Darryl Strawberry' Is Finding His Way

If you get a chance pick up my friend's Darryl Strawberry's book entitled Straw: Finding My Way.

Strawberry is a former Major League Baseball player who is well-known both for his play on the field and for his controversial behavior off of it.In his book he talks about overcoming his battles with alcohol, cocaine, cancer, women and money that he had during his playing career.

He is now a born again Christian and currently lives in St. Louis and attends Church On The Rock.Strawberry says "Yeah. I gave up the houses, the cars and everything. It was the most remarkable thing. I've always lived a high life, but here it is. God has brought me to a simple life to do his will."Purchase it the next time you are in a book store , it would make an excellent Father's Day gift for the guy who loves sports.

Don't forget to register to the MVP Baseball Clinic Featuring Ozzie Smith that will be held on Monday, June 29th at Big Hitter Baseball & Softball Academy in Arnold, MO from 6-9:30 pm. For more info call 866-487-4687 or log onto http://www.mvpbaseballtips.com/

Improve Your Speed By Runnig Down Hills

A great way to improve your speed on the bases is to run hills downhill. That's right running downhill instead of uphill. A lot of great athlete's such as Walter Payton and Jerry Rice improve their speed and leg strength by incorporate hill training in their workouts.

Running down Hills has many benefits:

Helps develop power and leg strength
Improves stride frequency and length
Develops co-ordination

Good for muscle memory by allowing your legs to move faster

Encourages the proper running form by using your arm action during the driving phase
Develops control as well as improved speed
Promotes strength endurance
Develops maximum speed and strength
Improves your time in the 60 yard dash
Improves your base stealing percentage

Here's a hill training routine:

1. Find a hill with a slope of approx 15° decline and a length of 60 yards
2. Running down the hill to build up to full speed and then maintain the speed for a further 30 yards
3. Recovery walk back up
4. Start with 2 sets of 4 repetitions ( a total of 8 times) and gradually increase over time

Do this routine twice a week and soon you will find yourself improving your speed.

Don't forget to register to the MVP Baseball Clinic Featuring Ozzie Smith that will be held on Monday, June 29th at Big Hitter Baseball & Softball Academy in Arnold, MO from 6-9:30 pm. For more info call 866-487-4687 or log onto http://www.mvpbaseballtips.com/

Here's An Inexpensive Way To Improve Your Speed

Every baseball and softball player wants to get quicker and faster. The difference of running down a ball in the gap or beating a throw by sliding home to score a run can make a difference in a big game.

I'm going to show you a simple and inexpensive exercise that will improve your first step, your batting average, your defense and at the same time will improve your speed and quickness.

But before I do, I want to remind you of the MVP Baseball Clinic featuring Ozzie Smith, the legendary shortstop for the St. Louis Cardinals,. Ozzie will sign copies of his book, “Ozzie Smith: Road to Cooperstown” Monday, June 29th in Arnold, MO.

The one-day clinic will be held at Big Hitter Baseball and Softball Academy located at 2120 Tenbrook Road. Check-in will be 5:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. with the clinic taking place 6:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

The clinic consists of three sessions:

· Session A: Unlocking the Secrets of the MVP Mindset

· Session B: How to Improve your Speed, Agility and Quickness

· Session C: Ozzie Smith book signing of
“Ozzie Smith: Road to Cooperstown”

For more info call 314-831-7505 or log onto http://www.mvpbaseballtips.com/

Now for today's tip:

The exercise that I'm talking about that will add speed and quickness to your tools is jumping rope.

The benefits of this simple but yet complex training technique ranks as also an ideal brain exercise, bone builder, and as one of the most efficient ways of improving cardiovascular fitness in as little as ten minutes.

According to research jump rope for a minimum of five minutes a day can improve your foot speed and when you build to ten minutes of nonstop jumping at 120 RPMs it can provide the same benefits as 30 minutes of jogging!

Simple grab a jump rope and do the following:

1. Start with the jump rope in each hand.
2. Jump off the ground and start swinging the jump rope under your feet.
3.Continue jumping up and down as you bring the jump rope under your feet.
4.Continue for the prescribed number of 500 jumps or for 5 minutes.

Bodyweight Exercise Video Shows How A Young Baseball Player Can Increase Strength

One of the topics that will be discussed at the upcoming June 29th MVP Baseball Clinic featuring Ozzie Smith is "How A Young Baseball or Softball Player Can Increase His or Her Strength."

