Monday, December 21, 2015

Giants non-tender Yusmeiro Petit and Hector Sanchez - McCovey Chronicles



Two more long-time Giants who are leaving the fold, Petit to the Nationals and Sanchez to the White Sox. I'm not as flip as Grant Bisbee over at McCovey Chronicles seems to be about the loss of Petit. I don't know if Chris Heston fills the role Petit did quite as well. I'm also not sure the Giants win the last World Series without some significant contributions out of the pen from Petit.

Sanchez seemed to lose the hit too after the concussion(s) and struggled to get it bat, but in his time he was a really good hitting prospect behind the dish. Hector seems to set up for outside pitches in the "decap zone" where foul tips come off the bat really, really hard. It would be hard to justify the veteran salary Sanchez would get with the development of bot Andrew Susac and Trevor Brown.


from McCovey Chronicles:
http://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2015/12/2/9839350/giants-non-tender-yusmeiro-petit-and-hector-sanchez

Giants non-tender Yusmeiro Petit and Hector SanchezBy  on Dec 2, 2015, 7:23p 386 

David Kohl-USA TODAY SportsThe Giants' will have to find a new pitcher to use as their white flag next year, and they're also parting ways with their long-time backup catcher.

Sent from my iPhone

Tweets by two former Giants on Twitter


Sometimes the transaction wire contains bad news. As expected, Ryan Vogelsong moves on to greener pastures. A great Giant, he will be sorely missed.


KPIX 5 (@CBSSF)
"Arrr!" Pittsburgh Pirates Sign Ryan Vogelsong To One-Year Contract >> cbsloc.al/1OcWDeB


The same could be said for Juan Perez. A great Giant. Understood his role and performed well when called upon. It seems hard enough to get Gregor Blanco enough AB's and playing time, except for injuries. Perez was just blocked here in SF, he serves a shot to show what he can do given more opportunities.


Juan Carlos Perez (@juan_perez24)
Thanks to every Giants fan for the memories and the support. I appreciate the love and every single reply!






Saturday, December 19, 2015

Sports Matter | Dick's Sporting Goods

Image result for sports matter . org

I guess we are tossing aside the old Greek notion of the linkage between a sound mind and a sound body. Given the toxic combination of declining international test scores, increased dropout rates and increased obesity, it seems like we are ignoring a lot of evidence that proves the point. The trend below therefore, is very disturbing if it comes to pass. Maybe we need a safe to fall on our heads to see the obvious, but I guess some failed buracracy or another has an agenda they would rather see served than to have our kids served properly.
By 2020, 27 percent of public high schools in the United States could be without sports due to a lack of proper funding.

Depriving young athletes from engaging in organized sports does more damage than just taking away fun from their lives. It eliminates an outlet that teaches invaluable lessons of teamwork, sportsmanship, respect, time management, and fair play.

Dick's Sporting Goods

 Image result for sports matter . org

Frank L. Gaines: On Greatness

Frank L. Gaines: On Greatness -


I used to work for a boss that used to say this or some close derivative, good to know the original source. I didn't really understand it at first, but it certainly shows that there is a clear difference between having an idea and having a vision, It ties closely to the difference between good and great.

from goodmenproject.com
http://goodmenproject.com/featured-content/frank-l-gaines-on-greatness-kcon/
Frank L. Gaines: On Greatness

"Only he who can see the invisible can do the impossible." – Frank L. Gaines

The Good Men Project's On Greatness brings you the most inspiring quotes and related imagery from the world of sports.

Join us! If you have a favorite sports quote, please send us your submission via email to anyone on the GMP sports team: Mike at mkasdan@gmail.com, Kimanzi at kconstable29@gmail.com, or Tor at torconbooks@gmail.com. You can also connect with them via Twitter @torcon, @KimanziC and @michaelkasdan #OnGreatness and #GMPSports.

If that made you happy, you might like a daily dose of Good Men Project awesomeness delivered straight to your inbox. Once a day or once a week, your choice. Join our mailing list here.

Flickr/ Al_HikesAZ

Sent from my iPhone

Giants introduce Johnny Cueto | sfgiants.com

Giants introduce Johnny Cueto | sfgiants.com
Image result for johnny cueto giants

Cueto introduced to the Giants faithful and it looks like he knocked it out of the park. He shouild fit right in to this locker room. I liked his following quote about his new team, Giants, Team of Champions. That's going to really endear him to his new teammates and it has a nice, catchy ring to it. Almost like Wheaties, Breakfast of Champions, Giants, Team of Champions. I like it!!
The Giants wouldn’t have won three World Series in five years without Lincecum. The even-year pattern was part of what appealed to Cueto.

