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.

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.

Give Your Injury a Rest

Give it a Rest - even when injured.

Working out while nursing an injury puts a temporary stress on the body, which may prolong your injury.

It may be OK to work out when injured (depending on the severity) but a few days of rest is usually just what the doctor ordered. A short break won't have a negative affect on your overall baseball goals.

Rest Is a Key To Success

Resting and Re-energizing your body is key to your baseball success.

Not enough sleep can dramatically affect your physical play on the field and your alertness in the classroom and on the diamond.

While you sleep, your body is recovering and resting from all the things you have done during your day. Your neurotransmitter is brought back in line, your muscles relax, and your mind is allowed to clear itself in preparation for school and your next game or doubleheader.

If you are not getting enough rest, you will begin to notice it in a your play. While there is no perfect number in terms of hours of sleep, 8 hours should be your target each and every night.

Avoiding the Mid Season Lull

Avoiding the mid season lull was a key to Ozzie Smith's success.

Nagging injuries can take a lot away from your performance on the field.

Keeping your body fresh, strong and injury free is very important as championship time rolls around.

Eating right and getting the proper rest is vital, but continuing your strength training during the season is just as important.

I recommend that you lift weights two to three times per week during the season. Lifting during the season will maintain your strength and give you added endurance during tournament play.

Remember you want to remain strong so that you can be a MVP when the game is on the line.
This especially true if your team is in the losers bracket and you have to play a lot of games in order to win the championship game.

Here is a workout that you can incorporate in your strength training routine during the season.

This routine is for your upper body (shoulders, chest and back) and is geared to increase your power at the plate.

MVP Baseball Tips In Season Workout

Note: Exercise is not without its risks and this or any other exercise program may result in injury. To reduce the risk of injury in your case, consult your doctor before beginning this exercise program. MVP Fitness, LLC and advice presented are in no way intended as a substitute for medical advice, MVP Fitness, LLC disclaims any liability from and in connection with this program. As with any exercise program, if at any point during your workout you begin to feel faint, dizzy, or have physical discomfort, you should stop immediately and consult a physician.

Ozzie Smith's Fielding Secrets

One of the things baseball players consistently want to know is how they can improve their fielding skills.

It's pretty simple really. But it requires getting out of your
comfort zone and getting in weight room, fielding grounders,
shagging some fly balls and working hard in a big, big way.

Most baseball players would rather find out some magic formula.

I interviewed Hall of Fame Shortstop Ozzie Smith one of the most successful and hungriest baseball players on earth.

Ozzie kicked butt and made it happen.

He reveals his secrets that allowed him to win 13 Gold Glove Awards.

If you want to become a better defensive player here is Ozzie's advice:

1. Work hard
2. Stop thinking negative
3. Start taking action
4. Set individual and team goals
5. Get motivated, be persistence and believe in yourself

You've got to want it. And you've got to want it bad.

Staying in Shape During the Baseball Season

Keeping sharp and fresh during the baseball season was a key to Ozzie Smith success.

The benefit of keeping your body fit includes avoiding nagging injuries and not hitting the mid-season lull.

Playing night games, doubleheaders and tournaments throughout the year can take a toll on your body. Incorporating an in-season weight lifting program for two – three times per week for 45 minutes can keep those nagging injuries and the mid season slumps in check and can help you achieve MVP status.

Top Five Benefits of In-Season Weight Lifting Program.

1. Weight training energizes you – Playing a 60-80 game schedule in the spring, summer and fall requires you to have some get- up- and- go.

2. Weight training makes you strong – Strength training will increase your power at the plate and improve your MPH on your fastball.

3. Weight training gives you confidence on the playing field – Working hard in the weight room will make the game easier to play on the diamond.

4. Weight training improves your balance and coordination – Makes you less prone to injuries such as lower back injuries.

5. Weight training tends to improves sleep patterns – You will need rest to play like a MVP.

Base Stealing 101

A good base stealer can change the tempo of the game, especially in the late innings.

Ozzie Smith stole 580 bases in his career and had an amazing successful rate of 79%!

Here are three tips that will improve your base stealing skills.

1. Be Confident - You must believe in your speed and ability and that you can run on any pitcher and catcher.

2. Be Smart - Being wise is as important to a base stealer as speed. You should get a good jump on a pitcher by studying his moves. As soon as a pitcher makes a move towards the plate, you should be off and running.

3. Speed Work - Improving your speed takes hard work and dedication. Running stairs and jumping rope are great ways to improve your speed and quickness.

Remember to work on your hitting skills because a high on-base percentage, good speed and great instincts are the keys to being fearless and having the presence to be very disruptive to pitchers when you get on base.