The one-day clinic will be held at Big Hitter Baseball and Softball Academy located at 2120 Tenbrook Road in Arnold, MO. Check-in will be 5:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. with the clinic taking place 6:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. For more info go to http://www.mvpbaseballtips.com/

Now for today's tip:

Bodyweight Exercises or Calisthenics are the best way for a young athlete to build muscle and stay in shape during the baseball season and during the off-season. One of the great benefits of bodyweight training is that your routine can be done at home, away from gym or on the road.

Calisthenics are exercises consisting of movements which use the weight of your body as resistance to work against. Its an extremely incredible and efficient way to build muscle and stay fit as it provides short bursts of intense training and only a few exercises covers almost all muscle groups.

Check this Bodyweight Workout video. It is guaranteed to blast and tone your muscles.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANsUWq194Lg&feature=channel_page

Ozzie Smith Coming To Arnold, MO

Ozzie Smith, legendary shortstop for the St. Louis Cardinals, will sign copies of his book, “Ozzie Smith: Road to Cooperstown” Monday, June 29th in Arnold, MO at the MVP Fitness Baseball Clinic. The one-day clinic will be held at Big Hitter Baseball and Softball Academy located at 2120 Tenbrook Road. Check-in will be 5:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. with the clinic taking place 6:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Smith will be on hand to sign copies of his book, “Ozzie Smith: Road to Cooperstown,” which chronicles his journey to becoming the greatest shortstop in the history of baseball.

MVP Fitness’ trained and licensed staff designed MVP Baseball Clinic to assist attendees with improving body conditioning quickly and easily.
The clinic consists of three sessions:

· Session A: Unlocking the Secrets of the MVP Mindset

· Session B: How to Improve your Speed, Agility and Quickness

· Session C: Ozzie Smith book signing of
“Ozzie Smith: Road to Cooperstown”

Cost for the clinic is $65 per player. Each attendee of the clinic will receive a book autograph by Ozzie Smith. Tickets for the book signing only are available for $35. To register call 314-831-7505 or visit http://www.mvpbaseballtips.com. To schedule media interviews with Ozzie Smith please contact MVP Fitness at 314-503-8384.

Baseball Training Aids

Baseball training aids are an effective way to learn the skills you need to achieve MVP status. They can aid in muscular development, hand eye coordination, as well as on posture and instruction on skills. But, which are the best baseball training aids to take your game to the next level? Here are two ways to improve your game from 1-Stop-Baseball.com

Training videos - One of the best ways to learn what the pros know is to use videos that they create. Many of the professional players and coaches are more than willing to share their experiences about techniques and tips that work. Learn these by watching and reacting to videos. The problem with these, though, is that you don’t have someone watching what you are doing and correcting your stance or your aim. So, watch them with someone else and allow them to tell you if you are actually doing what the video says. This is an all-year-round tool to benefit from.

Summer Camp or Clinics - Probably the very best option to think about investing is are baseball camps or clinics. Baseball camps are offered for virtually all age groups depending on your needs and skills. Baseball Camps are also offered during Christmas and Spring break. The benefit here is one on-one-training that you can not get anywhere else unless you have a personal coach, of course.

Find a Mentor

To find a mentor, identify someone you admire and respect.

For example, you may be a high school baseball player wanting to gain a scholarship to your State University. You can choose someone from your own high school who has received a scholarship to the same University.

Decide what you need in a mentor -- what skills you'd like to develop with your mentor's help. (It may be hitting for power, hitting for average, improving your speed, fielding or throwing).

Simply look around and find someone who has achieved the goal that you want to accomplish, as well as someone who shares good values. When you find one, don’t be afraid to ask.

Be sure to let your mentor know what you are trying to accomplish. Mentors are most likely to invest in people who want to improve themselves.

Surround Yourself with Winners

Surround yourself with winners - One of the key qualities of all successful people is that they avoid negative people

Surround yourself with people and things that are mature, that stay out of trouble and that make the right decision in life.

Hanging out with people who are bad news and always complain and never take persistent action will ensure that you never reach your goal.

Here are five tips for a good lasting friendship.

Positive friends make sure you are there for each other when they need you, not when you need something for them.

Positive friends keep in touch. You should always communicate. Send an email or text message and call them on the phone.

Positive friends don’t gossip. Friends don’t bad mouth each other.

Positive friends are happy for each other when they are successful.
When they win a game – celebrate with them.

Positive friends support each other – Go out of your way to show your support for a friend.

