our team a championship. Hmmm. Championship. You know Barry Bonds has none. And you know, I don't think too many kids dream of having the glory of a day of rest when his team needs a win. And I got my dream to come true when the Angels finally won the series in 2002, beating the Giants. Hmmm. Maybe Karma knows what it is doing.

Kevin Francis is an author and sports fan. He has published the novel "Autograph", and his books on sports can be found by visiting http://www.ithinkimgoingbald.com

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The Rookie [Blu-ray]

The studio that brought you REMEMBER THE TITANS presents another unforgettable film based on a true story. Dennis Quaid stars in THE ROOKIE -- now more triumphant than ever on Blu-ray Disc(R). High school coach Jim Morris (Dennis Quaid) thought his dream was over. He'd had his shot playing baseball blew out his shoulder and retired without ever reaching the big leagues. Then in 1999 he made a bet with his perpetually losing team: If they won the district championship Morris -- who threw a 98 mph fastball -- would try out for the majors. The team went from worst to first and Jim was soon on the road to becoming the oldest rookie in the major leagues! Feel the sun on your face as you savor the view from the pitcher's mound in the breathtaking clarity of high definition. Thrill to the thunderous roar of the crowd with spectacularly enhanced audio quality. Everyone will cheer as they experience this inspiring story in Blu-ray™ High Definition!System Requirements:Running Time: 127 Mins.Format: BLU-RAY DISC Genre: DRAMA/FAMILY LIFE Rating: G UPC: 786936749786 Manufacturer No: 05594000
Customer Review: The Rookie...
An excellent family movie. It doesn't get any better than this as far as family movies go. No foul language and NO nudity. It is a drama that is fun to watch as a family stuggles to deal with the father's sudden thrust into the limelight of an aged baseball player. One man's dream of being in the major leagues comes true....
Customer Review: Soooooo slow, it's painful
Oh my God, if this movie was any slower, it'd take a month to watch. They went a little nutso with the musical score, too. But what really irks me is why they used a Scot, Brian Denis, to play Morris' father. You might remember Denis as the milky-eyed uncle of William Wallace in Braveheart ("You've got the look of your mother." "learn to use this, it'll teach you to use this.")and as the alcoholic father of Daphne Moon in "Frasier." They couldn't find, out of 158 million American males, an American to play an Amercian in a baseball film, set, guess where, in American? I guess Chow Young Phat was too busy to accept the role. Why not have Charo play his American mom? Shame on Diznee. Muy malo pelicula.

The teachings of baseball instruction and baseball strength training before the 1920s were crucial in the beginning years of America's pastime. In a time when homeruns were not nearly as popular as they have been in the last ten years, the "dead ball" era was a time of brilliant coaches using chess type baseball strategies and specific strength training. Before the emergence of Babe Ruth, hit and run plays, sacrifice flies, bunts, and stolen bases ruled the game of baseball.

Baseball strength training was of major importance for the game. Keep in mind this was a day and age when you could turn that chopper to the second basemen into a single with the utilization of speed. Why? During this time the technology had not evolved yet and baseball gloves did not make it as easy to field a play as in the game today. This gave runners with a good baseball strength training more opportunities of running it out for a single and it was evident around 1910 when batting averages were inflating around the league.

Players like Ty Cobb, even though not well liked by both players and fans because of his dirty play, was the epitome of a player with speed during this era. In consecutive years, Cobb's batting averages were .420 and .410, leaving the infamous "Shoeless" Joe Jackson with a .408 average as the only other player during the "dead ball" era to hit a .400 batting average or better besides Ty Cobb. Many fans loved the new thrust in hits due to the new structured baseballs each league was provided. Baseball training has taken a different shape too.

Of course, when the batters are happy, the pitchers are not, simply because their earned run averages skyrocketed as batting averages did at the same time. Discussions, such as scuffed balls and using the same ball for the majority of the game, was common in those days, which is partially why it is hard to determine who are the best players at each position. Different rules for different times continue leaving us to wonder what might have been had players of today played in the early 1900s or vice versa.

After scoring started declining again from 1914-1919, the game actually suffered the chance of falling into a tailspin as World War I, for the United States, brought many players to war. With the Influenza Epidemic, during that time, around the world caused great concern for the game and thus the "dead ball" era was gone. What once was a game full of baseball strength training attributes and great baseball instruction from coaches turned into a homerun love fest.

