Kelly Calabrese: Groundbreaking Massage Therapist Almost anyone has heard about massage therapy and grasps the basics of a massage is. Yet how many can name even three widely known massage therapists off of the top of their heads? After some ill-advised comments directed at her expense, one such masseuse, Kelly Calabrese found herself suddenly becoming one of the fields most publicized practitioners. Now what was said and exactly who is Kelly Calabrese?
While still taking a course at a Cleveland massage school in 1995, Calabrese was given a client that was interested in a sports massage. Impressed with the massage, the client referred Kelly to a few of his friends, some of which played for major league baseball for the Cleveland Indians. While completing her course Calabrese continued to massage many of the Cleveland Indians. A trade landed some of the players that she massaged in Atlanta, Kelly found herself taking trips out to Atlanta to continue her professional relationship with some of the players. Word got out in Atlanta of her services and she picked up a few additional baseball clients. One of these players was a 1st baseman named Ryan Klesko.
Klesko asked Calabrese to move out to San Diego to continue massaging him and perhaps other ballplayers. Taking a big risk, she left her practice in Cleveland and headed out to sunny San Diego, California. For the 2001 and 2002 seasons Kelly began building up a new practice along with giving part-time massages for some of the San Diego Padres, the team that Ryan Klesko was traded to. As feedback and evidence of her masssage ability began to surface San Diego head trainer, Todd Hutcheson, offered Kelly a full-time position after the conclusion of the 2003 season. Kelly's role has been to massage and stretch ten to fifteen players a day. She has become the first women ever to have access to a clubs dugout during live games and she goes with the team on road trips. Kelly Calabrese's role with the Padres was kept mostly out of the press, aside from a few local interviews and stories here and there. This began changed in early 2006.
Former player and current New York Mets television color commentator Keith Hernandez added the following comments during a game witnessing a replay of Calabrese giving players congratulations in the dugout:
"You have got to be kidding me ... I won't say that women belong in the kitchen, but they don't belong in the dugout,"
Hernandez later apologized for the comments.
While at first glance this action should be construed as negative, they did end up having a positive impact on massage therapy in general, female masseuses in non-traditional roles and for Kelly Calabrese herself.
In media interview upon interview conducted by reporters on many of Calabrese's patients (the San Diego Padres players) the reviews were glowing.
Manager Bruce Bochy said: "Kelly's a part of this club, part of this training staff, She plays a major role with this club helping guys getting ready for the ballgame."
Second baseman Eric Young "She was part of the equation that got me back so quick,"
37 year old catcher Mike Piazza; "The fact that I am at an advanced age as far as baseball players go, if I didn’t have someone like Kelly treating me every day, I wouldn't be able to play as much as I have."
And these are only a few of the positive recommendations that Kelly received.
In 2006 Kelly has had her titled changed to "sports therapist" from the original title of massage therapist. She felt this fit her overall role with the ballclub.
But under any name, the awareness that Kelly Calabrese created for women and massage therapists as a whole has gone a long way in breaking down any misconceptions and prejudices that may exist.
About the Author
The following article meshed together two different but oddly related fields, Baseball and Massage Thearpy.Massage Therapy Ontario is the home for massage therapy information in Ontario Canada. If you are also interest in baseball you can visit the Deadspin featured baseball supersite Mopupduty.com Baseball
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
What is a Composite Baseball Bat?
What is a Composite Baseball Bat?
Composite baseball bats are here to stay so know them, live them and love them.
Stronger and lighter than high-grade aluminum, composite baseball bats are either made of a graphite-fiber composite material or have an aluminum core with graphite lining.
The main advantage of composite is it's lighter than aluminum and hence provides for a larger barrel and sweet spot within the designated drop ratio. Composite bats give a whole lot more forgiveness for the imperfect swing, and have the potential to make the average hitter a clean-up hitter.
Composite bats have been used and accepted in softball for the last ten years. They were introduced in baseball about the same time but were rejected in the baseball community for two reasons. First the early bats were much more susceptible to break and were considered flimsy. Second, and amazingly more important, was that they do not produce the trademark "ping" of an aluminum bat. We've all become accustomed to hearing the ping that we believe a bat has no pop when we don't hear it. I remember a high school player telling me they're terrible because they sound like a wood bat. Because of this the manufacturers gave up on composite baseball bats.
