TexBall Baseball & Softball Notes

The Complete Athlete on Performance Health

2010-09-03T11:30:00.000-05:00

Donnie Watson of The Complete Athlete noted in an interview today the rebranding of his Performance Symposiums. Even though it seems like a small naming change (adding Performance Health to the title) he was emphatic that it really is the delineating factor between TCA and other baseball and strength/conditioning operations.

"Lots of other coaches claim to improve performance," he said. "But dig deeper and look for the science-based reasons for what they are teaching and you won't find much. We aim to change that for the betterment of the game and our players."

Watson also mentioned that just a few spots remain for his September 11/12 Weekend Performance Health Symposium at Trinity Christian Academy in Addison, Texas (a beautiful facility by-the-way) where Watson also coaches. Price for the weekend has been lowered to $299 to accommodate today's economic times.

He recently returned from a weekend coaches training with former partner and mentor, Dr. Tom House, where he brushed up on new techniques, systems and research influencing House's work at USC.

"It is vital to a player's pursuit of his or her potential, that they get as much of this information as possible. And we don't just want to lecture, we want to make each athlete their own best coach, so they have the tools to perform pain-free for the climb ahead." said Watson.

Performance Mastery with CA Symposiums, Clinics and Prep-U Sessions

2010-08-20T17:29:00.000-05:00

Performance Mastery with CA Symposiums, Clinics and Prep-U Sessions

Only 2 weeks until 1st fall Symposium and remaining spots going fast.

Rangers Sales Approved by MLB Owners!

2010-08-12T13:12:00.000-05:00

It's official according to online stories on mlb.com. To wit:

By Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com

08/12/10 12:50 PM ET

MINNEAPOLIS -- The sale of the Texas Rangers gained unanimous approval from Major League Baseball owners at their joint meeting on Thursday, ending a year of financial instability for the franchise.

The team was purchased from Tom Hicks last Wednesday for $593 million during a spirited, 17-hour bankruptcy court auction in Fort Worth, Texas.

The new Texas ownership group is called Rangers Baseball Express, with attorney Chuck Greenberg serving as managing general partner and Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan remaining as club president. Ray Davis, a Dallas billionaire, and Fort Worth businessman Bob Simpson are the co-lead investors.

"I am very pleased that Chuck, Nolan and their impressive ownership group have been approved as the new leadership of the Texas Rangers franchise," Commissioner Bud Selig said in a statement issued by MLB. "Chuck and Nolan have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the Rangers. Their passion for Major League Baseball as a whole and particularly the future of baseball in Texas is exemplary.

"In addition, I want to thank the Rangers' fans for their patience throughout this difficult process. I am confident that Chuck, Nolan and the entire ownership group will serve as dedicated stewards of this club by building a long-term, stable franchise which values its standing in the Dallas-Fort Worth communities. I am glad that the Rangers' great season on the field will get the attention it deserves during the pennant race."

The meeting began at 8:35 a.m. CT and Greenberg was asked to sit outside the more>

The NCAA Crack Down on Bat Rolling -1 Year Later

2010-05-13T14:54:00.000-05:00

It has been a year since Jim Paronto, the NCAA baseball rules secretary/guru sent out his memorandum on bat rolling -- that pesky compression process that "hardens" alloy and composite bats to deliver more distance -- and we were curious how many violations the organization has uncovered, and actions taken regarding individuals and school programs.

Here's the original memo:

VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL

MEMORANDUM

TO: Athletics Directors, Compliance Administrators and Head Baseball Coaches.

FROM: Jim Paronto, secretary-rules editor NCAA Baseball Rules Committee.

SUBJECT: Bat Alterations.

In an ongoing effort to provide an environment for fair and safe competition, the NCAA is sharing information it has received dealing with some non-wood baseball bats. It has come to the attention of the NCAA that there are several companies that offer to “roll” or “shave” non-wood bats in order to increase the performance of the bat. This type of alteration apparently improves the performance of the bat, in some cases considerably.

According to NCAA Baseball Rule 1-12-b: “Any bat that ... has been altered or flattened so as to affect the distance factor or cause an unusual reaction on the baseball shall be removed from the game.” During NCAA championship competition, any bat that is found to be in violation of Rule 1-12-b may subject the team and/or student-athlete to further sanctions under the NCAA’s championship misconduct policies.

Additionally, NCAA Bylaw 17.33 requires all member institutions to adhere to the playing rules of the sport in all contests. An institution’s failure to do so may subject it to penalties from the appropriate championship committee and may potentially constitute a violation of NCAA Bylaw 10.01.1 (Honesty and Sportsmanship) and 10.1 (Unethical Conduct).

The NCAA plans to collect and test bats at many sites of this year’s championships. Any bats found to be out of compliance or showing signs of altering may not be allowed in subsequent play.

Our email inquiry to Mr. Paronto has just been sent, so stay tuned for more info from his corner, and updates on our own inquiries around college baseball.

Understanding BESR Certification for Baseball Bats

2010-05-13T14:19:00.000-05:00

The BESR

(Ball Exit Speed Ratio)

Dr. James Ashton-Miller, Dr. Michael Carroll,

Dr. Kenneth Johnson, Dr. Alan Nathan

NCAA Baseball Research Panel

Todd Petr, Ty Halpin

NCAA

Introduction

The NCAA requires that all nonwood bats be certified so as to limit their “liveliness.”

The certification process is accomplished by measuring the performance of a bat under

controlled conditions and then assigning a number to it; this number is known as the

BESR (Ball Exit Speed Ratio). To be certified, the BESR of the bat must fall at or below

a predetermined value set by the NCAA. This paper discusses the concept of the BESR.