“I like the team,” Cueto said. “This is a team of champions.”

from mlb..com
http://m.giants.mlb.com/news/article/159853688?partnerId=ed-9948544-859936193


Giants introduce Johnny Cueto

• Hot Stove Tracker
"We've added two significant workhorses," Giants general manager Bobby Evans said. "[It] addresses an area that we really struggled with last year. This gives us a lot of hope looking at 2016 and beyond."

Welcome to San Francisco, Cueto

The Giants graced their starting staff with considerable potential for durability -- a quality it has lacked in recent years. They accomplished this through free agency, which might strike some observers as less appealing than relying on homegrown pitchers drafted and developed within the organization such as Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain and Madison Bumgarner. But Lincecum's a free agent striving to overcome hip surgery and the injury-plagued Cain is no longer a given to work 200 innings, leaving Bumgarner as San Francisco's lone starter who began and ended last year in the rotation without interruption due to injury.
Adding Cueto completed the rotation's makeover.
"I feel it's already a great rotation," he said through translator Erwin Higueros. "I just came over here to complement the rest of the guys."
It's an even year and I'm ready to roll. Glad to be on board. Vamos!
— Johnny Cueto (@JohnnyCueto)
Cueto's record suggests that he'll serve as more than just a complement. He's a proven winner, sporting a 96-70 record in eight seasons, including the first 7 1/2 of those years with the Cincinnati Reds. Cueto also has exceeded 200 innings in three of the past four seasons. Samardzija has topped that figure three years in a row.
Thus, in Bumgarner, Cueto and Samardzija, the Giants have three legitimate "innings eaters" in the rotation, which in turn will strengthen the bullpen. San Francisco's last trio of starters to amass at least 200 innings apiece did so in 2011. The group consisted of Cain (221 2/3), Lincecum (217) and Bumgarner (204 2/3).
And if either Cain or fellow starter Jake Peavy regains enough effectiveness to approach or reach 200 innings this year, so much the better. No Giants rotation has boasted four 200-inning starters since 1973, when Ron Bryant (270), Jim Barr (231 1/3), Tom Bradley (224) and Hall of Famer Juan Marichal (207 1/3) formed the quartet.
That happened to be Marichal's final Giants season. Cueto, who hails from the Dominican Republic, said that he has never met Marichal, who remains that country's patron saint of pitching. Based on the testimony of Jeff Brantley, the former Giants right-hander who scrutinized Cueto as a Reds broadcasting commentator, Cueto works ceaselessly to match the achievements of Marichal and other greats.
"He's a high-end competitor," Brantley said.
Don't be fooled by Cueto's thick frame, Brantley advised.
"If you take a look behind the scenes and watch his workout regimen, it's about as professsional as you can get," Brantley said. "There's not too many starting pitchers out there who run 'stadiums [up and down the aisles of an entire ballpark].' He runs them until he's blue in the face."
As for Cueto's pitching, Brantley predicted that Cueto will do a "spectacular" job for the Giants. He added, "The only way you're going to get to Cueto is to hit the ball out of the ballpark, because it's really difficult to string three hits together against him."

Cueto's fit with the Giants

Moreover, the apparently fun-loving Cueto -- "I'm one of those guys who likes to fool around," he said -- should feel at home in the Giants' clubhouse. Brantley said that Mike Leake, the ex-Red and free-agent right-hander who joined the Giants last season at the non-waiver Trade Deadline, raved about the atmosphere surrounding the club.
"He said that everyone was not concerned about themselves, but about the team," Brantley said. "I think that's going to benefit Johnny. I think Johnny is going to help a lot of guys."
Cueto's contract calls for him to earn $15 million in 2016 and $21 million annually from 2017-21. He'll receive $1 million per year during that span to account for a $5 million bonus. The Giants hold a $22 million option on his services for 2022, with a $5 million buyout that he'll still receive if he exercises an opt-out clause after the 2017 season.
Chris Haft is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Haft-Baked Ideas, follow him on Twitter at @sfgiantsbeat and listen to his podcast. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


Sent from my iPhone

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Baseball America and MLB.com revised prospect lists

Image result for giants prospect lists

Both Baseball America and MLB.com revised their prospect rankings recently and published the results. One thing in particular stands out about the Giants prospect list. It is fluid.