Within the next decade, the baseball world would dream about playing the game as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Jimmie Foxx did hitting homeruns galore and becoming icons of the game. The baseball world got it right, turning the game into a scoring fest as the world fell apart around it. It makes you wonder where players like Babe Ruth would have ended up on the all time homerun list had he spent his entire career playing in between 1903 and 1919 when the "dead ball" era was king.

Discover more about modern Baseball Training on baseballtrainingsecrets.com

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DeMarini Vexxum (-13.5) Baseball Bat - 2008 Model

DeMARINI Vexxum Comp/Alloy Baseball Bats feature:

SC3 high-performance alloy barrel for enhanced performance and durability

Half & Half Technology for increased power and speed

Thickness tuning creates a large and hot sweetspot

Delivers greater ball velocity on off-center hits, helping players hit consistently longer bombs

Variwall Construction adjusts wall thickness along the barrel

Carbon reinforced composite handle

Handle kick-point is high, providing the optimal flex to maximize transfer of energy

Longbarrel profile is optimized for players who prefer a balanced feel for maximum bat speed and comfort

Positack2 grip for enhanced comfort and friction

12 Month Limited Warranty

Customer Review: DeMarini Vexxum (-13.5) Youth Baseball Bat (31'/17.5oz)
I was very pleased with the price and delivery. My son has been using the bat for about 3 weeks and loves it. Very light and solid.

Hello Coaches,

To be successful as a baseball team must be strong up the middle. Up the middle consist of catcher pitcher, second base, shortstop, and center fielder. The majority of hit baseballs will find their way into this section of the field, so it makes sense to put your best fielders, your best athletes in these positions.

Steal attempts of second base, double plays, force outs, and hits up the middle can all be addressed by these players. A take charge, tough catcher who captains the defense is a perfect fit. The good catcher will help inspire and motivate other players to give their best effort.

Your catchers are your team's emotional leaders through example. They should handle defense alignments, call pitches, and keep the team focused.

Something as simple as a passed ball can change the complexion of a game. A recent game that my son's team lost by a run, showed that the winning team did not have a passed ball for six innings. This happened with runners on third three of the last four innings. By comparison, my son's team had four passed balls, two leading to runs scoring. For passed balls on 98 pitches is still pretty good, but in this game not good enough.

Whenever your catcher's keep passed balls to an absolute minimum, your defense automatically improves. Passed balls and walked are far too costly and should not be a routine part of your game. Our section on catching will start with the basics, movie into more advanced techniques, along with drills that will improve this vital position on your team.

Tightening the defense begins at catcher, by keeping runners in force out positions along with preserving chances for double plays. Improving footwork, blocking and throwing mechanics will also increase the number of runners thrown out on the bases.

Bunting will not be as big of a weapon to be used against your team, when opposing teams know that your catcher knows how to defense bunts. Learning what side of the base to throw to on bunts, and dropped third strike is part of the detail that a good catcher will know.

Catchers who understand the basics of calling pitches will also save your team runs, along with wear and tear on pitcher's arms. Catchers who want the off speed pitch in the dirt with two strikes, and runners on second and third base, are what great teams possess. Right now, begin the process of making your catcher the backbone of a solid defense up the middle.

Here's the scenario. Your team is in a very close game against a superior team. You then witness your to run lead vanish as a 2 out 2 strike passed ball allowed runners to move up to second to and the third base and score on a little flair hit to right field.

This may bring back bad memories of a leaky defense losing close baseball games. I don't mean to pick got catchers because they are the warriors of baseball, who should be treated with the utmost respect.

Catchers must be the leaders of any good baseball team. At 8 or 9 year old leagues, this may not be possible, although it is never too early to find your next catcher. Everyone looks to the catcher in tough situations to set defenses, call pitches, and push his fellow players to excel. Instruct your catchers to give signs properly. Show them how hold signs up high, to make it tougher for teams to steal them.

