Uno de los grandes misterios del b\u00c3\u00a9isbol para los aficionados y quiz\u00c3\u00a1s tambi\u00c3\u00a9n para muchos analistas profesionales y a\u00c3\u00ban para los rivales tiene que ver con la secuencia de actividades que asume cada pitcher luego de realizar una apertura. Muchos hablan de que la relaci\u00c3\u00b3n con el catcher es determinante, otros que el manager influye mucho. Sin embargo en el ambiente permanece flotando que todo se termina haciendo de acuerdo a la personalidad de cada lanzador.<\/p>\n
La primera vez que v\u00c3\u00ad un juego de Johan Santana en el estadio, jugaba Magallanes versus La Guaira en el parque de la Ciudad Universitaria.<\/p>\n
A mediados del juego los Tiburones le llenaron las bases\u00c2\u00a0 a Santana. El manager sali\u00c3\u00b3 a conversar con su bater\u00c3\u00ada. Luego que el manager regres\u00c3\u00b3 al dugout, Santana llam\u00c3\u00b3 a su catcher dos veces antes del pr\u00c3\u00b3ximo lanzamiento.<\/p>\n
En 2006, en medio de una gran campa\u00c3\u00b1a, Santana derrot\u00c3\u00b3 7-2 a los Cachorros de Chicago el 23 de junio, para dejar su marca en 8-4. En ese juego muy pocos sab\u00c3\u00adan que a partir del quinto inning el zurdo empez\u00c3\u00b3 a sentir molestias en la espalda pero sigui\u00c3\u00b3 lanzando hasta el octavo. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Hay que aprender a concentrarse para lanzar con dolor\u00e2\u20ac\u009d, dijo Santana. El d\u00c3\u00ada siguiente lleg\u00c3\u00b3 al estadio a las 2 pm y se meti\u00c3\u00b3 en un whirlpool de agua caliente y luego se meti\u00c3\u00b3 en una ducha de agua fr\u00c3\u00ada. Hab\u00c3\u00ada empezado el proceso de aliviar el dolor. Ese d\u00c3\u00ada tambi\u00c3\u00a9n corri\u00c3\u00b3 algo en los jardines, hizo un poco de caminadora y de escaladora. Luego jug\u00c3\u00b3 un poco de f\u00c3\u00batbol con Carlos Silva y el hijo de Tori Hunter. Tambi\u00c3\u00a9n recogi\u00c3\u00b3 pelotas en los jardines durante la pr\u00c3\u00a1ctica de bateo. El coach de pitcheo de los Mellizos de Minnesota Rick Anderson dice \u00e2\u20ac\u0153ese primer d\u00c3\u00ada despu\u00c3\u00a9s de lanzar sirve de receso mental para los pitchers\u00e2\u20ac\u009d.<\/p>\n
Desde la tribuna central mi amigo Pepe El Canario baj\u00c3\u00b3 la mirada cuando al \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Gocho\u00e2\u20ac\u009d le dieron un hit entre primera y segunda. Santana hizo la asistencia detr\u00c3\u00a1s de tercera base y despu\u00c3\u00a9s pas\u00c3\u00b3 un rato detr\u00c3\u00a1s del mont\u00c3\u00adculo mirando hacia las bases todav\u00c3\u00ada repletas.<\/p>\n
El domingo 25 de junio Santana lleg\u00c3\u00b3 al estadio a las 10 de la ma\u00c3\u00b1ana, para las once se hab\u00c3\u00ada estirado y hab\u00c3\u00ada calentado el brazo con el catcher de bull pen Aaron Amundson. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Tomo muy en serio el trabajo de bull pen\u00e2\u20ac\u009d, dijo Santana. Luego de discutir sobre mec\u00c3\u00a1nica empez\u00c3\u00b3 a colocar, con precisi\u00c3\u00b3n quir\u00c3\u00bargica, cada env\u00c3\u00ado donde lo ped\u00c3\u00ada Amundson. Despu\u00c3\u00a9s, Anderson entr\u00c3\u00b3 al caj\u00c3\u00b3n de bateo y se\u00c3\u00b1al\u00c3\u00b3 las coordenadas donde deb\u00c3\u00adan caer los pitcheos de Santana. Pretend\u00c3\u00ada simular a dos de los bateadores que Johan enfrentar\u00c3\u00ada en el pr\u00c3\u00b3ximo juego. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Si es Seattle simular\u00c3\u00a9 ser Ichiro y luego Adrian Beltre. As\u00c3\u00ad empezar\u00c3\u00a1 a enfocarse en su pr\u00c3\u00b3ximo juego\u00e2\u20ac\u009d.<\/p>\n
En el pr\u00c3\u00b3ximo lanzamiento Santana le hizo varias se\u00c3\u00b1as de desaprobaci\u00c3\u00b3n a su catcher en medio de la atronadora samba que impregnaba todo el Universitario desde la tribuna derecha.<\/p>\n
El lunes 26 Santana hizo ejercicios de fuerza con Randy Popple para entonar las piernas y la espalda. Popple, y los masajistas Rick McWane y Dave Pruemer, dicen que Johan es muy disciplinado entre sus aperturas, hace su trabajo de condicionamiento todos los d\u00c3\u00adas. Santana se los queda mirando luego de una rutina y dice: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153La gente ignora la importancia que estos tipos tienen en mi trabajo\u00e2\u20ac\u009d.<\/p>\n
La pelota sale de los dedos \u00c3\u00adndice y medio de la mano izquierda de Santana, serpentea antes de llegar al plato y se hunde sobre la esquina exterior para que el bate silbe un strike tir\u00c3\u00a1ndole.<\/p>\n
