Baseball Strength

Leland Snaider: Guest Blogger

Baseball is slowly creeping away from the days where pitchers solely run long distance and ballplayers shy away from weights claiming it would make them “tight” or too “bulky”. It is, or should be, common knowledge that baseball players need training to optimize their body’s athleticism and ability to stay healthy so that they can be fully prepared to participate at a competitive level.

We have progressed past the time where the great Babe Ruth could eat hot dogs, smoke gigantic cigars before a game and then continue to effortlessly hit homeruns. Whenever I think of the misnomer of a ballplayers physical preparedness that some of the former greats laid out for future ballplayers; I can’t help but wonder what if “The Sultan of Swat” had prepared his body and was able to potentially get more out of his unequaled talent? The raw athleticism genetically possessed by an athlete such as Babe Ruth potentially combined with the body awareness and training an athlete such as Alex Rodriguez brings to each season is a vision that athletic performance nerds such as myself dream about!

Through my amateur baseball travels I was blessed to meet gifted players from all over the country. Every one had their own idea on how to best prepare for each and every baseball game and their careers that lied ahead. When I was able to observe professional ballplayers, I was fascinated to observe the sum of work and preparation that went into the finished product. A pitcher’s ability to masterfully control a 92 mph fastball on the corner with perfect mechanics because his body was trained to effortlessly complete the tasks that the brain asks it to do is a beautiful sight.

Baseball Player = Throwing Athlete

An emphasis on stability and mobility should precede any attempt to increase strength.

• Scapular Stability - A stable scapula creates the optimal anchor to enable proper movement patterns during the throwing motion.

• Core Stability - A core primed for athletic movements allows for optimal force transfer from the ground through the upper body. The ability to transfer force extremely quickly is as at the heart of every movement in the game.

• Mobility (Ankle/Shoulder/Hip) - A mindfulness to the mobility of the joints will keep the body moving efficiently and effectively. Mobility when combined with stability is the basis of athletic movements.

Once proper movement patterns are established, a foundation of strength can be acquired. This begins the process of developing asymmetrically strong body that will keep them healthy and able to use these new found attributes on the field.

• Strength - Baseball should be trained to accommodate the power and strength of it basic actions, while keeping in mind the intricacies of the muscles that need to carry them out. Gone are the days where some rubber tubing exercises comprised the main lifts of the day. Proper strength programs allow an efficiently moving body to truly develop athletically.

Move well and lift hard!

Leland Snaider currently serves as an Under Armour National Tryout & Premium Video Program Representative Leland’s introduction to the Baseball Factory was in 2003 during his sophomore year when he attended a National Tryout event at Waterfront Park in Trenton, NJ. Leland went on to participate in the 2004 and 2005 Baseball Factory Pre-Season All-America Tournaments, as well as various tournaments and developmental camps. Leland was also part of the Exclusive College recruiting program from a young age, which aided him through his various college stops. Leland had an admirable career at Great Neck North High School, twice earning All County honors, and Honorable Mention All State recognition in 2005. Leland went on to play at various schools including Marietta College, Mount St. Mary’s University and finally Shenandoah University. With several injuries in his playing career, Leland developed a passion for athletic development and injury prevention. Upon graduating, Leland joined the Baseball Factory staff and is actively pursuing his graduate degree and certifications in the exercise science field.

2012 Under Armour Pre-Season All-America Tournament

Becky Oldham: We're There

For many high school players across the country, January is often the off-season, a time for training and preparation off the field. But this is not the case for the all high school players. In fact, every January for the past six years the top players from across the country have traveled to Tucson, Arizona for the Under Armour Pre-Season All-America Tournament. These high level athletes are selected based on strong performances at previous Under Armour Baseball Factory events or by recommendation from a professional scout. For these players, January is both a culmination of their dedication and hard work and a step towards reaching the next level.

This year marked the sixth annual Under Armour Pre-Season All-America Tournament. The three day event returned to the Kino Sports Complex, former Spring Training Home of the Arizona Diamondbacks. A total of 332 players from 43 states, the Bahamas and Canada represented their region in the 24-team tournament. Among the talented young players on this year’s roster were two 2011 Under Armour All-Americans, Teddy Stankiewicz and Carson Kelly. For Kelly, this year’s tournament gave him a perfect four-for-four in Pre-Season All-American selections, putting him into an elite class of four-time Under Armour Pre-Season All-Americans. It was clear from the Opening Awards Ceremony that the 2012 Under Armour Pre-Season All-America Tournament would be a great event for these talented young players, ready to showcase their skills and take their game to the next level.

