http://library.crossfit.com/free/pdf/CF ... arlins.pdf
Hmmm...I'm thinking that by the degree of Kool-Aid inebriation in this article, along with trying to have major leaguers "do @F" (as usual, whatever the hell that means), that this guy is not going to have his job for very long.
In a highly skilled sport such as baseball, not all are athletes, but the good players are certainly athletic, and most were multi-sport athletes prior to being professional baseball players.
Seriously?
Did he just say that not all pro baseball players are actually athletes? Now I can understand John Kruk saying that, but a trainer?
My role is to improve Florida Marlins baseball players athletically or enhance performance, but it’s also one of injury prevention. In some eyes, preventing injuries is more important because of the business of baseball.
And he wants to have pro ball players @F. Shhhhhh...don't tell him about the injury board!
You can certainly understand the importance of keeping healthy players on the field, and isn’t a “fit” player a healthier player? I feel the answer is yes, especially if we are using the definition of fitness that CrossFit has provided.
Ahahaha. See how well your definition of "fitness" goes over with the bosses when they're shitcanning you for hurting players.
A general physical preparedness type of program will equip the player for whatever he may encounter on the field of play, and if a baseball player is adequate in all three of CrossFit’s fitness standards, he will have a better chance to be injury-free and perform to his best ability throughout the 162-game regular season—plus playoffs, hopefully!
I don't think this guy ever played baseball. Obviously, players haven't been getting by with their GPP deficiencies over the years...and we all know that it is conditioning that wins baseball games. Jeebus. Seriously, is there a sport that needs LESS GPP and MORE SPP than baseball, other than curling?
Also, he may want to review how many @Fers last longer than three years on the program. The burnout rate of combining @F with a 162+ game season should be fun to watch, since @F is so good at inducing burnout all by itself.
After jumping into CrossFit at a local affiliate, I thought the programming was similar to my own thoughts on interval training and intensity.
So this article is just some ass-kissing in the name of HIIT, then?
It’s difficult to introduce new movement patterns to baseball players during spring training. A player’s training intensity is very individualized as well. Again, injury prevention is No. 1 on the list of precautions, and implementing new patterns during spring training can increase injury frequency—and no one wants that. Integrating CrossFit into a professional baseball program becomes tricky, and you need to rely heavily on your player evaluations.
Let's see what we all know we have with @F:
- Poorly chosen movement patterns (SDHP & thrusters, anyone?)
- Same "program" for pro athletes and grandmas, just "scaled"
- No attention to injury prevention, more attention to injury denial
Polar opposites, no?
The truth is this: no training method must be allowed to negatively affect on-field performance because of injury, fatigue or recovery issues.
The truth is, this guy must not have shit for experience with @F.
A player’s position and how often he plays will affect his training. Most of us have torn our hands on more than one occasion while doing a kipping pull-up, muscle-up or even a kettlebell swing. A blister may not only put a pitcher on the disabled list but can also affect his throwing mechanics and move the stress up the kinetic chain to the elbow or shoulder. A tear or blister can affect a position hitter’s swing dramatically, so not every exercise (as prescribed) may be beneficial. But the beautiful part of the CrossFit methodology is that it can
be scaled and adjusted as needed.
Customized HIIT with non-@F exercises IS NOT @F, no matter how many times you say it is while rocking back and forth in the corner. There is no @F methodology.
Another important aspect of CrossFit methodology comes from its sense of randomness. Baseball players are creatures of habit. They believe in routine, almost to a fault. They’re very regimented when it comes to what they eat, how they wear their uniform, how many swings they take in the cage or pitches in the bullpen, and, of course, what and when they train. CrossFit teaches us to be prepared for whatever comes our way, which is important because not every game goes as scripted. Players need to adapt. Routine is the enemy.
Um, maybe baseball attracts certain personalities. Think of that one? Have fun being random, getting players so sore that their game sucks ass, then go back to your delusions of "routine is the enemy".
Overhead throwing is one of the main demands placed on the baseball player. This unnatural movement places a lot of stress on the upper extremity, mainly the shoulder complex and elbow region.
Throwing is unnatural. Wow. More than rowing? (not to knock rowing, I like rowing)
I think a task force should be created to stop babies from the terribly unnatural movement of throwing their food...they know not what they do.