El martes 27 de junio Santana se dedic\u00c3\u00b3 a registrar todos los pitcheos del abridor que ese d\u00c3\u00ada era el novato Francisco Liriano. Se sent\u00c3\u00b3 en el clubhouse ante un gran monitor de TV para determinar la ubicaci\u00c3\u00b3n y caracter\u00c3\u00adsticas de cada pitcheo, hab\u00c3\u00ada un ambiente de media luz. Este d\u00c3\u00ada Santana solo se preocupa en tener la comida y bebida adecuadas para sentirse bien el d\u00c3\u00ada siguiente.<\/p>\n
Es el tercer strike. Pepe salta de su modorra y empieza a lanzar gritos de apoyo a Santana qui\u00c3\u00a9n fija su mirada en la mascota del catcher y en las manos del bateador.<\/p>\n
El mi\u00c3\u00a9rcoles 28\u00c2\u00a0 Santana lleg\u00c3\u00b3 al estadio a las 10 am, poco m\u00c3\u00a1s de dos horas antes del primer pitcheo del juego. Se mete un rato en el whirlpool. Luego su codo y hombro son relajados con un masaje electr\u00c3\u00b3nico. Los catchers Joe Mauer y Mike Redmond se reunieron con Santana para la acostumbrada sesi\u00c3\u00b3n estrat\u00c3\u00a9gica previa al juego. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153A \u00c3\u00a9l le gusta bromear, pero sabe cuando hay que hablar en serio\u00e2\u20ac\u009d, dijo Mauer.<\/p>\n
El pr\u00c3\u00b3ximo env\u00c3\u00ado es devuelto como rolling caliente que Santana toma a la altura de las rodillas, de inmediato corre hacia primera base y pasa la pelota al inicialista cuando nota que el corredor aprieta el acelerador. La samba sigue su percusi\u00c3\u00b3n, pero el incremento del volumen de la sirena indica que hay esperanzas en la tribuna izquierda.<\/p>\n
English Translation<\/strong><\/p>\n One of the great mysteries of baseball for fans and maybe also for many experts and even for the opponents, has to do with the sequence of activities each pitcher develops after he starts a game. Many people say the quality of the relationship between catcher and pitcher is very important, others say the manager influences a lot. But something keep floating in the air to show that everything ends around the personality of each pitcher.<\/p>\n The first time I saw a game, in the ballpark, where Johan Santana was the starter, the Magallanes Navigators played against the La Guaira Sharks at the Estadio Universitario, Caracas, Venezuela.<\/p>\n Around the fifth inning the Sharks loaded the bases before Santana. The manager went out to talk with his pitcher and catcher. After the skipper went back to the dugout, Santana talked to the catcher twice before the next delivery.<\/p>\n In 2006 while having a great season, Santana defeated 7-2 the Chicago Cubs on June 23rd to leave his record at 8-4. Few people knew that in that game the lefthander began to feel some pain in his back, but anyway he kept pitching until the eighth inning. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You have to learn how to pitch through pain\u00e2\u20ac\u009d, said Santana. The next day he arrived to the ballpark at 2 pm and had a whirlpool session in warm water, then he took a shower of cold water. It has began the killing pain process. That day he also ran in the outfield, did some exercise on the stepper and hit the mill. Afterwards he played some soccer with Carlos Silva and Torii Hunter\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s son. He also catched some balls in the outfield during the batting practice. Rick Anderson, the Minnesota Twins pitching coach says: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153That first day after starting a game is very important as a mental break for the pitchers\u00e2\u20ac\u009d.<\/p>\n In the tribune behind home plate, my friend Pepe El Canario gets sad when \u00e2\u20ac\u0153El Gocho\u00e2\u20ac\u009d accepts a grounder between second and first base that becomes a base hit. Santana made the assist behind third base, then he stayed for a while looking to the bases loaded from around the mound.<\/p>\n On Sunday June, the 25th, Santana arrived at the ballpark by 10 am. At 11 am he had stretched and warmed his arm with the bull pen catcher Aaron Amundson. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I take very seriously my work in the bull pen\u00e2\u20ac\u009d, Santana said. After discussing about mechanics, he began to pinpoint each delivery where Amundson asked. Later Anderson came to the batting box and showed Santana the exact position where he wanted the pitches to break. He wanted to simulate two of the batters Johan would be confronting in the next game. