Professional Pitcher Analyses

8/18/2008

This page contains links to analyses of the pitching mechanics of a number of major league and other professional baseball pitchers. I have put these analyses together in an effort to understand why some pitchers experience arm problems while others don't.
     If you are unfamiliar with what a pitcher's arm does as they throw a ball, you might want to look at How Justin Verlander (Actually) Throws The Ball since it explains exactly what a pitcher's arm (actually) does as they throw a ball. Also, you should know that I have written a couple of pieces on proper pitching mechanics and how I teach pitching mechanics, if that is your primary area of interest.
     Now, on to the analyses.

Slow Motion Analyses

These are analyses in which I go through a video clip of the pitcher that I have slowed down so that what is going on is more obvious. I also illustrate my points by pulling out individual frames from these clips.

The Greats

Relatively injury-free pitchers who had long, successful careers, I believe due to a large degree to their superior pitching mechanics.

  - Roger Clemens
  - Bob Gibson
  - Greg Maddux
    - High School (3B)
    - 1997 (CF)
    - 2008 (CF 4-Seam FB 60FPS)
  - Nolan Ryan

The Cream Of The Current Crop

Pitchers who I think have superior pitching mechanics and who I believe should have fewer injuries than average as a result.

  - Lance Lynn
  - Justin Verlander

On The Bubble

Pitchers who generally have good mechanics but who make me nervous for one reason or another.

  - Tim Lincecum
  - Johan Santana
  - Jess Todd

Pitchers With Problematic Mechanics

Pitchers with problematic pitching mechanics and who I think represent significant injury risks as a result.

  - Anthony Reyes
  - Aaron Crow
  - Jaime Garcia
  - Rich Harden
  - Jake Peavy
  - Barry Zito
  - Joel Zumaya

Mixed Bags

Pitchers who had significant success but whose careers were cut short due to problematic pitching mechanics.

  - John Smoltz

Trainwrecks

Pitchers who have poor pitching mechanics and multiple injury problems as a result.

  - Chris Carpenter
  - Mark Prior
  - BJ Ryan
  - Scott Williamson
  - Kerry Wood

Frame By Frame Analyses

These are analyses in which I go frame by frame through a clip of a pitcher and comment on what is happening in each individual frame. These were created using PowerPoint and then converted to PDF documents, so they can be a bit large. However, they are extremely detailed.

The Greats

Relatively injury-free pitchers with had long, successful careers, I believe due to their superior pitching mechanics.

• Roger Clemens
• Greg Maddux
• Juan Marichal
• Mariano Rivera
• Nolan Ryan (C View)
• Nolan Ryan (1B View)
• Curt Schilling

The Enigmas

Pitchers who I think had superior pitching mechanics but who also, for some reason, had serious injury problems.

• Dizzy Dean
• Sandy Koufax

The Cream Of The Current Crop

Young pitchers who I think have superior pitching mechanics and who I believe should have long careers as a result.

• Dan Haren 
• Daisuke Matsuzaka

Pitcher With Problematic Motions

Pitchers whose poor pitching mechanics put them at an increased risk of experiencing arm problems.

• Anthony Reyes
• Jeremy Bonderman

Pitchers With Serious Shoulder Problems

Pitchers who retired due to major shoulder problems.

• Jim Palmer

Pitchers With Shoulder & Elbow Problems

Pitchers who had problems with both their shoulders and their elbows.

• Mark Prior (USC)
• Mark Prior (Cubs)
• Chris Carpenter

Comparative Analyses

Comparisons of injury-free and injury plagued pitchers.

• Mark Prior vs. Greg Maddux and Nolan Ryan

If you are interested in these documents, you might also be interested in the photographic pitching mechanics analyses I have put together when I first started doing this. You might also be interested in the still photos I have collected of a number of pitchers as well as the pages I have put together that give examples of what to do and what not to do.