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John A. Baker
  • Male
  • Springfield, MA
  • United States
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John A. Baker's Friends

  • Robert Napodano
  • Zachary McAlister
  • Dr. Rommie Maxey
  • Kenneth Scott Salyer
  • Duke Barrett
  • JP
  • Don Carroll
  • Larry Cicchiello
  • Mikel Wallesen
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  • John Rubinow, M.D.
  • Victor Torres
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  • Ted Browne
  • Derek Claussen

John A. Baker's Groups and Teams

John A. Baker's Discussions

Fielding Hits Between the Mound and the Plate

Started Mar 27 0 Replies

In the amateur game, fielding hits that are in a pitcher’s range of responsibility can sometimes find the pitcher and catcher rushing to the same spot, then left guessing – whose  got it?In…Continue

The message from the movie Moneyball

Started this discussion. Last reply by John A. Baker Oct 3, 2011. 2 Replies

You're only as good as your last hit, your last pitch, your last catch, your last stolen base, your last play.  If for any reason you forget this - - -  more than likely others will too.

ERROS

Started this discussion. Last reply by John A. Baker Aug 31, 2011. 2 Replies

You’ve played on heck of a game up to this point, neck-n-neck all the way - score is tied. Now it’s the last inning of play, two outs and the other team has their last ups, runner on third. If you…Continue

This Game Can Teach You So Much About Yourself

Started Aug 10, 2011 0 Replies

Take a moment and watch this...…Continue

 

John A. Baker's Page

Latest Activity

John A. Baker and Robert Napodano are now friends
Apr 16
John A. Baker posted a discussion

Fielding Hits Between the Mound and the Plate

In the amateur game, fielding hits that are in a pitcher’s range of responsibility can sometimes find the pitcher and catcher rushing to the same spot, then left guessing – whose  got it?In actuality, there is no real extended location that is fixed, that’s purely the pitcher’s domain. Factors that figure into this are first inning “fitting in” to the tempo of the game, later inning fatigue, aggressive tendencies, experience and the lack thereof, are just a few.So, every pitcher should practice…See More
Mar 27
0 Comments
John A. Baker replied to Bill Stanton's discussion Change vs. Splitter?
"Professional Considerations:Would I recommend one over the other for a professional – depends on the age, physical tendencies and personal endowments of the man I’m dealing with, his ability to adapt to something new if that be the case,…"
Mar 27
John A. Baker replied to Austin Kester's discussion My team is on a losing streak, what should I do?
"Just before I retired, our club had a season record that was so bad that one of our major sponsors – a dry cleaning business, actually advertised that they could get out more spots than we could get out wins. In short, we were dead last and…"
Mar 22
Robert Jenkins liked John A. Baker's discussion Pitching Clinic - A Different Approach
Feb 2
John A. Baker replied to Michelle H.'s discussion Which piece of equipment do you think is most important? in the group Majestic Athletic
"I asked a similar question to a group of pitchers once. Each man took his turn with a short conference like sit-down, field intro's and such. The one prospect that stuck in my mind, was the one that responded this way: I asked:…"
Jan 11
John A. Baker joined Michelle H.'s group
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Majestic Athletic