The Ball-Bat Collision

Figure 1 shows a ball and a bat just before the collision and the ball just after the collision

(the position of the ball after the collision has been moved downward for the sake of

clarity).

Figure 1 The ball-bat collision.

The speeds involved in the collision are:

Vpitch = speed of the pitched ball just before it collides with the bat.

Vbat = speed of the bat just before it collides with the ball. This is the bat

speed at the point of impact.

Vball exit = exit speed of the ball just after it leaves the bat.

What Is the BESR?

The BESR is a number, once known, that allows one to determine the ball exit speed

Vball exit when the bat speed Vbat and the pitch speed Vpitch are specified. The relationship

between the BESR and these speeds is:

( 1 ) ( 1 )

ball exit 2 bat 2 pitch V = BESR + V + BESR − V (1)

`As an example, suppose the BESR for a particular ball-bat collision is 0.65, and that the

bat and pitch speeds are Vbat = 70 mph and Vpitch = 75 mph. The ball exit speed would be

( 1 )( ) ( 1 )( )

ball exit 2 2 V = 0.65 + 70 mph + 0.65 − 75 mph = 92 mph

Conversely, if one measures the bat speed, the pitch speed, and the ball exit speed, then

Equation 1 can be used to determine the BESR (see Equation 2 below).

Note from Equation 1 that greater values of the BESR give rise to greater ball exit

speeds. Therefore, the BESR is a measure of the “liveliness” of the ball-bat collision and

it includes, for example, any “trampoline” effect that the non-wood bat may display (due

to its barrel being temporarily deformed by the ball during the collision).

Where does the BESR get its name?

When one algebraically solves Equation 1 for the BESR the result is

1 ( )

ball exit 2 pitch bat

pitch bat

BESR =

V V V

V V

−

(2)

When the speeds of the pitched ball and bat are the same (Vpitch = Vbat), Equation 2

becomes

ball exit

pitch bat

BESR =

V + V

We see in this case that the BESR is equal to the ratio of the ball exit speed Vball exit to

the relative speed (Vpitch + Vbat) of the pitched ball and bat before the collision. Hence,

the name “Ball Exit Speed Ratio.”

How does the BESR Depend on the Properties of the Ball and Bat?

Figure 2 illustrates a ball just before colliding with the bat. The bat is assumed to be

clamped in a hitting machine and is free to rotate in the plane of the paper about the pivot

point.

Figure 2 The bat pivot point and the distance r

from the pivot point to where the ball collides

with the bat.

Pivot

The physics of the collision is described by applying the law of conservation of angular

momentum to the ball-bat interaction. When this law is used, along with the definition of

the coefficient of restitution (see below), we arrive at Equation 1, where the BESR is

given in terms of the properties of the ball and bat as1,2,3

+ 1 1

BESR =

e mr

 

 − 

 

 

(3)

where

e = coefficient of restitution of the ball-bat collision. The coefficient of

restitution is defined as the ratio of the relative speed of the ball and bat after

the collision to that before the collision. Suppose that, before the collision,

the ball and bat are moving toward each other with a relative speed of

160 mph. Suppose, further, that after the collision the ball and bat are

moving with a relative speed of 80 mph. Then the coefficient of restitution

of the ball-bat collision is (80 mph)/(160 mph) = 0.5.

m = mass of the ball.

r = distance from the pivot point to where the ball hits the bat (see Figure 2).

Ip = moment of inertia of the bat about the pivot point. This parameter depends

on the mass of the bat as well as how the mass is distributed relative to the

pivot point. The more the mass is concentrated away from the pivot point,

the larger is the moment of inertia.

Note that the BESR depends on the properties of the ball (m), the bat (Ip), and the ball-bat

collision (e and r).

Why Use The BESR Rather Than Specify a Ball Exit Speed?

In general, different bat testing laboratories use different types of hitting machines:

(1) the pitched ball is moving and the bat is initially stationary, (2) the ball is stationary

and the bat is initially moving, and (3) both the pitched ball and bat are initially moving.

Even if each type of hitting machine is set up to have the same relative speed

(Vpitch + Vbat) of the pitched ball and bat, the ball exit speeds will be different. However,

all types of machines will give the same value for the BESR. This result, while not

obvious, is a direct consequence of Equation 1.

What Is The Maximum Allowed Value For The BESR?

When bats were first tested in 1999, an initial lot of baseballs was used. The tests were

conducted by using a pitch speed of 70 mph and a bat speed (at a point 6 inches from the

end of the barrel) of 66 mph. Under these conditions, the best major league wood bat

yielded a BESR of 0.728, which the NCAA then set to be the maximum allowed value.

The graph shows a plot of ball exit speed (Vball exit) versus bat speed (Vbat) for the case

when the pitch speed is Vpitch = 80 mph. The straight line represents Equation 1 in which

the BESR has been set to the legal limit of 0.728. Any bat that gives rise to a ball exit

speed at or below this line is legal. Likewise, any bat that produces a ball exit speed

above this line is illegal.

100

60 70

Vbat (mph)

Vball exit (mph)

BESR = 0.728

Vpitch = 80 mph

LEGAL

ILLEGAL

Subsequent tests on non-wood bats used different lots of new baseballs. Because the

properties of balls differ from lot to lot, even when they are stored and used in a

humidity-controlled room, the BESR is adjusted to account for these differences.