Day 1
To kick off this year’s Under Armour Pre-Season All-America Tournament, players and parents attended the Opening Awards Ceremony at the event headquarters. Baseball Factory’s staff of current and former professional players, coaches and scouts was on-hand to welcome families to the event. In keeping with tradition, players arrived in coat and tie, a distinction initially established to set a high standard throughout the duration of the tournament. In another tradition synonymous to this high level event, all players were outfitted in official Under Armour Pre-Season All-America Team uniforms, including Under Armour cleats, jerseys and hats. Along with the performance outfitting, each player received an official certificate commemorating their selection to the event. Steve Bernhardt, Baseball Factory’s Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations, led the welcome before each player was recognized in front of the audience of over 1,000 players, families and coaches. The event’s keynote speaker Mike Toomey followed. Mike has spent 33 years working in professional baseball and currently serves as Special Assistant to Kansas City Royals General Manager Dayton Moore. He has worked for the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Texas Rangers, the New York Mets and the Kansas City Royals. In 1992, he was named Major League Baseball Scout of the Year. For his continued excellence as a professional scout, Toomey was inducted into the Mid-Atlantic Major League Scouts Hall of Fame in 2011. Mike signed on as a Scouting Consultant for Baseball Factory in 2006 and the Factory was thrilled to have him on hand to speak with players and parents. His message really seemed to resonate with players and parents, and was a great way to end the first of this three-day event.

Day 2
Players took the field Saturday morning for the professional workout which included offensive and defensive showcases, as well as the 60-yard dash. The workout was captured by Baseball Factory’s professional videographers to subsequently edit and place onto each player’s Baseball Factory Player Page. Our scouts were impressed throughout the workout as the players demonstrated why they were selected as Under Armour Pre-Season All-Americans. Following the morning workout, tournament games began with each team playing in an afternoon match-up. For teams like the Midwest, North, Northeast and Atlantic, the mild Arizona weather was a welcomed opportunity to not only showcase in front of professional scouts but also to begin preparing for their spring season against top talent. The professional scouts and college coaches in attendance made their rounds on Saturday, including an extended stop at Field 5 for the Texas v. California game. Teddy Stankiewicz (above), 2011 Under Armour All-American and starting pitcher, took the mound for Texas. The senior RHP sat consistently at 91 mph with his fastball, topping out at 93 mph and consistently throwing for strikes.

The warm afternoon sun gave way to cooler temperatures as the first round of tournament games came to a close. That evening, as in year’s past, Baseball Factory hosted a Scouting and College Recruiting Panel for all players and parents in attendance. This year the panel featured experts with indispensable experience in the industry, including Rob Naddelman, Dan Mooney, Chad Addison & Mark Daniels. Rob Naddelman, Baseball Factory’s President, and Dan Mooney, Baseball Factory's Senior Director of College Recruiting, led the discussion in front of the large turnout of players and parents. Each brought their personal experiences and knowledge of the recruiting process to the discussion. Also contributing their personal experiences and unique point of views to the interactive dialogue were Mark Daniels, Head Baseball Coach at Virginia High School and current Professional Scout, and Chad Addison, College Scout and former college baseball head coach. The invaluable information shared during the panel not only capped a great day on the field, but also provided players and parents with a better understanding of the complex recruiting process.

Day 3
Sunday brought unseasonable overcast skies and even some afternoon rain showers. Every team competed in two six-inning games over the course of the day, completing every game despite the late inclement weather. Throughout the tournament and particularly during games, players were able to take advantage of connecting with professional scouts as many worked the tournament as part of the coaching staff. For a full list of college coaches and professional scouts in attendance, click here.

Strong performances were evident to coaches and scouts on the final day of the tournament, from notable pitching to above average catching performances. As part of the recognition owed to the outstanding talent present at the event, players who rated as having “Top Tools” will be receiving special mention on Baseball Factory’s web site over the coming weeks. In addition to top talent recognition, all players will receive additional exposure to college coaches and professional scouts, as Baseball Factory contacts every coach and MLB scouting department when the video footage and evaluation from the event becomes available through our online player database. As the final day at the Kino Sports Complex came to a close, teammates said goodbye to their new friends and coaches shared parting advice before the lights went out on another great tournament.

Baseball Factory would like to congratulate all of the players who were selected to and participated in this year’s Under Armour Pre-Season All-America Tournament. Since 2009, 120 Under Armour Pre-Season All-Americans have been drafted; over 15 players have been selected to the Under Armour All-America Game at Wrigley Field and hundreds more have gone on to play college baseball. Baseball Factory is proud the tradition of excellence continued at this year’s Under Armour Pre-Season All-America Tournament. As we look to the spring season, we also look forward to the 2012 Under Armour All-America Game. For players like Carson Kelly, the Pre-Season event has not only served as an opportunity to impress scouts and showcase among other talented young baseball players, but also as the first step on the road to Wrigley.

Do you want to be considered for next year’s event?
Show our scouts you have what it takes at an Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout, coming to a ballpark near you in 2012.

For more information on the 2012 Under Armour Pre-Season All-America Tournament, click here.

For more information on the Under Armour All-America Game, click here.

