Teams Playing "Down" in PG MLK

SanDiegoRealist posted:

In this age of "year-round" baseball, is anyone really not ready to go? I know position players probably tend to play more during the "off season" than a pitcher, but I honestly don't see high-level players in this area completely shutting down any more.

I agree on the "knowing your players" aspect of your post though.

It's just not possible to be at the top of your game year around.  It takes 5-7 days a week of work to get to your peak performance.  Maybe I am in a bubble, but I just don't see that level of commitment around here until spring.  Once spring season gets going than it's on (5-7 days a week baseball specific training).  Slow down a bit through summer (3-5 days a week) than more maintenance through fall (2-4 days a week).  Come winter most seem to shut down 4-8 weeks before starting to ramp back up.  

I wish someone would do the research required to give us some concrete answers regarding many things in baseball.

So much is said about the value of time off, playing other sports, pitch limits, number of games, etc., that seems like the gospel.  However, we have seen those that play year around and concentrate just on baseball become MLB All Stars.  We have seen pitchers that have been babied and pitch very little end up with TJ surgery.  

Of course we have also seen the complete opposite happen, too.  Seems as most of the research I see regarding baseball is slanted to prove the writers view on the subject.  

I sure don't have the answers, but every time I read about taking lots of time off and playing other sports or other important do's and don'ts... I can't help but think about the small country that produces the most MLB players per capita by a very long ways (Dominican Republic).  Also the great players that come from Japan.  Why do we ignore the way they go about developing talent?  How about Puerto Rico, Cuba, and even Venezuela?  Why is there so much baseball talent in those places?

The answers we get are always based on economic conditions and the desperation of getting ahead.  Nobody seems to want to believe that it might be because they actually play year around.  The Dominican infielders are a million ground balls ahead of most of us here in the states.  But there are many poverty stricken areas of the world that don't produce the big number of players in the top level of professional sports... Maybe soccer?  Do those soccer players concentrate on soccer or take a lot of time off?  

Once again, I admit... I do not have any answers, just questions.  But I think those questions should be addressed.  It is easy to assume things based on  what we hear or read.  But after you see so many things that contradict these things it really gets confusing.  For the record, my own beliefs actually lean towards sufficient rest, safe pitching, and participating in other activities or sports while at the same time continuing to develop baseball skills.  Then again, I can see another side to that opinion.

PGStaff posted:

I wish someone would do the research required to give us some concrete answers regarding many things in baseball.

So much is said about the value of time off, playing other sports, pitch limits, number of games, etc., that seems like the gospel.  However, we have seen those that play year around and concentrate just on baseball become MLB All Stars.  We have seen pitchers that have been babied and pitch very little end up with TJ surgery.  

Of course we have also seen the complete opposite happen, too.  Seems as most of the research I see regarding baseball is slanted to prove the writers view on the subject.  

I sure don't have the answers, but every time I read about taking lots of time off and playing other sports or other important do's and don'ts... I can't help but think about the small country that produces the most MLB players per capita by a very long ways (Dominican Republic).  Also the great players that come from Japan.  Why do we ignore the way they go about developing talent?  How about Puerto Rico, Cuba, and even Venezuela?  Why is there so much baseball talent in those places?

The answers we get are always based on economic conditions and the desperation of getting ahead.  Nobody seems to want to believe that it might be because they actually play year around.  The Dominican infielders are a million ground balls ahead of most of us here in the states.  But there are many poverty stricken areas of the world that don't produce the big number of players in the top level of professional sports... Maybe soccer?  Do those soccer players concentrate on soccer or take a lot of time off?  

Once again, I admit... I do not have any answers, just questions.  But I think those questions should be addressed.  It is easy to assume things based on  what we hear or read.  But after you see so many things that contradict these things it really gets confusing.  For the record, my own beliefs actually lean towards sufficient rest, safe pitching, and participating in other activities or sports while at the same time continuing to develop baseball skills.  Then again, I can see another side to that opinion.

Very well said.  I agree completely. More questions than answers.  Very hard to find unbiased commentary based on data or facts.  As the years have passed we continue to work with our son to learn the basics.  What do you want to do?  How hard do you want to work? How do you feel? How to tell the difference (this is another question?) between injury and sore. How to communicate with coaches about when he is done.... But it is really fumbling in the dark.