Therefore, the maximum allowed value for the BESR changes slightly, depending on the

particular lot of baseballs used in testing a given non-wood bat. However, in every case,

the BESR of the non-wood bat is always compared with that of major league wood bats

tested in the same machine with the same lot of baseballs under standardized ball-bat

testing conditions.

________________________________________________________________________

1M. M. Carroll, “Assessment and regulation of baseball bat performance,” Symposium on Trends

in the Application of Mathematics to Mechanics, edited by P. E. O’Donoghue and J. N. Flavin

(Elsevier, Amsterdam, 2000), p. 17.

2A. M. Nathan, “Dynamics of the baseball-bat collision,” Am. J. Phys. 68, 979−990 (2000).

3A. M. Nathan, “Characterizing the performance of baseball bats,” Am. J. Phys. 71 (2), 134−143

(February 2003).

A new site, some new perspectives

2010-01-08T17:57:00.000-06:00

With 2010 already showing signs of being a topsy-turvy sports year, we've located a new site that promises some genuine off-the-record insights into breakthroughs and coaching/performance gurus who are affecting big and small changes in the way athletes train, compete and reach their goals in amateur and professional ranks. The site is called GuruTrack.com, and we highly recommend reading the sports section (and all sections if you have time) when you get a few minutes.

The first article we read was on pitching guru Donnie Watson of the Complete Athlete. Watson is away from D1 coaching now and out working (along w/ world-famous oath Dr. James Andrews) to prevent injury and change the mindsets of coaches and trainers who seem Hell-bent on putting pitchers through the injury-repair-injury cycle. Great article, and we're rooting for Watson, who's had some setbacks but continues to be a visionary in baseball throwing training and mechanics.

One more good point about GuruTrack: they're new, so subscribers can get free access, then 1/2 price subscriptions and eventually go to full price -- a whopping $9.95 a month. Big bargain at a much higher price. One of their editors also mentioned that they are entertaining all sorts of suggestions for experts to interview this year. If you know one (or more), nominate them at the site's "Sneak Peek" page. You'll get immediate access to their free trial thereafter too.

Donnie Watson wants to save baseball's youth

2009-05-22T14:38:00.002-05:00

I just read this open letter to baseball parents, and then called Donnie Watson to learn more.

Holy crap. I have been part and parcel of a system that's killing careers, often before they even blossom.

I'm reprinting it here. Share this with someone you know or care about in baseball or softball.

An Open Letter to Baseball Parents...
You're a baseball parent, so I know this will be of interest to you, and the timing is crucial so please take a moment to read this message. If you don't have the time, bookmark this page-- come back to it later - it's that important.

Dear Baseball Parent,

My name is Donnie Watson. Because of a surge of interest from clients and staff I will be working in DFW this summer and coaching an 18U team. My passion is working with kids and involving their parents and coaches in the process of questioning and overcoming the traditional methods used to develop athletes in our sport.

Why this is important
Having experienced every level of baseball's evolution in Texas since the early 70's, I have an information set that will cause you to rethink the traditional choices available to teach and develop your baseball playing athlete.

There's a lot of info, and it is next to impossible to keep it short and sweet, but I'll try to keep it simple.

Simply put, baseball is broken, and the environment encountered by many of today's young athletes is full of information, people and issues that not only inhibit athletic development but also make it more difficult for these athletes to develop as leaders on and off the field.

Some of these issues include:

1. Misinformation about effective and safe pitching/throwing mechanics based on years of unchallenged theory and opinion
2. Dramatic increases in the number of avoidable arm, shoulder and lower back injuries as a direct result of improper mechanics, overuse and a lack of functional strength
3. Unhealthy competition environments where the result of the game becomes more important than how the game is played and where leadership examples set on the field and in the stands stand in stark contrast to the ideals we hope our young athletes copy
4. Missed opportunities to teach life lessons about nutrition, in the context of athletic development, where young athletes will find the information relevant to their performance
5. Cavalier attempts to address and eradicate the use of steroids and the just as frightening and important: the misuse of legal nutritional supplements in all sports
6. The lack of strength and flexibility to support the specific useable strength requirements of the overhead/rotational sport athlete, the workload cycles pitchers and position players incur throughout the year and the general disregard and disconnect the traditional power-based programs have shown to accept any responsibility for their part in the injury/surgery epidemic in our sport
7. General confusion about the recruiting process and how to compete for college scholarships and/or professional money.

I bet you didn't know how broken things could be, but you're a parent so I'm guessing you suspected something was wrong with the very systems we've relied on, and trusted.

Confusing Activity with Progress
You spend a lot of money and I know the outcome you hope to orchestrate. But for all the games we log each year in high school, summer and fall, not to mention all the lessons, camps and clinics we attend in the course of a year, I have yet to find a baseball player of any age that can tell me:

Based on science, the mechanics of a safe and efficient throwing delivery,
1. The functional strength requirements to duplicate a repetitive motion without getting hurt,
2. The nutritional factors needed to ensure optimal performance during a year of prepare, compete and repair cycles and,
3. The mental/emotional competencies he must master as the pool of talent and strategic execution improves to stay competitive.

It sounds like a lot to learn, but taken step-by-step, the boys that embrace it are the ones that stay healthy and surge ahead of their peers. As a parent you need to know these answers too.

Just for this summer, I want you to join me in the health and performance debate! We develop leaders on and off the field and build better baseball players because they want to take responsibility for their own development.

The Bottom Line?
The most important period of your son's performance cycle is about to begin.

