The Pitching Mechanic
December 2006

Real-Time Illustrations and Analyses of
Proper and Improper Pitching Mechanics

The Pitching Mechanic - January 2007

12/20/2006

Long-Term Deals For Bonderman and Carpenter

In the past couple of weeks both Chris Carpenter and Jeremy Bonderman have been given multi-year deals. If I'm right, then those will turn out to be bad deals because I think they both have problems with their mechanics.
     In the case of Bonderman, he takes his elbows both above and behind his shoulders. In the case of Carpenter, he starts to rotate his shoulders before his PAS forearm is vertical and in the High Cocked position.
     However, I am more hopeful about Carpenter because I have heard that he has become a freak about conditioning, which should improve his chances of surviving his mechanics.

12/18/2006

Swing Analysis: Albert Pujols

I know this is supposed to be a pitching blog, but I know that some of you are also interested in hitting, so I thought I'd let you know that I have just completed a frame by frame analysis of Albert Pujols' Swing (.pdf). In this document I break down Pujols' swing (from a Rotational Hitting perspective) and identify some of the things that I think have helped him be so successful.

12/14/2006

Frame By Frame Analysis: Jim Palmer

I have just finished an analysis of Jim Palmer's pitching motion and mechanics using a number of frames from the clip below. As a result, I think I understand the root cause of his shoulder problems.

I have created both PDF and PowerPoint versions of this document. Once the document loads, use the page up and page down buttons to go frame by frame through the clip.

12/13/2006

Eric Gagne's Change-Up Grip

Eric Gagne has been in a news in the past week, with his trade to the Rangers, and as a result I have come across a number of photos of his change-up grip. Some people call it a Vulcan Change, as if it's a completely different grip, but the photos show that Gagne's grip is just a variant of the Circle Change-Up. Also, since Gagne's change-up is described as having screwball-type movement, I believe it is thrown by pronating the forearm through the release point. Some people refer to that as "throwing the circle".

I believe that Jamie Moyer and Tom Glavine also throw similar variants of the Circle Change-up.

12/12/2006

Frame By Frame Analysis: Dizzy Dean

I have just finished an analysis of Dizzy Dean's pitching motion and mechanics using a number of frames from the clip below.

I have created both PDF and PowerPoint versions of this document. Once the document loads, use the page up and page down buttons to go frame by frame through the clip.

12/8/2006

Tom Seaver's Circle Change-Up

Up until a few days ago, I was under the impression that the Circle Change-Up was a relatively recent invention. Then I came across the photo below of Tom Seaver throwing what sure looks like a Circle Change-Up.

12/8/2006

Frame By Frame Analysis: Curt Schilling

I have just finished an analysis of Curt Schilling's pitching motion and mechanics using a number of frames from the clip below.

I have created both PDF and PowerPoint versions of this document. Once the document loads, use the page up and page down buttons to go frame by frame through the clip.

12/7/2006

Anthony Reyes: A Mechanical Trainwreck

I just completed this brief essay that explains exactly what my problem is with Anthony Reyes' (and by extension Mark Prior's) mechanics.

12/5/2006

Frame By Frame Analysis: Jeff Weaver

I have just finished an analysis of Jeff Weaver's pitching motion and mechanics using a number of frames from the clip below (which is super slow motion).

I have created both PDF and PowerPoint versions of this document. Once the document loads, use the page up and page down buttons to go frame by frame through the clip.

12/4/2006

Frame By Frame Analysis: Jeremy Bonderman

I have just finished an analysis of Jeremy Bonderman's pitching motion and mechanics using a number of frames from the clip below.

I have created both PDF and PowerPoint versions of this document. Once the document loads, use the page up and page down buttons to go frame by frame through the clip.
    I'd be interested in what you think.

The Pitching Mechanic - November 2006