Unique Glove helping Parra

[Dback Jon]

Gerardo Parra has a secret weapon he keeps in his locker. It's much smaller than a breadbox and it looks like something you'd find in a toddler's Easter Basket.

It's a little red baseball glove. And little is the operative word there.

"Yeah, it looks like your 5-year-old's glove, like a toy," Diamondbacks third-base coach Matt Williams said.



Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/sports/dia...diamondbacks-gerardo-parra.html#ixzz1qXv3h9FM

 

[AZ Native]

Saw that. It's great to see a player doing whatever it takes to improve.

 

[Gaddabout]

I've often wondered if bigger gloves have been a source of problems for some players. Had a friend who turned out to be an outstanding second baseman -- played two years in the minors (just couldn't hit). His mom taught him how to discipline his hands by strapping a round piece of wood to his left hand and hitting grounders at him. Forced him to use both hands and his body. He had AMAZING hands because of it.

Outfield is different, but the principles are the same. Catching and getting rid of the ball is as essential as a strong throwing arm. Forget that so many big leaguers have AWFUL technique getting under a fly ball for a throw on a play. I know it would stop a lot of those over-the-fence catches, but maybe we might see quicker, more accurate throws from guys like Chris Young, who start every play like that in a deficit because of their weak arms.

 

[BC867]

Practicing catching with a small glove is like swinging a weighted bat in the on deck circle.

The small glove gives a better feel, but also makes the full size mitt feel even bigger. Just as a weighted bat makes the actual heavy one fee lighter.

 

[azsportsfan01]

Practicing catching with a small glove is like swinging a weighted bat in the on deck circle.

The small glove gives a better feel, but also makes the full size mitt feel even bigger. Just as a weighted bat makes the actual heavy one fee lighter.

That has been proven false. It actually makes you weaker and you swing the bat slower. I'll find the article tomorrow.

 

[Gaddabout]

That has been proven false. It actually makes you weaker and you swing the bat slower. I'll find the article tomorrow.

I always wondered about that. Thanks for confirming. Short, compact, timely pivot, good leg drive, squaring the ball. Lots of things go into hitting for power, none of which ever seemed connected to swinging more weight in the on-deck circle. Barry Bonds produced ridiculous torque with a 32-ounce bat, and I never saw him pick up other bats. He was always working on his balance and hand-eye techniques.

 

[azsportsfan01]

Found quicker than I thought I was going to:

Increase—or even decrease—the weight of your bat between 10% and 13%, and you decrease bat speed from three to five miles per hour.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903341404576482291550957386.html

 

[AZ Native]

Very interesting. Good find.

 

[BC867]

That has been proven false. It actually makes you weaker and you swing the bat slower.

Thank you. I hadn't heard that. I'm wondering if a significant number of players have stopped using the weights in the on deck circle.

 

[azsportsfan01]

Thank you. I hadn't heard that. I'm wondering if a significant number of players have stopped using the weights in the on deck circle.

Doubt it. People are stuck to their old ways. Hell even after reading the article in my softball league I still grab a couple of bats to warm up with. I'm hoping to correct that for this upcoming season.

 

[Gaddabout]

Doubt it. People are stuck to their old ways. Hell even after reading the article in my softball league I still grab a couple of bats to warm up with. I'm hoping to correct that for this upcoming season.

It takes at least a generation to change anything in baseball. Look at all the tobacco use, which dates back to 1847. It continued even though TB was common and spitting tobacco was known to spread TB. Overwhelming science still hasn't changed anyone's minds.