90% of skill development happens from the last day of his spring season until the first day of the next spring. I will be doing a couple of Performance Symposium classes in the next couple weeks, at the Ben Hogan Center in Fort Worth, Texas and at the Top Prospects Academy (TPA) in Euless, Texas, to explain the information and format. I want to personally invite you and your son to attend.

I also want to speak with you directly to explain how the big picture relates to you, your athlete, his pursuit of high-performance and the attention that comes with it. Please reply directly to this email with the best time and telephone number to reach you.

You can also call me anytime @ 214.704.8017 if you want to chat sooner.

Thanks,

Donnie Watson
The Complete Athlete

P.S. If you haven't already signed up to receive our new free eNews (formerly a Members-only service) simply click here to send an email to our system or fill in the form here. We never share emails or info with any outsiders. Period.

Phone: 214.704.8017
Website: www.complete-athlete.com
Email: donnie@complete-athlete.com

The 10 Training Guidelines for Athletes Who Participate in Throwing Activities

2009-05-07T14:12:00.005-05:00

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is an excerpt from the Complete Athlete's Members-Only eNewsletter. This list is considered by many to be the commandments for throwers to help pitchers and position players train more effectively while avoiding injury.

To subscribe to the free version of their eNews, click here.

The 10 Training Guidelines for Athletes Who Participate in Throwing Activities

1. Static stretching can artificially stretch the tendons and ligaments, which is counterproductive for a thrower. Avoid static stretching before the core temperature is elevated. Dynamic flexibility and range-of-motion movements (think Dynamic Warm Up) are more movement friendly and effective. You must think “flex” the muscle instead of “stretch” the muscle in a Warm Up to Loosen Up to Throw sequence when preparing the body for practice and competition.

2. Training while standing on either or both feet on a stable surface must be complemented with training on an unstable surface. Train on stable and unstable surfaces. This is more important for pitchers. A baseball/softball pitcher or throwing athlete is not on both feet at the same time during a delivery. For baseball pitchers that work down a slope (that is rarely uniform from one mound to another) and not on flat ground maintaining balance and posture on unstable surfaces during development training must be incorporated into a daily activity.

3. Absolute strength, developed in the weight room, doesn’t necessarily translate to useable strength on the mound or on the ball field. Being able to bench press 250 pounds doesn’t mean that you will be able to throw 95mph.
Remember: Absolute strength is not the answer and absolute strength training must be sport specific and relative to developing the skills needed to compliment competitive performance and injury prevention.

4. It is dangerous to quickly lift heavy weights. Heavy weight moved quickly (as in power lifting) may be good for muscles, but is definitely bad for the body’s joints. Throwing is already a joint-stressing activity. Heavy lifting without regard to muscular symmetry and joint integrity is especially inappropriate for throwers.

5. Don’t equate power-lifting strength with throwing strength. Power lifting is linear and not specific to throwing. Throwing is a powerful movement, but not, by strict definition a power movement. Throwing is the summation of linear and rotational forces delivered into a softball/baseball. Throwing/pitching is more a function of timing (i.e. the sequential order of unlocking angles) than a function of time.

6. Train for flexibility. Strength without flexibility is useless to a thrower.

7. Train the small muscles first. Throwers are only as strong as their weakest link. In the sequential muscle loading and translation of energy through the kinetic chain- from the feet to the fingertips, synergists and secondary muscle groups have the priority over prime movers.

8. You will never throw harder than your genetic predisposition. The type and percent composition of muscle tissue (slow twitch/red muscle fiber vs. fast twitch/ white muscle fiber) is genetically determined. Research has shown, however, that you can enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of what muscle tissue you have by properly overloading and under loading resistance training. This type of weight work can help a thrower increase the capacity of their genetically determined maximum velocity.

9. Support your throwing strength efforts with stamina training. To perform at the maximum level of your potential, you must engage in stamina training, as well as resistance training. Stamina work requires a balance between aerobic activity for delivery system efficiency and anaerobic activity for enhanced lung capacity.

10. Ensure that the integrated-training modalities in which you engage are cross-specific to the biomechanics of an efficient delivery to create usable strength, not absolute strength. The natural pathway programming of movement efficiency works best when resistance-training protocols properly address the composition of muscle mass by finding a balance between bulk, lean, and fat. Too much bulk precludes flexibility, too much lean exacerbates joint trauma and micro-tears and slows down recovery time, and too much fat impedes neurological efficiency and energy translation (nerves don’t work
in fat).

Training a thrower requires a paradigm shift from the traditional approaches used to conditioning an athlete. You need to integrate the prepare, compete, and repair cycles of softball/baseball with traditional volume, load, frequency, intensity, and duration training variables. In addition, this on-the-field and in-the-gym training must be done in three positions (circle, figure 8, upright) with three movements (linear, circular, angular) and in three torso planes (sagittal, transverse, frontal) using isometric, concentric, and eccentric resistance in a closed-chain/ open chain sequence. Protocols should integrate cross- specific flexibility work, body work, joint-integrity work, machine work, and free-weight work for useable strength and endurance, and be complemented with enough cardiopulmonary work to develop an efficient stamina base to support the prepare, compete, repair cycles.

With regard to a stamina base, it should be noted that softball/baseball (like most sporting activities) requires both anaerobic and aerobic production of energy.

To hear a quick summary of these thrower's rules click on the audio button below.

Texas UIL Suspends Schedules Due to Swine Flu

2009-04-29T13:31:00.004-05:00

UIL Schedules Altered Due to Swine Flu

AUSTIN, TX— On the recommendation of Dr. David Lakey, Commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services, and in consultation with Texas Education Agency Commissioner Robert Scott, the University Interscholastic League is altering its schedule of events due to the outbreak of the swine flu in Texas. Effective immediately, all UIL interscholastic competition is suspended until May 11.

