Alan was interview on MLB.com by By Doug Miller
Going long to help keep pitchers healthy
Distance throwing gains proponents, remains controversial
Click here to read the entire online article
Alan Jaeger turned on the television every night throughout October and had to smile, but by the time the World Series was in full swing, he admits that he had other outward displays of emotion. “I’m not going to lie to you,” Jaeger says. “There were some tears.“
Jonah Keri (ESPN, Baseball Prospectus, The Extra 2%, an upcoming book on The Tampa Bay Rays) has a tremendous article on his site about pitcher injuries, Nolan Ryan’s resurgent Texas Rangers and Jaeger Sports. Check out A Not-So-Brief History of Pitching Injuries, Starring Nolan Ryan and the Texas Rangers.
From the article…
The Rangers sent Jaeger to the Dominican Republic to work with Dominican Summer League Manager Jayce Tingler and other coaches on teaching young pitchers the new long-toss regime. The plan worked like a charm. The team raced to the best record in the league, with no major pitching injuries all season. But the Rangers didn’t merely challenge the 120-foot long-toss convention at the rookie ball level. Last spring, when Jaeger flew to the team’s spring training complex in Surprise on his own dime to see what else the Rangers had done, he couldn’t believe his eyes.
“They were crow-hopping like we were crow-hopping,” Jaeger beamed. “They were throwing the ball with arc, using our principles. I watched guys pushing 300 feet, which is practically unheard of in other places. I almost cried.”
With that, the Rangers became one of the first teams to actively promote the use of long-toss. The Oakland A’s, St. Louis Cardinals, Minnesota Twins, Washington Nationals, Milwaukee Brewers and New York Yankees also promote the use of long-toss either at the major league level, the minor league level, or both. A few major league clubs recently lifted their restrictions on long-toss use. The gospel is spreading.
It’s an amazing article and definitely worth reading in its entirety.
Michelle Moriarity: professional beach volleyball player, going through her entire J-Band routine
Here’s an update on several Jaeger Sports students around baseball…
Barry Zito was superb in shutting down the Mets this week with 8 scoreless innings.
Chris Seddon of the Seattle Mariners earned his first career win yesterday against the Red Sox. Chris’s move to the big leagues was recently profiled in this great article in the Tacoma Weekly.
Dan Haren is back home in Southern California as an Angel.
A’s first baseman Daric Barton drove in two runs today as Oakland beat the White Sox.
Jason Kubel hit a grand slam today to “spark the Twins” in their over Baltimore.
In the minors, Kansas City prospect Mike Montgomery pitched two scoreless innings in his first start for the Surprise Royals.
Jeff Kobernus of the Hagerstown Tourists (Washington’s AA) hit his first home run of the season this week, a grand slam.
Phillies prospect Mike Stutes was part of Lehigh Valley (AAA) and their unhittable bullpen as the Iron Pigs swept the Indianapolis Indians.
Jason Hirsh of the AAA Wilkes-Barre Yankees throws out a Toledo runner last week. (photo: Jake Stevens/The Times-Tribune)
“The Hamels Foundation is excited to partner up with Jaeger Sports and their Arm Strength and Conditioning Program. Health, Strength, Endurance and Recovery Period are a priority to any players arm and that’s why we’ve made the J-Band Program an integral part of our Pitching Camps ”
Cole Hamels, Pitcher, Philadelphia Phillies, 2008 World Series MVP
Hamels Foundation Pitching Camps