We cried when the G-men drafted Christian Arroyo, but now apparently he is the fair-haired boy, the successor to Duffy and Panik, nay Kelby Tomlinson!!

And now we're crying about the demise, the slide down the list, that is Kyle Crick. Once known as Matt Cain 2.0, of course, now we have an actual Matt Cain 2.0, who actually goes by the name of Matt Cain  and carries with him a 2.0 version of his right elbow. You know, the one he pitches with and deposits $20M annual paychecks with.

 A lot of crying and angst looking at these lists, I will say that. But somebody has to do it.

The first group is the consensus group, the most dangerous group to be in because expectations are elevated and there is theoretically only one place to go, DOWN. In reality, the Panik, Duffy, Susac, Tomlinson glide path is more preferred, there's just only so many rooms at the inn, so to speak.

The Consensus Four:
Tyler Beede, RHP
Christian Arroyo, SS
Adalberto Mejia, LHP
Clayton Blackburn, RHP

Of this group, Blackburn is not that highly regarded by most, he just gets guys out and makes the stat guys take notice and the "jeans sellers" (Moneyball reference) throw up in their mouths.

Mejia screams trade-bait to me. Arroyo and Beede would be keepers, but if Car-go (Rockies reference) is available, I'd package two from this list right now.

The second-tier consensus:
These guys make a lot of lists but have a lot of ??'s attached to them

Kyle Crick, RHP
Steven Okert, LHP
Aramis Garcia, C
Ty Blach, LHP

Crick and Okert both have great stuff they just don't know where it's going. That gets coaches fired. Okert compounds it with an ever-growing medical file. He is left-handed though, so it pays to be patient. Blach is 25, so it's show or go time. He has to show what he has or go somewhere else. He is left-handed though so.....see above.  

The 25'ers:
Twenty-five years old, still playing in the minors, do I have to spell it out? Show time or go time.

Mac Williamson, OF
Chris Stratton, RHP
Derek Law, RHP

Mac Williamson has five-tool talent written all over him and looks great getting off the bus. Which begs the question.....Why is he not in SF? Better find out what he has this year. Same with Jarrett Parker, who's older BTW.

Stratton really hasn't sown much since they drafted him high, Derek Law has probably shown more, but is battling his medical file as well.


The Young'uns:
Everybody loves these guys. The prospect-sphere sure likes 'em young. That even sounded dirty writing it, but it's a known fact.

Phil Bickford, RHP
Lucius Fox, SS
Sam Coonrod, RHP
Chris Shaw, 1B
Jalen Miller, SS
Andrew Suarez, LHP
Mac Marshall, LHP

Some of these guys, like Coonrod, aren't necessarily young, just not seasoned professionals. Coonrod lights up the stats. He may be a tweener as far as starter or reliever goes, but the stuff is pretty compelling at this point. Good mix of pitching and hitting. A couple of these guys could fill out a prospect-laden package for a veteran LF'er. The Giants loaded up the cart last year, this year they are already down the first-rounder for signing Samardzija. A trade empties the cart a little bit, but for the right guy......who knows?

Anything is possible and as always, FLUID.

At this point, as far as the statistical indicators go, the only prospects with more than a small-sample size that I would put my money on would be Blackburn, Coonrod and Derek Law (with a clean bill of health) on the pitching side. Crick, Stratton and maybe Okert have to turn things around quickly.

On the hitting side, I think Williamson will hit given the opportunity and a clean bill of health. Arroyo is getting there, I am anxious to see how he handles AA for an extended amount of AB's. Slater, Cole and Dylan Davis (college bats) need to start advancing and handling AA-AAA pitching in the next year or so, but could still be dark-horses in the Duffy/Tomlinson mold.

It's also a pivotal year for former HS SS Ryder Jones lest he go the route of Rafael Rodriguez and Chuckie Jones, ie: the "whatever became of" route. Stephen Duggar (OF from Clemson) has to prove he is not Gary Brown 2.0, ie: a toolsy OF who doesn't produce up to the potential scouts place on his athletic gifts.

Giants love them some toolsy OF, however their prospect graveyard is littered with many that have an eptitath that begins with "Whatever became of....?" That needs to change soon. We need OF versions of Matt Duffy and Kelby Tomlinsom.

