Comments on: Mechanical Analysis: Matt Garza

By: kileymcd

kileymcd — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 03:20:57 +0000

RBishop,
I didn’t say Clemens swims the glove, I said the elbow leads (not necessarily accelerating the arm).

As for my preference, I said a pitcher can either extend the lower arm (swim-move, Clemens doesn’t do this as you say) or keep the lower arm in and just lead the elbow (not throw it out violently), and the non-violent leading of the elbow is what Clemens employs.

Sorry for the confusion, and thanks for reading.

By: RBishop

RBishop — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:29:16 +0000

“I like Roger Clemens as an example of my preference, and PED allegations aside, he stayed healthy doing that so I’ll stick with what he does. Basically, the ideal motion (in my opinion) is to extend your glove arm (just the elbow is fine, you can also stick out the lower arm for a “swim move”) and help the throwing arm accelerate by pulling the lead elbow laterally”

This is a really poor comment. The naked eye sees Clemens pull his glove back but I would encourage you to get a still frame of Clemens at release. He most certainly DOES NOT swim the glove. Like Maddux, like Glavine, like Unit, the glove is out in front of the body at release and DOES NOT help the throwing arm accelerate.

Clemens pulls his glove back WELL beyond release.

By: kileymcd

kileymcd — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 05:15:24 +0000

There are some mechanical analysts who religiously follow this principle. If you let me choose to have his elbow above or below his shoulder all else equal, I’d take below, it does appear to be less of a risk.

At the moment, and I’m open to other opinions, I feel that having the elbow below the shoulder throughout the whole motion is very uncommon (I’ve only seen a handful that do it), and while it may not be a weird feeling, I hate messing with arm actions, so I think the opinion that it’s good or bad is kind of moot—an arm goes where an arm goes and unless the pitcher is 12 or younger, I’m not messing with that concrete of a fact about an arm action.

So, if someone can tell me otherwise, let’s say 10% or 20% of pitchers can successfully keep the elbow below the shoulder. Should we then teach the rest to do that and think it will help on the whole?

By: Frank

Frank — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 18:09:45 +0000

Very good read and very informative. Thanks!
Question regarding his pitching mechanics: what do you think about Garza pitching elbow above his shoulder in his pitching motion. I have read that this might be an indicator of future elbow or shoulder problems especially with the amount of torque he creates with his lower body. I’ll hang up and listen.

By: Mechanical Analysis: Aaron Crow « saber-scouting

Mechanical Analysis: Aaron Crow « saber-scouting — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 19:53:13 +0000

[...] the plate. Not bad, not great, but, again, this isn’t an all-telling stat. In the vein of the Matt Garza breakdown, since Crow and Garza are both power pitchers, let’s take a look at the side view and see if [...]

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 20:14:45 +0000

Tom

On guard, you rascal!

By: kileymcd

kileymcd — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 19:51:12 +0000

having a bit of a copyright issue with MLB, working to resolve it and find a solution.

By: Nick

Nick — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 19:37:18 +0000

Awesome read…..Good stuff.

Why are youtube vids dead?

By: raysfans

raysfans — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 04:30:57 +0000

awesome, and go rays!

By: kileymcd

kileymcd — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 23:01:23 +0000

Thanks for the thoughts and links to us, guys, we really appreciate it. Went ahead and tossed Future Redbirds in the blogroll. We didn’t anticipate this much interest and it’s motivated us to pump out some content faster than we anticipated to meet demand, so there should be another mechanical breakdown up this week on a top college arm. I picked a bad weekend to be at NCAA tourney games (Tampa venue has been upset central) and be out with friends. I swear I won’t have a life soon for the readers’ sakes.