If it happens in baseball, it happens in MajesticSee More
Jan 11
154 Comments
Anthony Fruhling replied to John A. Baker's discussion Paid Pitching Coaches - How Do You Deal With This Stuff?
"Why shouldn't they have to adjust?  That's part of the game and how you grow as a player.  It's our jobs as players( pitchers and position players) to control the things we can control and adjust to what we can't. …"
Dec 17, 2011
John A. Baker replied to John A. Baker's discussion Paid Pitching Coaches - How Do You Deal With This Stuff?
"Bill,   Your company makes an outstanding product. It's durable, fairly easy to use, and can extend the season nicely. Here in Massachusetts we have similar products, either made locally, or, available through a host of vendors. And the…"
Dec 17, 2011
John A. Baker commented on ANDREW SPARKS's blog post CLEATS
"The "pretty big trainers" that you mentioned, who " don't want you to change anything", are the people that you should be bouncing your questions off of. If that's a place that you've already been, then -…"
Nov 27, 2011
John A. Baker commented on ANDREW SPARKS's blog post CLEATS
"Andrew, I fogot to mention, if your pitching out of a hole, in front of the pitcher's rubber, this could be one of the major reasons why your grinding your baseball shoe and wearing down the toe. Also, if you have a motion of pushing off with…"
Nov 27, 2011
John A. Baker commented on ANDREW SPARKS's blog post CLEATS
""I get a lot of holes in the toe"   May I suggest a boot repair material called  SHO-GOO, or something like that. It comes in a tube, and the stuff reminds me of airplane glue that's used on model airplanes. In any event,…"
Nov 27, 2011
John A. Baker commented on ANDREW SPARKS's blog post CLEATS
"The support equipment: -shoe trees to help keep your baseball shoe with the "fit" that serves you best. -an extra pair of shoe laces. -cleat picks, which are no more than popsickle sticks. - talcum powder/baby powder to be dusted inside…"
Nov 27, 2011
John A. Baker commented on ANDREW SPARKS's blog post CLEATS
"I would suggest a baseball shoe with three (3) cleats under the ball of the foot (front) and three (3) cleats under the heel of the shoe. Also, I would suggest an assortment of support equipment, that'll help provide the…"
Nov 27, 2011
John A. Baker commented on Bill Stanton's blog post What Are You Thankful For?
"I just remembered a few more....  I’m thankful for the following:- sun glasses big enough to nap behind.- a ball cap that has a brim that I can bend the sides in, and hide a nap.- a chair in the bullpen with back legs strong enough for…"
Nov 22, 2011
John A. Baker replied to Shaun Reed's discussion Sinker in the group Pitching Coaches and Instructors
"I should also mention, that the best way to go into a game with a working sinker that has a high percentage of dependbility, is to work the pitch in the bullpen, prior to an appearance. In fact, a pitcher should always toss his/her first inning in…"
Nov 16, 2011

Profile Information

Bats:
Right
Throws:
Right
I currently:
Am a Pitching Instructor
Baseball Playing Experience:
Independent
Baseball Coaching Experience:
Independent
Softball Playing Experience:
None

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John A. Baker's Blog

The Hot Dog Mascot

Posted on September 27, 2011 at 6:30pm 0 Comments

A funny baseball story, huh?  Well, this brings up an interesting experience with a sponsor that supplied us a mascot.

 

A club I was with had a contest about picking a mascot. So, a lot of entries came in, along with costumes and stuff… but the one that won was a hot dog… yep a hot dog. To this day I still can’t figure that one out.



Anyway, as it came down… a local provision company had interests in the club, money wise, and it was a way to promote their products and…

Continue

Just Too Good To Be True

Posted on December 31, 2009 at 10:56am 2 Comments

I was just leaving our home field and going to my car when this kid yells our to me to

throw the ball back please. As I turn around I see this baseball bouncing towards me.

I then see a kid, oh maybe twelve years old, on the other side of a fence, holding his

glove up. I pick the ball up and toss it back… saying to the kid “just be careful playing

catch near the fence, there’s no one around to toss the ball back to you after I leave.”



The kid proceeds to tell me… Continue

Comment Wall (4 comments)

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At 1:43pm on December 26, 2009, Jim Hawkins said…
Hi John, thanks for excepting my friend invite. Enjoyed reading "The Christmas Gift". Hope you and your family had a great Christmas and looking for a nice New Year.
At 8:23pm on November 15, 2009, Mike Goodman said…
John thanks for the input i do coach but i don't coach my son because he does'nt respond to me in the dugout i posed this question because he had a really bad tournament outing in Myrtle Beach you see this is his coach for the regular season the last 3 years he had another coach so he only had this coach for the fall though he is a really good coach teaches the game the right way but sometimes the kids are scared to fail like when miss a sign or don't pitch well he has a quick hook my son is a real good pitcher but he won't pitch for him he is too uptight on the mound he knows what he's capable of but he won't respond to the coach he did play for both teams this year the team in the higher league or the A division got knocked out in the 1st round of the playoffs the lower team or the D division is playing for a championship.Playing a team that should be in the A division i will let you know how he does again thank you for your input Mike Goodman
At 4:29pm on October 27, 2009, Bill Stanton said…
John- Thanks for joining us at CheckSwing! Have a great time making new connections and talking softball and baseball. Please invite any players and coaches that you know to join us as well. Enjoy!
At 11:33am on October 27, 2009, Kyle Grucci said…
Welcome to CheckSwing, John!

Enjoy the site and have fun making baseball connections. Join your State Group, publish your thoughts in your status, add a blog or discussion, and upload some photos and videos. Create a CheckSwing group for your team or organization and invite your current and former players to join the baseball player community here. You can also win a pro quality wood bat in our Invite contest. Check it out!
 
 
 

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