Why Training Trumps Games
Years past, there were many MLB players who had a second job in the off-season. Those players did not get paid enough over the 6-7 month season so they either sold cars, insurance, or for many of them they worked on a farm as a farm-hand. (Side note….Mickey Mantle grew up on a farm and was one of these farm-hands who did manual labor until his fingers bled. Mantle was not the biggest player in MLB but was definitely one of the strongest by his majestic home runs. Using his whole body to move, shove, lift is what made him Mickey Mantle and is one of the premises to our own training…..but I digress)
Seems hard to believe but it was the way of the world back in the early 1900’s up until probably 1980’s before real money was to be paid for these MLB players.
Spring training (ST) was a time to get back in shape and is one of the reasons why ST is as long as it is….about 6-7 weeks. Today’s ST is about fine tuning the player’s body….get their timing back…..and refine their body’s weaknesses to withstand the 162 game schedule with flight’s across time zones and states all in the name of entertaining the fans.
Today’s
players utilize their off season to get their bodies back in shape after a grueling MLB or MiLB schedule. Players play so many games that they need the 2-4 weeks (at the most) to let their bodies recover before training and development becomes their focus over the next 3 months before ST starts all over again.
Even today’s elite players know that training for strength, balance and explosiveness is not achieved by playing games throughout the ‘off-season’. Today’s 11-12 year old players go into “training mode” to get ready for Cooperstown trip or any other destination vacation/baseball game…though the coaches of those teams probably push the kids a little too much from what I have gathered over the years.
I for one have ALWAYS subscribed to the theory that summer time is a time to improve your skills…..push your body to reach strengths levels that can NOT be done by playing games all the time…..and improve your velocity as a pitcher all the while keeping your arm strength and the ability to recover from throwing that our training allows you to do.
Throwzone Academy has provided Summer Training for what I believe is YEAR 18 this summer. Our training protocols and methodologies are the best training you can do to put yourself in line to become the #1 pitcher on your travel team, HS level and get you to be noticed by colleges!
And yes, the summer training period is more important than going to showcases over and over….and if you can build your skill set and stay healthy then you are much farther along toward playing at the next level then 97% of players. Plus the cost of summer training and classes is a FRACTION of what showcases and tournaments in Arizona or Georgia charge without any guarantee of the return on your investment is when you have travel, hotel, food and showcase costs.
A very good example is I have 2 of my pitchers…..both trained with us the past 3 summers going into Sophomore, Junior and Senior seasons..one has been with us since he was 7 years old. Neither of these players went off to play showcase after showcase but did train with Throwzone or with another incredible pair of coaches who was right in line with us. Both of them this past season secured D1 college baseball scholarships WITHOUT having to spend thousands and thousands of dollars which most people figure you need to do to get seen. They both were rewarded for their work during the summer time.
Training and development is the name of the game and Throwzone Academy is a destination for all players to improve and get better at throwing and pitching a baseball. From our past 2 summer training camps, I believe there is at least 18 players who moved onto college baseball….and more after this summer.
I urge you to check out what we do during the summer……www.throwzone.com , email me, or call/text…..and see what we can do to improve your path to greatness. I look forward to seeing players both old and new and having the time of our life here……
Until next time,
Jim
Jim Wagner's ThrowZone Academy 