The Oneness of Success

Guest Blogger: Inner-Sports

by Garret Kramer

Have you ever watched a person or a team rejoice in victory and felt really good inside? Have you ever witnessed someone overcome great obstacles and become emotional and inspired? Have you ever felt sorry for another person’s loss? What you are experiencing is the “oneness of life.” But why do you suppose this experience occurs? And what can we learn from it?

The reason that you sometimes feel the experience of another is because, in truth, the other person and you are fragments of the same spiritual puzzle. I know that might sound farfetched, but, to me, our lives, performances, and the world would improve by leaps and bounds if people started stressing their similarities and stopped talking about their perceived differences.

Indeed, the oneness of life has been talked about forever. Insightful sages such as Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., John Lennon, and one of my mentors, Sydney Banks, did their best to point us in this freeing direction. Yet, since we each live in a separate reality governed by our own personal thoughts (and we mistakenly accept that reality as true), the big picture has become distorted and we—and the planet—have lost our sense of harmony.

Feel a common bond with your opponent and your performance will soar.

So, how can we reverse this imperceptive trend? We can start by recognizing that the oneness of life is essential in our quest for success—both on and off the playing field. Why? Because success thrives when you find clarity, take judgment off the table, and feel a connection with everything around you (including your opponent). Success withers in an environment of isolation, ego, and contempt.

The truth is that every time you set out to win, you are actually competing with and against yourself. And while there is certainly nothing wrong with wanting to finish first, in the end, the outcome is irrelevant. For example, Super Bowl winner Tyrone Keyes once told me that during the height of his football career he started to feel compassion for the other team’s players when his team won a game. Unlike the advice of many coaches and parents today, Tyrone is certain that this respect fueled his success as it heightened his level of consciousness and freed him to be his best. Likewise, on the PGA tour, the most accomplished players are often found sharing their thoughts about the golf swing or a strategy for a particular course with their opponents. Now why do you suppose that a golfer would help someone who he also trying to beat?

Competition is the ultimate form of cooperation—the oneness of life in action.

Yes, I am well aware that this perspective on achievement (and enlightenment) might be hard, at first, to grasp. But consider this: Through competition we grow: I push you to get better; you push me. We are cooperating with each other in a quest to expand our capabilities and knowledge. In fact, the next time you compete, look closely at your opponent. I am sure you will feel a common bond with the player on the other side of the court as the perceptual field—your awareness—expands.

As the above wise men often said, appreciating the oneness of life can absolutely change the world. It can end prejudice, stop wars, and wipe out famine. My simple hope is for the sports world to set an empowering example of this principle. Let’s start by recognizing ourselves in our opponents and, thus, alter the way we look at competition. The last line in my book, Stillpower, reads: “Success is so much closer than you think.” The reason: The best competitors care about winning and don’t care about winning, simultaneously. They realize that unbounded effort comes from knowing that win, lose, or draw—our lives remain the same.



Garret Kramer is the founder and Managing Partner of Inner-Sports.com. Inner-Sports evaluates and then coaches athletes of all ages on the behavioral characteristics that lead to peak performance on and off the field of play. Inner-Sport’s evaluative partner has created the behavioral assessment used at both the National Hockey League and the Major League Lacrosse scouting combines. Inner-Sports and Garret work with Baseball Factory players at select player development events.

The Acuity Gap

Guest Blogger: Inner-Sports

by Garret Kramer

Although few people realize it, everyone has an “acuity gap.” A gap between our perceptions of the world—what we see—and the moment we realize that these perceptions are created via our own thoughts. The narrower your gap is, the smoother your journey through life will be; the wider your gap, the more rocky.

An insane person, for example, possesses an infinitely wide acuity gap. He or she believes that every thought that pops into his or her head is acutely real. Thus, this person’s behavior is always unproductive and often quite peculiar since, to this person, there is no reason not to act on each and every thought that occurs.

Similarly, the average person will sometimes struggle because it is normal to, at first, be fooled into believing that our errant feelings are derived from the world around us. As soon as we reach the edge of our acuity gap, however, we wake up—become conscious—as we realize that it is merely our own thoughts that are doing this. As a result, our struggle begins to lessen.

In which direction is your acuity gap moving? If narrower, you’re on your way.

The truth is that all of us, at times, think dysfunctional thoughts. I, on occasion, think about what would happen if I Iost my audience for these articles, my books, or talks. I then become insecure and think, “If I’m feeling this way, it’s probably going to happen. If it happens, I could lose my house, and my kids and wife would be so sad.”

Now, it is the width of my acuity gap that determines how long I remain embroiled in this type of thought attack. And the cool thing is, the more I appreciate that a gap does exist, the smaller the gap actually becomes.

