Skip to main content

22 replies

The light? ok..maybe a spark

PH Pat H100+ posts
Over the past 5/6 weeks I think my son (2015) is starting to see the light..or at least a spark. Messages are stating to sink in. For every parent who has a kid who dreads doing the extra stuff, maybe this will show you there is a bit of hope. Labor day weekend my son pitched in a tourney and did very well. We got the win, and he went the distance. Afterwards, I told the coach, hey can you tell my kids to run a few poles. His pitching coach has preached it for 2 years and it has always been a "battle" for me to get him to do it. To top it off he hates running. But this coach told him to...and he did 6. The next week he pitched the front end of a double header, and between games...he ran 5 poles. The following week, he pitched a sunday late afternoon game and when he got home, he threw on his running shoes and ran a mile. And after yesterdays game he ran 2 miles. He is starting to see the benefits now. He recovers quicker, his stamina is up and yesterday after throwing 7 innings (90 pitches), I asked how he felt and he said, "I feel like I can go another game". So maybe, just maybe after telling him how important it is to run and take care of yourself (for what seemed like forever), it's finally starting to sink in. Thank god I didn't quit telling him.
"Go show your father that baseball." - Sandy Koufax (this is what Sandy Koufax said to me after he signed my baseball and found out I didn't know who he was. I was 12 yrs old.)
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

P Prime91,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by TPM:
There are no proven benefits to long distance running for pitchers other than it clears the head.


A nice 12 minute, 2 mile Run doesn't qualify as long distance, even for me, at my age. If that's as long as it gets, it won't even be a huge benefit to the cardio system. It is, however, a nice warm-up or cool-down for a conditioned young athlete.

For a 2015 player, it is a good sign seeing them "take to heart" any and every aspect of conditioning. Hopefully, he is doing more than just running?
TPMTPMHSBaseballweb Member since 2003
Definetly son has done lots of running. If your son goes to college he will not have a choice. Lots of running in spring training but nothing is mandatory after that. My son runs when he needs to think. He also did stadium steps but this was in addition to his post game routine.

I do hope that the pitcher does more than run.
Last edited by TPM
dw8mandw8man10+ posts
Pat H.

Congratuations on your son's development. Sounds like he is starting to mature and do some of the extra things that may set him apart from his peers.

I know exactly how you are feeling and have to say it over and over to myself. Parenting is a long term comittment and we wont know how we did until they are grown and on their own.
P Prime91,000+ posts
quote:
A 6 min mile is a warm up??


Is pretty quick, huh? I should have just referred to the 2 mile run you cited and not a time. But perhaps you missed the point? That unlike the quote cited, I think his running is a positive.

Glad he's doing more than running. By the way, my son's college team; must run 2-miles is less than 14 minutes. A H.S. Sophmore (2015??), a relative physical light weight, should be able to best that time by a good bit. You need not try out with your times. Best of luck to you and your son in his quest though!
Last edited by Prime9
MizzoubaseballMizzoubaseball1,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by Prime9:
By the way, my son's college team; must run 2-miles is less than 14 minutes.


I remember my son telling me that they had to do that for their high school try out. I think about that and laugh everytime the 6 foot 240 pound 1st baseman/DH comes up to bat. I guess there are exceptions to every rule if you can hit.
JPontiacJPontiac500+ posts
The physical benefits for a pitcher doing poles after a game are debatable, but I think the real thing of importance here is that the OP's son took initiative. I was there once, too. Being able to do these poles is the start of a great thing. Even if these poles aren't the best thing in the world to do, you can now be assured that he'll do whatever it is he needs to do to get better. That's awesome.
S SwampboyHSBBWeb Administrator
I generally side with the proponents of short, explosive runs in the great debate over pitcher running regimens.

However, that debate has meaning only in the context of asking how much and what kind of running an athlete with good overall fitness should be doing to help his pitching. If you can't run two miles at a reasonably brisk pace, you probably aren't fit enough to get much benefit out of a serious sprint workout. Pitchers need to have at least the basic capability of running a few miles, even if they don't do it very often or do it only to clear their heads (the value of which should not be underestimated BTW).

Thus, I agree with those here who are content just to congratulate Pat H's son for his improvement in fitness and motivation. It's enough for now to be encouraged that he is taking responsibility to work harder than his coaches are making him to become a better athlete. Even if he later adopts a routine with little or no distance running, that's still a positive.