“The health and safety of our student activity participants is of the utmost importance,” said UIL Executive Director Dr. Charles Breithaupt. “Taking every possible precaution to prevent the further spreading of this disease is an important contribution to the welfare of our great state, and altering the schedule of our events is a way to keep our participants safe.”

Ave in action

2009-04-27T14:47:00.003-05:00

The "Unthinkable" Happens to Nick Adenhart

2009-04-09T11:21:00.005-05:00

The saddest, most heart-breaking event we can ever witness, is the abrupt and accidental end of a life full of promise.

Nick Adenhart, 22, one of MLB's hotter prospects making his way up the rotation ladder for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, died last night in a traffic accident. Wrong place, wrong time, car accident where another dirver is alleged to have run a red light and attempted to flee on foot.

He had pitched 6 innings of shutout baseball vs. the Oakland A's, showing the confidence others said he lacked, commanding hitters' respect and limiting them to 7 scattered hits. No runs, 5 k's. A 22 year old prospect showing tremendous poise and inching that much closer to cementing his place amongst the day-to-day starters for the Angels.

He was making the best of an opportunity.

Having "flown through the minors" according to former GM and Xm Radio host, Jim Duquette, Adenhart was growing, fighting through the many setbacks baseball offers up to its youth, and winning the battle. Last night was proof positive. A shame he didn't get the win, but the same batters he disabled through six innings surged vs his relievers and ultimately won the game.
He was labeled as a "great kid," a smart player with a great head for the game," and a "mature personality."

As a dad of a young pitcher, I feel the pain of this loss directly. I know the hours spent, the support and love offered in assisting a boy in navigating the world of baseball. I experience each day, the agony, nerves and sheer pleasure of seeing my son ply his trade in hopes of realizing his goals. As with all my kids, I want him to have a fair shot, I want him to be safe, I want the world to welcome him and share in his glories. I want people to say the things about my son Avery, that they said about Nick.

If all this ended suddenly, I know life would go on, but it would change forever.

Such is the situation in LA, amongst Nick's teammates, in Hagerstown for his mom and dad Janet and Jim, for his friends and for those of us who love this great game. We'll try to put it in perspective, but it doesn't make sense on many levels, and it never will. The sadness can be overwhelming.

If you have a kiddo in the game, hug him (or her) today and share your pride with others.

Appreciate the moments you do have together, and think of Nick Adenhart's family, friends, fans and teammates. They're in a world of hurt today because someone they helped succeed, who gave back in effort energy and spirit, is now gone. For what Ray Ratto today called "no good reason."

Complete Athlete & Deion Sanders team up

2009-03-24T14:12:00.006-05:00

I just received this release. Seems that Jen Wells and Donnie Watson are taking their company, Complete Athlete, to a bigger audience with a new partnership with Deion Sanders' PrimeTimePlayer.

Here's the release:

Complete Athlete Launches Performance Program with PrimeTimePlayer

March 25, 2009 -- Dallas / Fort Worth, TX

In an agreement reached this week, the Complete Athlete (CA) will partner with PrimeTimePlayer (PTP) to provide high-level baseball and softball instruction and performance analysis for athletes across North Texas. The partnership, a first in the D/FW area, will provide a range of services including pitchers' prep programs, performance symposiums, high-speed motion analysis and recruiting preparation seminars & services starting in May 2009 for players aged 12-25 in both sports.

"We are truly excited about working with (NFL Network analyst, eight-time Pro Bowler and MLB player) Deion Sanders and his PTP staff to deliver pain-free performance, said Donnie Watson, co-founder of the Complete Athlete. "In our work with Dr. James Andrews, it's always been our mission to teach and train to avoid the surgeries and injuries becoming epidemic in baseball and softball. This partnership helps us reach more athletes more quickly, and to work with coaches, trainers and professionals to help players excel."

The Complete Athlete (CA) was founded by former NCAA Division 1 coaches Donnie Watson and Jenifer Wells (a 3-time All-American and national champion team softball player), in conjunction with The Andrews Institute, of Birmingham, AL and Gulf Breeze, FL. CA is dedicated to providing a proprietary blend of education, instruction and analysis to baseball and softball pitchers and position players to better enable them to avoid injury and reach their performance potential as they pursue college and professional team roster spots.

According to Watson, the partnership will reach from Frisco to Fort Worth, utilizing PTP facilities and venues to give more baseball and softball athletes access to the tools for gaining higher visibility with college-level coaches and professional scouts for "all the right reasons." Recruiters will know that each of these athletes completes the program with a full understanding of their physical and emotional capabilities along with the tools to present a dossier that outlines their achievements, capabilities and assessment results.

"We'll show the players the correct path, help them take ownership of the process, and work to make them the best they can be without sacrificing their health or attitude," adds Wells.

Athletes, parents and coaches seeking information on CA/PTP events may call Donnie Watson at 214.704.8017.

PrimeTimePlayer is the brainchild of business partners DL Wallace, and former NFL and MLB star Deion Sanders. Alongside Sanders' highly-rated televised football training, Prime U, PTP develops student athletes on many levels, preparing them for college and professional-level play and showcases their talents via player training, combines, clinics, showcases and PrimeTimePlayer Pages; printed directories distributed to college-level recruiters.

