Well, happy Thanksgiving to everyone.
I had a great throwing session last week. I met some teammates for some drills last Saturday at the covered batting cages at Newport High. Good thing they were covered because the rain was pretty relentless.
It was great to actually throw with a little purpose. It felt better to do something with purpose instead of just tossing the ball against the wall.
When I was recovering I kept goofing around with different grips for ideas I had for pitches. One was a sort of "cut" fastball idea where I grip the single seam near the top of the horseshoe between my index and middle finger. With the way I throw, I figured that the weight distribution would be uneven and cause the ball to move. I threw about 10 of those on Sunday and 8 cut into a right handed batter. Nice thing is, there's no additional torque on my arm and the grip is pretty solid. I've got a few months to work it out and it could be pretty good.
I overdid it though. I was pretty sore for a few days. Lesson learned there. I don't think it was just the throwing. Batting takes a toll too. On a strange note, I'm finally hitting this year. Lots of positives are going on there including:
-Actually making contact with the ball
-Not popping every single pitch up
-Driving balls the other way.
Threw again today with Katy's sister. It was pretty good. I did the customary 60-70 throws at varying lengths. I can already tell that it's going to take me a lot longer to warm up than it used to. Maybe that will go away after a while, but right now I feel like I'm stopping just as soon as my arm actually gets loose.
It was fun. I really forgot how much fun it is to play ball. May can't come soon enough.
Oh, if you're interested, you can hit up www.sierramariners.org and see some video.
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Practice
Saturday morning we had an impromptu practice. We headed down to Rainier Beach High School which, let me just say this: Schools have plenty of money to have athletic facilities like that. It's a ridiculously beautiful turfed field with nice dugouts and well manicured outfield. Did I mention the brand new L screens and perfect batting cages? No? Well, they have them too.
It's a shame that the cages aren't properly covered and all of the leaves, branches, and other crap just get blown right in. There was also garbage in and around the field. They should take a lesson from Lake Washington High School and not let a great field just get destroyed. So, when you vote on education issues, just remember that there are some of these athletic fields and equipment that, once purchased, get ignored.
It's important that they let players and teams get on those fields to keep them up and get some use out of them. This field at RBHS is amazing and probably won't be used for another 5 or 6 months. We'll likely be out there every few weeks and shake the water off of the tarps, rake the mound, pick up some branches, etc. We're hoping the PSSBL adds this to the rotation so another good field can get played on more than once a week for a few months a year.
Anyway that's enough of that.
Ivar, Chuck, and a few other people got together Saturday morning and knocked out some throwing and hitting. I got my tosses in at a strong 90 feet. It does take a while for me to start hitting targets though. I overthrew Chuck a few times, but finally dialed it in near the end. My mechanics have definitely changed and I can feel it now. I think that's why I've been missing. My release point is off. I'm confident I'll dial it in within the next 5 months. Yeah, I think I've got time. The velocity was ok, but I'm not even worried about it yet nor should I be according to Ken.
I also hit for the first time in over a year. The pain in my elbow was so bad that I couldn't swing worth much for the last few years. Saturday I felt pretty good. I hit a lot of stuff the opposite way and managed to drill a few. I think it's good to be away from that for a while. You can kind of "reset" yourself and forget the bad habits you've learned.
The next day was no unusual soreness. Everything felt great. I did forget that after your take batting practice for the first time in a while, your hands and hips get pretty sore. My forearms and shoulders felt good though. Those are usually other spots that I get sore after throwing and hitting.
At any rate, it's great to be back on a field with my teammates. Even if I'm limited.
It's a shame that the cages aren't properly covered and all of the leaves, branches, and other crap just get blown right in. There was also garbage in and around the field. They should take a lesson from Lake Washington High School and not let a great field just get destroyed. So, when you vote on education issues, just remember that there are some of these athletic fields and equipment that, once purchased, get ignored.
It's important that they let players and teams get on those fields to keep them up and get some use out of them. This field at RBHS is amazing and probably won't be used for another 5 or 6 months. We'll likely be out there every few weeks and shake the water off of the tarps, rake the mound, pick up some branches, etc. We're hoping the PSSBL adds this to the rotation so another good field can get played on more than once a week for a few months a year.
Anyway that's enough of that.