Best wishes to your son, Pat.
Last edited by Swampboy
ClevelandDadClevelandDadHSBBWeb Administrator
quote:
Originally posted by Swampboy:
I generally side with the proponents of short, explosive runs in the great debate over pitcher running regimens.

However, that debate has meaning only in the context of asking how much and what kind of running an athlete with good overall fitness should be doing to help his pitching. If you can't run two miles at a reasonably brisk pace, you probably aren't fit enough to get much benefit out of a serious sprint workout. Pitchers need to have at least the basic capability of running a few miles, even if they don't do it very often or do it only to clear their heads (the value of which should not be underestimated BTW).

Thus, I agree with those here who are content just to congratulate Pat H's son for his improvement in fitness and motivation. It's enough for now to be encouraged that he is taking responsibility to work harder than his coaches are making him to become a better athlete. Even if he later adopts a routine with little or no distance running, that's still a positive.

Best wishes to your son, Pat.

Very good points about training for explosiveness.

For you Dads out there trying to lose a spare tire, I would recommend sprinting (or other high intensity cardio followed by short periods of rest) over long distance running which tends to take a toll on your body/joints, etc. Weight lifting works even better for fat loss. Sorry for the thread hijacking - now back on point Big Grin
Last edited by Swampboy
PH Pat H100+ posts
Great conversation. Just to be clear my son was a 3 sport athlete last year, with football added in the fall (he was a QB/WR/K). And by no means is he out of shape. he has since given up football to focus on baseball and basketball. I think we could discuss the benefits (or lack of) long distance running forever. I am a fan of both lifting and running (and plyometrics). One good thing that he does do is he works on his vertical. He likes dunking, so I think he gets some explosive training from that. With all that being said, he's actually committing to making himself better in another way...and on his own and that was the point of the post.
As a side note...one of the HS baseball players i coach challenged me in a 5k race. And he kept reminding me that he was going to be beat the old man. My time was 20:35, and his was a bit slower. I won't be on the olympic team, but I'll take that time. Wink
YoungGunDadYoungGunDadHSBaseballWeb member since 2005
I always thought a long distance, steady jog after a pitching performace was good for releasing the lactic acid build up..?? But it, like icing an arm afterwards, is a preference some, not tall, pitchers partake in.

As far as "benefiting" a pitcher, I believe that sprints are much better in helping a pitcher as far as velocity and quick twitch muscles.

Im not an Athletic trainer, but I did stay at an Holiday Inn Express recently. lol

YGD
TPMTPMHSBaseballweb Member since 2003
quote:
Originally posted by BK35:
I would haveto disagree that long distance running builds up the legs. How many pitchers come from Kenya? or look like a marathoner?


It may build up legs, but not necessarily good for pitchers, so I am with you BK! Smile

Ron Wolforth is a really good guy, here's a great article by him called No Long Runs.

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

Here's another good one.

http://www.topvelocity.net/jus...ng-distance-running/

And another by Steve Ellis.

http://www.thecompletepitcher....pitching_running.htm
Last edited by TPM
P Prime91,000+ posts
quote:
If you can't run two miles at a reasonably brisk pace, you probably aren't fit enough to get much benefit out of a serious sprint workout. Pitchers need to have at least the basic capability of running a few miles,


SWAMPBOY zeroed in on the core of this discussion for me with his statement above! It's amazing how "polarizing" all these discussions become. When, in reality, most understand the principles of training specifics as they apply to your athletic need. Training as a distance runner for a baseball athlete would be ridiculous. But, improving the cardiovascular system is always of benefit to any athlete. I watch many Pitchers, pathetically working at jogging poles and think, "what a freaking waste of time and what little effort they are expending."

IMO, as SWAMPBOY, pointed out, a short distance, 2 miles was mentioned, run at speed (much less than 7 minute clip) shouldn't be approached as a relaxing jog by a baseball player. Really, I recommend the "Farlek" approach with interval speed work to get the most out of the time spent. The USAF adopted this Swedish training method some 30 years ago in their distance training for recruits.

A "BALANCED" approach to all things in life is the key IMHO ..... YING vs. YANG!
Last edited by Prime9

Add Reply

Post
.

Membership Required

We're sorry. You must be signed in to continue. Sign In or Register
×
Are you sure you want to remove from your Block List?
×
Loading...
×
When you block a person, they can no longer invite you to a private message or post to your profile wall. Replies and comments they make will be collapsed/hidden by default. Finally, you'll never receive email notifications about content they create or likes they designate for your content.
Note: if you proceed, you will no longer be following .
×
Advanced Search
Advanced Search
Link copied to your clipboard.
×