Sports Banquet, Regents School, Austin TX

Memorial Day: Monday, May 27^th, 2013

I had the wonderful pleasure of speaking at the “Regents School” in Austin, Tx. On May 11, 2013. There were 500 people present celebrating 14 sports team at the spring sports banquet.

Mr. Jim Ross, former professional baseball teammate of mine in Billings, Montana (1972), and we were playing for the Kansas City Royals minor league affiliate, ask if I would come to Austin to speak at the Regents School where his son and daughter attend. After I agreed to speak, I received news that one of my former UNC-Chapel Hill student/athletes, Chris Knepp, was a teacher at the school. Chris played on the USA college baseball team in 1975, went on to receive his law degree and practiced law, was a member of the United States Baseball Olympic Committee, but chose about 2005 to stop practicing law and become a high school teacher.

It was terrific to see Jim and Chris again after so many years. Jim hosted me in his home and was wonderful to get to know his beautiful family. Jim and his family will be visiting Cape Cod this summer July 6-13 and I look forward to hosting them and enjoying Cotuit Kettleers Baseball at the what ESPN's David Albright dubbed the Real Field of Dreams in Cotuit, Elizabeth Lowell Park.

My topics for the evening were “Caring about others first each day; Being an Unselfish Teammate; and Finishing Strong what we start!” I shared about Dr. Randy Pausch (The Last Lecture) and how Dr. Pausch had a terminal illness but gave his “Last Lecture” at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh just months before he died and encouraged everyone to do things “Right, Cherish each day, and finish strong!”

I talked about the movies “Radio and Rudy” and how each of us can be that “One” caring and positive friend that may be the key to helping improve another person’s life. In the movie “Radio” Coach Jones cared about a young man who was a slow learner but just needed help and encouragement. Coach Jones and his family loved “Radio” and helped him have a much improved life through their friendship, encouragement, and involvement with the local football team. In the movie “Rudy” there were two friends in Rudy’s life, on in high school and one at college, that made a tremendous difference in him trying to go to college and eventually graduating and playing football at Notre Dame.

Finally, I showed a short video of athletes who had overcome adversity/injury to go on and accomplish more than anyone imagined they could do. They “Finished Strong!”

I hope we will all awaken each day and ask “Who can we help today?” We will not only improve someone else’s life but we will improve our own lives and lay our heads down each evening and say “It has been a good day.”

2013 Spring Training

Professional Baseball and Base Stealing: Let’s go back to 2012 Play-offs with the Tigers playing the Giants in the World Series. Detroits bats went quiet in the series when Home Runs were not coming off there bats and they just could not score. The same was true in the play-offs for the Yankees in the play-offs. There bats went quiet and they did not have the over-all team speed to manufacture runs. The Tigers stole 59 bases (26th in MLB) during the 162 game regular season and the S F Giants, who won the 2012 World Series, stole 118 bases (9th) during the regular season. The Giants had twice as many stolen bases which gave them a big edge in speed and the ability to manufacture runs. This is exactly what happened during the World Series in 2012. The Giants used their speed well and swept the Giants 4 games in a row. Now, I am waiting and watching to see how many teams are emphasizing base stealing during 2013 spring training. Always exciting when a few teams each year decide to run more and swing for the fences less so the team can be more consistent from game to game. “Speed Never Rests!” Coach Mike Roberts

Teams Stealing bases in Major League Baseball in 2012 is so low it seems teams have given up on base stealing as an offensive weapon.

