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RANCH REVIEW THE
FEBRUARY 2018
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THE 2018 ABCA AND THE TEXAS BASEBALL RANCH ®
The Ranch team (left to right): Garrett Wolforth, Oliver Kaday, Jonathon Massey, Ron Wolforth, and Flint Wallace
Every January for the past 21 years, Jill and I have gone to and have had a booth at the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Convention. We are, in fact, sponsors of the ABCA, as we strongly believe in its mission and purpose. This year, the convention was held in Indianapolis, Indiana, so we were doubly blessed to have not only our staff there but also our daughter, Samantha, and her family, which made the event even more memorable. It was very special to have our three granddaughters, Rowan, Ella, and Campbell, see exactly what ‘Papa’ and ‘GiGi’ do in the baseball world. They are, of course, the apples of Papa and GiGi’s eyes.
On opening night, The Texas Baseball Ranch ® team presented a three-part lecture in the Expo Theater. The theater was completely filled — not a single seat available.
Coach Wallace did his presentation on the most effective use of the lower half of the body for the pitching athlete. Coach Kadey’s presentation addressed enhancing an individual throwing athlete’s synergy, coordination, and sequencing. I did an introduction to our Khaos™ training and differential learning.
Overall, the presentation and the three days of manning the booth were a tremendous success. It was a terrific way to kick off 2018.
–Ron Wolforth Where You Can DREAM as BIG as Your Work Ethic Will Allow! PHONE (936) 588-6762
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covering everything from arm care and throwing program personalization to mindset, and even personal and spiritual integrity. If you think there is such a thing as a one-size-fits-all model, think again. Extended Stay Summer Program for Serious Athletes BRING THE HEAT
For the past 15 years, every summer we have helped over 1,200 baseball athletes
Our pitchers’ personalized plans are specific to each of them, and their goals are made possible through an assessment by the coaching staff, using video analysis and a movement screen. Even the length of your training can be customized to fit your unique training needs, lasting anywhere from 2–10 weeks. This program is not for everyone. If you are sensitive to intense summer heat or are not willing to give the game your all, this isn’t the place for you. We are looking to train pitchers who are ready to work hard every day. By rubbing elbows with other motivated young pitchers, our summer athletes get on track to meet their goals, whether that means starting on their varsity team, getting a scholarship to their top-choice college, or being drafted to play professional baseball. Interested in making a huge change this summer? Visit www.texasbaseballranch.com/tbr-summer-program/ or call (936) 588-6762 for more information. Space is limited!
improve their performance and make big gains through participation in our Extended Stay Summer Program. The world of collegiate and professional pitching is within reach; most pitchers simply need guidance to their own specific path, and that’s what we do at The Ranch. Do you need to focus on more specialized development? Are you behind your competitive peer group in velocity, in command, and in recovery? Are you dealing with injury or just returning from an injury? The Ranch is the perfect place to close these gaps. We divide each day into two parts — a morning skill- specific strength component and an afternoon throwing component. This program is an immersive experience, and we implement the most effective training concepts found anywhere. Some of the new additions this summer include Hydro training, PowerCore 360, V-Flex and sand work to go along with our oldies but goodies. We understand that pitching is not all mechanics. The Texas Baseball Ranch ® approaches training holistically,
THE SCIENCE BEHIND SUPPLEMENTS
What Works and What to Avoid
their products approved and on the shelf. Because of this, the buyer needs to be vigilant to avoid getting duped. Before you toss a supplement in your cart, be sure to read every ingredient, including the inactive ones. Alternatively, do some research before you shop to find trusted brands. RULE 3: DIFFERENT BODIES NEED DIFFERENT SUPPLEMENTS Many supplements are tailored to specific types of workouts. If, for instance, you are doing high-intensity workouts, you may want to consider adding some whey or creatine to your regimen. Your body metabolizes these compounds quickly during workouts, so keeping your levels high will enhance growth and speed up recovery. Except for basic multivitamins, there are no one-size-fits- all supplements. RULE 4: DON’T OVERLOOK NATURAL COMPOUNDS Natural supplements, like fish oil, bone broth protein, and probiotics, have loads of benefits for the body. As an added bonus, you rarely need to worry about side effects, provided you don’t take more than is recommended. Take a look at your supplements and ask yourself where synthetic compounds can be replaced with natural ones.
If you walk into your local nutritional supply store, it won’t take you long to realize there are way too many supplements on the market. Some contain basic essentials like vitamins and fish oils. Others advertise themselves with wild names like “MassiveMuscle” or “Core CRSHR,” and they contain a laundry list of chemicals. It would be hard for an expert to figure out the benefits of each supplement, let alone a regular person trying to boost their nutrient intake and get the most out of their workout. However, there are a few solid rules of thumb to follow if you don’t want to buy a jar full of placebos. RULE 1: YOU CAN’T GO WRONG WITH VITAMINS Vitamins and minerals are the catalysts for nearly every process in your body. Without a solid foundation of vitamins, higher-octane supplements won’t work as well. Unless you are the strictest eater around, you’re probably not getting all the nutrients you need from your diet. Look for natural or organic vitamins that contain a variety of useful compounds, like vitamin D, B vitamins, iron, and magnesium. RULE 2: READ THE INGREDIENTS (ALL OF ‘EM) According to Harvard Health, supplements are the “Wild West of American health.” Companies have to do very little to get
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PARENT SURVIVAL GUIDE
The average velocity at every level is going up. Therefore, although very few are saying it, stress to soft tissue is, of course, going up as well. Parents and athletes have two primary choices: The Truth About Soft Tissue, Part 2
When I was pitching as a 9-year-old in 1969, it was fairly uncommon to see an 85-plus mph high school pitcher. Today it is almost a necessity to throw with that velocity to even
1) Stay safe and be passed over for other athletes willing to risk injury; or
2) Risk injury themselves
have an opportunity to pitch for the better high schools in California, Florida, Arizona, Texas, and the rest of the Deep South.
