Shohei Ohtani's Tommy John Twist...https://t.co/OD3DtTrwOS

..leads to a particularly bad form of Timing problem I call Flat Arm Syndrome.https://t.co/49NmJXKGYI

And I have some concern it could lead to Thoracic Outlet Syndrome or something similar.https://t.co/drkF4Uz3Ke pic.twitter.com/21RnENzdK3

Ohtani skipped start is probably nothing.

Pitching every seven days thing is probably working.

But I keep coming across concerning pictures of him.

See that twist in his wrist? How it's keeping his arm from getting UP by front foot plant?

That's bad.https://t.co/Cycd7zDhCF pic.twitter.com/Ik0hHYnsg8

At a minimum, when it comes to Ohtani as a pitcher, you HAVE to question his ability to stay healthy given his Inverted L and questionable Timing as a result.https://t.co/S6mfpiRmEG pic.twitter.com/fIjTF8lYFA

When Ohtani breaks, this will be why.

TJ-TWIST https://t.co/Cycd7zDhCF

FAS https://t.co/rH9ObB4qyx pic.twitter.com/EupRQKqeLJ

Remember Ohtani employs Driveline's beloved Inverted L, Spiral Staircase, elbow lifting arm action.

And has the Timing and elbow problems that accompany it.

Tick tock.https://t.co/S6mfpiRmEG https://t.co/rVeBIFcXDk

See that twist in Shohei Ohtani's wrist?

That he holds while his glove side starts to open?

That's bad.https://t.co/Cycd7zDhCF https://t.co/iG5UhHUntK

There's a reason why I call what Shohei Ohtani does the Tommy John Twist. https://t.co/Cycd7zDhCF pic.twitter.com/s7RU0tlJXb

Like most Japanese elbow lifters, I don't see Ohtani withstanding the rigors of a 5-day rotation.

At least he can also hit. https://t.co/tR0v6PLd5c

pic.twitter.com/8Yu7SEDNLu

Let's see how Ohtani's velocity holds up as the innings go by. https://t.co/Xn8rsK77rq

I'll take the other side of this bet.

Ohtani is already broken. https://t.co/78wx5ygAh5

pic.twitter.com/8Yu7SEDNLu

"Shohei Ohtani's velocity was better today and reached 97.1 mph"

So, obviously, velocity is a shitty indicator.

At least for certain types of injuries. https://t.co/Ord0irTb6B

This is when Shohei Ohtani's pitching arm comes under load.

Which is bad.https://t.co/49NmJXt5A8

First it gets the elbow, then it gets the shoulder. pic.twitter.com/aaiSWfbWpf

And sometimes it gets the elbow.

Again.

Or worse, and as with Matt Harvey, it leads someone with Ohtani’s mechanics to develop TOS. https://t.co/vRR92aIbcI

Frames rates are low and are likely off.

I don't see any significant difference in Ohtani.

First it gets the elbow, then it gets the shoulder. https://t.co/IbhWkCM7Qk pic.twitter.com/wmDJX6nIB5

Shohei Ohtani's Tommy John Twist...https://t.co/OD3DtTrwOS

..leads to a particularly bad form of Timing problem I call Flat Arm Syndrome.https://t.co/49NmJXKGYI

And I have some concern it could lead to Thoracic Outlet Syndrome or something similar.https://t.co/drkF4Uz3Ke pic.twitter.com/21RnENzdK3

Suckage is NOT randomly distributed.

Ohtani is hurt.

It's just a question of when the Angels -- and everyone -- will realize that. https://t.co/mh8vfKPx8a

So Shohei Ohtani's Timing is just TERRIBLE.https://t.co/dGPko8PnIK

I assume it's his shoulder.

If not his elbow, again. https://t.co/E2HJGnSAnn

This is when Shohei Ohtani's pitching arm starts to come under load.

Which is bad.https://t.co/49NmJXKGYI https://t.co/CQ4x88Kjfx pic.twitter.com/xs38sGXGvF

Not only is Shohei Ohtani exhibiting Flat Arm Syndrome...https://t.co/49NmJXKGYI

...but he's also exhibiting Early Torso Rotation.https://t.co/U557GsJBSC https://t.co/ITxI1q1ScU pic.twitter.com/Tyi5MhzrET

First it gets the elbow, then it gets the shoulder.

