BUILDING THE BASEBALL ATHLETE

Running Blind

Ask a ballplayer a simple question and quite often – you’ll get a blank stare.

(Player) “Hey- I’m going for a run” (he announces in the weight room making sure I hear him and can log that he ran)

(Me) “Why?”

(Player) (Insert blank stare here)

Why run? I thought it was a simple question… for every action there must be a reason, right?

Not always.

In fact- on this day- there were many good reasons for this player to do a mid-distance run – I just wanted to know if he knew any of them.

Often in our sport- and in professional sports in general- our “micro” world of thinking has players doing supplemental activities to skills without an understanding of where they fit and how they are best utilized.

The classic example of this are the quite common statements “This is the BEST exercise”… (My response) “Best for What?”.

I attempt each season to create two things- (1) Situational Awareness- which is- what is happening with my body- now – and what do I need it to do, and (2) that all exercises are simply a vehicle- a means to an end. It’s somewhat like driving a car- you know where you want to go-your goal destination- the vehicle will take you there. Some will take you faster than others, some in more comfort.

Exercise is not much different- but you have to start with a goal. My lifelong friend Tom Purvis (PT, Biomechanist) was the first to create the logical “Mindset” in the early nineties by screaming through LA gyms- “What’s the goal?” All exercise selection begins with a goal in mind. It’s never just pick up a weight- and go.

A “step back” approach is one that catches many players off guard. It makes them think, and in terms of optimizing performance- I want my athletes to think. I want athletes that understand their bodies and I want athletes who live the life of a performance machine…where every decision is one made to assist the next level of performance.

At the end of a 7 inning 3 hit game- Rick Vanden Hurk walked off the mound- chatted briefly with pitching coach Scott Mitchell, came straight over and explained what he was going to do next. With Rick’s intelligent sense of humor- as he entered the tunnel – he looked back at me and said “I only have another 4 ½ days to be ready” You can only smile when you have an athlete in optimal performance mode.

In our sport few achieve this level- especially as the roll through the minor leagues. There are a few, however that once they know where you- the strength and conditioning –performance coach are coming from - jump on the ride and make it happen.

This year we progressed about 12 players to the major leagues. All 12 keep in touch.

More on running – and how to get the blinders off- tomorrow.