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No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

Babe Ruth, American Herois a one-person play that chronicles the life of sport's greatest legend and first superstar. The manuscript and performance represent over a year of research, writing and rehearsing. The process to produce a first draft of a manuscript began by researching biographies, autobiographies, documentaries, and the websites including Babe Ruth, the Babe Ruth Museum, and the Baseball Hall of Fame. A production staff was assembled and on April 27, 2002, at the Veterans Memorial Theatre, in Johnson City, TN, a staged reading of the play was performed before an audience. The manuscript underwent a series of rewrites, and the play premiered on October 18 and 19, 2002, at the Bud Frank Theatre, East Tennessee State University Campus. The article that follows contains the first and final drafts of the play, as well as supplemental, promotional, and program information.

The objectives of this study were to 1) calculate participant-specific segment inertial parameters using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) data (referred to as full DXA-driven parameters) and compare the pitching arm kinetic predictions using full DXA-driven inverse dynamics vs scaled, DXA mass-driven (using DXA masses but scaled centers of mass and radii of gyration), and DXA scaled inverse dynamics(ID) (using the full DXA-driven inertial parameters averaged across all participants), 2) examine associations between full DXA-driven kinetics and body mass index (BMI) and 3) examine associations between full DXA-driven kinetics and segment mass index (SMI). Eighteen 10- to 11- year-olds pitched 10 fastballs. DXA scans were conducted and examined to obtain 3D inertial parameters of the upper arm, forearm, and hand. Full DXA-driven and scaled inertial parameters were compared using paired t-tests. Pitching arm kinetic predictions calculated with the four methods (i.e. scaled ID, DXA mass-driven ID, full DXA-driven ID, and DXA scaled ID) were compared using a repeated measures ANOVA with Tukey post-hoc tests. The major results were that 1) full DXA-driven participant specific inertial parameters differed from scaled inertial parameters 2) kinetic predictions significantly varied by method and 3) full DXA-driven ID predictions for shoulder compression force and shoulder internal rotation torque were significantly associated with BMI and/or SMI.

Despite the known importance of body composition in relation to performance and health of athletes, this study appears to be the first, or one of very few, to evaluate body composition measures from the beginning to end of season for NCAA DI collegiate baseball players and assess their dietary intake. Baseball players from the 2015-2019 seasons were included in the study (n=78; age=19.8±1.28). DXA scans performed at the start and end of season were analyzed and 3-day food records analyzed via ESHA software were utilized to assess dietary intake. Groups were stratified to examine differences in players’ positions (Pitchers vs. Position Players) and first-year status effects (Freshman/Transfer vs. Sophomore/Junior/Seniors). Based on the study’s findings, body mass and lean body mass significantly decreased from the beginning to end of season for the overall team (p= 0.002; 0.026). Position Players exhibited a significant decline in body mass, region percent fat, and fat mass (p=0.00, 0.014, and 0.021, respectively) while Pitchers did not demonstrate any significant changes. First-year players experienced an increase in visceral adipose tissue volume and visceral adipose tissue mass (p= 0.004, 0.004) and Sophomore/Junior/Seniors group experienced a significant decrease in body mass, region % fat, and fat mass from the beginning to end of season (p=0.00, 0.017, and 0.023, respectively). The team on average consumed 6% less than the recommended value for protein, 36% less than recommendation for carbohydrate and 10% above the recommended intake amount was determined for fat. Overall, the team consumed 18% less than their estimated total calorie recommended goal. We believe the study presents interesting findings that may be helpful for collegiate baseball programs, and potentially athletes in similar sports, to improve the performance, development and health of young student athletes.

Major League Baseball (MLB) organizations spend millions of dollars each year on athletes with the end goal of winning a World Series title. However when an organization signs a player to a long term contract are they actually receiving the production that they paid for? Under the MLB's current form of player compensation players may not be properly motivated or at least not motivated to perform at their highest level. The intent of this thesis was to apply expectancy theory in assessing Major League Baseball's current form of player compensation. It evaluates how well players are currently motivated to perform on the field, and if any improvements can be made. This is done through the statistical analysis of MLB organizations yearly salary data, yearly win-loss record, and the performance of 65 players two years prior to, one year prior to, and during their first contract term directly following or extending past arbitration eligibility. Evidence shows that player motivation, especially for position players, can be increased and several suggestions are made as to how this can be improved and how MLB organizations can increase the odds of player production matching compensation.

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No description available.