Q: When a Braves pitcher has an off day, what is his schedule? How long does he practice or pitch and then what?
—Martha Hunt, Hoschton
A: Starting pitchers have different routines on their off days, but the Atlanta Braves' Tim Hudson gave a rough outline to what he does between starts. "You throw at least once in the bullpen," he told Q&A on the News. "You have a day where you work out your lower body. You have a day when you work out your upper body. You have at least two days where you condition by running." He said he works out his upper body on the same days he throws his bullpen sessions. He runs "striders" in the outfield, but he said some pitchers also run on treadmills. All pitchers take batting practice and shag fly balls when their teammates are hitting before every game. Hudson also said pitchers spend time with the team's medical staff "getting whatever ails you treated, whatever aches and pains that you have." The pitchers meet with the coaching staff before the first game of every series and go over the opposing hitters and the scouting reports. "And the day you pitch, you'll get their lineup and see what they're lineup looks like and go over a game plan in your head," Hudson said. "You'll sit down with your catcher and go over how you want to go about getting those guys out."
Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We'll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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