Speaking of which, whatever happened to Daniel Carbonell?

The Law of the Harvest Baseball Edition


The Law of the Harvest Baseball Edition

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Post-Pitching Recovery Protocol

Post-Pitching Recovery Protocol 
By: Ryan Faer and Matt Van Dyke
Pitching is one of the most, if not the most, high-velocity action found in the world of athletics. That being said, proper recovery from this explosive, repeated movement becomes vitally important in determining not only the timeframe of return to maximal strength and velocity for a pitcher, but also the longevity of their career. This article will emphasize the importance of implementing recovery techniques based on the physiological stressors pitchers experience during competition. It is important to note that the methods used in this article may be applied to any athletic event, however the focus will be placed on different areas of the body as needed in each individual sport.
Why Recovery Post-Pitching Matters:
As we briefly explained earlier, pitching is one of the most explosive, high-velocity movements found in athletics. Peak shoulder internal rotation reaches a velocity of 7000o/second with peak elbow extension velocity reaching 2000o/second. To put this rotational velocity in perspective, 7000o/second is the equivalent to rotating your arm in a circular motion 70,000 times per hour. This almost unimaginable feat displays the true explosive power that pitchers' shoulders must produce and endure with each pitch. Think about looking at a pitchers arm found on a baseball card and the way the pitcher's arm is "cocked" or in the "layback" position. There is clearly a tremendous amount of force being transferred through the entire kinetic chain, and it is all transferred specifically through the throwing arm. The rapid acceleration of the arm through the throwing motion must, ultimately, be stopped in a rapid fashion as well. This rapid deceleration of the arm places high eccentric stress on the arm, specifically the posterior shoulder musculature. This means the posterior shoulder muscles are violently contracting while still elongating as they attempt to decelerate the humerus during its internal rotation and extension toward home plate.
It is well understood that high eccentric stress is the leading cause of muscle damage in high-velocity movements. Taking a brief look at the physiology of a muscle contraction, the myosin head is attempting to attach to the actin in order to decelerate the arm moving at an extremely high-velocity. If the myosin heads and their actin attachment sites have not been properly trained to handle these high-stress, eccentric loads, muscle damage almost always occurs. Even with proper training, the explosive action of pitching will lead to muscle damage, just not as much. Multiple exposures to high eccentric stress, as seen in pitching, without proper recovery methods leads to a loss in range of motion, inflammation, and soreness. It is for this reason the recovery protocol for pitchers becomes an imperative piece in keeping them not only injury free, but continuously performing optimally.
Immediately Post:
Once an outing for a pitcher has concluded, they can immediately begin the recovery process. The goal of this recovery protocol immediately following pitching is to begin the process of rebuilding as rapidly as possible, thus optimally preparing the pitcher for their next competition date. The primary modes of recovery immediately post-pitching can ultimately be broken down into three segments, the first being AVOID ICE AT ALL COSTS, the second is the completion of dynamic movements of the shoulder, and the third is active recovery.
We know the first aspect of recovery goes against everything the majority of us have been taught about treating injuries. However, icing will lead to the halting and even reversal of the healing and recovery process. Simply put, a pitcher will take longer to recover if ice is used on their shoulder or elbow. The logic behind this anti-icing movement is simple and easily understood. When any tissue is damaged within the body, our ultimate goal should be to improve that tissue to its highest functioning state. In athletics, our goal is then made more difficult as we attempt to treat injuries as quickly as possible to get our athletes back on the field. We accomplish this task by removing the waste or "junk" produced by the injury via the lymphatic system and by increasing the blood flow to the injured area, which will bring the necessary nutrients to begin the rebuilding process. If the lymph system is understood, you know the only way lymph or the "junk" within the lymphatic system is cleared is by active muscle contraction in the nearby area. If we take these two basic principles of recovery and then realize that ice both leads to immobilization and decreased blood flow to the injured area, we can clearly see icing is completely ineffective and significantly hinders recovery.
If you are interested in learning more about the "anti-icing" movement, click here for a link to a video featuring Gary Reinl explaining his profoundly simple idea to maximizing recovery.
Dynamic movement of the shoulder is the second piece in our immediate recovery plan. These movements not only assist with the inflammatory process by increasing waste removal via the lymphatic system, but they also function to strengthen posterior shoulder muscles and the entire range of motion of the shoulder joint. As covered earlier, it is the posterior muscles of the shoulder that experience the highest levels of eccentric stress and potential micro-trauma. Strengthening these muscles immediately post-pitching will jump start the building process for the next outing and ultimately reduce the likelihood of chronic overuse injuries down the road. It is important to note that if there is pain experienced during these muscle actions, movement should be reduced to a pain free range of motion. This will prevent any further damage being done to these damaged muscles. The goal of causing no more harm is always in effect during training.
