Part 1 -- Professional Pitching Tryouts: Road To The Show Or Road To Injury? What You Should Know Before You Go To A Tryout Camp.

This article, by Dr. James Andrews of the American Sports Medicine Institute, Birmingham, Ala., is the first of a four-part series on pro baseball tryouts. With the MLB draft less than two months away, many organizations have begun their regional open tryouts. To read and print out this article in its entirety, please click here.

What was once the purview of Major League Baseball scouts has become a tool for rugged entrepreneurs looking for a baseball buck. The tryout or "showcase" for athletes, who desire to play at a higher competitive level, has morphed into a weekly affair throughout the USA.

Originally organized to allow players from urban and rural areas to be seen by scouts from the relatively few Major League teams, the tryout lasted one day in which all comers were observed demonstrating their five "major league" tools -- throwing arm strength, running speed, hitting for average, home run hitting ability, and fielding range and ability.

The organized tryout permitted rural youths the chance to be seen by traveling scouts who might not have been able to cover games or leagues throughout their allocated regions.

Showcases are modeled on the professional tryout system in which players designate their preferred position and execute the fundamentals related to it. Pitchers may be asked to pitch in a bullpen setting, having the radar gun time pitch velocity.

They may also be asked to pitch in simulated games in which they face showcase hitters. Their pitch velocities are timed in these games.

Related to pitching, these variations exist among showcases:

• Pitch two innings, a maximum number of hitters per inning
• Throw a bullpen under the radar gun
• Throw 65 pitches from mound, no game situation

(Series continues tomorrow...)

Flexibility tips for pitchers

The following is provided by the American Physical Therapy Association.

Part 5: The Truth About Anabolic Steroids And Its Effects On Baseball Pitching Performance

Editor's note: This is the fifth of an eight-week series of articles examining the effects of anabolic steroids and other substances on baseball pitching performance and overall health. Source: MLB.

Nutritional supplements can include vitamins, minerals, amino acids, plant derivatives as well as a host of other natural and synthetic substances. They also come in a variety of forms from powders and pills to liquids and tablets.

In some way or another, ALL the nutritional supplements on the market claim to improve your sense of well-being, strength or performance. Because of such claims, I felt it was important to discuss nutritional supplements in this series on steroids because some of the claims allege some of the exact same desired effects that athletes (baseball players, in particular) would abuse steroids for.

If a nutritional supplement purports to increase testosterone levels in an athlete, enhance endurance, strengthen muscles, or increase explosive power should be treated as a steroid. (The side effects will be the same as steroids, but you're not likely to see a nutritional supplement label include the side-effects that their product -- which they "claim" will boost performance -- may have.)

The most common nutritional supplements on the market that claim to boost performance by increasing testosterone levels contain either DHEA (dihydroepiandrosterone) or andro (androstenedione). In some studies, both have been proven to effectively "become" testosterone (DHEA and andro are pre-cursors to testosterone which means the body, depending on administration, has the ability to change their molecular structure and turn them into testosterone).

DHEA is a naturally-occuring hormone, which, through interaction with other chemicals in the body, has been shown to turn into androstenedione. The theory behind DHEA supplementation is that the user will be able to increase andro present in the body, thus, boosting testosterone in the process.

The reality is that most of the studies done on DHEA have been performed by the companies trying to sell them, and as a result, may not be as "factual" as the labels claim.

More is known about androstenedione thanks to a study performed by Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association in 2001. However, the findings concluded that andro, administered at the recommended levels on nutritional supplement labels, did not increase testosterone levels at all. Only when the levels of andro were raised to amounts far exceeding the recommended levels was there any negligible rise in overall testosterone levels in the body. And these levels, of course, aren't healthy. Not are they "legal." Andro has been shown to trigger "positive" steroid tests.

(Series continues on Thursday...)

The art of warming up to pitch

USA Today's article on April 17, 2006 ("Warm-ups an Art Form," by Mel Antonen) about Roger Clemens's pregame warm-up routine is great. "He saves bullpen pitches," says Mr. Antonen. "Clemens could be ready for a game in 35 pitches."

Just 35 pitches? So how does he do it?

Houston Astros pitching coach Jim Hickey (pictured talking to Astros closer Brad Lidge) says Clemens is already loose from running, stretching, and long-tossing when he gets on the bullpen mound to take his warm-up pitches.

"Every thing's calculated," he says in the article. "Most pitchers throw about 10-12 pitches before they even think about moving on to a breaking ball ... and then they'll throw 60-70 pitches." Clemens usually moved on to a slider on the 5th pitch.

