Hey folks - as a member of the DawgNation community, please remember to abide by simple rules of civil engagement with other members:
- Please no inappropriate usernames (remember that there may be youngsters in the room)
- Personal attacks on other community members are unacceptable, practice the good manners your mama taught you when engaging with fellow Dawg fans
- Use common sense and respect personal differences in the community: sexual and other inappropriate language or imagery, political rants and belittling the opinions of others will get your posts deleted and result in warnings and/ or banning from the forum
- 3/17/19 UPDATE -- We've updated the permissions for our "Football" and "Commit to the G" recruiting message boards. We aim to be the best free board out there and that has not changed. We do now ask that all of you good people register as a member of our forum in order to see the sugar that is falling from our skies, so to speak.
- Please no inappropriate usernames (remember that there may be youngsters in the room)
- Personal attacks on other community members are unacceptable, practice the good manners your mama taught you when engaging with fellow Dawg fans
- Use common sense and respect personal differences in the community: sexual and other inappropriate language or imagery, political rants and belittling the opinions of others will get your posts deleted and result in warnings and/ or banning from the forum
- 3/17/19 UPDATE -- We've updated the permissions for our "Football" and "Commit to the G" recruiting message boards. We aim to be the best free board out there and that has not changed. We do now ask that all of you good people register as a member of our forum in order to see the sugar that is falling from our skies, so to speak.
Comments
I'm just simply asking if we can enjoy posting on here without all the other crap. Nothing I said was derogatory toward you. But yet you DV me.
I've disagreed with you but I've never called you anything. You've called me a liar and I left it alone. I just don't get it.
Maybe I'm wrong but it seems to me that you enjoy posting on the forum. Some of your posts aren't received as well as others. Big deal - people have different opinions - doesn't mean they are wrong or deserve being called names.
I was just trying to get a reset or start over so everyone could enjoy posting on here - including you. But you obviously wanted none of that.
I just can't stop, I seem determined to pick a fight in this thread.
I would be remiss not to point out that the stated point of this thread was to argue. Perhaps @donm needs to be called to the carpet.
Well to each his own. I choose to enjoy the forum. Guess I'll just have to avoid your fights
There I go..yet again.
I sincerely tried. You are obviously dealing with things in your life that are affecting your point of view and attitude towards others. I don't know what they are but I will pray that things start getting better for you.
I just can't stop can I ?
Good thread Don. I am an AJC subscriber but could not find the article via the link. Still, I understand the topic, and I appreciate the posts from @Acrum21 and @texdawg. I'm a former baseball prospect, pitcher, and UCL survivor, as well as a former baseball dad, and now, a travel baseball coach.
In my experience, Smoltz is dead on with his commentary, and I tend to agree with Mazzone as well, though he can take things to an extreme. I could write a book with my own thoughts on this subject, but keeping it short for this thread...
Lastly, communication is important. It can also be tricky. Some kids complain of arm pain at the drop of a hat, and they may need to learn how to pitch through soreness and build arm strength. But in my experience, the best pitchers are usually the opposite. They won't admit arm soreness, and they'll often pitch with it, without anyone knowing. Over time, the soreness turns to pain, and their arm is subjected to undue stress. Next thing you know they're popping Advil, pitching through pain, and putting on a brave face, right up to the point that their ligament pops.
So, whether you're a coach or a dad, check in with the kid, and see how he's doing. When he says "fine," ask again. And keep an eye on him, especially when he doesn't know you're watching. Most important, no matter what level your kid is playing, ENJOY the moment. Making the pros is a one in a million shot. Don't view your kid as a prospect. You won't know when you're watching his final season, or his final game, until it's over.
Thank you for a great post. You obviously know what you are talking about. Your advice is very consistent with what I believe to be correct - especially long toss and proper care.
Leo Mazzone had his pitchers throw every day with The Braves. It went against popular beliefs but it's hard to argue with results. Glavine was 41 years old before he ever spent a day on the injured reserve list and Maddux spent 15 days on it in his 23 year career only because 15 days is the minimum he could spend on it the one and only time he used it.
Leo believed in packing the arm and shoulder with ice as soon as a starter came out of a game and have them in hot therapy by the next day and throwing later in the day after having pitched the day or night before. Keep in mind these guys also played a ton of golf during the season.
I've stayed out of advising on pitching because I have an inherently impinged rotator cuff, I never could throw over a few pitches without having my arm go rubbery.
That said, use the guidelines, no more than 75 pitches any day, no more than 118 a week ( I could be off a bit on this one) and 1000 pitches in a season. Don't throw curves or sliders, work to stay loose and strong, work on mechanics and the change up.
Well said @AnotherDawg... I played baseball through college and now I'm on the coach/dad side of things. In college I saw kids come in that were just burned out on the game, good players but just had lost the love for the game. I never really understood b/c I played basketball and football also in high school and never got involved in the travel ball world outside of rec and all-star teams.
Now I look around and see why... kids are playing 50+ games a year at 7 years old. My youngest son is 7 and a pretty good athlete, we have been asked by different travel ball teams to play with them. When I ask about how much they play the response has been "their young so we only travel once a month to tournaments and practice 2-3 days a week most weeks". I might understand it when their 10-12ish and up but 7 years old is rediculous in my book.
I don't mean to ruffle any feathers if your kid is on a travel ball team. As Anotherdawg said communication, stretching, and rest is most important. But let a kid be a kid!
Just my 2¢
His advice goes against the guidelines compiled orthopedic surgeons and other experts though, that seems risky to me. At 14 years old a 75 pitch limit is recommended. Managers don't even let major league rookies go 100 pitches very often.
Travel ball has gotten way out of control. It's all on the parents, because everyone thinks their little Johnny will be the next MLB HOF, or Atlanta United All Star. I say this as a HS Football coach, who has had many conversations with kids playing travel baseball and soccer and are too "busy" to actually play on their school's basketball and football teams. The rush to specialization and playing only one sport isnt good, nor is the most healthy approach to these developing young men and women. They arent old enough to make the correct decision, but the parents are and fail miserably. All so they can brag around the water cooler at work.
@WCDawg I don't mean to start an argument with you and I am no orthopedic surgeon but I took his post to mean 100 pitches could be thrown with adequate recovery time with no long term damage (and I don't think he insinuated that would be incouraged) but never over 3 games in a day and half. The 3 games over a day and half is the point. If I read it correctly!😄
Leo was coaching grown adults, kids need rest.
My post was a small soap box rant on travel ball for 7 year olds, how did I get into a pitch count discussion?
Just my 2¢