Catchers must give science slowly and in a fashion that the pitcher can see clearly. Pitch location must not be given away until the pitcher goes into the windup or starts his motion. Small details like moving slightly to your back side on of fastball down the pike are usually overlooked moving in catching an offline pitch to the glove side is easier than to your back hand side. Keep your glove down and the targets of unless the pitch is called to be up. This should always be stressed. It is easier to get away with pitches too much over the plate when they are down in the zone.

When your catcher moves to the ball quickly and catches it like it was thrown to a spot, your chances of getting a borderline call will increase. If it appears the catcher is reaching for pitches, it will look like your pitcher doesn't have command, and will not get those borderline calls.

Please do not encourage a lot of framing of pitches, although it can be done. There are a few details to framing pitches that we will cover later.

The pitcher can help himself, his team, and his catcher, by getting ahead in the count. Off speed pitches and set up this can actually be off the plate to two or 3 in. when you are ahead in the count. The pitcher can then throw a pitch in the dirt with confidence and the catcher will be ready for it.

When pitching behind in the count, the setup must be on the plate, because we cannot fall farther behind, and we cannot throw the ball in the dirt on purpose.

Balls in the dirt really determine who wants to be a catcher and who does not . Catchers must be mentally intense and ready for the entire game to block balls in the dirt be effectively. Young catchers often try to catch balls in the dirt with their glove. This is a hit and miss situation. It looks great when you catch it, and it looks bad when you don't. It takes practice to convince youngsters to drop down to their knees right away without standing up in order to block a pitch.

Developing a good catcher will not happen in one practice. Constant praise attention must be given to any new candidates who tryout for this important spot. Make you are a positive role model to your catchers, with plenty of support and proper instruction. Get professional instruction if you are not sure. Thanks Coach Chip

Hello My name is Chip Lemin. I'm a long time youth baseball coach who loves to promote this great game of youth baseball. Promoting sportsmanship in this game of youth baseball is something that is greatly needed. I have a free e-course that will give you some solid coaching information along with great help on the inter-personal relationships we must have to be good youth baseball coaches.

Things such as parents, travel baseball, getting parents to help out, how to communicate better to parents and players, just to touch on a few. This course will help to organize practices like an elite coach. How to motivate players and other coaches with your positive attitude. It really is not very hard to be a great coach when you know what to do. Best of all you will learn how to have fun with these great kids that you have the privilege of coaching. Do yourself a favor and check it out, it's free,you will get 1 part every couple of days in your e-mail. Coaching can be fun and rewarding if you have a plan in place first, and you have an idea what you are doing.

http://www.baseballecourse.com

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2006 Topps St. Louis Cardinals Baseball Cards Complete Team Set (24 cards) - Includes Albert Pujols, Scott Rolen, and more!

Set Includes: Albert Pujols, Larry Bigbie, Deivi Cruz, Julian Tavarez, Larry Walker, So Taguchi, Jeff Suppan, Jason Marquis, David Eckstein, Jim Edmonds-Gold Glove Award, Chris Carpenter-Cy Young Award, Albert Pujols-MVP, Tony LaRussa, Anthony Reyes RC, Scott Rolen, Jim Edmonds, Chris Carpenter, Jason Isringhausen, Mark Mulder, Sidney Ponson, Brad Thompson, John Rodriguez, Yadier Molina and Team card

Have you ever noticed a lot of the top athletes in other sports are very good golfers. Quarterbacks in football are good golfers. Case in point: Tony Romo, who is the quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys is a very good golfer. He missed qualifying for the U.S. Open and the Byron Nelson golf tournaments by only a couple of strokes. Pitchers in baseball are very good golfers as well. Another case in point: Rollie Fingers, who is a retired pitcher qualified for next year's Senior Tour.

The reason athletes in other sports are good golfers is because the golf swing, when executed properly, is a natural athletic move. What is a natural athletic move? A quarterback throwing a football, a pitcher throwing a baseball, hitting a baseball, a forehand in tennis, and a hockey player shooting a puck are all natural athletic moves. The golf swing shouldn't be any different. The problem that most middle and high handicapped golfers have is trying to make a "golf swing" instead of a natural athletic move which other athletes make in their sports.

