Cy Young set massive benchmarks in professional baseball. Born in 1867, Young currently holds the Major League records for most career innings pitched (7,355), most career games started (815), and most complete games (749). Young had 76 career shutouts, the fourth most in history. He also won at least 30 games in a season five times, with ten other seasons of 20 or more wins. In addition, Young pitched three no-hitters, including the first perfect game of baseball's "modern era". Benchmark? More likely a bench factory.
Chances are good- he wasn’t on a pitch count- didn’t pitch in a 5 day rotation, and at the time “relief” was making your way to the bathroom between innings of a doubleheader. Yes- old CY has rolled the arm over a few times to say the least.
Chances are good- he wasn’t on a pitch count- didn’t pitch in a 5 day rotation, and at the time “relief” was making your way to the bathroom between innings of a doubleheader. Yes- old CY has rolled the arm over a few times to say the least.
Now- debates rattle the corridors of baseball experts when comparing era’s, balls, hitters, rules parks and the way the game was played.
Just after CY was knocking down win after win- a Canadian scientist by the name of Hans Selye burst into literature with his GAS- General Adaptation Syndrome theory. Prior to his death in 1982, Dr. Selye had written more than 1700 scholarly papers and 39 books on stress and adaptation, and he is still by far the world’s most frequently cited author on the topic. Selyes research had a profound influence on Soviet scientists doing research for the military, sports and space programs.
Selye first described GAS in 1936. The GAS involves three progressive stages - the first stage, the ALARM reaction, is characterized by surprise and anxiety when exposed to a new situation. During this stage the body reacts by producing epinephrine and norepinephrine AKA the flight or fight hormones. Additionally, the adrenal cortex is stimulated to produce additional hydrocortisone and related hormones.
The second stage, RESISTANCE is characterized by adaptation, whereby the body learns to efficiently cope with the stressor. Ideally, this ADAPTIVE STAGE continues until the stressful situation is resolved, leading to a rapid return to the resting state.
Unfortunately, our capacity for adaptation is limited and highly individualized (i.e. what is stimulating to one person may be devastating to another). Just as a chain breaks at its weakest link, so too can exhaustion of our adaptive capacity result in stress-induced disease. In the presence of long-term exposure to the same stressor, we enter the third stage of GAS, EXHAUSTION. Exhaustion is characterized by a depletion of energy reserves and loss of adaptational ability, leading to fatigue or other symptoms or diseases.
When discussing Periodization- (a process that first came from (you guessed it) our Russian friends looking over Selyes shoulder) we need to address this for each individual..
The second stage, RESISTANCE is characterized by adaptation, whereby the body learns to efficiently cope with the stressor. Ideally, this ADAPTIVE STAGE continues until the stressful situation is resolved, leading to a rapid return to the resting state.
Unfortunately, our capacity for adaptation is limited and highly individualized (i.e. what is stimulating to one person may be devastating to another). Just as a chain breaks at its weakest link, so too can exhaustion of our adaptive capacity result in stress-induced disease. In the presence of long-term exposure to the same stressor, we enter the third stage of GAS, EXHAUSTION. Exhaustion is characterized by a depletion of energy reserves and loss of adaptational ability, leading to fatigue or other symptoms or diseases.
When discussing Periodization- (a process that first came from (you guessed it) our Russian friends looking over Selyes shoulder) we need to address this for each individual..
The modern individual periodization plan for baseball is one that looks something like this:
END OF SEASON: Active recovery (10 Days)
OFF SEASON PHASE ONE: Corrective Exercise (4 weeks)
OFF SEASON PHASE TWO: Stabilization (4 weeks)
OFF SEASON PHASE THREE: Strength (6 Weeks)
OFF SEASON PHASE FOUR: Power (6 weeks)
Some individual variations may apply.
OFF SEASON PHASE ONE: Corrective Exercise (4 weeks)
OFF SEASON PHASE TWO: Stabilization (4 weeks)
OFF SEASON PHASE THREE: Strength (6 Weeks)
OFF SEASON PHASE FOUR: Power (6 weeks)
Some individual variations may apply.
The model optimizes the adaptation for kinetic genetic potential. Energy System training follows standard cardiac adaptation rates in Phase One and Two, and adjusts for player specificity in phases 3 and 4.
During the season- its all about power maintenance and microcycle awareness- 5 day rotation guys are the easiest to apply the system to- Catchers and everyday position players- the more difficult, and each recovery session is the beginning of the preparing the next event.
We can thank Selye for GAS and we can thank CY young for showing us there is more than 70 pitches every five days in the human body- but maybe not every human body.
Just like CY, Daisuke Matsuzaka (松坂 大輔), will attest- there is more volume potential than his 2009 conditioning recognized. His teammate Jonathon Papelbon, however- has an entirely different energy system process, and will train differently to exceed the one or two inning demands placed upon his system daily. Sadly- most coaches treat Pitchers- all the same.
Cy opened the door- Selye painted the picture. There is much to learn here from both of them.
Just like CY, Daisuke Matsuzaka (松坂 大輔), will attest- there is more volume potential than his 2009 conditioning recognized. His teammate Jonathon Papelbon, however- has an entirely different energy system process, and will train differently to exceed the one or two inning demands placed upon his system daily. Sadly- most coaches treat Pitchers- all the same.
Cy opened the door- Selye painted the picture. There is much to learn here from both of them.
Strength Coaches, your mission is to objectively measure-understand and manage the periodization model- exploit a scientific training concept and believe you can drive each individual athlete to a higher capacity.
Remember- The sum of the parts will ultimately drive a better whole.
Remember- The sum of the parts will ultimately drive a better whole.
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