We mused on squats yesterday. Inevitably when we broach the subject, Smith machines weasel their way into the conversation. They’re not without their virtues, but be mindful; they’re slippery suckers.As a moppet of 13, I attended a fitness center in the San Fernando Valley called “Nautilus.” The place was jam packed with state of the art (for the 1989) equipment. Keiser air … [Read more…]

My sons and I have been optimizing to do three things.Spend more time together. Consistently get our weight training sessions in. Get better sleep.We have created a process to dominate all three in an hour.Three days a week, my young men and I leave the house for the gym at 5:45 am. School starts for them at 8:00am. We could opt to go in the afternoon, but by … [Read more…]

The other day, I broke bread with a very good (and very strong) minor league baseball player. Over the meal, we discussed lifting. He shared his off season routine with me, and I realized how much more efficiently players are training these days. They are far better educated than when I was a moppet, and it was quite refreshing.I vividly remember a 1996 workout in Lakeland … [Read more…]

Resisting getting back into the gym because you’ve fallen off the wagon? Stop. You can regain your size and strength in short order. Muscle memory is real and more powerful than you think.In 2005, I tore my Achilles tendon rounding second base at the Skydome. My post game quotes from mlb.com: I just haven’t really had a chance to allow it to sink in,” Kapler said after the … [Read more…]

Endurance training for a baseball player is illogical. We are not endurance athletes.I remember a mentor of mine telling me I needed to “pound the pavement” to prepare for spring training. He was a former MLB player, and I trusted his guidance. He believed that distance running gets a player ready from a cardiovascular perspective. He was wrong. From nsca.com: The aerobic … [Read more…]