You hear all the time that having a big chest(Pecs) and big arms (biceps) decreases your bat speed, but if you look at some of best power hitters in the game they have huge arms and very broad chests. Steroids aside, guys like Bonds, McGuire, Sosa, Canseco, Thomas, Fielder, Pujols, etc. are jacked and can really hit the long ball (Amazing Bat Speed). How can this be explained?

Even though you say "steroids aside" it is a must that you have to put that into the equation. 4 of the 8 guys you named we're all on the illegal substance. Prince Fielder is in no way in shape or form "jacked".

Thomas and Pujols may appear to be huge but that is just their build.

They call your biceps and chest your trophie muscles for a reason (moreso your biceps). It's because they do better showing off and looking good than them actually helping you produce out on the field.

The most important muscles in the body are your legs and your core. You can have the biggest upper body in the world but if you don't have this you are nothing. Try sitting down on a chair and hitting a baseball and see how far you smash the ball. You'll be lucky if you can get it out of the infield.

Guys today like Chase Utley, BJ Upton, and Ryan Braun back this up. 2nd time homerun king Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Ted Williams are just some of the other legends we're not "jacked" These guys are not huge but they have a great foundation with their legs and core. Not saying that guys that are huge are superior, just saying that the reason why these huge guys can hit is not because they are "jacked".

I hope this helped you out a bit.

Keep working the arms and forearms , it will help u

Caaaaa moooonn maaan throw me an inside fastball

quote:

Originally posted by IowaPlayer5:
You hear all the time that having a big chest(Pecs) and big arms (biceps) decreases your bat speed, but if you look at some of best power hitters in the game they have huge arms and very broad chests. Steroids aside, guys like Bonds, McGuire, Sosa, Canseco, Thomas, Fielder, Pujols, etc. are jacked and can really hit the long ball (Amazing Bat Speed). How can this be explained?

This can be explained primarily because it is a myth that large chest and arms decrease power. It is a myth that has been perpetuated for a long time and is one reason that baseball at lower levels is behind the times in strength training. Many of those coaches who dismissed strength training because they believed it caused players to be "muscle-bound," are now realizing how much it can benefit their players. The only way strength training can be a detriment is if growth in muscular size beomes the focus instead of athletic performance. In these cases, most often the player lacks the flexibility needed to compensate for the growth in muscle mass. Therefore, it is important to incorporate dynamic exercises into your program.

quote:

Originally posted by LAball:
Keep working the arms and forearms , it will help u

Help you what? Look good, yes. Hit a baseball, no.

quote:

Originally posted by Gameth:

quote:

Originally posted by LAball:
Keep working the arms and forearms , it will help u

Help you what? Look good, yes. Hit a baseball, no.

Thank you for disagreeing

Thanks for your input. I agree with Maxx. I don't see how I can lift with full intensity and not increase in size.

Prince Fielder has big arms, and a very broad chest. In shape or not he can really hit.

I don't think you want to lift like a bodybuilder, but every year you start to see more baseball players look like football players with the bigger arms, broader chests, and tree trunk legs. I feel you want to get as big and strong as possible, while staying athletic.

Definitely, just keep up with flexibility...

Don't lift like a bodybuilder (i.e chest day, back day, etc) and you'll be fine. Of course, your training should have a well-rounded approach with dynamic/static stretching, GPP, linear speed work, Olympic Lifts, shoulder capsule work & trunk work in addition to your weight training.

quote:

Originally posted by IowaPlayer5:

I don't think you want to lift like a bodybuilder, but every year you start to see more baseball players look like football players with the bigger arms, broader chests, and tree trunk legs. I feel you want to get as big and strong as possible, while staying athletic.

You're not a bodybuilder, you're an athlete. So you definitely do not want to lift like a bodybuilder. Unfortunately, too many kids are reading Muscle & Fitness magazine and then going to the weight room and performing multiple sets of bicep curls.........

You're not a bodybuilder, you're an athlete. So you definitely do not want to lift like a bodybuilder. Unfortunately, too many kids are reading Muscle & Fitness magazine and then going to the weight room and performing multiple sets of bicep curls.........[/QUOTE]
Exactly right.