Pain Free Performance w/ the Complete Athlete

2009-03-03T15:12:00.019-06:00

Every once in a blue moon somebody rises above all the new trends, techniques and gizmos routinely introduced to improve the great game.

And, when they do, baseball people take note from the sandlots up into MLB. Slowly of course, because baseball is a game steeped in tradition -- passed from father to son -- and it doesn't take kindly to newbies messing with the the status quo.

A little background here.

Injuries to pitchers and now position players are approaching epidemic numbers. In fact in the last five of a ten-year study, surgeries climbed to 6X the levels of the 1st five years for high school players. Colleges went up 3X, Pros 2X. So clearly, the patterns of overuse, poor and wrong conditioning, and coaching the wrong mechanics are failing our youth players.

Some would argue that numbers have gone up because more people are pushing surgery as an option. And others have blamed the singular approach to sports common today as more and more players become 1-sport specialists early on. Add up both of those factors, and it still doesn't equate to the horrendous number of orthopedic episodes occurring daily. And the study only tracked players who went in for surgery, not those that quit playing or switched sports.

Enter the Complete Athlete
Brainchild of 3-time softball All American Jenifer Wells, and 16-yr D1 Assistant and Head Coach Donnie Watson, this emerging company is tackling the issues in a four-pronged approach to pain free performance. And it's doing it with the blessing of the nation's best sports surgeon.

About a year ago, according to Donnie, he received a call from Dr. James Andrews (yes, that Dr Andrews) in response to a letter he'd written asking just how to educate coaches, trainers and players on methods to break the cycle of injury/repair/injury so may athletes were enduring in ever-shortened careers.

"I kept seeing my trainer taking my players through football lifting drills to develop pretty muscles with no bearing in baseball. says Watson, "And I kept seeing a cycle of short rest, poor mechanics, and lousy nutrition making pitchers weaker and weaker until season-ending injuries culled them from the rosters."

So Watson and Andrews met in Birmingham, and crafted a plan to bring thousands of coaches and trainers "to the table" so the message could be heard. The change was afoot, although no small challenge given the sport's tendency to "push back" when new systems (especially medical or science-driven ones) were being introduced.

Through nearly a year of grassroots effort in Birmingham, Gulfbreeze FL (where Andrews has a 2nd institute) and Dallas/Fort Worth, Watson and Wells are making headway.

Two new affiliations, with baseball academy TPA in Euless, Texas, and with the upcoming PrimeTimePlayer (Deion Sanders is a partner) facility in Frisco, Texas are launching a series of teaching symposiums, pitcher-prep programs, motion analyses (they have a mobile M/A lab), nutritional assessments and mental/emotional analyses through summer projected to teach upwards of 150 players (and parents) through the systems with the end goal of making them all self-sufficient. TPA's Stix Baseball program is even making Complete Athlete's patented Dynamic Warmup® mandatory for their summer teams.

They'll also continue to grow the ranks of certified faculty-level and coaching-level instructors to grow the program.

"We know, there's only so much of us to go around," says Wells. "But it was never about us, we're facilitating change in softball and baseball by duplicating ourselves over and over again."

Add to the mix the interest and demand for their service that parents are fostering. Shouldn't be surprising that the people helping Johnny and Suzy play in select leagues, player showcases and booster-driven school programs are very interested in their sons and daughters remaining healthy in their pursuit of the dream. And they're a vocal lot, sharing information, symposium materials and upcoming dates with the coaches.

"They have a bigger responsibility to their kids than anyone else, and they're pushing to be heard." adds Watson.

There is no question this company has all the potential to grow, and become a leader in baseball and softball (the girls are getting hurt just as often or more) development. The combination of science, passion, personality, and business-sense pretty much guarantees they'll succeed. Add to that the skins Donnie and Jenifer have in their respective sports as players, coaches, recruiters and teachers and the barriers should fall sooner than later.

The only question is will the sport listen and learn from years of mistakes. And then take action.

For more information on the Complete Athlete, go to www.complete-athlete.com, or email Donnie Watson at donnie@complete-athlete.com

Watch this space for more as their "season" continues...

Lamenting the loss of the 'Lifer.'

2009-01-15T12:09:00.004-06:00

Having watched this year's über-hot hot stove churn and burn, and seeing what Charlie Steiner aptly called the weirdest January ever ($Quote: "Aren't we supposed to be resting?") we're again reminded about the sad state of player portability.

Likely forever gone, the era when players were the franchise, dedicated to and emblimatic of a team's ups and downs. Now, they move freely from team to team without being tagged as "journeymen." In fact, despite the comforts of "staying home," it takes a bigger effort, and financial sacrifice to stay in one city. As Jeff Bagwell said "You can always find a higher bidder. But there are a lot of good things that come with being at home. Your family is in one place, the fans know you and love you. It makes everything easier."

A great overview of this trend can be found in a recent article at mlb.com, where author Alyson Footer points out that Reality is another word for the business side of baseball, and in reality, it's not always the player's intention to stick with one team for the duration. They're pulled in all directions, absorbing pressure from either their agents, the Players Association or families, and sometimes, all three. Only a special few have resisted the outside elements.

Being in the heart of Rangers country, we've seen so much transition it has become a running joke: the Texas Rangers are simply a high-dollar farm team for all successful mlb teams. We bring them up, pay them handsomely, set them up for real success and promptly trade them away.

Or find a way to insult their pride and loyalty, i.e. Michael Young.