Coach Hickey says pitchers should already be ready and loose before making warm-up pitches in the "pen."

"It is not for exercising to get ready for the game," he says. "You should be thinking about what you're going to execute in the game."

A simple fix for better pitching control

It's always great hearing from my readers. I appreciate the comments. Here's one I got over the weekend from an adult-league baseball player.

Steven: I tried what your article suggested about looking away after you acquire the sign. [At right is a picture of former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Matt Morris doing it.]

The truth is I tried it before I read your article. I was having trouble locating so I tried looking away and the re-acquiring the target at leg lift, and ... holy cow, my location came back.

I am going to stick with that technique while in the wind up and modify it for the stretch. I had better control and located my target so a lot easier. My delivery felt smooth also. I am 53 and pitch in the DCMSBL plus another local league called the Ponce. It works at least for me. --J.A.H. Sr.

A pitching lesson from Roger Clemens

The following is a teriffic article on pitcher Roger Clemens. It appeared in USA Today, Monday, April 17, 2006 and is titled, "Clemens leaves mark on many fellow hurlers." Maybe you saw it in print. I've highlighted some of the points that stood out to me about Clemens's workout routines, his running and conditioning, and his work ethic, which is arguably second to none. But you can also follow the link below to read the article in its entirity.

Roger Clemens, 44, left his mark on today's pitchers by teaching them to love what they do, work hard, pay attention to detail and be hard-headed while trying to reach goals that most think are unattainable.

"Roger is the pioneer that showed us that if you eat right and take care of yourself, you can pitch into your 40s," says New York Mets lefty Tom Glavine, who turned 40 last month.

Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling will never forget a "90-minute butt-chewing" Clemens gave him once during an offseason workout in Houston when Schilling was trying to establish himself. Clemens scolded him for not respecting the game and his teammates and for not working hard enough with his natural gifts.

"It was a pivotal time in my career, and fortunately for me, he was interested in me," Schilling says. "That says a lot about him. ... I still watch video of him. I still learn from him. Just odds and ends, whatever I can pick up."

Aaron Sele, a teammate from 1993-96, says Clemens helped him balance his commitments.

"If you weren't doing what you were supposed to be doing, he'd let you know," Sele says. "The two things I take away from him: His work ethic is second to none and his drive to get better. He was always running, always working."

Part of Clemens' routine was running outside Fenway Park, along the Charles River. There were three-mile and seven-mile routes, and on Commonwealth Avenue, he ran sprints on the grass sections between stoplights.

"Roger was creative," Sele says. "Running circles in the ballpark gets routine."

(Click here to read the complete article at USA Today...)

How to focus on concentration, just like Nolan Ryan

There are a couple of things you can do on the bump to be more focused -- and successful. This article will focus on one of them: getting your sign from your catcher.

I teach some of the pitchers I work with to look directly at your catcher in your stance, look away as you start you pitching delivery -- and then refocus on the target again when you bring your lift leg into the balance position.

I've always liked how looking down breaks the monotony of staring at the same spot for an extended period of time, which, sometimes, makes it difficult to hit your spots.

I also like how looking down, which is how I pitched when I played professionally, allows you to check your footing and keep your body centered over your core -- an important element in staying balanced and keeping the body properly aligned throughout the primary phases of the pitching delivery.

Nolan Ryan, above right, looked away briefly. And, of course, his mechanics speak for themselves.

Try it, and see if it works for you, too.

Part 4: The Truth About Anabolic Steroids And Its Effects On Baseball Pitching Performance

Editor's note: This is the fourth of an eight-week series of articles examining the effects of anabolic steroids and other substances on baseball pitching performance and overall health. Source: MLB.

By now you should be familiar with some of the adverse effects associated with steroid use -- changes in personality, hormonal effects, injury, etc. (Follow these links if you've missed my first three articles -- article one, article two, or article three -- of this special blog series.)

There are actually more adverse effects on your body. Here are some of them.

The adverse effects of the Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AASs) also relate to the method of administration. AASs are generally used orally or intra-muscularly. If taken orally, most of the AAS is inactivated by the liver, resulting in an increased risk of decreased liver functions, liver tumors and cysts. If, on the other hand, the AAS is taken by injection, the risks associated with needle use emerge, including HIV, hepatitis and other infections.

