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a unique view on muscle mass... is it true?

A Andrew100+ posts
I am a three sport athelete: football, wrestling, baseball. While baseball is my number one priority, of course I have to train to satisfy the needs of all three to the best of my ability. I was talking to a coach at my school, and I said that I'm concerned that I might be building a little too much bulk for pitching. He told me that you can get as big as you want AS LONG AS you mantain or improve your flexibility, and no damage will be done to pitching.... in fact, if that protocol is followed he said the muscle mass might help. So he is in essence putting a limit on how big you can get because if you get enormous you can not mantain your flexibility.

Is he right?

Even if flexibility is mantained, wouldn't that make your throwing arm heavier and therefore require more more energy to move it and therefore slow down your arm? Just so everyone knows, I have been lifting fairly heavy for a while, and seemed to be helping greatly, but I am starting to get a little concerned.

I know the topic of bulking has been adressed before, but I dont think I have seen this perspective very often if ever.
Thank you so much.
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T thepainguy1,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by Andrew:
I was talking to a coach at my school, and I said that I'm concerned that I might be building a little too much bulk for pitching. He told me that you can get as big as you want AS LONG AS you mantain or improve your flexibility, and no damage will be done to pitching.... in fact, if that protocol is followed he said the muscle mass might help.


The majority (e.g. 80%) of a pitcher's power is generated in their hips and torso. Large arm muscles like the Biceps and Triceps are pretty much flaccid during a high level throw. The arm muscles that really matter are the Brachialis and the muscles of the rotator cuff, but they are used to decelerate the arm and hold it in its socket, not to generate force.
A Andrew100+ posts
Texan, I understand that. But I was referring to the development of the muscles in the arm specficially triceps, and biceps. To my understanding, they are much more of a focus in a football/wrestling weight lifting program than baseball, thusly I probably do a lot more with them than a baseball progam would suggest. I am asking the affects of that (and building mass in the upper body) on pitching rather than just weight lifting on a baseball program, with is undoubtedly highly beneficial.
T thepainguy1,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by Andrew:
Texan, I understand that. But I was referring to the development of the muscles in the arm specficially triceps, and biceps. To my understanding, they are much more of a focus in a football/wrestling weight lifting program than baseball, thusly I probably do a lot more with them than a baseball progam would suggest. I am asking the affects of that (and building mass in the upper body) on pitching rather than just weight lifting on a baseball program, with is undoubtedly highly beneficial.


I think the effect is neutral to negative.

First, developing your Biceps and Triceps muscles will not give you a velocity boost. Only core work and proper mechanics will do that. You have to develop the muscles of your rotator cuff so that they have hold your arm in its joint, not because they develop much in the way of velocity (because they don't).

Second, if you over-develop the Biceps and Triceps, then they will be heavier which means your arm will be heavier which means that it MAY not whip as well.

Third, I believe that efforts to increase one's flexibility can be counter-productive to detrimental because you can end up destabilizing your joints. In many cases your joints are tight for a very good reason.
T Texan1,000+ posts
A baseball oriented strength training program will develop the upper body. But it will also ensure that flexibility is maintained.

Strengthening the legs and torso absolutely is important. But to say that there is no benefit to strengthening the arm muscles is quite ludicrous. Common sense alone will tell you that.

Take someone with an atrophied arm and have them throw. I don't care how strong their torso may be, they will not see their maximum velocity.
I InTheMit10+ posts
Pitching used to be an art form, but not today - it's a science. If you truly want "good" answers, I would think one might seek answers from an Exercise Science major or Kinesiologist. The only problem getting answers from these folks is they can be on the pricey side - especially if you go to a proven one. Coaches on the other hand ,imho, are a hit and miss.

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