How the Sox keep their pitchers healthier than everyone else

[southsider2k5]

http://www.csnchicago.com/blog/dan-hayes/h...r-everyone-else

 

How the Sox keep their pitchers healthier than everyone else

February 19, 2013, 7:45 pm

 

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- When asked about White Sox pitchers and their decade-long run of good health, don’t be surprised if Rick Hahn scans the room for the nearest exit.

 

The White Sox general manager jokes he doesn’t want to discuss how the team’s pitchers have managed to stay healthier by a significant margin than their competition over the years.

 

He’s afraid if he acknowledges the subject matter, it might reverse course on him and the team.

 

But facts are facts: Even with recent long-term injuries to Jake Peavy and John Danks, White Sox pitchers stay healthier longer than anyone in baseball.

 

The team’s track record gives Chris Sale confidence he’ll hold up in 2013 although he has been identified as an at-risk pitcher because of a sharp increase in innings pitched last season. Sale has seen the positive effects of a rigorous strength and conditioning program designed for pitchers that takes them from the gym to the training room and pays attention to their workload in games. But asked about the most important aspect of it all, Sale said one variable stands out.

 

“There’s a lot of things that go into it, but the main thing is communication is open,” Sale said. “Everyone’s being honest with everybody and letting everybody know how they feel. No one’s really trying to be a hero and go out do something that would hurt themselves.”

 

From 2002-2011, the White Sox had the fewest pitchers go on the disabled list in Major League Baseball and were one of only two teams with fewer than 50 DL trips by pitchers, according to a study done by Fangraphs.com.

 

Last season, the team had the second fewest overall days on the DL in the majors and their pitchers ranked fifth.

 

The team’s pitchers lost about 1,800 days to the DL from 2002-2011, roughly 400 fewer than the next lowest franchise (Minnesota Twins). Every other team in the majors had at least 2,800 days of injuries to pitchers and the Texas Rangers lost pitchers for more than 6,000 days in the 10-year window.

 

“It’s an everyday thing we manage,” pitching coach Don Cooper said. “We’re probably one of the top organizations with running guys out there and keeping them healthy. We’re proud of that because again we’re setting out to say, ‘How do we keep these guys healthy number one?' Things come into it. Delivery is certainly a big part of that. The conditioning they do with (director of conditioning Allen Thomas), the training they get from (trainer Herm Schneider) and the communication with Robin (Ventura) and I on when guys need days.”

 

Protect the investment

 

Now in his 34th season, Schneider has some strict rules for pitchers to adhere to when they step into his domain. There’s no debate -- “If you’re a pitcher on the White Sox, you’re going to do the shoulder program,” Schneider said.

 

Schneider describes the detailed program he and assistant trainer Brian Ball apply to pitchers as hygiene.

 

“You brush your teeth every day, you take a shower every day, you do the shoulder program when needed,” Schneider said. “They’re really good about it. Our group understands how important it is, how good it is. Do they like doing it? I can’t exactly say that, but they also understand it’s very monumental to them and the reward at the end of the road is pretty great when it becomes contract time.”

 

At least twice a week, pitchers enter the training room for 45 minutes and participate in 32-35 exercises aimed at strengthening a pitcher’s shoulder. Schneider accepts nothing less than perfection, which means players can’t listen to headphones and they need to display good posture and textbook form.

 

The team’s trainer since 1979, Schneider asks pitchers to “make deposits” to allow them to comfortably make withdrawals every time they pitch.

 

“It’s very simple: if you spend more money than you make, you go broke,” Schneider said. “You withdraw more than you deposit, you come up with shoulder problems. When you explain it to guys like that, they grab it.”

 

While Schneider handles the elbow and shoulder, Thomas deals with the rest. A former White Sox minor leaguer, Thomas has worked as a strength and conditioning coach since 1996. Though they have made minor adaptations, Thomas said the program is very similar to how Schneider had it designed when Thomas switched from the diamond to the weight room 17 years ago.

 

But Thomas said the training staff doesn’t deserve all the credit. He compliments scouts who find pitchers with good mechanics and the players for their willingness to take part.

 

“It has been tweaked, but the core program is still based on some of the same principles,” Thomas said. “We won’t change. It’s worked. It’s not a two-year or three-year thing. It has been more than 10 years. There’s some luck involved. You can’t really put it all on us. It’s on the player. They have to really buy into what we’re trying to accomplish. They’re to be commended for coming in with an open and listening what we have to say.”

[Dick Allen]

There seemed to be so many injuries last year, yet they were among the best in fewest days on the DL. Shows you how spoiled we are, or at least I am, regarding White Sox health.

[witesoxfan]

There seemed to be so many injuries last year, yet they were among the best in fewest days on the DL. Shows you how spoiled we are, or at least I am, regarding White Sox health.

 

Frankly, it's incredible. That was one of the worst I've ever seen because I didn't really start following the team closely until 2002, which means I got to miss all of 2001.

[StrangeSox]

Prioritizing control over velocity has to be a big part, no?

[witesoxfan]

Prioritizing control over velocity has to be a big part, no?

 

The White Sox don't do that nearly as much as people believe though. For about the last 5 consecutive years, they've had the hardest throwing bullpen in the majors and it's not as if the starters don't throw hard either. I think much of it is just good, pure training, finding guys who have good mechanics, and dumb luck.

[3E8]

There seemed to be so many injuries last year, yet they were among the best in fewest days on the DL. Shows you how spoiled we are, or at least I am, regarding White Sox health.

Yep, we had the 2nd-fewest days lost to the DL. And Brian Bruney accounted for 20% of the total days.

[kitekrazy]

Yep, we had the 2nd-fewest days lost to the DL. And Brian Bruney accounted for 20% of the total days.

 

I just find that so hard to believe. Most of them seem to come down the stretch.

 

[southsider2k5]

Yep, we had the 2nd-fewest days lost to the DL. And Brian Bruney accounted for 20% of the total days.

 

Not to mention John Danks.

[Texsox]

Team culture. It's the little things that build great franchises.