Common injectable steroids include:

• Deca-Durabolin (Nandrolone decanoate)
• Depo-testosterone (Testosterone cypionate)
• Delatestryl (Testosterone enanthate)
• Durabolin (Nandrolone phenpropionate)
• Primabolin (Metheneolone enanthate)
• Winstrol-depot (Stanozolol)

Common oral steroids include:

• Anadrol-50 (Oxymetholone)
• Anavar (Oxandrolone)
• Dianabol (methandrostenealone)
• Halotestin (Fluoxymesterone)
• Maxibolin (Ethylesternol)
• Metandren (methyltestosterone)
• Nilevar (norenthandorolone)
• Nibil (methanalone acetate)
• Nilevar (norenthandorolone)
• Winstrol (Stanozolol)

(Series continues on Thursday...)

A big league pitcher talks about throwing submarine

Scott Sullivan, at right, throws sidearm. He's made a career of it, pitching most recently for the Reds (in 2002 and 2003) and the Kansas City Royals (in 2004).

"My arm isn't equipped to throw on top," Sullivan said once in a newspaper interview. "It's uncomfortable for me. Even when I play long toss, I throw everything from my sidearm slot."

Reds closer, Danny Graves, doesn't throw submarine-style. He's not a sidewinder or submariner. He throws overhand gas.

"Throwing sidearm is a lot harder than people think," Graves said. "I tried it when I was younger, but my arm didn't feel right. I could never find that proper arm slot. It didn't feel healthy for me. Some guys can do it. A lot of guys can't. That's why you don't see many of them." (Most major league teams don't draft side-arm guys either, which is why you don't see a lot of them.)

But Sullivan said that if you find the proper arm slot and can keep it there, your pitching arm probably will last. "The overhand and three-quarter motions are not the way the arm was built to throw," he said.

"If you look at the pitching motion in slow motion (of guys who throw overhand), it's the most unnatural motion you could possibly put your shoulder and elbow through," Sullivan said. "You look at a still photo of it, and their elbow's here and their wrist is straight back. It's a tremendous amount of torque on your shoulder and elbow. My arm isn't equipped to throw on top. It's uncomfortable for me. Even when I play long-toss, I throw everything from my sidearm slot."

What do you teach? How do you pitch? Do you throw sidearm? If Sullivan was a pitcher on your baseball team -- or your son -- how would you instruct him? (And if you're a coach, would you let him continue to throw from "down under" if, say, you had him as a pitcher on your Little League baseball team?

Enter your comments below...

A closer look at what "drop and drive" pitching mechanics are

Tom Seaver, at right, did it. And he's in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. Robin Roberts did it, too, and he was one heck of a major league pitcher. But they're the exception. Not the rule. And when it comes to baseball pitching mechanics, "drop and drive" -- the mechanical term used to describe their pitching motion, where their post leg collapses (bends significantly) instead of "staying tall," in the position shown above -- is not great practice.

Fortunately, modern pitching video analysis -- and the ability to slow down baseball pitchers' deliveries on high-speed video -- has given coaches visually sound keys of a quality pitching motion. Even more, it's enabled coaches and pitcher to see why drop and drive is inefficient.

"In the drop and drive, what you'll see is a pitcher gets into his posting position, and then in the next movement, his whole body lowers into the mound," says Coach Bill Thurston, head baseball coach at Amherst (Mass.) College. "This causes the pitcher to come out late toward the plate, and a loss of "force." What you want to see out of power pitchers is that once that stride leg starts lowering, the lower body really goes fast, and they land on a flexed leg. As they rotate the trunk, the front leg braces up, and then the hips and upper body come over it.

"Well, the drop-and-driver never comes over a braced front leg. The old drop-and-drive guys -- Tom Seaver and Robin Roberts -- both of those guys had huge legs, big butts and were real strong in the lower body, and they didn’t brace up with their stride leg.

"Instead, they transferred their weight using a hop. Most drop-and-drivers who are young kids (or grown men, for that matter) aren't strong enough to do the hop step at the end to keep their weight going forward with the pitch.

The drop and drive is definitely something you wouldn't want to teach. Nobody pitches that way anymore, because in the drop and drive, you don't really use your body. It doesn't allow the core muscles of your body to get up and over a braced front leg. And it creates a very unfavorable effect on the rotator cuff muscles, because the arm is going forward but the body isn't.

True power pitchers bring their back hip through and brace up, then the body comes with the arm. For this reason, the drop and drive is extremely stressful on the rotator cuff and back shoulder muscles."

Source