And the concern for Ohtani is that neither are healthy, now. https://t.co/LNF5cZPGjR

See how Ohtani’s pitching arm is FLAT and not UP when his shoulders start to turn?

That’s BAD.

Still. https://t.co/bmeKGIPOUt

This all assume Ohtani can stay healthy pitching.

Which he won't.

Can't.

At least, not for extended stretches.https://t.co/b1baoT9Eyw via @ringer

Ohtani’s Inverted L remains.

Nothings changed so nothings gonna change.

Probably shoulder next. https://t.co/bgi5lvjP7C

And Ohtani’s Tommy John Twist remains.https://t.co/Cycd7zDhCF pic.twitter.com/Ml5S6idted

An analysis of Ohtani by a Driveline cultist. https://t.co/Nzi6PwWuke

Nothing has changed for Ohtani mechanics-wise so I don't see anything changing for him health-wise.

The odds are he will have more elbow problems.

And ultimately need Tommy John surgery. https://t.co/YronTpvGpB

If the earlier reports that Shohei Ohtani needs Tommy John surgery turn out to be true -- and I believe they will -- this report could be the root cause of that skepticism.

A ligament with a 1st degree tear and a separate 2nd degree tear is seriously compromised.

In other words, in a (much) shorter period of time Ohtani developed a much worse tear.

In what way/world is that better?

Report: Ohtani's UCL issue unrelated to previous elbow tearhttps://t.co/ga7hlIBuoC via @theScore

If true -- which it's probably not -- this is actually really bad news for Ohtani.

He didn't just worsen his original tear.

He developed an even worse one in a shorter time.

Heyman | Sources say Ohtani UCL tear is a new onehttps://t.co/LlDPadV37v

Nope.

Not how it works.

Most likely CYA move by Angels.

What got Ohtani before got him again.https://t.co/Cycd7zDhCF

Remember MDs are NOT (really) into prevention.

That's PH and PH is for gurlz. pic.twitter.com/oMCrszZEqW

Ohtani in Japan.

Is his splitter (shown) the problem?

Maybe.

But I'd argue the more likely culprit is how his front foot is down and his glove side is pulling but his pitching arm is just a tick above FLAT and not UP.

Same pattern holds in MLB.https://t.co/zxLh9YLwMN pic.twitter.com/SPvYaBXB9L

Occam's razor.

What got Ohtani's elbow the first time got Ohtani's elbow the second time.

Either the Angels are lying to make themselves look better or they simply don't understand how pitching injuries happen.

Which is all too possible.https://t.co/Cycd7zDhCF pic.twitter.com/bucVoFWS3v

Please make sure you discuss the Tommy John Twist and the role it played in Ohtani's injury!

Let's stop the epidemic in its tracks!https://t.co/Cycd7zDhCF pic.twitter.com/QaN1Allw67

In all likelihood, what got Ohtani's elbow was the same thing that got Tommy John's.

I call it the Tommy John Twist.

And it's a problem because it keeps a pitcher's arm from getting UP on time, creating a Timing problem.

And Tommy John teaches it.https://t.co/Cycd7zDhCF pic.twitter.com/VWQKsDdW8i

Yes, it's the problem BASEBALL just can't solve, but @JeffPassan pooh-poohed my explanation of the problem...https://t.co/4J4ATpDnrk

...starting with the flaw that got Ohtani...https://t.co/6gerSg7uZj https://t.co/ewCvtUuhzB

There's a reason why I call what Shohei Ohtani does the Tommy John Twist.https://t.co/Cycd7zDhCF pic.twitter.com/nU66Es0eu7

The point is Ohtani's in a pronated position which, per Davis (2009) is designed to inhibit External Rotation.

Which it does and is doing.https://t.co/6gerSg7uZj

Alex Reyes is an example of even more Pronation and less ER as a result.https://t.co/cRExBUSVCS https://t.co/3P4CkDl7eU

If it's any consolation for Angels fans, Shohei Ohtani's Tommy John Twist and Timing problem were also a problem in Japan.