Off Season Strength and Conditioning is Key to your Success

An off season workout is the key to your baseball success during the season. Ozzie Smith would tell you that incorporating a off season strength and conditioning program is "what separates you from being a good player compared to a great player. "

Click on the link below and try the MVP Baseball Bodyweight workout. It is a great workout to do when you are short on time.

MVP Baseball Workout #1

Never Give Up

Cleveland Indian left handed pitcher, Cliff Lee won the American League Cy Young Award.

As you recall, Lee was demoted to the minors last year and went a major league-best 22-3 this season with a 2.54 ERA.


Lee is a perfect example of the M.V.P. Blueprint.

M - Motivation - Lee's motivation was to prove everybody wrong by sending him back to the minors.

V - Vigor - it took hard work and dedication for Lee to win the Cy Young Award.

P - Persistence - Not giving up is the key. Being persistent is having a continuous, deep-rooted, never-ending and tenacious attitude of not giving up.

Believing in you is having confidence, courage, determination, and heart to get the job done.

Having the combination of persistence and confidence is a winning combination that will not only make you a MVP on the field, but it will make you a MVP for every aspect of your life.

A Boxing Workout is a Great Way to Get in Shape During the Off Season

Staying in shape during the off season was a must for Ozzie Smith.

A great way to get in tip top shape is by incorporating boxing into your off season conditioning program.

The benefits from boxing are endless. Here are 9 reasons to incorporate boxing into your off season strength and conditioning plan.

1. You stay motivated and committed to a fun and challenging workout.

2. You reduce total body-fat percentage and strengthen muscular system

3. You build confidence and a sense of well-being

4. You improve the ability to relax, to keep calm and poised under high pressure
5. You develop discipline
6. You will tone muscles
7. You will increase endurance and stamina
8. You will improve flexibility and balance
9. You will improve co-ordination10. You will burn fat and loose weight

A good boxing workout not only challenging and motivating it will also make you feel like a MVP!

Click on the link below for an example of a quick boxing routine.

http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=92d4d6fc9961d8bb217d

The Express Bodyweight Workout

I recently met with actor and dancer Darrin Henson to talk about my favorite subject FITNESS. Henson, who played "Lem Van Adams" in the Showtime series Soul Food and "Grant" in the movie Stomp The Yard is a fitness buff and uses bodyweight training as a workout technique for his busy schedule.

Staying in shape is a must for Henson, who is currently working on two films - Blood Done Sign My Name and Tekken will be released in 2009. Henson’s latest film, The Express, opened on October 10, 2008, where in plays running back Jim Brown.

The Express is based on the incredible true story and follows the inspirational life of college football hero Ernie Davis, the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy. Following his draft by the NFL, tragedy struck the star athlete and he was never able to take the professional field. But his tale would forever change the face of professional sports.

Henson and I both agreed that the benefits from exercising are endless.

Here are 9 reasons to incorporate an exercise plan into your everyday life.

1 You stay motivated and committed to a fun and challenging workout.
2 You reduce total body-fat percentage and strengthen muscular system
3 You build confidence and a sense of well-being You improve the ability to relax, to keep calm and poised under high pressure
4 You develop discipline
5 You will tone muscles
6 You will increase endurance and stamina
7 You will improve flexibility and balance
8 You will improve co-ordination
9 You will burn fat and lose weight

I have created The Express Bodyweight Workout. You can start The Express Bodyweight

Workout right away. And the faster you start, the faster you can start seeing and feeling the benefits that are listed above.

Click on the link below and try the Express Bodyweight Workout

http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=92d4d6fc9961d8bb217d

In the meantime, go to the theater and check out Henson’s enjoyable performance in The Express.

Try This MVP Baseball Tips Workout

One of the latest trends in weight lifting today is training with kettlebells. Kettlebells look like a cannon ball made of iron cast with a handle on top.

The kettlebell is an ancient Russian exercise device; the kettlebell has long been a favorite in that country for those seeking a special edge in strength and endurance.

How can this “iron cannonball with a handle attached” be the best kept secret—as well as an outstanding tool to get in the best shape for baseball?

It is because kettlebell training helps you achieve and maintain the highest levels of power, strength, conditioning and flexibility by boosting your heart rate with a combination of cardio and strength training exercises.

Strength coach, Mike Mahler adds, “Unlike many other forms of cardio, kettlebell training is brutal fun and a hard cardio kettlebell workout gives you a tremendous sense of accomplishment.

A kettlebell workout is very beneficial for baseball players. In fact, in some baseball programs across the country kettlebells are quickly becoming the tool of choice for baseball players who want to quickly accelerate their conditioning.