In other words, simply recognizing that our thoughts (and not our circumstances) are creating our perceptions is what allows us to see infinite possibilities in any situation—including those that initially appear disastrous. To illustrate, I just started working with a young pro hockey player who recently got sent down to the minors. When I asked how he was holding up, he replied, “Well, when I first heard the news, I was real down, but, even though I’m still not happy about the decision, for some reason I just know things will work out for me.” Translation: This player woke up to the fact that only his thoughts were creating his feelings and mood (the edge of his gap). If he believed that moving down to the minors was the cause of his low state of mind, he would never notice an opportunity in this seemingly negative event.

Appreciating that there are many ways to think about the same situation is a sign that a “difficult” situation will correct itself soon.

Remember, recognizing that your thoughts are the foundation for your feelings will not necessarily make you feel better in an instant. But this understanding will prevent you from exacerbating the turmoil by trying to fix or force things when you are not capable. Knowing that an acuity gap does exist is what allows stillpower (and not willpower) to take hold. And once it does, it’s only a matter of time until you are feeling light, unencumbered, and full of faith once more.


Garret Kramer is the founder and Managing Partner of Inner-Sports.com. Inner-Sports evaluates and then coaches athletes of all ages on the behavioral characteristics that lead to peak performance on and off the field of play. Inner-Sport’s evaluative partner has created the behavioral assessment used at both the National Hockey League and the Major League Lacrosse scouting combines. Inner-Sports and Garret work with Baseball Factory players at select player development events.

How to Stay Balanced in Your Baseball Shoes

Foot Supports in Baseball Cleats Are the Keys to Staying Balanced

Guest Blogger: Instant Arches
by Steve L. Rosenberg, DPM
Arch Specialist for Baseball Factory
http://www.archspecialist.com/ia-baseball.shtml

No matter what type of baseball cleat you wear staying balanced is the key to success in baseball. That is because baseball requires so many specialized skills to become successful including speed, power, coordination, transferring weight, staying on the balls of your feet and trying to hit or throw a baseball at 80 plus miles per hour. In order to perform these skills your feet have to be balanced and supported properly in baseball cleats.

Baseball shoes are designed to protect the foot and consist of many different parts which have specific functions. If the player’s feet are not properly supported in their baseball cleats it could translate into not performing up to their potential. They do provide the player the ability to absorb shock better, create traction and stability when running, stealing, fielding, pitching or hitting.

Baseball Cleat Anatomy

Cleats come in three different styles, high-tops which fit above the ankle, mid-cut which fit at the middle of the ankle and low-cut which fit below the ankle. These styles are not a reflection of how much they support the ankle but rather what is the most comfortable for the player to wear. If you have an ankle problem, wearing a high-top alone is not going to resolve the problem.

Every cleat has a fiberglass or hard rubber molded outer sole which provides stability to the sole of the shoe. It is made out of light weight materials to prevent foot fatigue during performance. Half inch metal or plastic spikes are attached to the front and back of the outer sole to allow for that first quick step, better traction and stability when running, fielding, pitching or hitting. The configuration and number of the spikes varies with each manufacturer.

The midsole of the cleat is made out of a light weight molded EVA foam that helps absorb the impact load and shock that the foot experiences when playing on the field. Mostly all cleats have a light weight removable foam inner sole which is designed to cushion the foot as well as absorb shock. The top of the foot is protected by the upper which is made out of leather or synthetic materials and provides ventilation for the foot during practice or a game.

The heel counter of the shoe provides stability to the heel and limits heel rotation during movement.

The toe box is located in the front of the cleat and should be deep enough so the toes have enough room to move around. A tight or narrow toe box could cause cramping or overlapping of the toes in the cleat which cause skin irritation forming painful corns on the top of the toes or ingrown toe nails.

If The Cleat Fits

Have your feet measured correctly to make sure you are wearing the correct size cleat. To properly choose the right cleat size to wear, there should be at least a thumbs width between the longest toe and the end of the cleat. That does not mean a half size bigger. The extra room will allow the foot to elongate when playing without the toes jamming at the tip. Always buy your correct cleat size to eliminate potential foot problems. A larger size can cause blisters, unnecessary sliding of the foot, instability and can effect balance.

Staying Balanced From the Ground Up

The skills required to play baseball at a high level start with a solid foundation. It starts with the structure of the foot in order to be balanced from the ground up. For a hitter, in order to be balanced it is important to be on the balls of their feet. The more stable and quiet their feet are in the batter’s box, the more success they will have. As a position player, they must have good foot work to field the ball cleanly and get into a balanced throwing position. As a pitcher, being balanced will lead to repeatable mechanics which will lead to better quality pitches. Having a strong foundation from the bottom up will improve the pitchers chances for success. Whether the pitcher is a righty or lefty in order to throw hard they must have all of their weight on the ball of the right or left foot while in a balanced and tucked position. Therefore, they can drive off the mound easier and with more confidence.

