Dear billschopp,
"Run" is a dreaded word among baseball pitchers
everywhere.
In fact, the joke is often made that athletes
play baseball because they DON'T like to run.
However, I believe that running is an integral
part to a pitching staff's success, especially
in-season.
In-season running cannot be limited to running
directly after a game, it must be a carefully
laid out plan that enables pitchers to develop
stamina and explosive power in their legs.
Every coach wants their starting pitchers to
be able to maintain consistent velocity and
location throughout a game.
In order to continue pitching at a high
level for an extended period of time, a
pitcher must be in shape mentally and
physically, running is one of the primary
ways this can be accomplished.
Here's a sample MLB pitchers' running plan
I used in the Chicago Cubs organization to
give you an idea of the types of running
we did.
* Mon: 7-sec sprints (rest 15 sec).
* Tues: 15-sec sprints (rest 30 sec).
* Wed: 30-sec sprints (rest 90 sec).
* Thurs: PITCH GAME.
* Fri: 20-45 min long run.
* Sat: Agility drills (jump rope, cone drills, etc.).
* Sun: Off day.
Learn more about in-season workouts
for pitchers, click here:
http://www.pitchingworkoutprograms.com
Good luck and keep working hard!
Best,
Steven Ellis
Former Chicago Cubs pitching pro