Try this image and feeling out next time you practice or play. You can even practice this in your garage or yard without hitting balls. Do you remember skipping stones across the lake when you were a kid? How about throwing a ball side arm? Go ahead, get up right now and mimic one of those motions. Did you notice anything resembling a golf swing...? If you made a natural motion of skipping a stone or throwing a ball, you made a motion of a correct golf swing. You also made a natural athletic move.

Full-time golf instructor and coach with The First Tee in Nashville, Tennessee.For more information go to golfswingconnection.com

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Boston Red Sox Fiber Reactive Pool/Beach/Bath Towel (Team Color)

Beach Towels 30x60, cotton, with fiber reactive prints.

During the summer, the number of business networking events tends to diminish. In fact, the organizations that do have events usually just put on social gatherings. With fewer options during the summer, you need to create your own networking opportunities. Take advantage of playing and attending sports with other professionals. This is an excellent way to build relationships.

Spend Time Golfing

Golfing is a great way to get to know people outside the office. If you don't golf, it may be worth taking the time to learn the game. You will find that a lot people in the business world know how to golf. Many organizations put on golf outings throughout the summer. Take advantage of these opportunities because they are fun and it's a good environment to get to know your peers and meet some new people.

Other than formalized golf outings, invite people to golf with you throughout the summer. If you usually golf with the same group of people each time, make a point to mix it up and invite new contacts throughout the season. By inviting new people to golf with you, you will be able to further develop these relationships. At the same time, you may end up talking business during golf, which can actually be a benefit because you are in a more relaxing environment.

Spend Time at the Baseball Park

If you are lucky enough to live in a city that has a professional baseball team, make an effort to attend a few games throughout the season. Even if you're not baseball fan, it's still a fun and social activity.

Some organizations plan events around baseball games whether it's to watch it at the park or on television in a bar. People gravitate to each other around sporting events. Even if you don't want to watch the game, consider the gathering an opportunity to get to know people. If you don't attend any games with an organization, take the time to attend some games not only with some friends but also with some business colleagues. Buy some tickets and invite various people throughout the season.

People will appreciate your invitation and will usually reciprocate the gesture. If you get invited, make an effort to attend those games. Your relationships will only get stronger the more times you interact with people.

Spend Time Watching Basketball

Now that the NBA finals are over, the WNBA is still happening during the summer. If your city is fortunate enough to have a professional women's basketball team, consider attending several games with some of your business contacts. Just like baseball games, basketball games are also a great way to have fun. It doesn't matter if you're a fan of the team or sport because your main reason for attending with colleagues is to build relationships.

Buy some tickets and start inviting people to games. People will always appreciate the gesture.

Get Involved With Community Sports Leagues

In addition to golfing or watching team sports with others, you can join a sports league. This will allow you to play team sports with various people in your community. For example, you could play volleyball, basketball, softball, soccer or tennis.

Most of these leagues are co-ed and are designed for you to meet new people and generate friendships. The great concept about these leagues is that you meet on a regular basis so you are guaranteed to build some new relationships. Also, many of these groups organize social events for their members. This is another great way to build your relationships beyond the field. Get involved with these leagues by helping organize teams and social events. Your involvement will allow you to meet some additional people.

A very popular club in Chicago is the Chicago Sport & Social Club, which organizes a dozen adult recreational sports leagues as well as a variety of monthly social events.

Final Thought

Take your relationships to a new level by not only attending sporting events but also by playing sports together. Summer is about having fun. Make fun a part of your networking as well.

Jason Jacobsohn is a seasoned networker who believes in relationship building as a key component to business success. He enjoys helping others succeed by making introductions, planning events, and sharing resources. In addition, Jacobsohn enthusiastically shares resources with his network through his e-mail newsletter, "Network Your Way to Success," and http://www.jacobsohn.com, a comprehensive business and networking resources Web site.

Further, he shares an additional perspective through his blog at http://www.networkinginsight.com

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Big League Chew Sour Apple 12 Pack Box

As a Boston Red Sox fan it pains me to see Warren Buffet advising A-Rod how to negotiate his contract with the New Your Yankees. Buffet is an interesting fellow. He has a long history of giving financial advice to celebrities. You wouldn't necessarily connect the two; Warren Buffet with celebrities.

