July 23, 2010 | Posted by Brandon
Hello Hitters,
I hope you all are hitting ropes!
This blog site is dedicated to making you a better hitter, and I’ve been going through my 5 essentials to being a better hitter.
Here is the complete list. You can read more about hitting and conditioning for baseball HERE
The 5 Essentials to Hitting.
1. Concentration
2. Confidence
3. Conditioning
4. Contact
5. COMMITMENT
The last essential to hitting is Commitment. If you are not 100% committed to your craft you will not be as good as you can be. You have to commit to practice, drill work, conditioning, mental prep and nutrition and recovery.
It’s easy to do all those things when you are playing well, but you have to spend extra time and effort when things are not going so well. Make these 5 essentials something that you review everyday and make part of your regular routine. You can just lift weights for 2 weeks, then take 5 weeks off. You can’t just review tape when you’re in a slump. Review it when you are hitting well. Don’t wait for the wheels to fall off before you take action.
If you can follow my 5 essentials, you will become a better hitter.
How to become a dangerous hitter
In my book, “Conditioned to Hit” strength coach, Brandon Smith and I go through the essentials to make you a dangerous hitter. Also inside are hitting drills and exercises that will help you become a better hitter.
Remember, follow these steps, and you will have success.
Concentration
Confidence
Conditioning
Contact
Commitment
Stay Focused
Mike “The HitMan” Easler
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July 19, 2010 | Posted by Brandon
Hello Hitter’s,
I hope you’re all hitting ropes!
I just returned from another trip to New York Yankee’s Old Timers’ Day. I batted 6th and played Center field!! They must think I can still go get it!! 
I had to cover some ground on a double hit in the gap by Mickey Rivers (something I didn’t train for).
I might have been a little over anxious at the plate and grounded out back to the pitcher.
By-the-way, the pitcher I was facing was Ron Guidry! He looked as good as he did in 1978 when he won 25 games!
I felt good in batting practice and my stance felt solid at the plate. I just couldn’t control myself (hey, I’m not getting many at-bats these days!!)
My stance was spread out and balanced. I felt good. Good balance is something that many hitters, even professionals, do not have.
It was great getting to play in the New Yankee Stadium again, but it was tough to see the “Old” Stadium torn down to the ground!
The "Old" Stadium
I hope to be back next season to continue in the great tradition of Old Timers’ Day. Next time I’ll get some hits.
Stay Focused
Mike “The HitMan” Easler
Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: baseball, hitting, swing, yankee stadium | No Comments »
July 16, 2010 | Posted by Brandon
Hello Hitter’s!
I hope you’re all hitting ropes!
We have been going through my FIVE essentials to become a dangerous hitter.
Here is number 4. Contact
Solid Contact is what we all strive for as hitters. Nothing feels better than hitting a line drive struck right in the middle of the sweet spot. Nothing feels worse than getting jammed or hitting one off the end of the bat (especially if you are using aluminum bats).
My best advice or tip for solid contact is to try and hit every ball hard. All the great hitters I have ever played with tried to hit the ball hard every time they took BP or practiced off the batting tee. Trying to hit the ball hard every time will keep you in an aggressive mind set and over time, you will be making better contact. Also, when your contact is going bad, or you are in a “dry spell” try to hit every ball hard, up the middle. You will cut down your swing (while staying aggressive) and make contact on the sweet spot more often.
Solid contact is a result of squaring up and making aggressive swings with great balance. Practice swinging hard when hitting on the Tee and then again while taking live BP.
Stay Focused
Mike “The HitMan” Easler
PS For some fun please fill out this short survey.
Categories: hitting | Tags: baseball, contact, hitting, solid contact | 1 Comment »
July 6, 2010 | Posted by Brandon
Hello hitter’s,
I hope you’re hitting ropes and training hard!
If you have been reading this blog, you know that I have 5 essentials to hitting. So far I have covered the first two, Confidence and Concentration.
My 3rd essential to becoming a dangerous hitter is Conditioning. Proper conditioning allows you to play and practice at your highest levels everyday. This is the fastest way to becoming a great player. Also, a good conditioning program will keep you on the field. After all, you can’t hit when you sit, and if your too tired or always injured, you’re going to sit!
With a good conditioning program YOU DO NOT need “extra help” like steroids or HGH. If you believe in yourself and are mentally and emotionally strong, your conditioning program will be enough. I consider great nutrition a part of your overall conditioning as well. I do not mind guys having protein shakes or pre/post workout drinks (as long as they are legal).