No matter what position the player plays, if their feet are unstable and imbalanced they need to consider purchasing an arch support for their cleats. When the foot abnormally pronates, the arch collapses due to unstable joints in the foot. Abnormal foot biomechanics can cause muscle imbalances in the feet and lower legs which creates an unstable lower half and is a recipe for losing power, efficiency or speed. Custom made orthotics or over the counter arch supports are specifically designed to transfer the weight to the balls of the feet. It is the only way to keep the player balanced from the ground up.

Orthotics

Orthotics and over the counter arch supports are the best ways to control abnormal foot pronation and improve foot biomechanics. Depending on the rigidity of the orthotic or arch support material the more supportive the foot will be. These devices can be made from a variety of materials such as high density foams, plastics and graphite. Custom orthotics can be made through podiatrists and other foot related medical specialists and over the counter arch supports such as Instant Arches® Baseball can be found on line or at local sporting good stores. Orthotics stabilizes and aligns the bones and joints of the foot below the ankle. They create better muscle balance and force the ball of the foot to be firmly placed on the ground. These devices can also reduce the risk of injury.

Since the spring season is just around the corner and there are only a few more months left of baseball conditioning and fall ball, finding the right styled cleats to wear and adding supportive devices to them will provide the player the keys to a successful 2012 season.


Always consult with your sports medicine physician regarding any injuries.


Dr. Steven L. Rosenberg is the official Arch Specialist of Baseball Factory & Softball Factory. Dr. Rosenberg is a podiatrist in private practice spanning over 27 years, specializing in sports medicine, pain management and all other aspects of podiatry. His practice is located in Santa Monica, California. He has lectured worldwide and is a regularly featured blogger on the Huffington Post AOL. He has authored numerous articles on foot injuries, injury prevention, women’s shoe issues, foot biomechanics, and the treatment of foot problems through utilization of eastern and western medicine. Dr. Rosenberg is the CEO and President of Foot Products Enterprises Inc., which manufactures the unique arch product, Instant Arches® for baseball and softball. These Arches are also available for running shoes, all athletic shoes, sandals, flip flops casual and dress shoes. Dr. Rosenberg’s Instant Arches®, sold worldwide, are worn by men and women of all ages from preteens to adults. For more information on Instant Arches visit http://www.instantarches.com/ia-baseball.shtml.

Time and Your State of Mind

Guest Blogger: Inner-Sports

by Garret Kramer


What if I told you that the past, present, and future all happen simultaneously? I know, it sounds really “out there”—and you are probably wondering what this has to do with performance—but just bear with me for a moment.

Many scientists have sought to explain the principle of time, and there are many theories, yet what if we could understand time better by looking at the quality of our thoughts and moods? When your state of mind is high, don’t the past, present, and future meld together? When your mind-set is low, doesn’t time become severely fragmented as we tend to lament the past and fret about the future?

When conscious, we automatically appreciate the past and visualize the future.

To illustrate this intangible understanding, last week I had an in-depth conversation with a baseball player. He spent a couple of days with me, at first bemoaning his past season—with injuries and personal issues off the field, he was convinced that his career had been set back a year. I told him that just wasn’t so; his current state of mind was simply obscuring his perception of time.

I said, “I am 100 percent certain that the events of this year are setting the stage for your future as a player. Your life situations are not meant to get in your way; they’re meant to show you the way.”

He looked at me inquisitively.

As his thinking slowed down and his level of consciousness rose, however, his perception of both the past and the future started to clear up. He spoke about how (since he couldn’t travel with the team) he had rededicated himself to his wife and family over the previous several months. He mentioned that watching games from the team sky-box (as he recuperated) gave him a different perspective on his teammates, opponents, and the game in general. He asserted, “It’s crazy, but sitting here right now, my injury kind of makes sense. I can envision how my growth as a person off the field is already contributing to my success on the field next season.”

Understand time and you will live and perform unencumbered.

In other words—in this player’s mind—the past, present, and future were all playing out at the same time. The events of the previous season, of course, hadn’t changed. But the quality of his thinking had, and, with it, his faith grew as possibilities for his life became obvious.

My message here might sound ethereal, yet it is worth considering: As our thoughts and moods become more lucid, our past starts to make sense, we become engaged in the present, and we’re able to visualize the future as if it’s already occurred. So, the next time you are worrying about your previous or upcoming “season,” think about this: the past, present, and future have all happened already—they’re not in your control. You are truly free so you might as well just let go.


Garret Kramer is the founder and Managing Partner of Inner-Sports.com. Inner-Sports evaluates and then coaches athletes of all ages on the behavioral characteristics that lead to peak performance on and off the field of play. Inner-Sport’s evaluative partner has created the behavioral assessment used at both the National Hockey League and the Major League Lacrosse scouting combines. Inner-Sports and Garret work with Baseball Factory players at select player development events.

