Why in this generation of baseball pitchers are there so
many Tommy John surgeries?
I am writing this about my individual feelings of what I
have personally seen over the years and why I believe pitchers have had elbow
problems that eventually lead to the Tommy John surgery.
 |
| more info: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/graphic/2010/08/27/GR2010082705582.html |
I fell in love with the game of baseball at about the age of
ten. I was always throwing the ball to
my dad, my family members and friends or just against a block wall. There was never a pitch count in Little
League or high school at the time of my growing up. Actually some think I have never grown up!
 |
| image: www.statsdad.com |
I believed that the more I threw a baseball the stronger my
arm would become. It wasn’t until high
school that I learned that throwing was not enough to become a consistent pitcher. Conditioning my body, especially my
foundation, which where my legs, is what eventually got me to the Major Leagues
at the age of 19.
I learned over the years that you have to have a good foundation
and most importantly you have to rely on the elasticity in your arm to be
consistent. Elasticity means your arm
has to be elastic, flexible and resilient to throw a baseball. Heavy weights, I believe in time, constricts
that elasticity! Your elbow ligaments
are like a rubber band. Heavy weights
contract those ligaments and to throw a baseball is the complete opposite. I believe that is why the rubber band is
breaking on so many pitchers today.
This isn’t the only reason that there are so many Tommy John
surgeries. Also poor pitching deliveries
and stress cause ligaments to fail. I
will discuss those issues at another time.
 |
| image: http://munfitnessblog.com/review-of-true-fitness-at-taipan-1/ |
What was my conditioning?
Simple: distance running and lifting light weights for my
shoulders and arms! The distance running
for me was running cross country in high school and carrying that running into
my pitching career. Distance running
built leg strength and especially builds endurance. I was never a believer of riding a stationary
bike. Get outside and hit the pavement! The light weights where between 5 to 8 pounds
and doing different exercises, in reps of 10 to 20, to strengthen mainly my
shoulder area.
The late Dr. Jobe, who performed the first Tommy John
surgery, of course on left-handed pitcher Tommy John, came out with a
post-surgery weight training manual that I followed throughout my career.
Baseball stadiums back in the 1970’s and earlier didn’t have
weight rooms like they have today.
Usually back then there were only weighted dumbbells, not me, in the
trainer’s room that everyone, who wanted to, could use. Now each stadium has a weight room that looks
like Gold’s Gym.
I am not saying not to lift weights if you are a pitcher or
want to become a pitcher. I am saying
control your weight limit and rely on strengthening your arm with more reps
with lighter weights.
Good luck and stay healthy,
Bert Blyleven