A player with a conditioned mind and conditioned body is a very, very dangerous player. The guy who comes to mind when I think about conditioning is Derek Jeter. To me, this guy is the perfect baseball player. Jeter seems to miss very few games because of injury (some times injury is unavoidable) and is emotionally and mentally one of the toughest players I have ever seen. To play in New York and to play at the level he does takes a special player.
I have never meet Derek Jeter, but if I get the chance, I would love to ask him about his routine and what he thinks about.
Conditioning can set you apart from the rest. Being faster and stronger is an advantage, as long as it’s done correctly.
As my strength and conditioning coach, Brandon Smith says “Move Better. Feel Better. Play Better”
I suggest to everyone, find yourself a great strength coach and improve your conditioning. It’s just another factor that will make you a great hitter and keep you on the field longer.
Stay Focused
Mike “The HitMan” Easler
Categories: hitting | Tags: conditioning, hitting | No Comments »
July 5, 2010 | Posted by Brandon
Hello hitter’s,
Hope you’re well and hitting ropes!
There is one aspect of baseball and hitting that I can’t teach, and that’s how to compete. You have to compete at your highest levels EVERY time you step on the field.
The best way to do that is HATE TO LOSE! You should hate to lose more than you love to win.
If you want playing time, and want to impress a scout or your coaching staff, play hard all the time.
“Conditioned to Hit” is about mental preparation as much as it is about hitting and physical prep.
Compete hard everyday, and you will become a dangerous hitter!!
Stay Focused,
Mike “The HitMan” Easler
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June 30, 2010 | Posted by Brandon
Hello Hitter’s
I hope you’re all doing well and hitting ropes!
As some of you know, last year I was invited to play in the New York Yankees Old Timers Day game. All I can say is WOW. Just to play in that Stadium was amazing.
Now. being a life long competitor, I was not pleased with my performance at the plate. After all, I am the HitMan, and I didn’t hit well.
I’m lucky enough to have been invited back this season! We will be playing on July 17th. If you are in New York, come on out and say hi!
Anyway, I’m in some serious training this year. I want to perform better than last year.
So, what I’m I thinking about this season??
Well, I’m thinking about hitting the ball hard! The name of the game is hitting the ball hard. Good hitters don’t worry about their batting average. A great hitter goes to the plate to see the ball and attack the ball!!
If you stay aggressive as a hitter and hit off the fast ball you, will become a very successful hitter. I want to see, read and attack the ball during my plate appearances at Yankee Old Timer’s Day!
Stay Focused and think ATTACK!
Mike “The HitMan” Easler
Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: contact, hitting, old timers day, yankees | No Comments »
June 28, 2010 | Posted by Brandon
Hello Hitter’s, Here is a short list of quality proteins for optimum performance.
Your nutrition is the most important aspect of your game. It is one of very few variables that you can control. You can’t control the pitch being thrown, the location and speed, or the umpires call, but you can control what you put in your body.
Proper nutrition is the pinnacle of my “Move Better. Feel Better. Play Better” philosophy. Many people have a very hard time eating properly.
Here are 5 quality protein sources that you CAN incorporate into your diet tonight.
1. Chicken/Turkey Breast
2. Almonds
3. Salmon/Haddock
4. Organic Eggs (my new favorite!!)
5. Tuna
Of course there are several other great sources, but try to get all of these or at least some of these into your regular diet now. They are readily available and can be eaten at all times of the day.
BONUS- here is the best “done for you” nutrition program around.This is so fool proof, even I can follow it. Remember, any “change” to your lifestyle will take at least 4-6 weeks to yield results, so whatever you plan on trying, give it a chance.
Add some power to your game with quality protein!
“Move Better. Feel Better. Play Better”
Brandon Smith CSCS
Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: nutrition, power | 1 Comment »
June 24, 2010 | Posted by Brandon
Hello Hitter’s,
Concentration is the 2nd of my 5 essentials to hitting. Without the ability to concentrate and focus, no athlete can compete on a daily basis.
Baseball, at the Major League Level, takes maximum concentration. The pitching is good every night, which requires you to be sharp every night. Day-in and day-out, from Spring Training to the end of October you must be mentally focused. Your job and playing time depend on it.
The player who jumps to mind when I think of concentration is Andre The “Hawk” Dawson. Every season, every day and every at-bat, the Hawk was locked-in and focused. It seemed that nothing could get him off his game. Baseball was his job, and he took every single second of it seriously.