Pat Rigsby of the Fitness Consulting Group says "If you're looking for an innovative way to jump ahead of your competition on the playing field, kettlebell training for baseball is a must! “

Kettlebells can be found in some fitness and sporting goods stores, but in most cases you will have to order them online. The costs range for $39.99 each for a 10 pound kettlebell and $139 each for 72 pounds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyQk-YH7S8U

Here is another tip, don't try kettlebell training if you're looking for an easy way out.

Try it only if you're prepared to work hard, have fun and get in the best shape you've ever been in.

Give Yourself the Push Up Test

According to the New York Times, the push-up is the ultimate barometer of fitness. It tests the whole body, engaging muscle groups in the arms, chest, abdomen, hips and legs. It requires the body to be taut like a plank with toes and palms on the floor. The act of lifting and lowering one’s entire weight is taxing even for the very fit.

So I decided to find out my own fitness level and I performed the 1 minute push up test. The results were surprising.

Click Here to find out more.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDz2fH1Fj84

I suggest that you give yourself the 1 minute push up test. Push ups are a great way to improve your strength at the plate. Do a set of 1 minute push ups 4-5 times per week and watch your batting average soar.

Once you perform the 1 minute push up test, you can evaluate your score by clicking on the link below and filling out your results.

http://www.exrx.net/Calculators/PushUps.html

Speed Kills!!!

Ozzie Smith always took pride in his speed and baserunner ability.

A speedy baserunner can change the tempo of the game.

Once you get on base your goal is to score a run.

If you are struggling or want to improve your speed here my advice.

Hire a speed coach.

Where can your find a speed coach?

It's simple hire the track coach at your school.

Most coaches are eager and willing to help athletes who want to improve their skills.

Just simply tell the track coach that you need help in improving your speed and will he be able to help you out?

I'm pretty sure he will say "of course" and before you know it you will improve your "wheels" on the bases.

Superset Your Workouts

Here is a MVP Baseball Tip for your off-season conditioning.

Superset your workouts - Some recent studies are showing that super-setting workouts can make you stronger and faster than one single set or multiple standard set workout.

So if time's an issue try incorporating a super-setting system where you do multiple exercises in succession so that you can accomplish more results in less time.

Baseball Nutrition Tips-Interview with Jayson Hunter

Eating is very important to your baseball success. Click on the link below and get tips on nutrition from Registered Dietitian Jayson Hunter.

BS in Nutrition and Dietetics Registered Dietitian Licensed Dietitian.

Jayson Hunter takes great pride in educating athletes worldwide on the truth about eating habits and nutrition. This interview reveals many of the reasons why Hunter believes firmly the fueling your with the proper food and supplements will make you a MVP!

Click Here for Jayson Hunter Interview

Stay In Shape During the Off-Season

Ozzie Smith valued his time during the off-season.

The off-season for baseball is a very important time of the year. But sometimes it can have a negative effect on eating habits and your training routine. In fact, if you miss a few days of working out, it sometimes it takes several days or a week to get back into the normal routine and feel like your self again.

Although the season may be over and it's more difficult to follow your normal routine, you still shouldn't go all out and blow all the progress you've made. You should continue to work on some skill of your game and eat right everyday.

A good way to stay in shape is to play another sport. It keeps you sharp competitively and increases your confidence.

If you are specialize in baseball, I suggest that you train for an upcoming 5K race in your area.

Training for a 5K will keep your legs strong, increase your speed and at the same time it will improve your endurance.

Six Pack Abs

Six Pack Abs - strong abdominal muscles are very important in baseball. It is also a common goal in the fitness industry.

If you are a pitcher, having strong ab muscles can add 7-10 mph onto your fast ball.

And when you are at the plate, having strong core muscles can add power to your swing.

One of the keys to Ozzie Smith's success was his strong ab muscles.

Strong ab muscles will allow you have a much quicker torso, which will make you run faster and be more explosive.

I have develop a great ab workout routine called The MVP Abs From Hell. This workout will make your abs burn and will increase your quickness and speed on the playing field.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYHeIlbVye8

Attitude is Everything!

Ozzie Smith had a great attitude during his playing career and he still maintains a positive attitude now that he is retired.

When it comes to playing baseball. Have a great attitude! A negative attitude can destroy your performance on the diamond. Working hard, achieving academic excellence and living well by making the right decisions in life are a direct correlation with a positive attitude.

Keep a positive attitude and surround yourself with positive people and influences, while you look to improve yourself on and off the field.