Position Changes…How to Deal With Them as a Parent

Rob Naddelman: Through a Parent’s Eyes





Based upon the Miami Marlins signing of Jose Reyes and their request to Hanley Ramirez to move to 3rd base (which he supposedly isn’t happy about), I thought it was a good time to repost a blog that I wrote in the past…

I think the idea of a player being asked to change positions and play somewhere new on the field can be more traumatizing for the parent of the player then the player himself. Around this time last year, I attend the Under Armour Baseball Factory Winter Classic and met with a number of parents where the topic of position changes came up. When a particular player was asked to play a different position on the field (versus his normal primary or secondary position), I heard the following comments:

Parent 1: Why would he be asked to play anywhere other than Short Stop? He is the best short stop on the team.
Parent 2: He has never played the other positions, so it is really unfair to ask him to play somewhere he is not comfortable.
Parent 3: Why would you put a player in a brand new position and one that he is not used to?

One of our philosophies at Baseball Factory is to try and use our events to help prepare players for their college experience. College programs very often recruit center fielders and short stops and then place them all around the field in certain spots depending upon how their tools play. For the recruited high school short stops, the best hands and feet usually go to Short and Second (with the better arm playing short), the guy with the most power and limited defensive skills goes to first and the one with less range and strong hitting skills may go to third. This happened to me in college when I played at the University of Pennsylvania. As a freshman, I started mostly every game at Short Stop after having played SS my entire career. As a sophomore, I got moved to Third Base because we had a transfer student come in with exceptional defensive skills that played short. After a First Team All-Ivy season as a Sophomore at 3B, for my junior year, I was used primarily as a designated hitter, because we had a pretty good freshman infielder come in that year. You may recognize his name since he is currently a member of the 2010 World Champion San Francisco Giants (Mark Derosa). As a Senior, I split time between 3B and DH because we had another exceptional middle infielder added to our club as a freshman that made first team All-Ivy as a freshman. I still wound up earning 2nd Team All Ivy Honors as a Senior.

Players need to be prepared to be moved around the field for a variety of reasons. Maybe you are a primary pitcher that also plays short stop in high school. In college, you will never see a RHP/SS. All 2 way players that pitch wind up playing another secondary position like OF, 1B, or DH to help save their arm. Maybe your baseball tools have you better served to be a corner infielder than a middle INF. Maybe someone on your team gets injured and in order to get your bat in the lineup, the manager needs to use you in a different spot on the field. Be flexible and you will have a chance to gain more playing time.

For parents, as your son advances up the ranks past high school baseball and into college, start to understand that things may change, including his position. Try not to get all bent out of shape and understand that as the game speeds up, his tools may play better at another spot on the field. From my personal experience, keeping an open mind and living up to the challenge of playing a new spot on the field was a great learning exercise for me. I enjoyed playing 3B and DHing much more than I would have enjoyed sitting on the bench and watching someone else play Short Stop!


Rob Naddelman is the President of Baseball Factory. Naddelman is a former two-time All Ivy League Third Baseman at the University of Pennsylvania, where he competed in a College World Series Regional. He has served as the President of Baseball Factory for the past 13 years, and also is the Executive Director of Baseball Factory's charitable arm The B.A.S.E. - H.I.T. Foundation. Naddelman and Steve Sclafani (CEO) have been featured in Business Week and CNN for their work in building Baseball Factory into the nation's leader in player development and college placement.

Nutrition’s Effect on Performance

Leland Snaider: Guest Blogger

What better time to discuss the imperative nature of nutrition’s effect on human performance than as we eat our way into the holiday season. It is safe to say that an athlete’s diet has a profound effect on any effort to enhance performance and make physical changes. In continuing with the concept that the human body is like a machine, food acts as the fuel and determines how well the machine runs. Simply put, a machine without proper fuel operates inefficiently and is therefore ineffective. Nutrition is the foundation which fuels daily life and the operating systems of the human body. From weight gain to weight loss, to simply maximizing athletic performance, food is the key factor.

The concept of nutrition can drive people fanatical trying to determine the right “diet” or nutrition plan. There are hundreds upon hundreds of different meal plans out there with “experts” and fads begging for our attention. Before eating along specific guidelines, a general concept of health must be adhered to. With that general concept as a guideline, athletes must recognize what sort of physical requirements their sport entails in terms of energy and body composition, and then plan accordingly.

In regards to what food goes into our body, the key may lie in simplicity. Generally speaking, if caveman had access to our food choices they would probably veer towards the “good” or “natural” side of the food spectrum. Fruits, yes. Vegetables, yes. Meat, chicken fish…yes,yes,yes. Bagels and pasta and heavily processed foods…ideally non-existent. While whole grains are acceptable, but lean meats, fruits and vegetables, nuts and other generally natural sources of nutrients should be the focus of any diet. If an athlete does not eat like our pre-historic predecessors all the time, their world won’t end; however, your body will thank you for adhering to a diet consisting mainly of simple, natural foods.