Fast forward to 2008 and things have dramatically changed. Composite bats were reintroduced into baseball a few years ago and have finally been embraced by the community. They're becoming very popular in baseball and will undoubtedly dominate the bat industry moving forward.
There are some differences you'll need to understand about composite bats. To start off with, composite bats have a much longer break-in period than aluminum bats. You'll need to hit 100 to 150 baseballs to correctly break in the bat (baseballs not batting cage balls). At first, the ball will sound like it came off a wooden bat but with proper effort and care you can break them in to the point where it sounds more like a rifle shot.
Then you'll need to realize you're not swinging a hunk of metal anymore. Composite bats need some tender loving care and are slightly more susceptible to cold weather. Banging them on the concrete and fence posts is not a good idea.
Finally, you need to understand the most expensive bats on the market are composite. So if you want one you'll need to pay top dollar in most cases. Manufacturers have started to offer some lower priced options such as the Louisville Omaha Comp and I'm sure more are on the way.
Composite bats are a great option for today's baseball player from the youth to college level. As mentioned, they're here to stay so know them, live them and love them.
For unbiased reviews of all 2009 baseball bats and an in-depth analysis of composite versus aluminum bats visit Baseball Bat Reviews
About the Author
I love the game of baseball. I played through High School, have been a coach for the last 12 years and have attended over 900 games that my son's have played in.
But it frightens me to think of how much money I've spent on baseball bats over the years , and how I wish I would have been more knowledgeable from the beginning.
My articles are dedicated to provide you with this knowledge and make your baseball bat purchases a good experience.
Composite baseball bats are here to stay so know them, live them and love them.
Stronger and lighter than high-grade aluminum, composite baseball bats are either made of a graphite-fiber composite material or have an aluminum core with graphite lining.
The main advantage of composite is it's lighter than aluminum and hence provides for a larger barrel and sweet spot within the designated drop ratio. Composite bats give a whole lot more forgiveness for the imperfect swing, and have the potential to make the average hitter a clean-up hitter.
Composite bats have been used and accepted in softball for the last ten years. They were introduced in baseball about the same time but were rejected in the baseball community for two reasons. First the early bats were much more susceptible to break and were considered flimsy. Second, and amazingly more important, was that they do not produce the trademark "ping" of an aluminum bat. We've all become accustomed to hearing the ping that we believe a bat has no pop when we don't hear it. I remember a high school player telling me they're terrible because they sound like a wood bat. Because of this the manufacturers gave up on composite baseball bats.
Fast forward to 2008 and things have dramatically changed. Composite bats were reintroduced into baseball a few years ago and have finally been embraced by the community. They're becoming very popular in baseball and will undoubtedly dominate the bat industry moving forward.
There are some differences you'll need to understand about composite bats. To start off with, composite bats have a much longer break-in period than aluminum bats. You'll need to hit 100 to 150 baseballs to correctly break in the bat (baseballs not batting cage balls). At first, the ball will sound like it came off a wooden bat but with proper effort and care you can break them in to the point where it sounds more like a rifle shot.
Then you'll need to realize you're not swinging a hunk of metal anymore. Composite bats need some tender loving care and are slightly more susceptible to cold weather. Banging them on the concrete and fence posts is not a good idea.
Finally, you need to understand the most expensive bats on the market are composite. So if you want one you'll need to pay top dollar in most cases. Manufacturers have started to offer some lower priced options such as the Louisville Omaha Comp and I'm sure more are on the way.
Composite bats are a great option for today's baseball player from the youth to college level. As mentioned, they're here to stay so know them, live them and love them.
For unbiased reviews of all 2009 baseball bats and an in-depth analysis of composite versus aluminum bats visit Baseball Bat Reviews
About the Author
I love the game of baseball. I played through High School, have been a coach for the last 12 years and have attended over 900 games that my son's have played in.
