SportsPhotos,
I've looked at the posts that you've looked at, (by your comments) and you should be able to see where your photos are lacking. I think you're sincerely looking to improve, so I'd like to give you some harsh critique. I received much of the same from this forum, so I'd like to repay..
1. The crop has the pitchers foot cut off, and it's obviously during warm-ups based on the outfielder in the background. Way too much sky in the top of the photo. You've got that nice black background, and plenty of crop room, so crop smaller to eliminate the outfielder and the sky.
2. Basically the same.. crop out #9, the outfielder, and the sky. The pitcher is our focus.
3. Crop tighter to eliminate the players sitting, the catchers glove, and so much field on the bottom. Also, when we can't see the batter's eyes it detracts from the image.
4. Crop tighter. No need for all that field.
Now, to the more important issue... Don't crop now, crop before you take the picture. These all look a bit soft. The pitcher looks okay, but he's too far away in the picture to really tell. The batter and the outfielder throwing are both way too soft to be considered great. (Again, "great" is what I'm assuming you're after.) It seems you are too far away from the action and these photos have been cropped too much, which degrades the picture, or it might be your technique.
On the pitcher shots you were at 230mm, and obviously right behind the fence. Being relatively close to the pitcher helped your exposure to be sharp(er). On the batter shot you were at 300mm and obviously far away. (in your seat on the right field line?) On the outfielder you were at 230mm, and closer to the fielder than the batter. I'd be willing to bet your seat was somewhere behind first base, and the outfielder shot was of the right fielder throwing to his warm up guy between innings.
So why do I mention all of this? The lesson is to 'fill your viewfinder'. Your shots will look better. On the pitcher shots and the outfielder you could have been at 300mm. On the batter shot, you'd have to fill the viewfinder with your feet, by moving closer.
The guys said above, they want bigger pics... What they probably mean is to fill the viewfinder. That's step 1. You'll notice a huge improvement when you do. Enough for now. (My kids are screaming at me to watch 'So you think you can dance') How embarrassing.
Regards,
John.
MKIII, 40D, XTI, 70-200 f/4L, 100-400L, 17-85 IS, 85 1.8, 100 2.8 Macro, 580 EX II, 550 EX, Bee's, PW's