Butch Thompson
Recruiting Coordinator
Mississippi State University

1.  Why did you get into coaching?
      In a word, relationships.  I was blessed with great coaches that made a difference in my life more “off the field” than “on the field”.  Their impact on me made coaching the only decision.  Working with great coaches and players is what I enjoy the most.  Going to Omaha is awesome but it will never replace the desire of having great relationships.

2.  When did you know coaching was what you wanted to do?
      I’ve always known I wanted to coach.  In high school I coached spring football after playing my last game as a senior.  After my junior year of college I was the head coach of our summer baseball team back home.  For me the question of coach or not coach never realistically came up.  It was more where was I going to coach and what level could I coach at.

3.  What kind of person do you look for when recruiting a player?
      We are looking for someone special.  An attractive personality with a natural ability to lead.  Someone that has already demonstrated a positive impact on his current community and team.  When out recruiting I want to pay close attention to his respect for everyone he would come into contact during a game (coaches, umpires, teammates).  All of us should remember that the value of our “name” is one of our best treasures.  Our program is looking for a person that is spoken of highly when you mention his name.

4.  What are things you like, and things you don’t like to see at high school games?
     Things that are attractive:
     *Communicative (pre-pitch, playing the game in his mind prior to the pitch)
     *Light on your feet (on and off the field, good bounce and energy)
     *Play up tempo (a pitcher that desires to work quick, a position player that runs the       
       bases hard)
     *Need a scoreboard (a player that plays the game regardless of score, make me have
       to look at the scoreboard to see who’s winning.  Too may players body language
       tell the score)
     *Turn your body loose (no fear of failure, opportunities are missed because players
        hesitate and won’t turn their bodies loose, trust your swing, your glove, your arm
        and your instincts)
     *Show me you have a plan (as a hitter the situation will dictate your approach at the
        plate (ex: count, runners on, etc.) as a pitcher your ability to define command and
        “pitchability” are important.  An athlete with solid tools that demonstrates a plan is
        very attractive.

     Things that are not attractive:
     *Negative reactions (the game will present adversity.  Seeing players respond
       negatively in a game makes me wonder if they have left the “bullseye” mentally)
     *When no communication is taking place between the coaches and players.  Your
       best players are usually in the fire and working well with others.
     *Running hard home to 1st – whether a pop up or soft ground ball still run full speed
       down the line.  A high school player may be asked to only run hard 5 times a game
       from an offensive standpoint.  Turn it loose.
     *Stationary on defense when the ball is being pitched.  It’s very negative to see a
       player not ready to defend a ball.  We are looking for players to be in motion prior to
       contact.  Plays are made with your feet.  Lazy, unprepared feet lead to lack of range
       and rhythm.
     *Hesitation – opposite of turning your body loose.  Not being at full speed to throw,
       swing or defend.  Play every pitch like it’s your last.
    *Not seeing a plan – (ex: when a pitcher is struggling with the zone and starts
      attempting to throw harder and works even quicker) (ex: a hitter that can score a
      runner at 3b with a 42 hop ground ball but chooses to get big, lift and produces a pop
      up on the infield) have a plan and demonstrate it each at bat and pitch.  Players that
      show no adjustments or feel for situations is concerning to see.

5.  What are the differences in recruiting a junior college kid vs high school kid?
      It is very similar in the fact that you  are looking for your recruiting match or needs.  Junior college student-athletes must pay special attention to the classes that they are taking.  Make sure classes will transfer to the NCAA level and also make sure they are taking classes that will count toward a degree.  New legislation put in requires that junior college students must meet a percentage toward degree work in order to be eligible.  Junior college players are great for meeting immediate needs because of their experience at the college level.  Potential drawbacks from recruiting a junior college player may be; learning a new system, having in your program only one year (MLB draft), and further development.
      High school players are exciting to recruit from the standpoint of having them for a minimum of 3 and maximum of 4 years to grow and develop as a player.  The ability to learn and grow in one system is a positive.  Eligibility is easier to claim for the high school student.  Register with the NCAA clearing house (when you begin classes senior year), fulfill high school graduation (with required core classes and acceptable core grade point average), make an acceptable test score (ACT,SAT), and apply for admission to desired university.
      The only true difference I see in recruiting a junior college and high school player is projection.  You can envision development in a high school player.  A junior college player is required to have the necessary skill to play immediately since their 4 year career is half way over.

