Change conditioning and strength coaches

[PoughVirginiaYankee]

two years ago I was training in the Disney sports complex. I met the braves stregnth and conditioning coach(who btw confirmed that I was faster than Raphael Furcal) and shared a weight room with the braves. No relevant player was working with him because they were all doing their own things with their own guys. The scrubby players that were there were doing a very basic cookie cutter workout. Stregnth and conditioning coaches get their jobs because of who they are and who they know. I wouldn't assume its much different with the Yankees. Especially not during spring training, which is when all of these injuries would have originated.

I will say though that Mussina's injury makes sense and shoudn't be blamed on anybody. He had been pitching-and likely running/conditioning ect- in 30-50 degree weather. Then he goes to the dome where i'm sure it is very warm. When you train in the cold your limbs, particularly the legs, can only reach a certain range of motion. If you work out/run too close to that in a much warmer environment these things happen because your body isn't used to the range of motion.

Following the Giambi issue, the Yankees decided to not allow any non-team personnel into the clubhouse - including the gym. So, the only S&C guys in there are team-hired guys.

And if I'm remembering right, MLB followed this, and banned any non-team trainers as well. But, I'm not positive on the latter.

[goin for 27]

I believe that you are correct on MLB banning non team trainers in the Clubhouses, both home and away.

[ring403]

Being a trainer in a retirement community isn't exactly what I'd look for on a resume if I was hiring someone to keep the Yankees in the best possible playing condition.

Unless it's Izzy Mandelbaum.

[hardrain]

That jumped out at me also. Being a trainer in a retirement community isn't exactly what I'd look for on a resume if I was hiring someone to keep the Yankees in the best possible playing condition.

Ya. If that's the case it makes more sense for him to be the Met's fitness guy.

[yankeebot]

That jumped out at me also. Being a trainer in a retirement community isn't exactly what I'd look for on a resume if I was hiring someone to keep the Yankees in the best possible playing condition.

This sounds like it was a Cashman hire so I have to believe he felt it was a good choice and that it wasn't just cronyism but I would like to know more about why he was selected and what Cash thought he could bring to the team that wasn't already being addressed.

[Meecham4ever]

two years ago I was training in the Disney sports complex. I met the braves stregnth and conditioning coach(who btw confirmed that I was faster than Raphael Furcal) and shared a weight room with the braves. No relevant player was working with him because they were all doing their own things with their own guys. The scrubby players that were there were doing a very basic cookie cutter workout. Stregnth and conditioning coaches get their jobs because of who they are and who they know. I wouldn't assume its much different with the Yankees. Especially not during spring training, which is when all of these injuries would have originated.

I will say though that Mussina's injury makes sense and shoudn't be blamed on anybody. He had been pitching-and likely running/conditioning ect- in 30-50 degree weather. Then he goes to the dome where i'm sure it is very warm. When you train in the cold your limbs, particularly the legs, can only reach a certain range of motion. If you work out/run too close to that in a much warmer environment these things happen because your body isn't used to the range of motion.

Good point..before anyone jumps on the employee in charge of conditioning, please realize that most of these prima-donnas have their own trainers, dieticians, etc....(and I hear that some of them hire "guest workers" to cut their steaks into small, chewable pieces)

[ajra21]

whe i get injured, it is my responsibilty. i understand they have "guys" to advise and direct them but i player should be prepared to put the work in. they play a game for 3 hours everyday. that leaves plenty of time to stay in shape.

[ring403]

Good point..before anyone jumps on the employee in charge of conditioning, please realize that most of these prima-donnas have their own trainers, dieticians, etc

The issue isn't really with the physical fitness routines of the individual players. It's the pre-game team warmup/stretching exercises that are causing concern among some players and coaches as being a possible cause for the rash of muscle pulls/strains.

http://www.nyjournalnews.com/apps/pb...00/1034/SPORTS

According to several players, Miller's program de-emphasizes running as a way to increase leg strength. He also took away the large rubber bands that Mangold used to help players stretch before games.

Some players have chosen to ignore Miller's methods, believing the lunges and other calisthenics he prescribes are too strenuous. Whether or not to trust Miller has become a topic in the clubhouse just eight games into the season.

Several Yankees said that the team's pregame stretching routine is just an excuse for players to talk to each other before batting practice. Mussina said he incorporates only some of the new program.

You can be the world's most well-conditioned athlete, but if your muscles aren't properly warmed up before you engage in sports activity, you are very prone to muscle injuries.

[thecaptain]

Torre said he doesn't blame Miller but wants the program reevaluated.
"I think it's one of those freak things that we've had happen here," he said. "But we'll shake it out and see where we are

[Jen19]

I think the cold weather, for the most part, has a lot to do with the injuries. I know you can't say that about the Florida or dome weather, but it must play a big part. It's too early to judge the S & C guys.

