Ask Doug: Pitcher Workout

Baseball Factory

January 14, 2009

By Doug Glanville
 

Doug Glanville is working with the Baseball Factory and Team One Baseball as a Special Consultant. He will be writing articles and looking for your questions and feedback. If you have a question for Doug, please email him at askdoug@baseballfactory.com

Q: Mr. Doug Glanville, I currently attend University of St. Mary in Leavenworth, Kansas and I play baseball. I am a pitcher and was just curious to know what type of workout Joba Chamberlain does? Is there a website or some information I could find so I could look into his workout. I was also curious to know if there is a place where I could see what Roger Clemens did for a workout routine. I would appreciate it greatly if you could respond.

A: More and more, players are expected to have a formal routine year round. As I played the major league circuit, there were new ballparks every few years and each one seemed to have a bigger weight room than the one before...

That being said, it is important that you find a routine that works for you. Everyone is different, every body is different and it is important to know what makes your body tick. This is from noticing your sore spots after a game or just focusing on the areas that are key to your success. As a pitcher, keeping your arm strong, especially in those small muscle groups that keep the shoulder and elbow stable, is your gold mine. You also need that solid core to last over time.

I don't know specifically what Chamberlain does in his workout, but I did have a chance to work with the Yankees head trainer and he paid attention to detail. Chamberlain has youth on his side, but I had a chance to watch Randy Johnson work out in Yankees spring training and he had a full routine just for his back. You want to start good habits early while you are young and can still probably roll out of bed and be loose. Baseball is tough on the body because of the long-term endurance it requires. So you want to take care of yourself early on.

You mentioned Roger Clemens and what I can say is that it will be important to find mentors to follow who have done it before you. Mentors you can believe in and trust to do not just what is best for your body, but something that is principled and true for your life. I learned a lot from Shawon Dunston by watching how he went about his business. We both shared hamstring issues, but over time, I found a good routine that eliminated those issues for the majority of my career. Even when I ultimately tore a hamstring tendon, I was back on the field in less than four weeks. So keep working!

Baseball Factory has a solid team of advisors in this area, so please ask questions! They are here to help.

Doug

Republished from The Baseball Factory