Ivar, Chuck, and a few other people got together Saturday morning and knocked out some throwing and hitting. I got my tosses in at a strong 90 feet. It does take a while for me to start hitting targets though. I overthrew Chuck a few times, but finally dialed it in near the end. My mechanics have definitely changed and I can feel it now. I think that's why I've been missing. My release point is off. I'm confident I'll dial it in within the next 5 months. Yeah, I think I've got time. The velocity was ok, but I'm not even worried about it yet nor should I be according to Ken.
I also hit for the first time in over a year. The pain in my elbow was so bad that I couldn't swing worth much for the last few years. Saturday I felt pretty good. I hit a lot of stuff the opposite way and managed to drill a few. I think it's good to be away from that for a while. You can kind of "reset" yourself and forget the bad habits you've learned.
The next day was no unusual soreness. Everything felt great. I did forget that after your take batting practice for the first time in a while, your hands and hips get pretty sore. My forearms and shoulders felt good though. Those are usually other spots that I get sore after throwing and hitting.
At any rate, it's great to be back on a field with my teammates. Even if I'm limited.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Throwing...again
It's sooooo tempting just to let one fly.
It's also frustrating. I don't like being able to lift weights as heavy as I'm used to. I still can't do that. I've been sticking to the low impact weight stuff. It has been lots of low weights at high volumes as well as a ton of cardio....every single morning.
It's getting boring honestly, but I look and feel great right now so I don't want to change anything. Plus, I'm convinced that I can't lift any really heavy weights right now. So, I guess it's on to the dull cardio and light weight lifting.
So I can't let loose in the gym but I feel like I could let loose with my arm. It feels SO much stronger. Even now I feel like I could blow a fastball by a batter without a problem. My guess is that it's the PT that's really strengthening things.
Oh, and the PT...yeah, I'm still doing that every morning too. It's tiring and I'm pretty tired of doing it honestly. I just wish all of this stuff was over and I could lift weights again like I used to and throw a fastball like I used to.
I've been doing is a lot of foam roller work too. Have you guys heard about these? They're giant foam rollers that you basically roll on. They're fantastic.
That's a foam roller. Most gyms have these hanging around now. I roll along my IT band like she's doing as well as all the way up and down my back; over my hamstrings and quads; and then especially my elbow. It seems to help dissipate the lactic acid that gets built up during exercise. I like it a lot.
It's also frustrating. I don't like being able to lift weights as heavy as I'm used to. I still can't do that. I've been sticking to the low impact weight stuff. It has been lots of low weights at high volumes as well as a ton of cardio....every single morning.
It's getting boring honestly, but I look and feel great right now so I don't want to change anything. Plus, I'm convinced that I can't lift any really heavy weights right now. So, I guess it's on to the dull cardio and light weight lifting.
So I can't let loose in the gym but I feel like I could let loose with my arm. It feels SO much stronger. Even now I feel like I could blow a fastball by a batter without a problem. My guess is that it's the PT that's really strengthening things.
Oh, and the PT...yeah, I'm still doing that every morning too. It's tiring and I'm pretty tired of doing it honestly. I just wish all of this stuff was over and I could lift weights again like I used to and throw a fastball like I used to.
I've been doing is a lot of foam roller work too. Have you guys heard about these? They're giant foam rollers that you basically roll on. They're fantastic.
Friday, October 26, 2012
More throwing updates
This week has been another struggle.
Not in the pain sense. I think taking last week off did the trick in a lot of different ways. I did a LOT of cardio which helped trimmed me up. This is usually when I would start doing heavier weights with lots of volume to put on lean muscle, but instead it's a just a ton of light light weights. Oh well.
What I struggled with the last couple of days was finding the release point. I just couldn't seem to get it consistent. It may have been the fact that I wasn't throwing a baseball. I was throwing my little pink ball that I had around. I suppose I should try again with a tennis ball.
Part of it was trying to throw lightly. As anyone who's played catch with me can attest, I have a very hard time just tossing lightly. I'm much more accurate when I can let it go. So, throwing lightly and being accurate isn't in my repertoire.
I think this had to do with release point more than anything. I could feel myself releasing way too early or way too late. I had a lot of accurate throws too, but a good one-third of the tosses were way off.