[ZIM 2002]

If it's true as in the comment that running is de-emphasized, that means hamstrings aren't worked as much, and if quad exercises are more rigorous then there could be an imbalance as some people have suggested. Pettitte certainly believes in running, since he has said not being able to do it while his back was recovering set him back strengthwise. In any event, 3 hamstring injuries just seems to many to be totally coincidental.

[Beccash18]

I think it's too early in the season to blame the new S&C guys, but if this keeps up we could have some serious problems. There should be an evaluation on the effectiveness of the new regime.

[BennyTheJetRodriguez]

Following the Giambi issue, the Yankees decided to not allow any non-team personnel into the clubhouse - including the gym. So, the only S&C guys in there are team-hired guys.

And if I'm remembering right, MLB followed this, and banned any non-team trainers as well. But, I'm not positive on the latter.

I remember that too, but that doesn't mean these men stop making the workouts for their clients, especially in spring training, which is when most of these injuries would have originated with the possible exception of Mussina who may have injured himself stepping off the mound oddly. Pettitte and Clemens did their own thing for years. I'm sure Mangold was there, but he he obviously wasn't the man with the plan because it preceeded him and none of the other yankees were doing it.

[BennyTheJetRodriguez]

If it's true as in the comment that running is de-emphasized, that means hamstrings aren't worked as much, and if quad exercises are more rigorous then there could be an imbalance as some people have suggested. Pettitte certainly believes in running, since he has said not being able to do it while his back was recovering set him back strengthwise. In any event, 3 hamstring injuries just seems to many to be totally coincidental.

pettitte also does serious squating, where hamstrings are the primary muscle unless done improporly(the attention is probably why he's the only player on the team with a healthy hamstring haha). Seriously though I really think its strange for pitchers to cut running. especially starting pitchers.

[Pinstripedbass]

Personally, I think that baseball players should stop working out in the off-season and go back to being the flabby, almost non-athletes that I grew up watching. You know the type Terry Forster, Al Hrabosky, David Wells...


Remember, you can't injure fat.

[SportzStooge007]

You have to be skeptical, since a lot of guys have gone down with similar leg injuries (Wang, Mussina, Damon).

But I don't think that reason to start talking about firing people or whatever. Things happen.

[35Knucklecurve]

pettitte also does serious squating, where hamstrings are the primary muscle unless done improporly(the attention is probably why he's the only player on the team with a healthy hamstring haha). Seriously though I really think its strange for pitchers to cut running. especially starting pitchers.

That really got my attention too - cutting running. I've never heard of that before.

I just think there had to be somebody out there with better qualifications than Miller. Being a fitness instructor at a retirement community doesn't exactly blow me away. I know the Yankees as a whole are older than quite a few other teams, but they aren't ready for prunes, Depends and bingo....yet.

[yankeebot]

That really got my attention too - cutting running. I've never heard of that before.

I just think there had to be somebody out there with better qualifications than Miller. Being a fitness instructor at a retirement community doesn't exactly blow me away. I know the Yankees as a whole are older than quite a few other teams, but they aren't ready for prunes, Depends and bingo....yet.

It didn't say they were cutting running but that they were de-emphasizing it. I thought that meant reducing it.

[stephsamps]

You'd think they'd want to go with a different title considering the focus on getting rid of performance enhancers in the sport.

I guess I'm surprised that Miller was hired when he has so little experience in professional sports, and none of it recently.

Serious case of bad branding. When I heard him introduced on opening day, I started calling him the viagra coach. Given the type of injuries, "the other" performance enhancing nickname has come to mind.

I have to say I am quite surprised by this hire, especially with little pro sports experience. I agree with Torre's take that its not necesarily this guy's fault, but it should be examined.

[Won Gien Ming]

Should we start taking bets to see who the S&C staff's next victim is? This is seriously getting out of hand. Most of our SPs are now on the DL, have been on the DL this year, and/or have been injured at one point so far this season.

[OldYankeeFan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spiker101
They've now got four of the top six starters on the DL, three of them with muscle injuries. They've got one outfielder on the DL with a muscle injury, and had a second outfielder miss games because of a muscle injury. They had a third outfielder miss two-thirds of spring training with a muscle injury.
And the organizational talking heads say the rash of muscle injuries is not related to the fact there is a new head of training, that it's just circumstantial. To which I say, circumstantial evidence has put many a man into the electric chair.

Two muscle injuries = coincidence

Three = a trend

Four = pattern

Six = Freakin' time to get a new strength and conditioning coach.

