Mangold is in his fourth consecutive season as the Yankees' Strength and Conditioning Coach after holding the position from 1984-88. He served in the same capacity for the New York Mets from 1993-96. Since 1989 he has been the President of Phase 4 Fitness, Inc. a personal training, sports training and corporate fitness consulting company. A 1977 graduate of St. Ambrose University (IA), he served as Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at the University of Nebraska from 1979 through 1981 and at the University of Florida from 1982-84.

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Moderator: Jeff Mangold should be joining us shortly.

Greg Chambers (Nashua, NH): With some of the Yankee players aging a bit, is there a different strength and conditioning program for the aging athletes?

Jeff Mangold: With the older guys, we set up some longer rest periods between workouts. I will give them the option. Recovery is very important. We play a 7 month season so it is very important. As they get older that recovery is important. So yes there is a difference.

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Tazewell: In your opinion, should a baseball player continue to lift weights (resistance training) during the season?

Jeff Mangold: I think it's a must. All the work they do during the offseason to build a strong muscle base, would be totally wasted if they did not continue it during the season. We don't look at it as in season training, we have time to get stronger during that 7 month period. We definitely want to maintain and increase our strength during the season. That can only be done with resistance training.

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Marty: What exercises can a pitcher do to strengthen his arm in the gym?

Jeff Mangold: Our starting pitchers, the day after they pitch, they perform a heavy leg day. On day 2 which is their bullpen day, they perform after they throw a upper body routine. Those two days alone will help arm strength. Arm strength is the ability to throw the ball. That is done by the total body, not just the arm. We really attack the legs, squats, lunges that work the quads and hamstring. And we do a lot of abdominal work to work the midsection.

Jeff Mangold: Day 3 would be a lighter leg day, at less intensity than Day 1. Day 4 is a light running day, that's the day before they pitch. Day 5 is pitching day.

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Evant Texas: How often do players run during a two series week?

Jeff Mangold: We have a few position players that will do post game interval sprints on the treadmill or on a stationary bike. We will simulate a 30-second sprint followed by a minute rest. So we try to simulate game conditions. Of the position players we have, during a weeks period, we have about 3 or 4 starters that will do that. Otherwise they just perform their strength program and workout.

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Jim (Bernardsville, NJ): Roger Clemens is a renown fitness maniac. What does his program consist of?

Jeff Mangold: Day 1 is a heavy leg day. He will perform 4 or 5 sets of squats and do some leg curls and extensions, LOTS of abdominal work. On field conditioning includes interval sprints and more abdominal stuff. That is not breaking it down much but he likes to keep thins under his cap if you know hat i mean.

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Hastings55: Who is the hardest working Yankee?

Jeff Mangold: I'd say Paul O'Neill and Knoblauch. They are the most consistent workout guys.

As for pitchers, Rogers, Pettite and Stanton. They are the hardest workers. No matter where we are they get their workouts in. Sometimes in the morning or at 11 at night. O'Neill and those guys workout at midnight sometimes.

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Alvin: Did you take much grief during the World Series last year about leaving the Mets to join the Yankees?

Jeff Mangold: I was let go by the Mets so I was happy to come back here. I had a gut feeling that somehow I would be back with the Yankees. I worked with them from '84-'88 and then went to the Mets.

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Drew (Raleigh, NC): How is college strength and conditioning different than training the pros? Is there more of a development phase younger players go through or does everyone need to learn the basics and work their way up?

Jeff Mangold: On the collegiate level there is a developmental stage. You can use a cookie cutter type of program. Guys are right out of high school and are looking for a certain routine. On the pro level there is lots of turnover in your personnel with new faces each year. Many of these guys have used other routines and they want to continue them or add to it. You have to be open minded and discuss their needs.

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DS(New York): The Yankees have been making several errors on the field. How much can the strength and conditioning coach help in reducing "mental" errors?

Jeff Mangold: I don't think the errors are because of fatigue. If there is any connection that would be it. Errors come in the first inning sometimes so it's about skill. It's a fast game.

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Rich Kol Tucson, AZ: Do you think Jorge Posada's tendinitis in his right shoulder will last thru the season?

Jeff Mangold: It probably will. I haven't heard him complain though. A lot has been said but we will have to wait and see.

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Grant(Poughkeepsie): What do you do if personal programs of players don't necessarily coincide with the programs you think are best for them?

Jeff Mangold: It's just a matter of educating them and building trust. I can't make them perform a specific routine. The program we have is not mandatory. Through the MLBPA you can't demand that they do it. It is up to them.

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Barry (NYC): Jeff...how important is a "warm-down" routine after workouts?

Jeff Mangold: When they are done lifting we like to put them on a treadmill for 5 or 10 minutes, if they will do it. It's mainly just a cool down effect and it does help.

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Frog (NY, NY): If Clemens is such a fitness maniac, how come he's so damned fat?

Jeff Mangold: The guy is 39 years old. He is in good condition. He has great endurance. He could be leaner but he is doing fine where he is. He's not trying to be a body builder. He's very thick.

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Josh(North Fond du Lac): what are some lifting exercises a hitter can do to add power and gain bat speed?

Jeff Mangold: We believe in multi-joint training. When they hit they should be ground bases so we train them the same way. We work on our feet, doing lunges, sumo squats, etc. Hamstring, lutes, hips, ads, medicine ball work, throwing and twisting. Various weights and various resistances for the midsection.

I appreciate everybody logging on and hopefully we can do this again. I have to get ready for the game tonight. Take care everybody.