I may just be trying to get too fine with control as well. The spot at the gym that I throw at is a wall that has a lot of racks on the top that hold the balance balls. So, while I should theoretically have plenty of room, I think that gets into my head a little bit and I get off my game.
It's hard to actually play catch here. It's been raining a bunch and the timing has been tough. By the time Katy gets home, it's too dark. So, I've taken to doing it in the gym against a wall. Luckily, most people at my gym know the deal so they usually just give me 4 or 5 minutes to finish up the tosses.
I can do a remarkable job of flipping a 2lb plyoball backwards though. Talk about accuracy! I can do that without thinking. It's pretty slick.
Next week is 45 feet with a baseball. I'm expecting better results.
Not in the pain sense. I think taking last week off did the trick in a lot of different ways. I did a LOT of cardio which helped trimmed me up. This is usually when I would start doing heavier weights with lots of volume to put on lean muscle, but instead it's a just a ton of light light weights. Oh well.
What I struggled with the last couple of days was finding the release point. I just couldn't seem to get it consistent. It may have been the fact that I wasn't throwing a baseball. I was throwing my little pink ball that I had around. I suppose I should try again with a tennis ball.
Part of it was trying to throw lightly. As anyone who's played catch with me can attest, I have a very hard time just tossing lightly. I'm much more accurate when I can let it go. So, throwing lightly and being accurate isn't in my repertoire.
I think this had to do with release point more than anything. I could feel myself releasing way too early or way too late. I had a lot of accurate throws too, but a good one-third of the tosses were way off.
I may just be trying to get too fine with control as well. The spot at the gym that I throw at is a wall that has a lot of racks on the top that hold the balance balls. So, while I should theoretically have plenty of room, I think that gets into my head a little bit and I get off my game.
It's hard to actually play catch here. It's been raining a bunch and the timing has been tough. By the time Katy gets home, it's too dark. So, I've taken to doing it in the gym against a wall. Luckily, most people at my gym know the deal so they usually just give me 4 or 5 minutes to finish up the tosses.
I can do a remarkable job of flipping a 2lb plyoball backwards though. Talk about accuracy! I can do that without thinking. It's pretty slick.
Next week is 45 feet with a baseball. I'm expecting better results.
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Whoa boy
Second round of baseball throwing today. I think it makes a difference when I throw after I've done cardio and some weightlifting. Today felt great. I mean, really great. I had to actually restrain my arm to keep the tossing light.
Monday, I threw cold. I don't think I'll be doing that again. It felt cold and I felt like I had to be more careful. The only upside on that is that I really have to concentrate on my form and using my hips, lats, shoulders and everything else.
Throwing warm is the way to go. I think it was after just 15 minutes of cardio too. So, good mental note for you folks going through this.
Next throwing session is Friday. 30 tosses at 30 feet I think . I honestly lost my throwing sheet and need to call those guys and get another one. Whoops.
On another note, taking a week off from PT and weightlifting has been great. My cardio idea has been working out really well and the core stuff is feeling awesome too. Plus, the gym sessions are shorter which lets me hit the sauna for a while. I've been struggling with a little cold or something for the last like 10 days and the sauna has really helped me feel better. As always, so has the gym. I firmly believe in sweating out a cold.
Anyway.
Monday, I threw cold. I don't think I'll be doing that again. It felt cold and I felt like I had to be more careful. The only upside on that is that I really have to concentrate on my form and using my hips, lats, shoulders and everything else.
Throwing warm is the way to go. I think it was after just 15 minutes of cardio too. So, good mental note for you folks going through this.
Next throwing session is Friday. 30 tosses at 30 feet I think . I honestly lost my throwing sheet and need to call those guys and get another one. Whoops.
On another note, taking a week off from PT and weightlifting has been great. My cardio idea has been working out really well and the core stuff is feeling awesome too. Plus, the gym sessions are shorter which lets me hit the sauna for a while. I've been struggling with a little cold or something for the last like 10 days and the sauna has really helped me feel better. As always, so has the gym. I firmly believe in sweating out a cold.
Anyway.
Monday, October 15, 2012
Baseball toss
I managed to get some time and room at the gym to start my baseball throwing today. Today was 20 tosses at about 15 feet.