Now that we have a general idea of what foods should be consumed by our bodies, there should be a basic understanding of how these foods can work for them. Once an athlete has a general idea of the purpose and effect of each macro-nutrient: fats, carbohydrates and proteins (see below); they can utilize this information and apply it to their goals. While a complex understanding is not necessary, there should be a personal ownership over the use of nutrition and how it applies to the activities and general goals an athlete possesses.

Carbohydrate Purpose: Primary use in the human body is to provide fuel to working muscles, maintain energy levels during exercise, and replace muscle glycogen stores post‐ exercise.

Protein Purpose: Necessary for maintenance, growth, and repair of skeletal muscle

Fat Purpose: Fuel for energy, maintenance of joint + brain health, decreased inflammation as well as aiding in many physiological functions.


*Leland Snaider is not a certified nutritionist, but a former college player providing his insight and advice.

Leland Snaider currently serves as an Under Armour National Tryout & Premium Video Program Representative Leland’s introduction to the Baseball Factory was in 2003 during his sophomore year when he attended a National Tryout event at Waterfront Park in Trenton, NJ. Leland went on to participate in the 2004 and 2005 Baseball Factory Pre-Season All-America Tournaments, as well as various tournaments and developmental camps. Leland was also part of the Exclusive College recruiting program from a young age, which aided him through his various college stops. Leland had an admirable career at Great Neck North High School, twice earning All County honors, and Honorable Mention All State recognition in 2005. Leland went on to play at various schools including Marietta College, Mount St. Mary’s University and finally Shenandoah University. With several injuries in his playing career, Leland developed a passion for athletic development and injury prevention. Upon graduating, Leland joined the Baseball Factory staff and is actively pursuing his graduate degree and certifications in the exercise science field.

Reflections on the Penn State Scandal

Rob Naddelman: Through a Parent’s Eyes

As the President of Baseball Factory, an organization entrusted with the development of young people, I thought it was important to blog about what has transpired at Penn State.

Sports teams and organizations are very often glorified in our culture. Fans and enthusiasts have a tendency to idolize their favorite players and coaches, always giving them the benefit of the doubt and believing that they can do no wrong. Look at Pete Rose and Michael Jordan. With gambling addictions, the avid fan frequently wants to try and justify destructive behavior and find the best in the athlete. Loyal to the end, at times, fans miss the big picture and forget that when you strip everything down to the root of the problem, these idols are merely humans that are just as flawed as everyone else and despite their ability to hit a baseball or shoot a basketball, they make mistakes just like the rest of us. With the issues that have unfolded at Penn State, the individuals at the center of this disturbing scandal have made grave mistakes that have affected much more than just themselves. Even the most partisan supporters shouldn’t ignore these apparent flaws in the system.

The most disappointing part of this scandal, in my opinion, is how many times the Penn State administration had the chance to do the right thing and help these victims. I can imagine that the reality of exposing such a large scandal would be overwhelming to the powers that be given what Penn State football means to that school and the surrounding community. However, when faced with challenging situations, your true character can be exposed. The general public probably would have had an elevated sense of respect for Penn State had they acted in the best interest of these children, even though it would have created negative PR for Penn State at the time. That negative PR is nothing compared to the fallout that Penn State is currently dealing with.

As a parent and an operator of youth and high school programs, it is critical to remember what I consider to be my most important role, namely, to protect and honor my own children and the players in our program and to always make them feel safe. Anyone who thinks there is anything more important than that is mistaken. I pray for the victims and their families and hope that something positive may come from this horrific account.


Rob Naddelman is the President of Baseball Factory. Naddelman is a former two-time All Ivy League Third Baseman at the University of Pennsylvania, where he competed in a College World Series Regional. He has served as the President of Baseball Factory for the past 13 years, and also is the Executive Director of Baseball Factory's charitable arm The B.A.S.E. - H.I.T. Foundation. Naddelman and Steve Sclafani (CEO) have been featured in Business Week and CNN for their work in building Baseball Factory into the nation's leader in player development and college placement.

Aches, Pains and Strains

Guest Blogger: Instant Arches
by Steve L. Rosenberg, DPM
Arch Specialist for Baseball Factory
http://www.archspecialist.com/ia-baseball.shtml

College and high school athletes beware: No matter what position you play injuries can occur in your shoulder, legs, ankles and feet. The follow up questions after an injury should be: How did it happen and when can I play?

How did it happen?

Injuries can be classified into two general categories, acute and accumulation or overuse. They can occur at any point while warming up prior to a game or practice as well as during the game. Muscles often can be tight especially on cold days and it is very important to stretch and run prior to a game or practice. Acute types of injuries are ones that occur with rapid onset; rupturing an Achilles tendon like Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies did during his last at bat while playing in the NLCS against the Cardinals. As a player they can also occur while running down to first base trying to beat out an infield hit, spraining your ankle rounding a base, fouling off a pitch hitting the instep of your foot or shin or hearing something pop in your shoulder or elbow after throwing a pitch. Bone bruises, bone fractures, muscle strains, tendon ruptures and ankle sprains can happen as a result of an acute injury. The injured areas immediately become inflamed causing pain, redness and swelling.

