LEARN & APPLY lessons from the best in the game

Everyone has an opinion about Manny Ramírez. I do, you do, your grandmother's cousin knows about "Man-Ram." I'm a fan of Manny - not always the 'Manny-being-Manny' mantra - but he is as good as it gets in the batter's box.

Every player in the Logan High School baseball program that wants to be a better hitter - MUST read the following article about one of the most dominant hitter's of all-time. He is arguably the best right-handed hitter in MLB history, and I thought this article can help EVERY PLAYER on our team. Read it.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4018367

Excerpt below: (I am partial to this quote because "Donnie Baseball" is my favorite all-time baseball player).

"Ramírez has often been called a natural hitter, gifted, a savant. But to stop there is to sell him short. "Make no mistake, a lot of what Manny has is pure talent," says Dodgers hitting coach Don Mattingly. "But I also use him as an example for our young guys, because he works hard and, more important, his work is clean." By this, Mattingly means Ramírez is focused and efficient in his preparation. Back in Boston, Ramírez always insisted that the television in Fenway Park's indoor batting cage be turned off when he was hitting. "He doesn't want any distractions," says Red Sox hitting coach Dave Magadan. "He's very serious when he's working."

Adds Mattingly, "A lot of guys go through the motions, like when they're hitting off a tee, for example. It's a tedious thing." But Ramírez gets into his comfort zone before most games by doing just that. "I'm there, but I don't say a lot," Mattingly says. "I set the ball up and let him go and I watch." The routine is basic, something major league hitters do on a daily basis. "The big difference," Mattingly says, "is that Manny is able to find his swing off the tee and take it into the game."

Logan High Baseball Players: You are a good team. You have shown you are willing to work hard, show up and do what is required of you for our program/this season to be successfull. I hope you read this article and APPLY it. LEARN from it, and help your team/yourself reach the potential you have.

The first player to e-mail me, (loganhighbaseball@hotmail.com) and tell me what aspect of hitting that Don Mattingly said Manny Ramirez "is a master of" - wins a LHS baseball t-shirt.

-Coach Andy