Know when to take time off from pitching and training

It's important to take some time off from pitching and training at the end of the season. October and November are the best times to do it.

This is a time to limit all baseball-related activity. You can stay active by playing other sports or by doing some light cross-training, but put the glove away. This helps your body rest, recover and recuperate. And it gives your mind a break, too.

The baseball season is a grind. Many of you go right from school ball to summer league baseball. So by this time of year, your body's worn down a bit. Your arm may be tired. Your legs may be sore. Your running and workouts are probably feeling old and stale. This is natural. It's natural to take time off from pitching and training, too.

Most big league pitchers who don't play winter ball, take a few months off from throwing and most baseball-related activity once the season's over. They start preparing for the next baseball season again in December, which gives them three months (December, January and February) to gear up for Spring Training in March. But it gives them two months (October and November) off.

I of course followed this routine during the off-season in the Chicago Cubs organization. But I also took two months off at the end of fall baseball in college. This is the time to do it.