Accumulation or overuse injuries are due to continual repetitive activity of movements over a prolonged period of time that eventually will wear down or break down soft tissue structures in the body, starting as early as Little League. Initially there is pain and mild swelling in the affected area that starts without warning, so it is difficult to figure out what happened. Many times a player will wake up with the problem and figure it will just go away on its own. It is not until the problem begins to limit the player’s activity or the coach notices a change in the player’s effort, that an overuse injury becomes a medical issue.

Factors contributing to these types of injuries are poor body biomechanics which can create muscle imbalances from the ground up. Pitchers who do not have proper pitching mechanics can develop long term arm and shoulder problems the longer they pitch. The reason is that continually repeating poor mechanics will cause stress and weakness. If it is not fixed early (Little League, high school or college) chronic injuries begin to surface. Players with abnormal foot biomechanics are vulnerable to foot, lower leg muscle imbalances and knee problems. That is why it is vitally important to be balanced starting with your feet. Landing improperly, not getting your feet set and not being able to transfer weight evenly over a prolonged period of time are key factors that can eventually translate into muscle brake down. A strong foundation is a building block to success. A balanced lower half will improve a player’s ability to become a better hitter, position player or pitcher.

Strains and Sprains

A strain indicates a tear in the muscle and a pulled muscle is the result of a traumatic event to the tendon portion of the muscle as it attaches to the bone. This type of problem is commonly seen in the hamstring muscle group in the back of the upper leg. Quick bursts of speed from a stationary position such as coming out of the batter’s box when your muscles are not properly warmed up could cause this type of leg problem.

Sprains, refers to a tear in a ligament and can range from tearing a few fibers, a slight tear, to a complete tear of all of the ligament fibers. Ligaments are non elastic tissues which connect bones to bones and stabilize joints. The ankle is the most commonly sprained joint in the foot. This can occur when hitting a base funny making your turn, pivoting to make a play or sliding incorrectly into a base.

When can I play?

It depends on the type and severity of the injury. Injuries can take as little as a few days or weeks to heal depending on how sever they are. If the injury is soft tissue in nature such as an ankle sprain, tendinitis or a strained muscle, treat them aggressively and do not wish or wait for them to get better on their own. Always consult with your sports medicine physician if the problem does not resolve in a few days or continues to get worse over time. If the injury is in the lower extremity, a rule of thumb is: play when you can bare normal weight and there is no pain associated with movement.

In my practice I prefer using physical therapy modalities; electrical stimulation, supportive taping techniques using a special tape called Kinesio Tape, hot and cold therapy or injection therapy. Be careful about getting cortisone injections because they can also cause tissue breakdown if abused. A general consensus is 3-4 injections per year spread out over 12 months. Alternatively, using topical or oral homeopathic remedies containing Arnica will help soft tissue injuries heal more quickly. I routinely recommend Traumeel® to my patients for those types of injuries. Broken bones take much longer to heal. At the earliest it will take about 6 - 8 weeks depending on the type of fracture.

Balancing the foot will create lower half stability. Custom made orthotics made by sports medicine professional or sports specific over the counter arch supports are the best way to perform that task. Custom made orthotics will provide the most support but can be expensive. Custom orthotics are usually made by taking a neutral position cast of one’s foot and then shipping them to a laboratory that specializes in making orthotics. Over the counter arch supports such as Instant Arches^® Baseball and other prefabricated products are available on line or at local sports and shoe stores.

Staying in balance and understanding how injuries occur will prevent long term chronic problems. Never hope or wish for an injury to get better on its own if you do not see improvement in a few days.

Always consult with your sports medicine physician regarding any injuries.


Dr. Steven L. Rosenberg is the official Arch Specialist of Baseball Factory & Softball Factory. Dr. Rosenberg is a podiatrist in private practice spanning over 27 years, specializing in sports medicine, pain management and all other aspects of podiatry. His practice is located in Santa Monica, California. He has lectured worldwide and is a regularly featured blogger on the Huffington Post AOL. He has authored numerous articles on foot injuries, injury prevention, women’s shoe issues, foot biomechanics, and the treatment of foot problems through utilization of eastern and western medicine. Dr. Rosenberg is the CEO and President of Foot Products Enterprises Inc., which manufactures the unique arch product, Instant Arches® for baseball and softball. These Arches are also available for running shoes, all athletic shoes, sandals, flip flops casual and dress shoes. Dr. Rosenberg’s Instant Arches®, sold worldwide, are worn by men and women of all ages from preteens to adults. For more information on Instant Arches visit http://www.instantarches.com/ia-baseball.shtml.