But it frightens me to think of how much money I've spent on baseball bats over the years , and how I wish I would have been more knowledgeable from the beginning.
My articles are dedicated to provide you with this knowledge and make your baseball bat purchases a good experience.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Weight Training Program For Baseball Players
Weight training for baseball is not similar to the training imparted for other sports. It becomes more important because the baseball season is much longer as compared to other sports. So one has to maintain his mental and physical health and remain injury free throughout the whole season. Vigor training is essential to develop a strong base which is important to play baseball consistently with passion and intensity.
If you know baseball, you know how hard the training in baseball is and how innovative it is to perform weight training which is incorporated in a baseball training program, you would know how effective this training is in competitions. Many say that most of the coaches commit serious errors that cause traumatic bodily stress or injury in a person who is into a baseball weight training program.
Weight training through baseball should take into consideration the limitation of players. The truth though is that it is not really the training that does not work but it is the coaches who do not understand fully this kind of weight training program.
There are many baseball coaches who just want to increase and increase the strength and stamina of their field players but who do not think of the limitations of these athletes. Often times, the injury comes after severe and successive training in preparation for the upcoming competition. Least they know that their players are already over stressed and over trained.
Train but do not strain through overtraining. You should know that overtraining is not good because it not only causes injuries and severe muscle damages on the body but likewise, it defeats the very purpose of an exercise. You should know that like ordinary weight training exercises, the baseball weight training program should observe the same basic principles in weight training such as rest.
Rest is as important as exercise and progression. In fact, you cannot progress if your body can no longer tolerate the load that you are putting on it. Challenge is a lot different from damage and that is what you want to avoid.
Incorporate variations in the training program. There have be variation in the types of routines that you do and in the intensity of the routines. It would be better to incorporate other exercises that similarly work to strengthen your muscles.
Lastly, you should know that the most important aspect in the weight training program in baseball is the force produced. Aside from the strength of the leg muscles and the hand and leg coordination, the program also develops extreme force particularly when one swings the baseball bat. The very reason why most coaches incorporate weight training in baseball is because force requires mass times acceleration.
Never forget, always warm up and cool down before and after a training session.
About the Author
Don't waste your time, effort and cash on B.S. "Miracle Programs" that don't deliver results! Learn the honest truth revealed by a real muscle building expert and at last start noticing the gains you deserve.
If you know baseball, you know how hard the training in baseball is and how innovative it is to perform weight training which is incorporated in a baseball training program, you would know how effective this training is in competitions. Many say that most of the coaches commit serious errors that cause traumatic bodily stress or injury in a person who is into a baseball weight training program.
Weight training through baseball should take into consideration the limitation of players. The truth though is that it is not really the training that does not work but it is the coaches who do not understand fully this kind of weight training program.
There are many baseball coaches who just want to increase and increase the strength and stamina of their field players but who do not think of the limitations of these athletes. Often times, the injury comes after severe and successive training in preparation for the upcoming competition. Least they know that their players are already over stressed and over trained.
Train but do not strain through overtraining. You should know that overtraining is not good because it not only causes injuries and severe muscle damages on the body but likewise, it defeats the very purpose of an exercise. You should know that like ordinary weight training exercises, the baseball weight training program should observe the same basic principles in weight training such as rest.
Rest is as important as exercise and progression. In fact, you cannot progress if your body can no longer tolerate the load that you are putting on it. Challenge is a lot different from damage and that is what you want to avoid.
Incorporate variations in the training program. There have be variation in the types of routines that you do and in the intensity of the routines. It would be better to incorporate other exercises that similarly work to strengthen your muscles.
Lastly, you should know that the most important aspect in the weight training program in baseball is the force produced. Aside from the strength of the leg muscles and the hand and leg coordination, the program also develops extreme force particularly when one swings the baseball bat. The very reason why most coaches incorporate weight training in baseball is because force requires mass times acceleration.
Never forget, always warm up and cool down before and after a training session.
About the Author
Don't waste your time, effort and cash on B.S. "Miracle Programs" that don't deliver results! Learn the honest truth revealed by a real muscle building expert and at last start noticing the gains you deserve.
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