Now that the spring seasons are over it is time to think about the off-season regimen. Nothing would get your son or daughter sharper and more ready for the next campaign than your own batting cage in the backyard. Too big of an investment you think? Don't want to put anything permanent in the backyard? Well, no worries on both fronts. Our backyard batting cages are portable, not permanent. They are easy up and down, which means if you are in an area of the country where a harsh winter would mean there's no going outside for a few months, just break it down and store it. Great for smaller high schools and for youth leagues as well. Anywhere you need a cage you can now have one without the thousands of dollars investment.

Haven't made plans yet for this weekend's Independence Day celebration? What's more American than spending some time at the ball park? And, of course, not everyone can make the trek to a Major League game but may we suggest that the Minor League experience is, in some ways, even more enjoyable? Beyond the fact that it is so much more affordable, there are shorter lines at the concession stands, and the worst seats are probably better than any you've ever had at a big league park. And in most cases there will probably be a nice fireworks show thrown in too boot. Plus, no matter where you live there's probably a game within a short drive. Check out the MiLB schedule for a game near you and enjoy your holiday in the classic American way.

You may have had a similar experience with JUGS pitching machines as did the author of this review on Sports Product Review. There are many brands to choose from, some with more fancy features and complex designs, but if you want value, service, warranty, and effective fastballs, you really can't beat JUGS.

You might be thinking, "I need some new batting gloves," or "I am looking for a wood bat." Maybe your mind is saying, "where do I find soccer mannequins?" or "what is the best lacrosse goal?" Maybe you've tried all of the big names and want to know, "Is there an inexpensive baseball glove that is as good as the big brand names?" All of the answers to these questions and more can be found by clicking the "shop" tab above. And if you have other questions that we don't have the answers to, just ask us and we'll try to find them for you. That is, after all, our motto.

How's your back feeling? Are you popping ibuprofen like its candy to ease the pain? Is there back pain because of sports or work or sitting for long periods of time? Why not try ice therapy with our Pro Ice "no ice" packs? Ingeniously designed to provide not only a real ice result, but even better than real ice, without any water, not plastic bags, not mess. They come with a compression sleeve that allows you to wrap that coldness tightly and force it deep into the sore muscles. Nothing is better for back pain, or for that matter, knee, shoulder, elbow or any other soreness.

There has been a lot of talk recently about the "fact" that baseball is in trouble from a long-term perspective. The argument goes that fewer kids are playing baseball for a variety of reasons. Some say the pace of the game is too slow for today's youth and that faster-moving sports like lacrosse are stepping in to fill the void. Others say that the ubiquity of video games has driven kids away from all sports.

However Forbes' Maury Brown has written a terrific article countering these points. You can read it here. He points out that statistics show youth baseball to be holding participation levels over the past five years. He addresses the argument that if fewer kids play the sport, then they won't grow up to watch it by pointing to the popularity of NASCAR, (how many of raced cars as kids?). He also cites as evidence the fact that nearly ten times as many kids play baseball as play Pop Warner football, but clearly the NFL has astronomical viewership. And, while average attendance at Major League Baseball games might be lower than that of an NFL game, there are ten times as many MLB games over the season which means total attendance in baseball dwarfs all other sports.

So before you sound the alarm for the demise of baseball, grab a cheap ticket and an expensive beer and go to the park for a ball game. You'll find America's pastime to be alive and well.

What better way to kick off the all-star tournament than with a new pair of awesome batting gloves? We offer a full array, in all sizes and in a variety of vibrant, eye-catching colors.

Here are some tips for youngsters playing in the all-stars:

• Don't be anxious or intimidated. All of the other kids are just like you. They played for their local league, they're good, but they're nervous too.
• Get used to your coaches. They may be new and have new ways of coaching the bases or calling plays. Don't be afraid to ask questions.

We'll have more tips for all-stars to come!

If you want to add longevity and performance to your baseball mitt, you need to care for it properly. Our partners at Vinci Pro Sports have a tip sheet with great advice. Because the glove is leather and leather is skin, you'll want to treat your ballglove as if it were your own skin, by keeping it clean and dry. If you'd like to adopt one of their great gloves to care for, you can do that here! Vinci gloves are of equal or superior quality to the big brand names you'll find at the major sporting goods stores, but come with a custom feel you can't get elsewhere.

If you are paying for hitting lessons or have worked with a batting coach, that's all well and good, but here's a secret some of the batting coaches might not tell you. Switch from metal to wood. Hitting with a wood bat exposes flaws in your swing. No longer can you get "lucky" and miss a pitch but still drive it. You'll not be able to get jammed but fist a ball out to right for a single. Now that spring baseball seasons are coming to, or have come to and end, we recommend you put away that aluminum bat for the summer and hit with nothing but wood until the next season begins again. And which are the best wood bats? We found them for you right here. Old Hickory is top of the line and used by Mike Trout.

You don't necessarily have to fire the batting instructor, but the best advice he could give you is to hit with wood.

From underwater hockey to finger jousting and more...here is video evidence that there are five sports even you, the world's greatest sports fan, didn't know existed. (OK, full disclosure, we'd heard of a couple of these but they're still weird). We'll be searching for products in these categories as well, if they get a little more mainstream!