To read more, we suggest you take a stroll through these related blogs and articles.
The Baseball Think Factory
Inform
St. Petersburg Times

My son Avery Sullivan, has a remarkably keen sense of the game and knowledge of the players. It's not due to studying incoming teams and knowing who belongs to whom, however. His smarts come from hours playing various baseball video games and building his dream teams in a PlayStation. He notes movement amongst players by comparing and contrasting his efforts from year to year as he upgrades the game.

Perhaps the only remedy we'll see to this springs from the newly harsh economic climate. As teams get squeezed w/ reduced attendance and product sales, there may be less heat in the hot stove, and an inclination amongst players, agents and teams to embrace fan loyalty, and work harder to keep a nucleus together for the survival of all parties.

2008-12-20T10:30:00.001-06:00

Getting new blog up on GuruTrack this weekend. Still need nominations for favorite Gurus. Go to htp://gurutrack.com to contribute.

2008-12-12T10:19:00.001-06:00

Okay, pinging this a.m. If you love words, you really need to see Roy Blount's new book, Alphabet Juice http://ping.fm/eysEY

XM or Mir?

2008-11-17T10:42:00.005-06:00

Did Ed Randall sound like he'd been handed control as all others abandoned ship?

Nice guy, and absolutely no business hosting the morning drive. No alternatives though as Buck Martinez "vacationed" and Mark Patrick paddled safely to shore.

ED NOTE: If you have not been following our rants on the shake-ups at XM Radio's Homeplate (XM 175) see our more recent posts, and go to XMFan.com to learn more.

So the satellite is out of proper orbit and heading back to the level of local broadcast. Mel Karmazin is at the helm along w/ Sirius Commonauts Scott Greenstein, Steve Cohen and Chuck Dickemann, and one can only hope at present they're too busy fiddling with dials and buttons to notice that they're reaching critical heat in re-entry.

And on their way to splashdown in (hungry) shark-infested waters.

And now, it's back to Radio Paradise.

What does my XM radio say @ 8:01 a.m. cst?

2008-11-13T15:55:00.002-06:00

What does my XM Radio now say @ 8:01 a.m. cst each weekday morning?

"Click."

The last shows w/ Mark Patrick are airing on BBTM and I find myself getting up earlier to hear what's left in the tank. I am not excited about the prospect of listening to a Buck-only or substitute co-host on this program. This isn't just "switching Dicks" (Darren Stevens couldn't be reached for comment), it's ripping the heart and soul out of a three-and-one-half-year-old morning companion. Started the day right, got a replay in case you weren't having an early day, and learned something more about the great game. Ground-breaking stuff.

I genuinely fear this management snafu will cause me to cancel the service altogether. The music side has been seriously (or Sirius-ly) screwed with and about 100 really talented people picked up their severance checks today. Makes my time w/ Radio Paradise now all the more precious.

So they send the satellite back to Earth w/ local-broadcast mentality, shock jocks, listener calls and limited playlists.

And my finger responds accordingly.

Click.

More heads roll at XM 175

2008-11-12T12:24:00.007-06:00

Well, they're being quietly circumspect at XM, leaving it to on-air hosts to reveal that they've been axed.

As we mentioned last week, morning glue and co-host of BBTM, Mark Patrick, was emailed (not spoken to, cause gosh that might indicate respect for carrying the mornings for 3.5 years) and told his contract would not be renewed.

And now, Chuck Wilson just announced his departure (as in "This is my last show") from the second morning offering. Evidently he was acting as Jim Duquette's training wheels until such time as they felt comfortable JD wouldn't be a total bust. He'll still bust because brilliant baseball mind does not translate to entertaining radio persona.

We're still waiting for the other heads to roll on XM 175 (as they have across the satellite battlefield as a new channel lineup plays out -- ugh), but it is strangely quite during some periods as several of the regulars are MIA.

A great recipe for success: take what makes satellite radio so cool, and bring it down to the level of regular broadcast radio. Not sure what you think, but they're crafting a mix of programs that seem to resemble all the crap I fled three years ago.

For the sake of the great game, hopefully many of the good guys will land on the upcoming MLB Network so they can continue to delight fans of all ages.

Smarter pitching analysis and instruction

2008-11-10T15:47:00.003-06:00

Just read thru massive amounts of info today on Dr. Mike Marshall after hearing again on XM.

While I agree w/ the motion and simplicity of the movements, often times there's too much "noise in the communication" i.e. biomechanical ad infinitum instead of clear, concise explanation everyone can embrace.

More on Dr. Marshall soon, but if you have an ongoing interest in pitching mechanics, we'd strongly suggest you visit Kyle Boddy's Driveline Mechanics to really scour the topic.

XM Shaking up the Lineup

2008-11-05T10:28:00.007-06:00

Just heard that XM Radio is shaking up the bedrock of it's daily feed on its MLB Homeplate ( XM175) channel.

Mark Patrick, the morning co-host (along w/ Buck Martinez) will not see his contract renewed for 2009.

While coming as a shock (although the Sirius merger is already cutting into many talent pools at XM's music offerings) it also shows us how little regard for real talent the new management has.

Armed w/ axes, but not much of a clue are the unholy trinity of Scott Greenstein, Steve Cohen and Chuck Dickemann. Together they've taken the hub of a hot wheel and cast it aside for a bunch of spokes that bring nothing unique (outside of Martinez, Charlie Steiner, Rob Dibble or Joe Castallano) to the programming. It's nothing more than sports talk masquerading as baseball talk w/ inane caller segments and "expert" commentary.

Yawn. Sports talk without any chemistry.