9 Ways to Motivate Yourself

1.Write Down Your Goals - If you Fail to Plan, you Plan to Fail

2.Create A Dream Board - Anything that will remind you of what to do and why you are doing it is a very potent motivational tool.

3.Develop a Workout Plan - Improve your strength and conditioning to have your best season ever!

4.Find A Mentor - A mentor will give you advice on the "do's and don'ts."

5.Learn From Your Favorite Athlete - Observe how your favorite plays the game of baseball.

6.Hang Around Positive Friends - Stay out of trouble.

7.Read Jackie Robinson's Biography - A great way to learn the history of baseball.


8.Buy MVP Baseball Tips Featuring Ozzie Smith ebook - 21 tips and 21 workouts to improve your game, plus hear a 30 minute audio interview from the "Wizard."

9.Don’t Give Up! - YOU ARE AWESOME - Hang in there, when times get tough.

ENJOY A 30 MINUTE AUDIO INTERVIEW WITH OZZIE SMITH

I have a big announcement today that I am very proud of because it will help you achieve your baseball goals.


I have finally finished my MVP Baseball Tips featuring Ozzie Smith Ebook and was able to get Hall-of-Fame shortstop, Ozzie Smith to contribute a 30-minute audio interview to ensure that you had every tool imaginable to achieve your goals.


Ozzie's interview is full of tips that will improve your game, among the long list you will discover:

• Learn What College and Pro Scouts REALLY Look For (99% of baseball players and coaches don't even know this)


• How Ozzie got his big break into the big leagues and How You Can Too Repeat What He Did


• A drill GUARANTEED to improve your hitting skills


• The three keys that will help you sustain your level of play


• How to use polymetrics as the key to off-season conditioning


• The main ingredient that separates you from being "good" player and "great" player and how to make the jump


• Find out Ozzie's greatest accomplishment (you will be surprised)


• The importance of nutrition for your baseball success


• The mistakes almost everyone makes when taking supplements

Go right now to http://www.mvpbaseballtips.com/ to see what I have been able to package together for you.

I sincerely want you to achieve all of your baseball goals and that is why I wanted to make sure that I was able to give you everything you would need to achieve those goals.

For this reason, The MVP Baseball Tips featuring Ozzie Smith e book is backed by a 100% Money Back Guarantee.

If you don't agree that this it the most impactful, eye-opening and practical information you've ever received on the subject of improving your baseball strength and conditioning, simply email me and I'll issue you a 100% refund on the spot.

Be A MVP!

Rest and Re-energize

During Ozzie Smith's career, he not only was in tip-top shape, but he made sure he got plenty of rest to perform at a superstar level.

Not getting enough sleep can dramatically affect your performance on the baseball diamond. While you sleep, your body is recovering and resting from all the things you have done during your day.

Sleep calms you down and improves your mood, your muscles relax, and your mind is allowed to clear itself in preparation for the next day's game.

If you are not getting enough rest, you will begin to notice it in a physical way. You may feel sluggish and get tired during pressure situations and you may not be able to come up with a clutch play when the game is on the line.

While there is no perfect number in terms of hours of sleep, 7-8 hours should be your target each and every night.

Give Yourself a Fitness Test

Ozzie Smith's workouts during the off season paid off for him during the season. He did not hit the mid-season lull, like other players do and he avoided nagging injuries.

Are you in tip-top shape for the upcoming season?

Fitness tests are designed to quickly gauge your general fitness level and to act as a benchmark for future testing.

Simply, put the fitness test shows you your current fitness level and shows you the fitness level you should be.

After taking the following test, complete the MVP Baseball Strength and Conditioning Program. Then, take the test again and compare the results.

The test is divided into four sections. Do each part with plenty of rest between to fully recover.

Push-ups to test your upper body strength. – Count how many push ups you can do in one minute. You should do the test “military style” push-up position with only the hands and toes touching the floor.

Sit-up test to test abdominal and core strength. – Count how many sit ups you can do in one minute.

Squats test to test lower body strength. – Count how many squats you can do in one minute.

60 yard dash – See how fast you can run the 60.

Minute Push-up Test
Excellent – More than 56
Good – 47-56
Acceptable – 19-34

Minute Sit-up Test
Excellent – More than 49
Good – 44-49
Acceptable – 39-43

Minute Body Weight Squat Test
Excellent – More than 49
Good – 44-40
Acceptable – 39-43

60 yard dash time
Exceptional - 6.3 to 6.5
Good - 6.5 to 6.8
Acceptable - 7 seconds or less

Increase Your Strength with Kettlebells

Ozzie Smith's off-season weight workouts were a key to his success on the playing field.

Today, one of the latest trends in weight lifting 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.

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.

There is a kettlebell workout at the bottom of this page.

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.


MVP Baseball Workout #15