Active recovery is simply putting the body in motion. This can range from a dynamic warm-up to a brisk walking session, with the goal of keeping the heart rate around 100 bpm. This recovery protocol ensures all tissues receive the blood flow necessary, which carries the needed nutrients for proper regeneration. This low-intensity training also assists in the removal of any remaining metabolites within the body produced during the pitching outing. This method can be paired with the dynamic movements of the shoulder if so desired.
Day after:
The first day after a pitching outing is another opportunity for a coach to maximize a pitcher's recovery time. The training methods implemented on this day play just as vital a role in reducing needed recovery time as the methods used immediately post-pitching. Covered here will be training protocols that will hinder recovery and potentially subsequent performance. Training methods to enhance recovery also will be given.
The mentality of avoiding ice continues to be applied in this phase of recovery, just as it was during the immediately post-pitching recovery process. The reasoning for this approach is outlined above and is based on the principle of getting "garbage out and groceries in". This refers to the process of removing the "junk" or "garbage" via the lymphatic system produced by the damaged tissue, and getting the proper nutrients or "groceries" to the recovering muscles via blood flow. Once again, the reasoning for this method is expressed in a more detailed manner above.
One of the biggest, most misguided, training protocols prescribed to pitchers is the "flush run" or jogging poles. Physiologically speaking, based on the requirements of pitching, there is simply no need to "flush the system" after a pitching outing. Pitching consists of a short duration, max-effort bout, followed by 20-30 seconds of rest. This high-intensity bout is then repeated an upwards of 100 or more times, and broken into segments (innings in this case) that allow much longer rest times. Short duration, high-intensity movements, as seen in pitching primarily use the ATP-CP energy system, as long as creatine phosphate is available. This is the shortest metabolic pathway and allows the rapid use of energy, or ATP, for explosive movements. It should be noted that all energy pathways are utilized at all times, however, they function in an ever fluctuating model depending on the intensity and time requirements of the activity being performed.
As stated above, pitching primarily relies on the ATP-CP energy system when a pitcher is fully recovered, or has available stores of creatine phosphate. As more pitches are thrown during a single half-inning, the body must begin to rely on other energy pathways to meet the high-intensity demands required in pitching as creatine phosphate cannot fully recover between pitches. Anaerobic glycolysis, or the use of glycogen, is the next available energy system capable of producing high-intensity efforts and becomes utilized to a greater extent, leading to the production of lactate. The hydrogen ions produced along with lactate lead to the reduced ability of the ATP-CP energy system to produce the needed energy. The ability to clear and tolerate these hydrogen ions becomes vitally important as more pitches are thrown within a single half-inning. Once the half-inning is completed, properly trained athletes will have enough time to clear the majority of hydrogen ions prior to the start of their next inning. This will allow the body to begin to replenish ATP stores and the ATP-CP system. The fact that the body can clear these metabolites rapidly demonstrates a "flush run" is not a requirement for recovery during the next day after a pitching performance.
The training methods to increase an athlete's abilities in clearance of lactate or tolerance of high concentrations of lactate are laid out in the following article, Understanding Blood Lactate to Optimize Training and Performance.
Below is a figure showing the estimated energy system contribution during a 3 second sprint, which is similar to the short burst, high-intensity movements seen in pitching. As the inning continues and more pitches are thrown, energy system contribution will shift toward the anaerobic glycolysis pathway.
Energy_Systems_in_3_sec_Sprint.png 
If simply being unnecessary isn't enough for a coach to discontinue these "recovery" methods, such as jogging poles, then it should be understood that these exercises can lead to decreased maximal power outputs, or reduced explosiveness. The first sentence of this article portrayed the importance of explosive power for pitchers, so the fact that a training method commonly used leads to decreasing the ability so vital for success should immediately lead to the training being questioned.
Explosive power, which is provided via contraction of the type II, "fast twitch", muscle fibers, provides the backbone to elite, high-level, pitchers. As coaches, it should be our goal to provide training protocols to optimize the power producing abilities of these type II fibers. Distance jogging, as seen in running poles, leads to a shift in fast twitch fibers to slower, more oxidative fibers. Once this occurs, research shows the ability to transition those fibers back to their original explosive form is virtually impossible. This means your star pitcher, whose success relies almost solely on being explosive, just trained their body to be less explosive. As coaches, we never want to facilitate the shifting of explosive type II fibers to more aerobically trained fibers. Now some of you may be questioning the walking method as an active recovery method, as discussed in the immediately post-pitching section, after reading these last few sentences. Walking as a method for active recovery will not lead to the shift of type II fibers to a more oxidative, or less explosive form. This is simply because the type II fibers responsible for maximal power are not activated during this low-intensity activity. The activity does not require their activation, thus they are not changed.
