As athletes, we understand the importance of a thorough warm-up before engaging in any physical activity, especially in a high-demand sport like baseball.  However, the quality of your warm-up routine goes beyond simply going through the motions—it requires careful analysis and strategic planning to ensure optimal performance and reduce the risk of injury. Analyzing Your…

Strength in Numbers #142 Performance anxiety in baseball players is a real issue that can have far-reaching consequences, extending beyond the game itself. The pressure to perform at a high level, coupled with the scrutiny of fans, coaches, and teammates, can lead to stress, cognitive distraction, psychosomatic responses, and a lack of confidence. …

Strength in Numbers #141 Collegiate summer leagues have long served as fertile grounds for aspiring baseball players to hone their skills, gain invaluable exposure, and propel their careers to new heights.  With a rich history steeped in tradition, these leagues offer a platform for players to showcase their talents, develop their abilities, and compete against…

In the world of baseball, few phenomena strike fear into the hearts of players and fans alike, quite like the yips.  This puzzling condition, characterized by involuntary muscle spasms or sudden inability to execute routine throws, has confounded players and experts for generations.  Let's delve into the intricate web of the yips, exploring its manifestations,…

Strength in Numbers #139 Pain on the inside of the elbow is common enough in baseball to coin terms such as little leaguers elbow or pitcher's elbow to describe this type of medial elbow pain. Yet, despite being much more rare in baseball players, pain on the outside portion of the elbow, known as…

Strength in Numbers #138 In the pursuit of optimal throwing arm health, athletes often turn to various strategies, and one long-standing tradition has been the use of ice to soothe and recover.  I grew up in the era of R.I.C.E.  Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation, and man was that the wrong way to go. If you don't…

Strength in Numbers #137 Back in 2012, deep in the underground of Camden Yards, I had an epiphany.   I was part of a full transformation for the Baltimore Orioles, a facelift in training that will never be repeated, replicated, or duplicated. It was the most disruptive overhaul in training that MLB had ever seen, and it made MLB news. We blended gymnastics, Olympic…

Strength in Numbers #136 In the intricate world of baseball, where precision, strategy, and athleticism converge, intentional goal-setting often marks the journey toward excellence. Regardless of the level of play—whether Little League or the Major Leagues—setting and pursuing goals is a foundational pillar that propels players toward success.  In this pursuit, the SMART goal framework…

Strength in Numbers #135 If you think a row is a row—that cannot be further from the truth.   The first thing I do when I start teaching upper body training exercises is examine how an athlete rows from a standing position.  We compete standing up, so we must be strong in an upright trunk position. Your rhomboids,…

Strength in Numbers #134 You have probably warmed your arm up with arm circles and cross-body arm stretching, but do they do anything?  I have spent much of my professional life studying warm-up strategies and concluded that rhythmic warm-ups and static stretching without any high-level contraction are not the way to go. If you don't…