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The Pitching Mechanic
October 2007

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

The Pitching Mechanic - November 2007

 

10/19/2007

Pitching Myth Busters: Tommy John Surgery

There is this idea going around that Tommy John surgery is a good thing, and not a bad thing, because it allows a pitcher to throw harder than they could before the surgery. Some people even believe that young kids should get the surgery even if if they don't need it.
     As I explain in my new essay The Truth About Tommy John Surgery, this is simply wrong.
     If you don't believe me, then you should believe Dr. Frank Jobe, the doctor who invented the procedure.

 

10/18/2007

Quick Look: Ubaldo Jimenez

One of my readers from Rotoworld.com asked me to take a quick look at the mechanics of Ubaldo Jimenez. In general, I like what I see.

Ubaldo Jimenez

Ubaldo Jimenez

The photo above is a good example of striding sideways. Notice how Ubaldo Jimenez is leading his stride with his Glove Side (aka GS) butt cheek and his GS heel. This will help to keep his hips closed until just before his GS foot plants.

Ubaldo Jimenez

Ubaldo Jimenez

The photo above of Ubaldo Jimenez is a good example of hip/shoulder separation. Notice how his hips are rotating ahead of his shoulders.

Ubaldo Jimenez

Ubaldo Jimenez

In the photo above of Ubaldo Jimenez, notice how his hips have continued to open up while his shoulders have stayed closed.

Ubaldo Jimenez

Ubaldo Jimenez

This photo of Ubaldo Jimenez is pretty much perfect.
     First, notice how his hips are rotating well before his shoulders. Second, notice how his Pitching Arm Side (aka PAS) elbow is just below the level of his shoulders. Third, notice how he is showing the ball to 3B, not to CF or 2B as some people teach.
     The only thing I don't like about this photo is how his elbow is bent 90 degrees. I have a theory that this may increase the load on the UCL. If I'm right, Ubaldo Jimenez should be free of shoulder problems but may have elbow problems. Of course, the other variable with respect to elbow problems is whether he pronates or supinates his pitches.

Ubaldo Jimenez

Ubaldo Jimenez

The photo above of Ubaldo Jimenez shows the same things. Notice the huge hip/shoulder separation; how his belt buckle is pointing at the target while his shoulders are still closed. Also, notice how his PAS elbow is well below the level of his shoulders. 

Ubaldo Jimenez

Ubaldo Jimenez

The photo above of Ubaldo Jimenez shows the same things as the photos above. Again, notice the large hip/shoulder separation and the location of the PAS elbow below the level of the shoulders. Additionally, notice how his GS toe is pointing pretty much directly at the target.

 

10/14/2007

Quick Look: Manuel "Manny" Corpas

A reader from Rotoworld.com asked for my opinion of Manuel "Manny" Corpas of the Rockies. While what I see makes me nervous, at least Manny Corpas is a closer, which -- ala Billy Wagner -- should tend to prolong his career despite the obvious problems with his mechanics.

Manuel "Manny" Corpas

Manuel "Manny" Corpas

As Manny Corpas strides towards the plate, he leans forward toward 3B and his Pitching Arm Side (aka PAS) elbow gets quite high, but still below the level of his shoulders. However, Corpas' mechanics aren't necessarily bad at this point.

Manuel "Manny" Corpas

Manuel "Manny" Corpas

Manuel "Manny" Corpas

Manuel "Manny" Corpas

However, the photos above of Manny Corpas shows that as his torso comes erect, his PAS elbow stays quite high in a pretty classic Inverted W position.

Manuel "Manny" Corpas

Manuel "Manny" Corpas

Manuel "Manny" Corpas

Manuel "Manny" Corpas

As the two photos above show, rather than dropping, Manny Corpas' PAS elbows stays quite high, in a position of Hyperabduction, as he starts to externally rotate his PAS upper arm

Manuel "Manny" Corpas

Manuel "Manny" Corpas

In the photo above, Manny Corpas' PAS elbow is still very high as his PAS upper arm continues to externally rotate.
    What all of this says to me is that Manny Corpas' mechanics are putting a tremendous amount of strain on both his shoulder and his elbow. The only thing that is likely to save him is that he is a closer.

 

10/10/2007

Quick Look: Jeff Francis

Given the Rockies' recent run through the playoffs, I have had a chance to see a lot of Jeff Francis. He keeps his Pitching Arm Side (aka PAS) elbow quite low, which is generally good. However, I've been wrestling with is whether his arm action is more Mark Mulder or more Greg Maddux.
     After analyzing Jeff Francis' pitching mechanics, I think he is more Greg Maddux than Mark Mulder, which is good for both him and the Rockies.

Jeff Francis

Jeff Francis

Jeff Francis

Jeff Francis

Jeff Francis

Jeff Francis

Like Greg Maddux, after breaking his hands, Jeff Francis "plunges" his PAS hand to behind his Glove Side (aka GS) butt cheek. This will help him hide the ball from the batter and improve his deception.

Jeff Francis

Jeff Francis

Like Greg Maddux, after coming out of the "plunged" position, Jeff Francis leads with his PAS hand, rather than his PAS elbow. As a result, Jeff Francis' PAS elbow stays relatively low during his arm swing, and always well below the level of his shoulders.

Jeff Francis

Jeff Francis

Jeff Francis

Jeff Francis

There are a couple of things notice in the two photos above of Jeff Francis. First, notice how his PAS elbow stays well below the level of his shoulders in the "W" position (ala Greg Maddux). Second, notice how Jeff Francis' timing is better than Mark Mulder's. Where Mark Mulder's shoulders would have started to turn at this point, Jeff Francis' are staying closed as his shoulders as his hips open up underneath them.

Jeff Francis

Jeff Francis

Jeff Francis

Jeff Francis

In the two photos above of Jeff Francis, which represent the moments just before, and just after, his PAS forearm has passed through the vertical high-cocked position, notice that while Jeff Francis' PAS elbow is higher, it is still below the level of his shoulders. Also, notice how Jeff Francis' hips are rotating well ahead of his shoulders, which will enable them to powerfully pull his shoulders around.
     All in all, I really like what I see in the arm action and timing of Jeff Francis. Assuming he does a good job of conditioning, I think he has a better than average chance of having a long, injury-free career.

 

10/10/2007

Another View Of Jeff Francis

I just came across another photo of Jeff Francis that reinforces my positive view of him.

Jeff Francis

Jeff Francis

Jeff Francis is doing a number of good things in the photo above. First, his hips are rotating well ahead of his shoulders, which means that he throws the ball with his entire body and thus is very efficient. Second, notice that his Pitching Arm Side (aka PAS) elbow is just below the level of his shoulders in "W" position. Third, notice that he is showing the ball to First Base (since he's a lefty), not to Center Field or Second Base. Finally, Jeff Francis's timing seems to be quite good. His shoulders don't rotate very much until his PAS forearm is in the vertical, high-cocked position.

 

The Pitching Mechanic - September 2007

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