Is distance running or Bad for pitcher development?

have always preferred distance for pitchers

Baseball is an explosive sport with rest in between so the general thinking in the training community is that you should mirror your training to match the sport, hence explosive work with rest is considered optimal. Most trainers recommend sprints of varying lengths, 100’s up to x 10 for “over’s” and 20-50’s x 10-15 for “under’s” a couple of times a week in addition to your weight training. Pitching does require more stamina so some distance running is beneficial for overall build up of the legs and some general conditioning. Cross-country running is not considered optimal for baseball players (or sprinters) and will make you slower. It also tends to break down muscle mass and is not the best match for a baseball player. The ideal body type for each sport is very different. That said, he is in high school and should go out and participate in multiple sports if he is having fun he is certainly going to be in better “life shape”.

While a pitcher has to build endurance he needs to build explosive power as well. There are more arguments against than for long distance running for pitchers.

Look for a good training methods for pitchers that are age appropriate.

Ron Wolforth offers some great ideas.


http://www.webball.com/cms/page7139.cfm

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There are more arguments against than for long distance running for pitchers.

Then why do so many pitchers run long distances after pitching? Or the next day?

Bulldog, after a long outing my son will go out and run 2-3 miles. He might do this once a week at most, It gets him using all of his muscles and gets the blood flowing throughout his body and helps his recovery. I would not consider this "long distance running".

Long distance running, as in cross country means runners are putting in 30-75 miles per week in serious training. Early in your training regime going out for a 2-4 mile run a couple times a week is also not "long distance running". Once you have built up a base strength in your legs and have yourself in decent aerobic shape you should start doing more explosive work that includes some intervals, which also develop the aerobit fitness.

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Originally posted by BOF:
Bulldog, after a long outing my son will go out and run 2-3 miles. He might do this once a week at most, It gets him using all of his muscles and gets the blood flowing throughout his body and helps his recovery. I would not consider this "long distance running".

Long distance running, as in cross country means runners are putting in 30-75 miles per week in serious training. Early in your training regime going out for a 2-4 mile run a couple times a week is also not "long distance running". Once you have built up a base strength in your legs and have yourself in decent aerobic shape you should start doing more explosive work that includes some intervals, which also develop the aerobit fitness.

I agree. There is a difference in long distance vs a short run, of 1 or 2 miles per week even during off season training.
Another thing is that if you train your body properly those 1 or 2 miles is nothing when you get to campus or spring training.

Why do you folks think we don't have more pitchers (or ballplayers for that matter) running bleachers. It is an explosive routine and has been great for my leg strength and stamina.

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Originally posted by Texas1836:
Why do you folks think we don't have more pitchers (or ballplayers for that matter) running bleachers. It is an explosive routine and has been great for my leg strength and stamina.

Actually some programs have this as a component of their workout. It is considered an "overload".

This is going beyond the question, but most programs have phases in them where there is a period of time, typically 3 mos. where they want to build up body mass and then a phase closer to the season) where they focus on speed/indurance/agility.

Either Baseball Tonight or MLB Tonight showed video of Brian Wilson running up/down and all around the stadium before a game last week.

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Originally posted by Texas1836:
Why do you folks think we don't have more pitchers (or ballplayers for that matter) running bleachers. It is an explosive routine and has been great for my leg strength and stamina.

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Originally posted by MTH:
Either Baseball Tonight or MLB Tonight showed video of Brian Wilson running up/down and all around the stadium before a game last week.

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Originally posted by Texas1836:
Why do you folks think we don't have more pitchers (or ballplayers for that matter) running bleachers. It is an explosive routine and has been great for my leg strength and stamina.

That's way different than long distance training for development. Did he close the night before?

no idea about the nighy before but he closed that night