As mentioned earlier, the violent eccentric contractions of the posterior shoulder musculature can cause significant Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS). Also, DOMS can be experienced in the forearm from the eccentric contractions by the wrist flexors, as the wrist must rapidly decelerate during the ball release phase, and in the lower body from decelerating the entire body upon foot strike and follow-through.  To reiterate, DOMS is caused by mechanical damage to the muscle cells and the ensuing inflammatory response. This inflammation causes the cells to swell, whereby pressure receptors are activated, causing pain. It's important to understand that, although this swelling causes soreness, it is a vital part of the muscle's recovery and repair. Coaches and pitchers DO NOT want to ice the sore muscles, for exactly the reasons stated multiple times above, and they certainly do not want to take anti-inflammatory drugs, as this will impede any positive physiological adaptations your pitcher's body can incur from the eccentric muscle damage.
However, there are a few modalities that can be used to assist with the DOMS in order to achieve the goal of returning to maximal strength and physical state before the next outing. When muscle fibers are damaged, as frequently caused in pitching, they do not always repair themselves in an orderly fashion. This improper healing can lead to the formation of adhesions within the muscle, which can cause additional pain along with that already experienced due to the DOMS. If these adhesions are not continuously addressed, overall muscle functioning and power production abilities will be reduced dramatically over the course of a season, along with an increased risk of traumatic injury due to potential muscle and movement compensations. Self myofascial release techniques (SMR), through the utilization of foam rollers or a lacrosse ball, can be of assistance to reduce and potentially relieve the muscle adhesions. These SMR techniques also facilitate regeneration and recovery of the muscle tissues. Foam rolling can be used on the posterior shoulder musculature, as well as the rest of the body.
Light stretching and mobility work also can contribute to relieving the symptoms of DOMS and restore joint function after the tough eccentric bouts experienced during pitching. Over the course of the season, a pitcher tends to lose particular ranges of motion, particularly internal rotation of the shoulder along with scapular upward rotation. Mobility work along with stretching will support and keep the glenohumeral joint functioning optimally throughout the long seasons experienced in baseball.
Training in the weight room should consist of a lower body emphasis the day after a pitching outing. Dynamic movement of the lower body will continue to assist in the recovery from DOMS. If a pitcher is on a 5 day rotation, this will allow 4 days of recovery prior to their next appearance. This allows the legs to be continually trained and strengthened during the long baseball season, but also gives proper time for a full recovery to be made so their legs will be fresh for their next appearance.
For relief pitchers, much of the recovery protocol becomes variable based on their workload throughout the week. Communication between the pitching coach and the strength and conditioning coach is vital to ensure the relief pitchers receive proper training and recovery, which will vary on a weekly basis. For example, if a relief pitcher makes an appearance on Monday, throwing 50 pitches, and the pitching coach deems him "down" for the next game, this would make the next day a great opportunity to get a full-body training session in and perform some dynamic movement and recovery techniques that are needed to prepare for their next potential outing. Conversely, if a reliever throws 15 pitches on Monday and is deemed "up" for the next game, some dynamic movement would be encouraged, but a lift would be out of the question, and other recovery techniques could be performed as needed on an individual basis. Communication between player, pitching coach, and strength and conditioning coach is key in this process.
Summing it all up – Do's and Don'ts:
Clearly there are methods coaches and pitchers can utilize post-outing that can dramatically improve recovery. However, if improper protocols are used, the recovery process can actually be hindered. The recovery process should begin immediately after the pitching session has been completed in order to maximize recovery time and efficiency.  Avoiding ice at all costs, paired with dynamic movement and active recovery are the first 3 steps and should be implemented as soon as possible. The following day of recovery should continue to avoid the use of ice, avoid the use of "flush running" or jogging poles, and should include light stretching and mobility exercises along with a high-intensity lower body training session. These methods will vary slightly based on the rotation schedule of each individual pitcher and their individual needs. Remember, any coach can make an athlete tired; our goal as coaches should be to provide the proper adaptations necessary to be successful in competition. It is important, once again, to note the recovery methods outlined in this article can be applied to virtually all athletes post-competition. However, the demands of the specific posterior shoulder and locations of SMR work will vary based on the requirements of the sport. There is no doubt in our minds that as the understanding of the physiological process of pitching continues to grow, these recovery methods will become even more proficient.

