Baseball Fitness

Comment

Comment by John A. Baker on May 13, 2011 at 9:57pm

This suggestion is NOT for pitchers, but for fielders. As to how often,
that would depend on the quality of players/fielders.

There’s nothing more boring than long toss, over and over again - same-mo same-mo. So, a fielding coach I worked with once, come up with this drill - he called it the box.

Two lines of fielders would stand opposite each other, with one fielder at the ends, like in the picture below. Then they’d toss a ball back-n-forth, 1 to 2, 2 to 3, etc. When the ball got to the fielder on the end of the box, he’d toss a grounder for one-hop to the other fielder = number 1, then the tossing would start all over again.

The distance would start off relatively close for fielders - about 40 feet. As each fielder got use to the distance, then 50 feet, 70 feet, 90 feet, then max’d out at 120 feet.

When they got confident at not only distance, but accuracy too, the distance was brought back to about 70 feet. Now the fun starts.

Fielder 1 would toss a ball to number 2, and so on, until the ball reached the end fielder at the end opening of the box, then fielder 1 would start ANOTHER BASEBALL IN MOTION. So, at this point, there’s two baseball’s in motion.

When the fielders got use to controlling two baseballs, at 70 feet, the two baseballs would be stop’d, the fielders would move to 120 feet, and start the drill with the two baseballs all over.

Controlling the tempo of play -tossing the balls back and forth is critical, as is hitting the fielder across from each other accurately.
But, the idea is to control the balls so one doesn't catch up to the other too quickly.

This drill sooner or later will start to shake some awareness into every fielder by keeping him alert to another baseball coming his way... real soon.

Comment by Shaun Reed on May 13, 2011 at 4:29pm

how often should I long toss a week.  I"m trying to set up a throwing program for my high school team this summer.  I am thinking 2 a week of long toss.  One day needs to be longer and the other day should be shorter, but not alot shorter.  What do ya think. 

Comment by Dion Chamar Owens on March 28, 2011 at 1:31pm

After reading that, I would say we all got until we're 90 to make pro. 

Comment by Kip Gross on March 21, 2011 at 4:57pm

http://sports.espn.go.com/minorlbb/news/story?id=2516986

Comment by Dion Chamar Owens on March 21, 2011 at 2:19pm

Just to be certain. I want to know who was the oldest person to ever to go pro? Whether it was the MLB or otherwise. because that comment was interesting about how the door was closed forever. I thought that as long as you stayed in shape, you always had a chance. Even if you did have a family.   

Comment by HENRY MUNEVAR on March 16, 2011 at 7:27pm

http://WWW.HENRYSBASEBALLCLUB.COM YES AND UR YOUTH DOES NOT COME BACK FOR THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE THAT CHOISE! THE REGRET PHONE CALLS THAT I GET I TELL THEM THAT DOOR HAS CLOSED FOR EVER. REMINDS ME OF THE MOVIE OF THE BOXER

"I COULD OF BEEN A CONTENDER!!"

Comment by Larry Cicchiello on March 16, 2011 at 6:14pm

Kip...I had to read your comment three times. That's how much I enjoyed it.

Comment by Louis Couto on March 16, 2011 at 5:52pm

Nice comments Kip.

Money comes and goes.

Comment by Kip Gross on March 16, 2011 at 5:34pm

Everything I ever did was because of hard work. No assistance from anything. I was a big believer in the weight room though. I remember in 1993 the Dodgers used to have to kick me out of the weight room because I enjoyed it so much. But, it was hard to compete with guys that were throwing 83 one year and 95+ the next. I get asked all of the time why I didn't partake and it's easy, I have kids and a family and they are much more important to me than a big pay day.

Comment by Dion Chamar Owens on March 16, 2011 at 1:46pm

A, as big as some of these players are now days, maybe you ought to give it a shot. 

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