Boot Camp, Round 2

by jscape2000 on Feb 11, 2009 7:40 PM EST in Analysis Comment 3 comments

I was excited when the Yanks acquired Jon Albaladejo from the Nats last offseason for AAAA righty Tyler Clippard. It seemed a great job of dealing from a strength (AAA starters) to reinforce a weakness.

One of the transformative things I watched Joe G. do last season was blend the bullpen, liberally calling players up and sending them down.

And now Jonny A. has a healthy elbow and is back in camp looking better than ever. And he's not the only one:

Brian Bruney is trimmer, as earlier reported, but Jonathan Albaladejo also looks like he's down about 15 to 20 pounds. Phil Coke, clean-shaven Nick Swisher and Dan Giese also look ready to go.

I've read a lot of arguments that Girardi has to lighten up in his second year in the Bronx. Mussina won 20 games last season- shouldn't that restore candy and ice cream to the clubhouse for the next decade? They should be there at least as long as it took Moose to win those 20.

One thing I hope doesn't change is Girardi's dedication to hard work. When a pitcher generously listed at 250 comes to came at least 15(!) pounds lighter, the manager is doing something right.

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Question for jscape

There is a theory that one can be too fit in baseball, that a little “paunch”, for the lack of a better word is not too bad. This is brought up mostly with pitchers. We all know there are those who look, well fat (Wells, Schilling, etc.) who do just fine without looking like Jack LaLanne disciples. The thought goes that as the season goes on the extra weight is used to improve the stamina of the pitcher. I guess it gives them more of a reserve.

Now I am not saying they should all look like Haystacks Calhoun but it does make for an interesting discussion.

by VinceCT on Feb 11, 2009 11:52 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Well

Do you remember how Albaladejo looked? He was at least 250. I know some people are just born big, but I suspect there were things he could have done through diet and exercise to slim down.

Jeter has said that until last season he always tried to add weight in the offseason, but by midseason he’d lost it all again, so obviously the length of the season and the travel schedule takes a physical toll on the players.

And I don’t want the guys just cutting weight or adding muscle. Baseball is a game that requires athletic ability- strength, stamina, quickness (hands and feet), and agility. You can’t sacrifice one for the sake of the other.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Feb 12, 2009 6:49 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Props for the Haystacks reference

Don’t underestimate the value of the paunch—especially for pitchers. As a player years ago, I found myself in a conundrum of lifting weights or improving flexibility. Most of the hitters opted for weight training, myself and a number of pitchers went with increasing flexibility over overt strength training.

Today, nearly 30 years later, I’m still preaching flexibility to my pitchers. I don’t by the extra weight for stamina bs, but I do believe that pitchers and hitters need not be so streamlined. The season is 6+ months long, and the day to day grind takes a physical toll. Having a little extra in reserve while not losing flexibility is probably not a bad thing.

"Baseball is the background music of my life." -George Will

by Ronster22 on Feb 12, 2009 11:59 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs