Baseballer’s unite! A neat interview with Billy Beane.
The Athletics are in a lean spell though ... are your theories simply helping the big spenders pull even further ahead?
The idea that you can have a huge advantage in any business without some form of imitation resulting just doesn’t happen. We are very much at the bottom of the league in revenues, and face even greater challenges than a decade ago. I take it as a compliment that there is a trend towards objective analysis. Number one though, we need to secure our own venue and we are falling further and further behind.
Who is the best baseballer you’ve seen?
Ken Griffey jnr and Barry Bonds. Phenomenal. One thing unique about baseball is that it requires a very, very high level of hand-eye co-ordination along with a high level of athleticism. Those players had a level of athleticism that would have transferred to any sport in the world. Incredibly unique, like Lionel Messi in soccer. What they had set them apart.
Do you have any new tricks up the sleeve?
That’s a secret - I can’t tell you that until the next interview, the next movie. At least I’ve got to give you the illusion that there is one. I say that jokingly - in all seriousness, I really think it will emerge in the medical field. Minimising the length of injuries along with preventive measures - in many cases injuries determine how a team finishes. None of us have the answers yet but we are all searching.
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1. Bruce Markusen Posted: June 15, 2012 at 09:53 PM (#4158385)Also, I heard the term "Pre-hab" recently. I hope it catches on.
You know it's bad when the commentators are joking about luring Josh Towers out of retirement.
He's got a good point. The A's would be much higher in the standings if not for the good health of Hamilton, Napoli, Cruz, Darvish, Nathan, Beltre, Lewis, Harrison, Ross, Pujols, Hunter, Trumbo, Trout, Wilson, and Weaver.
The idea of prehab has been around for a long time in the training community. The increased merging of physical therapy and strength training has been around for at least a decade - I'd be surprised if it's not pretty widespread in baseball already.
I'm skeptical that there's a big edge that can be gained by a change in training and rehab unless you want to basically build another ASMI or Athletes' Performance in your clubhouse. Even then I don't know if it would help much.
I don't really see what the difference is between "prehab" and proper training. The point of prehab (as I, a non-doctor with internet access can gather) is to target and strengthen the parts of the body most stressed by your sport. But don't players already do that? Pitchers spend hours in the weight room strengthening their arms, core, and shoulders, things that might help them throw better, not chiseling their beach muscles, right?
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