The magic of guys like Mark Patrick is that they know when to turn it on and off -- when to simply report and/or let the story tell itself and when to jump in and direct the action like a great sports bar buddy. If you've ever listened to the channel you hear how Patrick's style and energy shapes the proceedings. Listen in when he's out (likely spending time w/ Stanford phenom/son Drew Storen) and you hear a void. Even Martinez, w/ all his style and extraordinary know-how can't carry the show solo.

It's a team, and it feels like we've just been handed a note about next season being a rebuilding year.

I for one, am canceling my season tickets.

If you feel likewise, email these guys (see links above) an let them know what a knuckleheaded move this is.

Cross Country Express: Catching up with Monte Vista coach Mike Davis...

2008-10-05T21:09:00.000-05:00

Cross Country Express: Catching up with Monte Vista coach Mike Davis...

D1 Recruiting -- A Great Parents' Guide

2006-01-20T11:42:00.000-06:00

Editors Note: We heard Mark Patrick on MLB Home Plate mention the abundant info available on PerfectGame.org and thought we'd take a look. We found plenty and you will too. Here's an excerpt from an article by Blaine Clemmons on the ins and outs of D1 college recruiting. Good stuff.

Crack of the Bat
By Blaine Clemmens

About Scholarships and Recruiting!

At the end of the year, there are always many players that are wishing they had received an opportunity to sign with a D1 program in the early signing period. Many of those players are very talented, sometimes among the best players in their local area or region. It can often be hard for the parents and the players themselves to understand why an opportunity has not come yet.

Most parents and players only go through the process once in their lives. They don't have the experience or background to understand the process, methods, and reasons college coaches sign certain players in the early period and not others. Further confusing things for the parents in particular is their ability to understand the scholarship situation.

While many of the players that sign in the early period (this year it was Nov. 7-11) are offered and sign for significant athletic scholarships (I would say that anything 50% and above is a large scholarship offer), there aren't nearly as many "full rides" as parents are led believe. I can't tell you how many times I am at games around parents talking about an offer that Johnny received or an offer that Joey committed to. There is so much second hand information being passed around and frankly, a lot of fibbing too.

Anyway, most of the parents and players have very, very little knowledge about how the whole recruiting process, and in particular, very little knowledge about how scholarships work for baseball at the D1 more about recruiting

Hall of Shame?

2006-01-11T08:37:00.000-06:00

Not to suggest that the Baseball Hall of Fame is in any way responsible for the outcome of yesterday's vote tally and subsequent announcement, but electing but one candidate in a pool of fine choices is a travesty.

Ring Lardner perhaps put it best on his induction in 1963, "Nothing on Earth is more depressing than an old baseball writer."

Not unlike the perennial debate around college football's BCS system, the ongoing neglect of deserving candidates plays havoc with fans, writers, broadcasters and players both active and former... Point of fact, players who should receive their props, often don't, and those elected to the hall often wait way too long.

Arguments abound as to why the Baseball Writers can't seem to get their collective act together, as to why is it a canidate may become more attractive on his 13th year of eligibility (see Bruce Souter) than when he was first in the running. And equally contentious is the notion that voting is limited to baseball writers having plied their trade for over 10 years. What about the broadcasters? Why do HOF members vote on just the veterans committee -- and why not EVERY year? AND... how is it the voting membership allows BBWAA members to no-show, sending in blank ballots or no votes at all?

Rather than refine the quality of HOF membership, the mayhem that visits us each year following weeks of the "talking sport's" jawing about who's who leading up to the announcement is the equivalent of watching the Hindeburg go down -- again and again and again. We watch, we marvel at its grandiose design, and we reel in horror as it falls to the ground in flames.

I'm sick of the show. Pro football revised its voting process a few years back, and now it's baseball's turn. Open it up to qualified broadcasters, include alum players in a prorata vote, and ban those writers (the gang of 12 for 2006) who jimmy the system with their blank ballots or complete no-shows.

We've been listening intently on baseball's newest star, XM Radio, and reading on their online boards, but many more opinions are available out there. To see all the latest updates and news on this hot topic, click here.

Upton Signs w/ D-Backs For Record Bonus

2006-01-09T17:11:00.000-06:00

The Diamondbacks confirmed the rumors Friday, announcing that they had signed the 2005 draft’s No. 1 overall pick, Virginia prep star Justin Upton.

Upton and the Diamondbacks finalized a deal that includes the largest signing bonus for a player signing with the team that drafted him. The Associated Press reported the bonus at $6.1 million payable over five years, a proviso used for players who have the ability to be a professional in two sports.

Upton's advisor Larry Reynolds on Friday that termed reports would only say the bonus was “in (the $6 million) range . . . It's going to be pretty strong."

The previous record bonus was $5.3 million the White Sox paid Stanford outfielder Joe Borchard, the first pick in the 2000 draft. Matt White signed for a $10.2 million bonus as an amateur free agent in 1996 with the Devil Rays, which remains the all-time bonus record.

Upton was the consensus top player available in the 2005 draft. He was Baseball America's 2005 High School Player of the Year after batting .519-11-32 in 54 at-bats as a senior at Great Bridge High in Chesapeake, Va., homering every 4.9 at-bats.

He was expected to fly Monday to Arizona, where the contract will be finalized after he takes a physical and attends a press conference to make an official announcement.

"We still have a couple of minor deals to make it final, we've agreed in principle to terms, but we're not 100 percent done," Reynolds said Friday. "But we've agreed on numbers and stuff.

"They have a new regime over there and (Diamondbacks general manager) Josh Byrnes came in and, frankly, did a good job."

The Diamondbacks' original offer to Upton following the draft included a more on Upton.