57 - Bill Burton: AC St. Michaels HS (MD)

Bio

-- Fort Hill HS Class of 1980 (lost to South Hagerstown in state playoffs).

-- Cumberland American Legion Post 13 (Funkstown Legion always gave us trouble).

-- Played w Brian Femi (who went to Bishop Walsh HS). Ted Femi’s brother had .800 winning % as BW head coach.

-- Pen-Mar semi-pro (for a time rivaled the Valley League).

-- Frostburg State Class of 1984 under legendary coach Bob Wells.

-- Player/coach in Washington Area Recreational Baseball League (WARBALL) late 80s.

-- St. Michaels HS assistant coach 2002 - ?

 

 

Topics

•  Practice Organization (stations, stations, stations!).
  • Keep everyone in motion. Competitive BP. Defensive Breakdown. Situations. Play-of-the-Day (could be Off or Def).Offensive Philosophy.
• I’m Femi’s “offensive coordinator” so I’d like to see us get into a discussion about overall offensive philosophy centered on putting pressure on the defense.
  • StrikeZone discipline.
  • Attack/Defend.
• Lost Art: Bunting
  • We bunt 1 thru 9, and we don’t “sacrifice!”
  • It’s not about footspeed, it’s about placement.
  • 7-8 times out of 10, if our batter can drop a bunt 30-45 ft down either line, that’s better odds than .400 hitter.
• Lost Art: Baserunning
  • More than just steal attempts.
  • These are split-second decisions that are often the difference bw a win or a loss.
  • They must be practiced.
  • Island Reads, 3-2-2, 3B R <2
• Advice for assistant coaches
• Advice for head coaches
• Lessons learned as an assistant coach
• What do you know now you wish you knew when you started coaching?

 

Episode notes

• You can’t say we shouldn’t have to work on that
• Go back on the infield line drive
• Everyday we will use count work in the cage to be sure guys are making good decisions
• “Ball above your belly button at third you are back”
• 2 arm pumps and a peak (when stealing 2nd) - sneak a peak
• We are never going to put a kid in a situation that we have not repped in practice
• Part of the warmup will get right into 4 group baserunning
• Put a bunt in the panic zone or the hurry zone - get a certain amount of points
• 15 minutes a day on bunting to put a bunt in the panic/hurry zone - 30/45 feet in baseline
• The mental side is where you get the most reward for your time. 
• I started for the baseball, but quickly realized this is about the relationships
• If your priorities are in the right place
• Get the right people and let them do their job, you can’t do it all yourself
• St. Michaels Saint Baseball on Facebook
• bill.burton@dacis.com
• 410-253-9031