I didn't see where Dr. Coleman accounted for the culture that says rookies have to hustle and veterans are allowed to save their bodies a bit, but I'm sure they did. It was just the first thought that popped into my head, especially after just reading the title.
from NSCA Strength and Conditioning Journal:
http://mobile.journals.lww.com/nsca-jscr/_layouts/oaks.journals.mobile/articleviewer.aspx?year=2015&issue=07000&article=00001#ath
Sprint Accelerations to First Base Among Major League Baseball Players With Different Years of Career Experience
Coleman, A. Eugene; Amonette, William E.
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
July 2015
Vol. 29 - Issue 7: p 1759–1765
July 2015
Vol. 29 - Issue 7: p 1759–1765
Abstract
Abstract: Coleman, AE and Amonette, WE. Sprint accelerations to first base among Major League Baseball players with different years of career experience. J Strength Cond Res 29(7): 1759–1765, 2015—The purpose of this article was to compare times to first base in Major League Baseball games to determine whether running velocity decreases to the foul line and first base among players with differing years of playing experience. From 1998 to 2012, 1,185 sprint times to first base were analyzed: 469 outfielders, 601 infielders, and 115 catchers. The players were divided into differing experience categories depending on their years of service in Major League Baseball: 1–5, 6–10, 11–15, and 16–20+ years. Velocity at the foul line and first base was compared and interval accelerations were reported. Comparisons were completed by playing position, and within left- and right-handed batters. Left-handed outfielders exhibited reduced velocities at 6–10 (p = 0.04), 11–15 (p = 0.004), and 16–20 years (p < 0.001) compared with 1–5 years; there were no statistical differences in velocity at the foul line. Right-handed outfielders exhibited significantly reduced velocities at first base in 6–10 (p = 0.002) and 11–15 years (p = 0.001); they also had a reduced velocities at the foul line in 6–10 (p = 0.004) and 11–15 years (p = 0.009). Right-handed infielders had reduced velocities at first base in 11–15 years (p < 0.001). No other differences were observed within infielders at first base or the foul line. There were no differences within the compared variables for catchers. Decreases in running velocity to first base with experience are seen in outfielders but are less prominent in infielders and catchers. Although physical capabilities for sprinting may decline with age, it is possible that through repetition more experienced players perfect the skill-related component of running to first base, thus preserving speed.
Discussion
The primary purpose of this analysis was to determine changes in running velocity and acceleration in MLB players with differing years of playing experience. Second, we sought to determine whether changes in velocity were the result of interval acceleration between home plate to the foul line or from the foul line to first base and whether these suspected differences were similar among outfielders, infielders, and catchers. The biggest differences observed were in outfielders; there was a general trend toward decreasing speed with increasing playing experience. In contrast to the study hypotheses, running velocities at the foul line and first base were similar among catchers and infielders, except within right-handed infielders who tended to be slower in years 11–15.
On average, players who progress through the minor league system and eventually compete in the Major League can expect to play at that level for approximately 5.6 years (12). However, less than half of the players who make it onto a Major League roster play until career year 5. Only 1% of players compete 20 or more years in the Major Leagues (12). During a Major League season, a starting position player will bat approximately 550–650 times per year. In the majority of these at bats, a player will run to at least first base, whether arriving safe or out. If it is conservatively estimated a player bats 450 times per year, one might conclude that baseball players completing 5, 10, 15, or 20 years will run to first base approximately 2,250, 4,500, 6,750, and 9,000 times, respectively. These estimates consider only runs to first base during the regular season and eliminate at bats that may occur in practice, the preseason, or the playoffs. This suggests that running to first base is one of the most commonly executed occupational tasks performed by baseball players. It is generally believed that sprint times decrease with experience, because younger players generally have greater physical capabilities than older, more experienced players.
The greatest differences in running velocities and accelerations observed in this study were among right- and left-handed outfielders. Outfielders tend to possess the greatest linear speed of any position on the baseball field (1,3,5). Their fielding position requires sprinting long distances to track balls from opposing hitters. Coleman and Amonette (3) previously reported times to first base and the foul line in MLB games. Their data indicated that the primary determinant of time to first base was pure acceleration, which is analogous with time to the foul line. The findings from right-handed outfielders are supported by these data in that players who were slower at first base also tended to be slower at the foul line. In contrast, time to the foul line was similar among all left-handed outfielders, but reduced at first base. Left-handed batters tend to arrive at first base faster than right-handed batters (1,3,5). One obvious reason for this finding is that the batting position for the left-handed batters is closer to first base, thus they begin the run with a positional advantage. The momentum of the swing for a right-handed batter tends to pull the athlete away from first base, whereas it pulls left-handed batters toward the base. It could be that left-handed batters are able to perfect the skill of using this momentum with experience, preserving velocity at the foul line.
There was a decline in velocity among infielders 11–15 years in time to first base. This was the only difference observed among this position grouping. One possible reason for the general lack of differences in sprint times is running to first base is a skill that can be improved with practice. Pure speed potential is dependent on running mechanics and the magnitude of ground reaction forces during the sprint cycle (11), which ultimately affects stride length. The magnitude of the ground reaction force is dependent on a player's physical capabilities, which will at some point decline during his career. It is therefore logical to expect a player's speed potential will decline over the course of an MLB career. Although pure speed potential resulting from a player's physical capabilities may decrease with age, this is only 1 factor that affects time to first base. Mechanical factors such as minimizing false steps, reducing nonlinear steps toward the base, maximizing the stepping pattern when accelerating out of the batter's box, and running through first base may also improve sprinting time. Over the length of a Major League career, players may practice and execute this skill thousands of times in actual games. Therefore, a decrease in speed potential from physical capabilities resulting from age may be masked because of increased perfection of the skill-related factors associated with running to first base. This could be one of the reasons for the lack of statistical decline observed in some of these data across the career of an MLB player.
No differences were observed in speed of Major League catchers among the different experience groupings. Catchers tend to be the largest and slowest position on the baseball field. Their position-specific tasks require squatting, catching, and throwing. Occasionally, they may be required to explosively rise from the squatted position to field a bunt or "back-up" first base, but the total distance and volume for these maneuvers is minimal. Catchers may also have an increased risk of lower-extremity injuries, reducing the length of their career. In this sample, we had a minimal number of catchers' times sampled (n= 115). Very few times were sampled in the later career brackets. The catchers who are still playing 10–20 years into their career are likely more athletic and less prone to injury. This may be the reason for the lack of difference in times among this position grouping.
The primary limitation of this project was the unequal number of times sampled across experience groupings. Although this may be a limitation for statistical comparisons, it is a realistic norm of a playing career. The average length of a Major League career is only 5.6 years and the few players who make it to 10–20 years are highly skilled (12). Because speed is one of the "five tools" scouts use to predict success (2,6), it is logical to believe that some of the slower, less-skilled players are selected out of the league at the earlier stages of their careers. Another limitation is the cross-sectional nature of these data and the fact that only the fastest time from each player was used for analysis. It is possible that the average time to first base for players with more experience is slower, but they manage to maintain their peak time throughout their career. The data set used for this study did not allow testing of this hypothesis. Finally, players are promoted to the Major League level at various ages. In the sample analyzed for this study, the average age of first appearance in an MLB game was 23 years but ranged from 18 to 33 years. Players mature and progress through minor league competition levels at different rates, thus most, but not all players with minimal playing experience are similar in age.
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