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153If it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Seattle I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll simulate Ichiro and then Adrian Beltre. That way he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll begin focusing on the next game.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n Before the next delivery, Santana made several gestures because he didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t like his catcher\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s choice. Meanwhile a high volume samba music filled the whole stadium from the right tribune.<\/p>\n On Monday 26, Santana performed some strength exercises with Randy Popple to set the tone for the legs and the muscles of his back. Popple and the trainers Rick McWane and Dave Pruemer say that Johan is very disciplined between starts, he makes his conditioning duties everyday. Santana keeps looking at them after a routine and says: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153People ignore how important are these guys for my work\u00e2\u20ac\u009d.<\/p>\n The ball came out from the index and middle fingers of Santana\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s left hand. It describes some snake movement before arriving at the home-plate and then sinks on the outside corner and the bat can only whistle for a swinging strike.<\/p>\n On Tuesday, June 27th Santana\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s job was to record on a paper every delivery of that day starter, the rookie Francisco Liriano. He sat down in the clubhouse before a huge TV set to determine the positioning and characteristics of each pitch. The whole room had the lights off like in a theater play. This day Santana only worries about having the right food and drink in order to feel well the next day.<\/p>\n It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s strike three. Pepe jumps from his sadness and begins to shout supporting Santana who directs his gaze to the catcher\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s mitt and the batter\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s hands.<\/p>\n On Wednesday 28, Santana arrived at the ballpark at 10 am, a little more than two hours before the first throwing of the game. He sinks for a while in the whirlpool. Later his elbow and shoulder are relaxed with an electronic massage. Catchers Joe Mauer and Mike Redmond met with Santana for the strategic session they always have before the game. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153He likes to fool around, but he knows when to talk seriously\u00e2\u20ac\u009d, said Mauer.<\/p>\n The next delivery is hit as a hard grounder that Santana catches at his knees. He immediately runs to first base and throws the ball to the first basemen when he notices that the runner increases his speed. The samba music keeps its percussion but the raising of the volume in the siren apparatus indicates that still there is some hope in the left tribune.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Uno de los grandes misterios del b\u00c3\u00a9isbol para los aficionados y quiz\u00c3\u00a1s tambi\u00c3\u00a9n para muchos analistas profesionales y a\u00c3\u00ban para los rivales tiene que ver con la secuencia de actividades que asume cada pitcher luego de realizar una apertura. Muchos hablan de que la relaci\u00c3\u00b3n con el catcher es determinante, otros que el manager influye […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":75,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[4714,4712,4720,4724,4722,145,4710,590,4721,4711,4716,4719,4713,4723,432,4717,4726,4715,4725,4718],"class_list":["post-3296","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general","tag-cachorros-de-chicago","tag-carlos-silva","tag-ciudad-universitaria","tag-determinante","tag-dos-veces","tag-dugout","tag-grandes-misterios","tag-johan-santana","tag-la-tribuna","tag-los-cachorros","tag-los-mellizos","tag-los-tiburones","tag-parque-de-la-ciudad","tag-pelotas","tag-pitchers","tag-rick-anderson","tag-sin-embargo","tag-tori-hunter","tag-whirlpool","tag-zurdo"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3296","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/75"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3296"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3296\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3296"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3296"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3296"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}