Minor League Baseball Review and Preview - Jed Lowrie

Below is a review and preview for the 2009 season of Boston Red Sox shortstop and former minor league prospect Jed Lowrie. What he did last season and what to expect in 2009. Here is what I wrote last season:

"The Red Sox have struggled to find a productive shortstop since Nomar Garciaparra was traded, and it can be argued that they didn't basketball much production in Nomar's latter Boston years anyway.Lowrie could be the answer to Boston's problems at the position.The former supplemental first-round draft choice has settled at the position after flirting with second base, and it was an appropriate indefinite move with young Dustin Pedroia enshrined at second base.The 23-year-old hit .298 last season between Double-A and basketball also posting an outstanding walk rate, 13 homers and 47 doubles.While he was not unproductive before last season, 2007 was his breakout year as a minor leaguer.Julio Lugo starts the season at shortstop, but he could be moved in a trade if Lowrie makes a strong spring training and early-season Triple-A push.At worst, he will be a quality utilityman in the near future."

Julio Lugo's struggles and injuries allowed Lowrie to claim the shortstop job and run with it late in the year. Lowrie was able to hit a respectable .258-2-46 in 260 at-bats during his rookie season. The Red Sox are apparently keeping Julio Lugo around next season, which could hinder Lowrie's ability to remain in the majors if he gets out of the gate slowly. Still, the Red Sox have to be happy with what they got from Lowrie in his first season and what to expect from him in the future.

Visit fantasy baseball info for more fantasy baseball games and analysis, or go to free fantasy basketball to play fantasy basketball games.

Inherent Dangers in the Sport of Cheerleading

Levels of Safety

There are three levels of safety/injury in the sport of cheerleading in the two different cheerleading sports. Cheerleading ranks as the most dangerous womens sport in all safety areas. The first level of safety involves catastrophic injury in which involves permanent paralysis or death. The second level of safety involves injuries for which the athlete must receive hospital care. The third level of safety involves injuries which require missing or altering an athletes practice or competition schedule.

Height basketball Motion

There are logistical reasons why cheerleading is dangerous. Any activity involving height and motion involves the risk of injury. Cheerleading utilizes tumbling (motion) and basket tosses and pyramids (height and motion) and thus is inherently dangerous to some extent. Choosing to participate exposes cheerleaders to an increased risk of injury, including the risk of catastrophic injury.

Performance Areas

Cheerleaders, except in competitions, perform on surfaces designed for an entirely different sport. Basketball floors and football fields were not designed with cheerleaders in mind to even a minor degree. Even the layout of most basketball and football (and other sports) facilities are not planned with a specific cheerleading area designated, so cheerleaders are stuck performing around the edges of anther sports playing area.

Failure to Warn

One of the legal liabilities of any sport and certainly any sports injury lawsuit involves the failure to warn the participants in the activity of the dangers of their participation. There seems to be little doubt that cheerleaders, especially young cheerleaders, and their parents are not sufficiently aware of the dangers they are being exposed to basketball participation in the sport of cheerleading. While we are not in favor of the sometimes recommended scare tactic methods of warning athletes of dangers (dont create self-fulfilling prophecy psychology), there is no doubt that cheerleaders would be safer if they understood that safety practices are never to be bypassed.

Cheerleading Competitions

Cheerleading has split into two distinct sports, although some programs perform and compete in both. Cheerleading used to be an athletic activity designed to act as a support system for other sports. There was more interest in boosting school and team spirit than in increasing skill difficulty. Cheer competitions changed all that as difficulty was introduced as an important factor in judging cheer competitions.

Alphabet Soup

There has been a proliferation of cheerleading associations, matching the rise of the popularity of cheerleading competitions. Often, the primary motivation for the start-up, operation and management of cheerleading associations is financial. Coaching and safety considerations, other than at their own competitions, camps and clinics can often fall by the wayside when the primary association activities are financial.

For More Information
For even more of the type of in-depth information about cheerleading in this article and other interesting and informative products, see our Cheer Zone web site at: http://gymnasticszone.com/CheerZon.htm

15 Books and Counting
John Howard is the author of 15 books and e-Books about cheerleading, gymnastics, gym design, and gymnastics humor. More books are already on the way. He has 25 years experience and has coached State, Regional and National champion gymnasts, international competitors and cheerleaders at the National level in NCAA Division I.

Enter the Gymnastics Zone
GymnasticsZone.com is a highly informative gymnastics, strength and cheerleading information web site for gymnasts, cheerleaders, coaches and parents with numerous FREE articles and information, fun pages and activities all available for viewing at: http://GymnasticsZone.com

All About Plyometrics - How Plyometrics Can Improve Your Basketball Playing

You may be unsure as to what plyometrics are and what they can do for you, but that's okay. Plyometrics are merely a series of exercises designed to give explosive leg power. Doesn't that sound good for playing basketball? Explosive leg power. But you can get it and this what you do.

First plyometric exercise: Squat jumps. Stand basketball feet planted firmly and comfortably on the ground. Squat down until thighs are almost parallel to the ground. At this point, immediately jump up, driving your arms high above your head. Rest about 1 or 2 seconds then repeat. Remember to extend your ankles first before your feet leave the ground.

Second plyometric exercise: Knee tuck jumps. Get in the same position as above, except this time, from a standing position, bring your knees up as high as you can when you jump. When you repeat the exercise, pretend the ground is red hot: you want your feet to be on the ground for just a split second.

Third plyometric exercise: Bounding. Just like running except you want to really push off the ground with each step you take. Think of a superhero bounding across buildings, that's the sort of action you are doing.

These are all very simple plyometric drills, but are very effective when you do them on a regular basis. Work out with a friend: this is always very basketball to challenge each other to work harder. Do about 3 or 4 workouts a week, with good recovery time in between. Good luck!

Get the secret to developing your vertical project with plyometrics.

Increase Vertical Leap - Increase Your Vertical Jump

If you want to rule on the basketball court then this program is for you. You can easily increase your vertical basketball with this system. Increase your vertical leap at least 6 inches in 90 days with this program or you will be rewarded by the creator. The only way to help your vertical is to learn basketball someone who has increased theirs.

You vertical leap stems from your calf muscles. There are certain exercises you can do to strengthen these muscles. Here are some tips on increasing your vertical leap without any special packages. However, if you are really serious about your vertical jump, I would suggest checking out the vertical leap program by clicking the link below.

1. Jumping rope really works well. Be sure to jump from your toes as this will work your calf muscles.

2. Practice you vertical leap. If you want to perfect something all you need to do is practice.

3. Sprinting helps develop your calf muscles as well because when you sprint you dig into the ground with your toes and when you push off the ground it strengthens your calf muscles.

4. One last exercise you can do to that will increase vertical leap performance is to stand on the edge of a step with only your toes and push up and down. For even more toning hold onto some weights when doing this.

There you have some simple exercises to increase your vertical leap. This will work, but owning a proven system will give you the results you want in much less time. The difference between training yourself and following a program is that this program has been proven to work. Take your pick.

To increase your vertical leap visit: Increase Vertical Leap