THIS MONTH IN BASEBALL HISTORY Baseball’s Biggest Legend Is Born The history of baseball includes no shortage of titanic personalities. From the showmanship of Satchel Paige to the aphoristic wit of Yogi Berra, the MLB has seen more than its fair share of larger-than-life figures. Even among this crowd, Babe Ruth stands out as baseball’s ultimate legendary character. This month would have been the Great Bambino’s 122nd birthday. Born on Feb. 6, 1895, to a hardworking German-American family, George Herman Ruth Jr.’s life began humbly. As a child, he was sent to St. Mary’s Industrial School for Boys, a tough environment where he was first introduced to baseball. He was a natural from the start, playing multiple positions and excelling at them all. His pro career began in 1914 with the Baltimore Orioles, his hometown team. In July of that year, he was traded to the Red Sox and began dominating the league. Though he entered the majors as a pitcher, he eventually became a towering slugger. In December 1919, he was sold to the New York Yankees, where his fame reached unprecedented levels. Ruth’s legend is based on his otherworldly numbers, but his personality is almost as integral to his legend. He drank, smoked cigars, and frequented the hot spots of his day. He may not have lived a healthy lifestyle, but nevertheless, he put his stamp on the game. Cleaning up mechanical inefficiencies is imperative. Managing workloads, scheduling downtime, and focusing on recovery only makes good common sense. Wishing for an ideal environment or lamenting that situations are not copacetic, on the other hand, is a giant waste of time. Here at the Texas Baseball Ranch ® , we expend our energy on the variables we can affect. We hope you do, too. If your athlete has decided pitching a baseball is something he is truly serious about, then preparing his soft tissue for the stress it will encounter, improving mechanical efficiencies, managing workloads, and paying attention to growth plate issues, growth spurts, tenderness, tightness, and pain is not only a good idea, but mandatory due diligence. As the bar for entry into top-level baseball gets set higher and higher, the risk of injury to soft tissue and growth plates also increases. Once parents and athletes decide they are willing to go for it, the risk of injury to the young pitcher becomes a fact of life. Many parents and athletes are either naive about those risks or have chosen to stick their heads in the proverbial sand and hope everything will turn out okay. As we often say at the Texas Baseball Ranch ® : “Hope is NOT a plan!”
To be taken seriously for the major league draft, the standard for high school and college pitchers has also steadily increased. Many
pitchers throwing in excess of 92 mph will not even be considered by MLB organizations.
Bottom line: Velocity is coveted by athletes for the very reason that velocity is coveted by coaches at every level. Young athletes and their supporters will actively look for ways to throw with more velocity. And in fact, that is exactly what has happened.
UPCOMING RANCH EVENTS ELITE PITCHERS BOOT CAMPS
June 8-10 (Fri-Sun) June 22-24 (Fri-Sun) July 6-8 (Fri-Sun)
July 20-22 (Fri-Sun) Aug 10-12 (Fri-Sun) Sept 1-3 (Sat-Mon) EXTENDED STAY SUMMER PROGRAM
June 4 - Session I begins July 2 - Session II begins
More information go to www.texasbaseballranch.com/events
A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR OATES SPECIALTIES! STRATEGIC PARTNER,
www.OatesSpecialties. com/Durathro
3 Where You Can DREAM as BIG as Your Work Ethic Will Allow! PHONE (936) 588-6762
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(936) 588-6762 INSIDE THIS ISSUE
The 2018 ABCA and the Texas Baseball Ranch PAGE 1 Bring the Heat This Summer PAGE 2 The Science Behind Workout Supplements PAGE 2 Truth About Soft Tissue PAGE 3 Babe Ruth’s Birthday PAGE 3 3 Holistic Remedies Hiding in Your Kitchen PAGE 4
NEED A LITTLE SPICE IN YOUR LIFE?
GINGER This root is an essential natural anti-inflammatory. It can help ease an upset stomach and finally tame your nausea. You can safely eat it raw, candied, as a supplement, in tea, or in baked goods. Ginger is most effective when it’s ingested raw or in capsule form. If you have morning sickness, raw ginger might do the trick. Just ask the people of ancient China. Like many spices, ginger’s use as a supplement goes back centuries. Southeast Asian countries used it to ease their own common ailments. Call it tried and true.
Spices and herbs add much more than flavor and aroma to your favorite beverages and treats. They also offer many health benefits. When properly utilized, these spice rack staples can ease a variety of symptoms. Ready to find your new holistic health kick? Read on. NUTMEG This spice, known for its earthy, nutty flavor, has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. Want to calm nagging pain? This spice has been used to treat joint pain and arthritis. It can even be used to remedy bad breath! Nutmeg is most potent when it’s freshly grated, so it’s recommended you purchase whole nutmeg seed, found in most specialty food stores. You can incorporate nutmeg into your diet by taking it as a supplement in capsule form or simply sprinkling it into your next chai tea. Your achy joints will thank you.
PEPPERMINT You can use peppermint as an essential oil, steep the leaves for tea, or take a supplement capsule. Each form comes
with its own benefits. As an essential oil, peppermint is great for treating colds. It’s a mild decongestant, and it helps with coughs and stuffed-up noses. It also soothes sore throats and headaches. Rub one or two drops under your nose, on your temples, or over your sinuses and feel the relief wash over you! Even further, a study published by The BMJ found that when administered as a capsule, peppermint helped reduce the symptoms of IBS in a majority of patients.
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