In 2012, Cincinnati Reds minor leaguer Billy Hamilton, stole his 147th base which broke the minor league record set in 1983 by Vince Coleman. The modern day major league record was set by Rickey Henderson with 130 in 1982. The Miami Marlins lead the majors with 130 steals in 2012 (Hamilton has more steals than any MLB team) at a success rate of 79% and the Orioles are the lowest with 44 steals and a success rate of 62%. The MLB average success rate is 73% in ’12. The average number of total steals per team at the major league level is the same in American and National league at 91 per team. This is less than 1 steal per game thru 130 games of a 162 game schedule. In the 70′s & 80′s MLB teams ran much more than they do today. Some people will argue it was because of the many astroturf fields and the game was played at a faster pace. I believe their were more pure baseball players then and few teams had a bench full of big, muscular guys like today. The muscle men came into the game in the early 90′s and more teams began to develop the Earl Weaver Philosophy from his Oriole Managing days when there was almost no running and just looking for the cure all ailments the “3 run home run.” The home run ball was becoming more what fans wanted to see. Then, the men got even bigger and the juiced muscle men began slugging away in the late 90′s and into the early 2000′s when Home Runs were being hit farther & more often than ever. In the summer of 2012, the collegiate baseball summer leagues were using “juiced baseballs” made by Diamond which would fly over large trees & light towers & land 500′ from home plate. The Cape Cod league had over a 100% increase in home runs in ’12 season vs. ’11 season. So, what happens to even coaches like myself in today’s game? You back off the running game when every team is hitting balls over the wall more often. Even though the team i coached in the Cape Cod League, the Cotuit Kettleers, led the league with 65 stolen bases in 44 games, this was the lowest total of a Mike Roberts coached team in many seasons. I wish their were many more Billy Hamilton’s who love to run and work at stealing bases. Doing the “little things” well such as stealing bases at crucial times will always make a huge impact in how games are won and lost. I salute Billy Hamilton. Please keep stealing bases and hope you run yourself to the makor leagues. Coach Mike Roberts

The Enjoyment of Coaching Mature Collegiate athletes who stay Focused

The summer of 2012 has been so enjoyable for our coaching staff with the Cotuit Kettleers in the Cape Cod Collegiate Summer League. We are fortunate to have a team of collegiate athletes who: 1) enjoy practicing baseball to improve their fundamentals skills each day before the team goes into their regular pre-game routine. 2) The athletes have pushed their egos to the side and are truly a close knit “Team!” The players like and respect one another and the coaches and fans see this each day 3) the players have mentored 600 young people in the Kettleer Camps this summer and done so with enthusiasm each morning. 4) The players have embraced their “Host Families” and integrated themselves into this beautiful Cape Community. 5) This “Team” has fun playing each evening as if they were play in a “Backyard game of Wiffle Ball.” From the Coaching Staff to the Kettleers Players in 2012 we deeply appreciate this team for being a focused group of young athletes. You have made this summer special!!

Double Steal in Cotuit Kettleers Game vs. Harwich Mariners (Cape League) Game

Kettleers win vs. Harwich Mariners tonight included an outstanding double steal by Patrick Biondi (Michigan) who was on 2nd base and Tony Kemp (Vanderbilt) who was on 1st base in the 9th inning. Patrick stole 3rd on the 1st pitch and Tony stole 2nd behind him and the ball was thrown away at 3rd base. Patrick continued home on the over-throw and the left fielder threw the ball to home and the ball got past Brett Austin, Catcher from NC State. Tony Kemp then rounded third and scored all the way from 1st base. Speed is certainly fun to watch when the right players are teamed up. Patrick Biondi and Tony Kemp certainly are a base stealing pair that can turn a game around.

Base Stealing in 2012 for all age groups of baseball

Coach Mike Roberts in 2012 is excited to teach base stealing all over the USA. I am traveling the country putting on clincis. I was in San Diego early Jan. at the UCSD in La Jolla, on Jan. 21st at DBat in Frisco, Tx. w/clinic for all age groups and in Baltimore in early Feb. I will encourage and teach more coaches/athletes to learn the new techniques for stealing bases. From Brian Roberts, at the major league level with the Orioles, to Cotuit Kettleers players in the Cape Cod Collegiate Summer League where wood bats are used and their are few extra base hits and many more college athletes using the BBCor bats, and high school/youth players striving to polish their skills which will help their teams win games. I will be sharing techniques such as jump leads at 1B and 2B, double steals, 1st and 3rd steals, stealing home, leaning leads, decoy leads, and other types of leads. Join me often to learn Base Stealing from the ole’ Baseball Coach at http://www.coachmikeroberts.com.

Coach Mike Roberts

December 26th is the beginning of baseball season, so i’m back to blogging about base stealing and discussing my work at Athletes Performance with Major league and Minor League baseball players, and also my new work at SmartKage.com developing the education system for the newest technology to test baseball players in all areas of their game. More updates to come.