Florida's Anibal Sanchez hits milestone in loss

Another nice mention in the palm beach post regarding Anibal Sanchez and his durability this season.

Go hard in the yard.

Brewers 8, Marlins 3: Florida's Anibal Sanchez hits milestone in loss

11th WIN!!!!

Florida Marlins right hander and Five Tool Baseball client, Anibal Sanchez, benefited from an explosive offense against the NY Mets (8/26/2010) and went on to win his CAREER HIGH 11th win - surpassing his previous career high posted during his rookie season. So happy for Anibal.

Go hard in the yard.

Anibal throws his 10th

Last night I went down to Sun Life Stadium and watched Anibal throw another outstanding game. By throwing 7 shutout innings which included a 37 minute rain delay, he won his 10th game matching his career high from 2006. He also helped his own cause with an RBI single and scoring a run. He threw that heavy ball. Fantastic job.

Go hard in the yard.

Adam

It's just what I do.

This past weekend (August 12-15, 2010) I traveled from Florida to Cincinnati,Ohio to catch the series between the Florida Marlins and Reds. It was a great opportunity to see two of my off-season guys: Ramon Hernandez and Anibal Sanchez. I was able to spend some professional, quality time with the both of them - along the way I was introduced to teammates, coaches, and managers. Networking, networking and networking. You never know who can or will become part of your "training" roster.

For me, training my clients/ballplayers doesnt stop when they leave for their season. Part of my training responsibility is to support them thru their season. For the past 5+ years I have traveled from scroching heat high school and collegiate games to spring training facilities and MLB parks. It's just what I do. And it should be just what you do. It's my favorite unwritten job description - It shouldnt have to be written at all. Bottom line, if you're involved in the training of baseball players, of any level, then show your support by showing up. I promise you it will mean more than you know.

Go hard in the yard.

Adam

The Sixth Tool

Previously I posted a blog identifying baseball's 5 Tools:
1) Hitting for average
2) Hitting for power
3) Speed
4) Arm strength
5) Defensive skills

Recently I came across a great article in the June 7th, 2010 issue of Sports Illustrated. The title of the article was called: The Sixth Tool.

MLB teams(colleges should be doing the same) are taking note of this sixth tool.

Here it is:

6) Player's character & background
- teams are looking for players that have consistently made good choices in school, on the field and in the community. Teams found that such choices have a high transfer rate of success in baseball.

In addition, we cannot ignore how a player handles pressure, defeats, successes, delayed gratification as these can also speak volumes about a player's character.

All in all, the game is played on and off the field with the respect we remembered from our youth.

Go hard in the yard.

Adam

Milwaukee Brewers

It was a pleasure to have Chris Joyner, Milwaukee Brewers Strength Coach, visit me during the team's recent trip into Florida against the Marlins. We had a great time working out and talking baseball training. He is an absolute professional, class act. Thanks Chris.

Olympic Lifts for baseball strength training…Really?

Just so we’re on the same page, baseball is a rotational sport. So while recently looking over a collegiate baseball summer training program I couldn’t help but notice Olympic lifts were included. Really?

Olympic lifting is a sport in and of itself that includes lifts such as the Snatch and the Clean & Jerk. These lifts require a tremendous amount of technique, a high learning curve and demand a high level of skill specific to the sport of Olympic lifting.

So why are these movements/exercises finding their way into the world of baseball training? I know, I know Olympic lifts can create powerful hips; and they do…in the sagittal plane of motion – which is not the dominant motion in baseball. Baseball is dominated thru the transverse/rotational plane.

Structurally, Olympic lifts could create abnormal (and high) levels of joint stress - particularly thru the shoulders and wrists- (let’s not forget about the force that's placed on the knees). I think we would all agree that the knees, shoulders and wrists are important to a ball player, thus we wouldn’t want to risk an off-season injury.

I’m not against Olympic lifts – I MIGHT incorporate them (MAYBE) if the athlete has a better than average base and understanding of Olympic lifting. However, I haven’t seen too many baseball players having been properly exposed to these lifts. Therefore I have to ask myself how important is it to teach and incorporate a potentially “risky” movement in order to develop sagittal plane hip power when baseball is dominated by rotational power. What's the reward:risk ratio?

Now, Im not saying we shouldnt do any sagittal plane power training. I just believe that in order to save the shoulders, wrists and knees we can choose safer alternatives (such as box jump or reverse medicine ball toss) can be performed BUT IN CONJUNCTION with rotational power training. Lastly, you may find yourself working within a limited time frame; so wouldnt you rather spend your time on related baseball training than taking up valuable training time to teach exercises (which may not get mastered) that are unique to the sport of Olympic lifting.

Train Hard. Train Smart.

Go hard in the yard.