6.  People are saying the game is changing.  Where do you see the game today compared to when you started your coaching career?
     How the game is the same to me:
     *Players still work hard, techniques are still very similar and winning is the goal.
     *Recruiting and pitching is still essential to success.
     How the game has changed to me:
     *The exposure of our game is at an all-time high.  Attendance records are being set
      every season. 
      *High school players are “specializing” and playing baseball year round more than
      ever.  It’s great for development but is concerning from an injury standpoint. 
      Remember pitching is like writing a check.  Make sure you have enough money in the
      bank so your “check won’t bounce”.  Balance your playing with phases for proper
      rest and strength gain.

7. Knowing you’re also a pitching coach, what are your top pitching tips for young players?
    Below are 4 areas where pitchers could focus to improve their “pitchability”.  I will try to steer away from mechanics this time.  With the advice below, continue to be yourself but wrap your mind around applying the concepts to your game.

1. Tempo – With your delivery.  I see so many pitchers start too quick after getting their sign.  The pace of the delivery is so fast early then actually appears to slow down at release.  I’ve had some success with pitchers focusing on a gradual tempo increase throughout their delivery.  Begin in first gear, and shift gear to gear as you progress in the delivery.  You want to hit max speed at release, not at the start of your delivery.
2. Three levels to your fastball – The best pitchers that I’ve coached have actually changed speeds on their fastballs.  Remember that pitching is essentially disrupting hitters timing.  Changing speeds on your fastball helps you accomplish this along with not over throwing the breaking ball.  We train 1) a pride fastball (top end velocity, usually a 4 seam grip and even train with some elevation 2) a tempo fastball (located down and in angle to a specific spot) should be our best located fastball.   Think about 80% and focus on the location first and foremost, and 3) a minus fastball (think just below the tempo velocity.  Think movement, downward sinc action, focus tempo level and develop movement just below that.  Pitchers that focused on this pitch produced a ton of ground balls and swing and misses when behind in the count.
3. Force contact – We attempt to finish an at bat in 3 pitches.  This protects pitch count and teaches the pitcher to desire contact.  When you first try this your contact may be hard but as you learn how to change speeds on your fastball and develop movement within the strike zone you will begin producing “soft” contact.  It will let you play the game 9 on 1, give you quick innings and let you pitch later into the game.  I’m not against strikeouts, I just think it’s hard to strike a guy out on a 0-0 count.  Our goal for an inning is 3 pitch at bats, 13 pitch innings, completed in 3 minutes.  Remember we are fighting human nature with this concept.  Most pitchers first thought was try and avoid contact.  You give up a ground ball and an out was hardly ever made.  Therefore, the mindset was to pitch away from and avoid contact.  As you develop to higher levels of baseball the defense only gets better.  You should develop a “pitchability” plan that should last as you develop to a higher level.
4. Work out of the stretch – Games are usually won or lost out of the stretch unless a solo home run is given up.  Hitting and pitching out of the stretch are so similar.  The stretch is a compact more efficient mechanic to master.  Direction is usually easier to dictate and pitchers usually learn how to use their legs more from this deliver.  My advice is to simply pitch out of the stretch 85% of the time.  Come set in an athletic position like you are a linebacker or guarding someone in basketball.  Sometimes a pitcher practices too much out of the windup never truly achieves a proper athletic position.

8.  Any advice you can give high school players?
     Recruiting:  start with a blank sheet of paper and make a list of what you are looking for in a college.  Think about distance from home, degrees offered, would I want to attend that school if I didn’t play baseball, do I match with the coaching staff, does my style of play match with theirs.  List pros and cons of the schools you are most interested in.
     Keep your list realistic and small.  Ask your coach what level he thinks you are a match for.  Keep it to 3 or 5 schools initially.  Your research will be better and it will not be so overwhelming.
    Ask your coach(es) to call potential schools for you.  It is more professional for a coach to call than mom or dad.  Send simple, but informative information about you.  A video is a great starting point.
    Attend a camp.  Let’s you be on campus and have personal interaction with the coaching staff.  Both sides can gain valuable information from a camp.
    Pursue your passion.  You will excel in areas you are passionate about.  Really evaluate your passion, then go get it.
    The best I’ve coached have been the most talented AND hardest workers.  Talent can be developed but are you currently the hardest working player in your program?
    Stay positive and bullseye centered.  Baseball is a game of adversity.  Handle it and be focused always on the next pitch.  So many times adversity pulls young players mentally away from the target.  Remember you choose how to respond.  Keep focused on the target and next pitch!