Overall it felt pretty good. I'm using my elbow significantly less honestly. I feel that I'm driving with my legs more and am using everything BUT my elbow. I'm also coming through a lot wider in my delivery so far. In other words, I've got quite a 3/4 delivery going right now. I'm sure that will change as I get more comfortable with throwing, but I'm going to try to keep the good stuff if you will.
I'm going easy at the gym and sticking to just cardio and core. My surgery site has been getting a little balky and sore this last week or so. I've gone back to my lefty mouse at work which should help. I think a week off will do it about right. I need it anyway.
It's surprisingly hard to throw softly. I always feel like I can let it rip, but I know there will be consequences if I do. I don't want to derail anything. One muscle that's really interestingly sore is the tricep right behind the elbow. It's definitely not the ligament itself, but it's a muscle around it. It's really a weird thing. It's definitely one of those muscles that you didn't know you used when you throw.
It's off and running though. We'll see how it goes.
Overall it felt pretty good. I'm using my elbow significantly less honestly. I feel that I'm driving with my legs more and am using everything BUT my elbow. I'm also coming through a lot wider in my delivery so far. In other words, I've got quite a 3/4 delivery going right now. I'm sure that will change as I get more comfortable with throwing, but I'm going to try to keep the good stuff if you will.
I'm going easy at the gym and sticking to just cardio and core. My surgery site has been getting a little balky and sore this last week or so. I've gone back to my lefty mouse at work which should help. I think a week off will do it about right. I need it anyway.
It's surprisingly hard to throw softly. I always feel like I can let it rip, but I know there will be consequences if I do. I don't want to derail anything. One muscle that's really interestingly sore is the tricep right behind the elbow. It's definitely not the ligament itself, but it's a muscle around it. It's really a weird thing. It's definitely one of those muscles that you didn't know you used when you throw.
It's off and running though. We'll see how it goes.
Monday, October 8, 2012
Throwing program
The throwing program started today.
I threw a tennis ball at what was supposed to be 30 feet 20 times very lightly. I can't believe I almost started sweating.
It felt ok. There was a little tightness on my tricep right at the elbow but nothing in the ligament itself. It was harder than I thought it would be. My form felt good.
It's all flat ground. It's in my office actually since we have a lot of room for now. I toss against an exposed brick wall. I only nearly hit Bob (my test lead) once and it was on a bad brick bounce. Plus, it's a tennis ball and it wouldn't have hurt him too much.
So, the routine is to throw on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. This week it's 20 tosses with a tennis ball at 30 feet. Next week it's a baseball.
It's scary man. I've gotta be honest. I'm not as worried with the tennis ball, but the baseball is a totally different story. I kept waiting for the ligament to hurt like it used to, but there wasn't any pain. There's not any soreness yet. I'll ice it tonight just in case.
I'm starting to wonder if this is going to be more of a mental challenge than a physical one. The throwing program ramps up pretty quickly actually and I'll post it once I get it in Excel.
If you wonder....I am supposed to be up to 90 throws at various ranges in 21 weeks or 5 months. That puts me right at about Spring Training time to start throwing a few fastballs.
I suppose that's how it should be.
I threw a tennis ball at what was supposed to be 30 feet 20 times very lightly. I can't believe I almost started sweating.
It felt ok. There was a little tightness on my tricep right at the elbow but nothing in the ligament itself. It was harder than I thought it would be. My form felt good.
It's all flat ground. It's in my office actually since we have a lot of room for now. I toss against an exposed brick wall. I only nearly hit Bob (my test lead) once and it was on a bad brick bounce. Plus, it's a tennis ball and it wouldn't have hurt him too much.
So, the routine is to throw on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. This week it's 20 tosses with a tennis ball at 30 feet. Next week it's a baseball.
It's scary man. I've gotta be honest. I'm not as worried with the tennis ball, but the baseball is a totally different story. I kept waiting for the ligament to hurt like it used to, but there wasn't any pain. There's not any soreness yet. I'll ice it tonight just in case.
I'm starting to wonder if this is going to be more of a mental challenge than a physical one. The throwing program ramps up pretty quickly actually and I'll post it once I get it in Excel.
If you wonder....I am supposed to be up to 90 throws at various ranges in 21 weeks or 5 months. That puts me right at about Spring Training time to start throwing a few fastballs.
I suppose that's how it should be.
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