After all, Buffet is almost the prototypical millionaire next door; or in his case the billionaire next door. He is very conservative, drives his own American made car and still lives in the home he purchased over 40 years ago. He's already informed his children and grandchildren not to expect any significant inheritance from him and he holds steadfast to the idea that if an investment isn't backed by a hard asset then it isn't worth investing in.

So why does Warren Buffet get involved with advising celebrities? After all he has advised A-Rod and Arnold Schwarzenegger. He (Buffet) is also a chief investor in a company called Net Jets which through it sales partner Marquis Jets, whisks celebrities and athletes all around the globe. On top of that, Mr. Buffet's bridge partner is Bill Gates. So what gives?

Warren Buffet understands that celebrity status sells. In particular it sells newspapers and his company Berkshire Hathaway is a major investor in several of them. The "old grandpa" of the investment world is as shrewd as ever.

As for A-Rod, I'm glad he's staying in New York. The Yankees are going to pony up $325 Million over 10 years for him. At a time when the Yankees are building a $1 Billion stadium they certainly need to secure attendance. If A-Rod does make a run at the all time home run record New York will become a circus and of course the YES network's ratings will go through the roof. However, what truly draws fans to a team is winning and the Yankees have proven they can't win with A-Rod. They are an "old team" and are getting older. Posada and Rivera are just a few years short of qualifying for AARP cards. By the time A-Rod's contract expires he'll be in his 40's as well.

A few more years of the A-Rod jinx is just fine with all us Red Sox fans. A few more world series titles for us and maybe Warren Buffet will consider buying the Red Sox. In the long run, an investment in Red Sox Nation will net much larger returns than the fading New York Yankees. In 2006 the Red Sox had the highest away field attendance, surpassing the Yankees in that category as well.

For those of you who are Yankees fans, I can hear your thoughts right now... 26 World Championships, The Babe, Mickey Mantle, etc. However if you are a Yankees Fan you have to ask the question, "What have you done for me lately"? The answer is "NOTHING." Even Warren Buffet can't make enough deals to bring the Yankees back to their FORMER glory. For the next 5 to 10 years it's Red Sox all the way.

From Welfare To Wealth.

That's a transition John Alexandrov made and he's sharing the secrets of how he did it everyday. His website was created to help you learn how to achieve financial and personal success just as he has. You can start learning today at http://www.themoneychi.com.

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NIKE 2006 Aero Strobe Alloy Baseball Bats - Senior(-9)

NIKE 2006 Aero Strobe Alloy Baseball Bats feature:

MeC 25 Max Energy Collision alloy for ultimate strength

Aero-Cap technology increases bat speed and adds power

Precision Barrel Structure optimizes responsiveness of hitting area

Extended barrel profile expands hitting area and sweetspot

Cushioned synthetic leather grip offers exceptional feel

Shot-peen textured finish

1-Year Limited Warranty

Adult: 2 5/8" barrel • Meets college and high school BESR bat standards
Senior: 2 5/8" extended barrel
Youth: 2¼" barrel

John Smoltz has been an Atlanta Brave for around 20 years now and is in my eyes along with Chipper Jones of course the face of the Atlanta Braves. John Smoltz was aquired from the Detroit Tigers for Doyle Alexander in 1989. The Tigers got a few good years out of Alexander while the Braves are still getting good seasons out of John Smoltz. Smoltz had many good years to come when he started pitching for the Braves back in 1989, although there were a few rough seasons.

The 89' and 90' seasons where building blocks for Smoltz and the Braves. In 1991 they won the 1st of 14 straight division titles all with Smoltz pitching in some form or fashion for the Atlanta Braves. Smoltz has not always been a starting pitcher though. He had some arm problems a few years back and he and the management of the Braves decided it would be less stress on his elbow if he tried being a Closer. So now one of the Best starting pitchers of the 1990's was being turned into a dominant closer that only had to pitch 1 to 2 innings a night and just master a few pitches instead of worry about setting up a whole game with many different pitches and speeds.

Smoltz was very successful as a closer and was probable the most dominant closer the Braves had had in years and probably the best in the majors during that era. Smoltz decided that he wanted to go back to what he new best as a starting pitcher about 3 seasons ago and is still going strong into the 2008 season.

Atlanta Braves Fan Blog

Atlanta Braves Info: http://www.bravesinfo.blogspot.com

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