Even when he struggled (which was rare) he was on top of his game. There is no doubt in my mind that Andre Dawson should be elected into the baseball Hall of fame! To be a successful hitter, you must be able to block out all distractions- all the time. You can’t take a bad at-bat with you into the field, and you can’t dwell on a poor game. Andre could do that better than anyone. He had a very short memory when he made a mistake or had a bad at-bat. He would re-focus and get his concentration back quickly. Baseball is just as much a mental game as it is a physical game.
When your concentration is off, your game is off. It’s that simple. Mark McGuire used to say “Focus on one thing when the pitcher is about to throw the pitch, and that focus should be on the ball.” Mark used to take a soft focus on the pitcher and hard focus on the ball and release point.
A good way to make sure you are locked- in during every at-bat is to step out of the box if the pitcher holds the ball more than 5 seconds. Pitchers will hold the ball on you to get you thinking and distract you. Ask for time-out and step out of the box. Re-focus, just like a golfer goes through their pre-shot routine. As I always say, “Stay Focused” learn to concentrate, and you will have more success at the plate. Good concentration is a huge part of being
Conditioned to Hit!
Mike “The Hitman” Easler
Categories: hitting | Tags: baseball, conditioning, hitting | No Comments »
June 22, 2010 | Posted by Brandon
The FIVE C’s of Hitting
Hello Hitter’s,
I’m excited to announce that “Conditioned to Hit” has added hundreds of viewers since I first posted the five essential “C’s”. Those of you who have seen this already, it’s a great review. For those of you who haven’t read this yet, ENJOY!
I’m going to be covering my FIVE Essential C’s of Hitting. All hitters should review these often!
The First “C” of Hitting
CONFIDENCE
If you lack confidence it will be impossible to become a good great hitter. All successful athletes have confidence. You must do everything you can to learn the proper fundamentals of whatever aspect of the game you are trying to perfect. You will learn so much from this website on hitting, which in return, will help give you the confidence you need to become a great hitter. Knowledge=Confidence!
The most confident athlete and hitter I have ever worked with in my coaching career at the Major League level was the St. Louis Cardinal’s all star and MVP, Albert Pujols.
In Albert’s rookie year, he told me that he would become one of the best hitters in baseball someday. He spent hours and hours working on the basic fundamentals of hitting; from soft toss, batting- T work, machine work and live batting practice. Albert asked me question after question about the art and science of hitting……EVERYDAY! Albert never stopped asking questions.
I would throw him every pitch I could, from fastballs low and away, curve balls, hard stuff up and in and even knuckle balls. He would ask me how to approach every single pitch from his legs up to his follow through. (Your legs are so important to hitting. Click
here for more)
I have never seen such a student of the game. He never stopped working. Albert rose from class “A” ball in the Midwest League to becoming the 2002 National League Rookie of the Year. Albert believed in himself inside and out. He was filled with confidence in his ability to learn and ask questions. The more time and energy he put in, the more confident he became. Now look at his career!
I love him like a son and the key essential to his success is CONFIDENCE!
Stay Focused and be looking for the following “ C’s” to success!
Mike “The Hitman” Easler
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June 10, 2010 | Posted by Brandon
Hello Hitters,
How would you like to know what a pitcher is thinking on every pitch, every inning and in every count? Statistically, pitcher’s have the advantage over the hitter. They know what they will throw, how fast and where it will go.
I have always regarded pitcher’s as the enemy. It was me against him. I wanted to beat the opposing pitcher anyway I could.
I’ve now consulted with the enemy! My friend and professional pitching coach, Rick Smith, gave me all the insight a pitcher has. Rick was my pitching coach when I managed the Nashua Pride in the Atlantic League. His information was invaluable to me.
I’m now going to reveal everything about a pitcher….how they think, how they want to control every aspect of the game, what they want to throw to get you out.
When you purchase “Conditioned to Hit”, 
I will personally send you coach Smith’s book about pitching. All you have to do is forward your receipt to support@conditionedtohit.com after you purchase “Conditioned to Hit”. That’s is. Simple.
Finally get the advantage over pitchers and really become dangerous at the plate!
Order your copy of “Conditioned to Hit”, forward your receipt to support@conditionedtohit.com and I will personally send you “Pitching, How to Get Hitters Out”
Stay Focused and destroy pitching!
Mike “The HitMan” Easler
Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: baseball, conditioned to hit, hitting, pitching | No Comments »