Giants Top Minor League Prospects

  • 1. Joey Bart 6-2, 215 C Power arm and a power bat, playing a premium defensive position. Good catch and throw skills.
  • 2. Heliot Ramos 6-2, 185 OF Potential high-ceiling player the Giants have been looking for. Great bat speed, early returns were impressive.
  • 3. Chris Shaw 6-3. 230 1B Lefty power bat, limited defensively to 1B, Matt Adams comp?
  • 4. Tyler Beede 6-4, 215 RHP from Vanderbilt projects as top of the rotation starter when he works out his command/control issues. When he misses, he misses by a bunch.
  • 5. Stephen Duggar 6-1, 170 CF Another toolsy, under-achieving OF in the Gary Brown mold, hoping for better results.
  • 6. Sandro Fabian 6-0, 180 OF Dominican signee from 2014, shows some pop in his bat. Below average arm and lack of speed should push him towards LF.
  • 7. Aramis Garcia 6-2, 220 C from Florida INTL projects as a good bat behind the dish with enough defensive skill to play there long-term
  • 8. Heath Quinn 6-2, 190 OF Strong hitter, makes contact with improving approach at the plate. Returns from hamate bone injury.
  • 9. Garrett Williams 6-1, 205 LHP Former Oklahoma standout, Giants prototype, low-ceiling, high-floor prospect.
  • 10. Shaun Anderson 6-4, 225 RHP Large frame, 3.36 K/BB rate. Can start or relieve
  • 11. Jacob Gonzalez 6-3, 190 3B Good pedigree, impressive bat for HS prospect.
  • 12. Seth Corry 6-2 195 LHP Highly regard HS pick. Was mentioned as possible chip in high profile trades.
  • 13. C.J. Hinojosa 5-10, 175 SS Scrappy IF prospect in the mold of Kelby Tomlinson, just gets it done.
  • 14. Garett Cave 6-4, 200 RHP He misses a lot of bats and at times, the plate. 13 K/9 an 5 B/9. Wild thing.

2019 MLB Draft - Top HS Draft Prospects

  • 1. Bobby Witt, Jr. 6-1,185 SS Colleyville Heritage HS (TX) Oklahoma commit. Outstanding defensive SS who can hit. 6.4 speed in 60 yd. Touched 97 on mound. Son of former major leaguer. Five tool potential.
  • 2. Riley Greene 6-2, 190 OF Haggerty HS (FL) Florida commit.Best HS hitting prospect. LH bat with good eye, plate discipline and developing power.
  • 3. C.J. Abrams 6-2, 180 SS Blessed Trinity HS (GA) High-ceiling athlete. 70 speed with plus arm. Hitting needs to develop as he matures. Alabama commit.
  • 4. Reece Hinds 6-4, 210 SS Niceville HS (FL) Power bat, committed to LSU. Plus arm, solid enough bat to move to 3B down the road. 98MPH arm.
  • 5. Daniel Espino 6-3, 200 RHP Georgia Premier Academy (GA) LSU commit. Touches 98 on FB with wipe out SL.

2019 MLB Draft - Top College Draft Prospects

  • 1. Adley Rutschman C Oregon State Plus defender with great arm. Excellent receiver plus a switch hitter with some pop in the bat.
  • 2. Shea Langliers C Baylor Excelent throw and catch skills with good pop time. Quick bat, uses all fields approach with some pop.
  • 3. Zack Thompson 6-2 LHP Kentucky Missed time with an elbow issue. FB up to 95 with plenty of secondary stuff.
  • 4. Matt Wallner 6-5 OF Southern Miss Run producing bat plus mid to upper 90's FB closer. Power bat from the left side, athletic for size.
  • 5. Nick Lodolo LHP TCU Tall LHP, 95MPH FB and solid breaking stuff.