[YankeeStripes]

Dont give me knee-jerk reaction or "yankeestripes thread" either. This is BS.

Our entire rotation has had some kind of injury.


The following players have had hamstring injuries:

Damon, Mussina, Wang, Hughes, and I think Karstens had one as well.


This is Horsesh*t.

[hardrain]

completely agree -- this is absurd

[Mark19]

yup, from what I've read, no one takes them seriously

[ericns1]

Cash bring back last year's coaches - get rid of these people!!!

[In Mo I Trust]

I agree, this is ridiculous.

[dabomb2045]

I have never seen a team with so many damn muscle pulls.....this CANNOT be a coincidence.

New strength and conditioning people take over.....all of a sudden we have guys dropping like flies with muscle pulls.

[HidekiIrabu]

Has Hughes been influenced by the ML strength and conditioning coaches at all? Aren't there different ones at each minor league level?

[YankeeStripes]

Mussina said they didnt run much in Spring. It was part of the new program. Sounds pretty absurd to me.

[JeffWeaverFan]

I completely agree.

edit: And Cashman better answer questions as to why he decided this was a good idea. So far it is killing us.

[TheBamTino24]

I have never seen a team with so many damn muscle pulls.....this CANNOT be a coincidence.

New strength and conditioning people take over.....all of a sudden we have guys dropping like flies with muscle pulls.

Completely agree. This is an epidemic now.

[YankeeStripes]

Has Hughes been influenced by the ML strength and conditioning coaches at all? Aren't there different ones at each minor league level?

Hughes spent spring with the yanks, and I am sure the minor leaguers would have the same program as the major leaguers.

[justinvarnes]

Has Hughes been influenced by the ML strength and conditioning coaches at all? Aren't there different ones at each minor league level?

He spent well over a month with them in ST. And the last week.

[nyctalopia]

new program = bad. time for heads to roll.

[Steph19]

Has Hughes been influenced by the ML strength and conditioning coaches at all? Aren't there different ones at each minor league level?

Well, he was in major league camp during Spring Training.

[CTSoxFan]

The proof is in the pudding. And when it starts to affect a brilliant prospect like Hughes, time for heads to roll.

[nyctalopia]

tyler clippard time?

[Sam18]

I completely agree.

edit: And Cashman better answer questions as to why he decided this was a good idea. So far it is killing us.

Absolutely agreed. This falls on Cashman too.

[BroadwayBomber55]

I complete agree on firing the strength and conditioning coaches.

Too many injuries.

We need more jogging and running in our workout programs.

[Dr. Gonzo]

this sucks so much

injuries are costing us, not simply just losing and that is very annoying

[NewEraYanks2527]

This is ridiculous, HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN?!

[Seth]

Dont give me knee-jerk reaction or "yankeestripes thread" either. This is BS.

Our entire rotation has had some kind of injury.


The following players have had hamstring injuries:

Damon, Mussina, Wang, Hughes, and I think Karstens had one as well.


This is Horsesh*t.

Completely agree. This is has gotten ridiculous.

On the players you've got listed, I could be wrong, but didn't Matsui have a hamstring injury, as well?

[PinstripePride]

I'm on board with this. The popping of Hughes' hammy was hopefully the sound of a few people on their way out of the organization.

[dabomb2045]

Lets be fair here too....Cashman deserves to be called out for this. Everyone here is quick to always bash Torre (and alot of the time, rightly so)....but Cash is somewhat of a "golden boy" around these parts.

Well this was HIS decision. He decided to dump Jeff Mangold, and hire these new guys. He needs to answer for this, and he needs to take hits for it. It obviously was a terrible decision.

[JDPNYY]

I think this was the actual plan. Get all the pitchers hurt in the beginning of the year then everyone is all rested up for the post season.

So far so good.

[Allan]

Has the actual program changed significantly or is the change just new personnel? I agree the results are maddening.

[RhodyYanksFan]

This is on the verge of being comical at this point. They have to at least address this publicly.

[frostdude1]

Do it tonight George !!!

[TheBamTino24]

Lets be fair here too....Cashman deserves to be called out for this. Everyone here is quick to always bash Torre (and alot of the time, rightly so)....but Cash is somewhat of a "golden boy" around these parts.

Well this was HIS decision. He decided to dump Jeff Mangold, and hire these new guys. He needs to answer for this, and he needs to take hits for it. It obviously was a terrible decision.

Absolutely. Something needs to be done about this. Leave the players suffering these injuries to Gene Monahan and Steve Donohue only, please.

New guys just stay away, LOL.

[MattUNC2003]

tyler clippard time?

Matt DeSalvo or Darrell Rasner. Whoever's hamstring is the healthiest.