Jeff Leach

Great hitters do the basics exceptionally well. What are the basics you should focus on? My top 5, thread 🧵

Stephon Castle is Stephen Jackson 2.0. Make a great shot or defensive play. Next possession is a no look pass out of bounds or dribble the ball off your foot turnover. Spectacular to sloppy.

@Phatinfantry @JamesPurchin John Smoltz assumes he nailed the broadcast every time. He's not rewatching or researching or trying to get better in any way.

@JamesPurchin That's not impressive... Who wouldn't do that... Hell of a broadcaster, but that is nothing but normal.

Mike Tirico told me his secret. It wasn't talent. It wasn't luck. It was what he does on every flight home. A few years ago, I met him at a restaurant bar in Indianapolis during the Big Ten tournament. One of the biggest voices in sports. He didn't lead with his résumé. He introduced himself. He asked questions. He cared about every person in the room before anyone cared about him. Eventually, I asked him what made him great. He said after every game he calls, on the flight home, he pulls up the broadcast and watches it back. Listens to his own voice. Hunts for the misses. The dead air. The calls he wishes he could have over. Every game. Twenty-plus years in. He wasn't born world-class. He worked his way there one flight at a time. The best in any room are usually the ones still grading themselves the hardest. World-class isn't a personality. It's a habit.

Grew up watching 90's Braves w/my Dad. Worked Spring training in 2019. Saw Bobby Cox walking towards me. Was there to meet some players, didn't want to bother him but we made eye contact. He walked over. Held out his hand. Firm handshake. Small thing, but classy. Sad he's gone.

@LegKickNationOG Political climate has its influence. You pick your tribe & it becomes your identity. The other side isn't just a difference of opinion. They're the bad guys. You don't take time to think. Pause to reconsider. You just dismiss or attack.

@CoachJeffLeach Over the past couple months - I replied to several posts from hitting guys I’ve never heard of or interacted with before. I asked honest questions - not trolling etc - just trying to figure out what they were seeing and get feedback. None responded. One dude blocked me.

Does anyone talk hitting anymore? Or is it all just - I’m smart, you’re dumb. I’m “old” enough now to remember when dudes used to talk openly about different philosophies, different thoughts, cues whatever. Just dudes talking hitting whether they agreed or not.

@DreAllDay Depends on the "you"

@CoachJeffLeach At 12, you’re often identifying early physical development — not necessarily long-term ceiling.

I constantly hear "The best players at 12 don't become the best players at 18" but I don't often see evidence of that. Been coaching in south central TX since 2009. I can tell you most of the best local high school seniors were amongst the best players at 12 w/few exceptions-

@JasonAndrew1421 lol no

@CoachJeffLeach Cool, there is also numerous 12u kids that throw 70mph and as HS seniors throw 74mph. Blanket statements both ways are dumb.

The best player in my area at 12u is a HS senior. Not yet committed to college. Some judge his level of development based on that, which is out of his control. In the 1st round of the HS playoffs this weekend he was intentionally walked 3x in 1 game. He's still a dude.

@coach_kevin_m If you don't join in on hating the good young players, you get the hate too.

@coach_kevin_m The most hated on athlete on every youth team is the big kid. Adults love to predict future struggles for young achievers in sports, school etc.

@GatorProf Was talking to another coach the other day. The things youbg kids do now seem 2-3 years ahead of kids I coached 8 years ago. The ass kicker 9-12u teams then would be competitive today but not dominant like they were. Kids are getting better coaching and are starting sooner.

@CoachJeffLeach I have to agree with you. Some of these 12 year olds are so developed beyond 12’s of my generation. 12 today is the new 15 in development.

@thereallsu777 My older son didn't play baseball ever till he was 10. He was good at 12. A standout in high school and played in college. He was a late developer. So it does happen. It's weird to state your perspective that it's the exception not the rule and have so many triggered by it.

@thereallsu777 The most hated on kid on every team or league is the big kid. The early development kid dominating. Parents make it a point to tear them down & predict their downfall.

If you strongly oppose my perspective (which is fine) while selling seminars, courses & mentorships to "unlock hidden potential" you might be compromised. 🤔

@CPWolfDad I live in Texas. The school my kids will go to won the state championship back to back. It's a football first town, but most area kids don't play tackle until 7th grade. Baseball dominates youth sports until middle school.

@CoachJeffLeach I would say this is more accurate in baseball....but less accurate in Football. Baseball - being able to hit translates from 12 to 17/18 very well...being able to throw and field...all translate...in Football...guys size out...other guys grow massively...it's different.

@DreAllDay Self help guru an elite hustle

Sports culture has created a manufactured panic for parents. “If your kid isn’t ahead by middle school, they’re done.” Convenient narrative when your business sells year-round training packages to anxious families.

@_kevinbelt Generally I think this is waayyy off from reality.

@CoachJeffLeach Or late blooming kids have caught up in reps and start to take over. But some of the top 12 year olds learn the mental side of the game to go along with the physical, and those are the guys who turn out to be high draft picks.

@DannySpencerd24 I've read it! Good book

@CoachJeffLeach Read Gladwell’s “Outliers” specifically the section related to the impact birthdates have on hockey and to a lesser degree baseball. It changed how a view this and may change your views as well.

@robertbruce76 I really don't see that often. Coached many 5'10" power hitting 12 year olds that other parents predicted would fall off. The floor was like- strong high school players. Went juco & ended up at a mid major D1 or D2 school. Still pretty elite