Thus the problem with his ligament that came up when he came over.https://t.co/zxLh9YLwMN pic.twitter.com/LaL0ef1xzY

Great pic that shows how Shohei Ohtani's Tommy John Twist...https://t.co/Cycd7zDhCF

...inhibits the External Rotation of his pitching arm and leads to a Timing problem.

By design.https://t.co/6gerSg7uZj

An idea @JeffPassan pooh-poohs in The Arm. pic.twitter.com/Lcq54pexGE

Shohei Ohtani employs the Tommy John Twist.

The question is whether he's going to throw enough, often enough, for it to be an issue.

But it's most likely to flare up if the Angels try to use him every 5 days.https://t.co/Cycd7zDhCF pic.twitter.com/a8nF8I2E6b

Ohtani skipped start is probably nothing.

Pitching every seven days thing is probably working.

But I keep coming across concerning pictures of him.

See that twist in his wrist? How it's keeping his arm from getting UP by front foot plant?

That's bad.https://t.co/Cycd7zDhCF pic.twitter.com/Ik0hHYnsg8

When Ohtani breaks, this will be why.

TJ-TWIST https://t.co/Cycd7zDhCF

FAS https://t.co/rH9ObB4qyx pic.twitter.com/EupRQKqeLJ

Not great.

You can see how Ohtani’s Tommy John Twist keeps his arm from getting all the way up on time. https://t.co/H96C7js0mD

If (when?) Ohtani hurts his elbow, it will NOT be due to his use of the Splitter. https://t.co/mpVu2cTjeI

Good view of Shohei Ohtani employing the Tommy John Twist.https://t.co/Cycd7zDhCF https://t.co/KsZ0xvwmvn

At a minimum, when it comes to Ohtani as a pitcher, you HAVE to question his ability to stay healthy given his Inverted L and questionable Timing as a result.https://t.co/S6mfpiRmEG pic.twitter.com/fIjTF8lYFA

I'd like to believe in the Ohtani hype, but this is why I can't.

It's called the Inverted L.https://t.co/S6mfpiRmEG https://t.co/bWqdOtXFHR

I'd feel better about Ohtani's longevity if he was closer to the mid-90s.

Ohtani employs a shortcut/trick to get to 100. https://t.co/n9T4NUpg2B

REALLY worried about Ohtani's elbow.

Can you still hit while you're rehabbing from Tommy John surgery.

I guess, after a while, since he bats lefty. https://t.co/eGkpCCMdlP

Again, the concern is Ohtani's elbow.

First it gets the elbow, then it gets the shoulder. https://t.co/IX4uu48U4M

Remember Ohtani employs Driveline's beloved Inverted L, Spiral Staircase, elbow lifting arm action.

And has the Timing and elbow problems that accompany it.

Tick tock.https://t.co/S6mfpiRmEG https://t.co/rVeBIFcXDk

See that twist in Shohei Ohtani's wrist?

That he holds while his glove side starts to open?

That's bad.https://t.co/Cycd7zDhCF https://t.co/iG5UhHUntK

Why isn't Ohtani's elbow problem nothing?

Because he displayed yesterday the Timing problem that is the concern when it comes to pitchers and injuries.https://t.co/zxLh9YLwMN

Specifically, this...https://t.co/S6mfpiRmEG pic.twitter.com/dBW8r01oBb

I've seen some ST clips of Ohtani that gave me some hope, but this one is concerning.https://t.co/zxLh9YLwMN

Only things that could save him...

1. 6-man rotation.
2. He doesn't throw that many hard fastballs.

But I'm not very optimistic. pic.twitter.com/xuCzz3qJm0

Someone (politely) took issue with my assessment of Ohtani and then referenced ASMI.

Two comments.

1. Ohtani's pitching arm is not UP and at 90 degrees of External Rotation. Given his rearward lean, I'd put his ER at 45 degrees. pic.twitter.com/4ARcyyYYeJ

See that twist in Shohei Ohtani's wrist?

How it's keeping his pitching from getting all the way UP on time?

That's bad.https://t.co/Cycd7zDhCF pic.twitter.com/ACl0CUp17c

Kiss of death for Ohtani's elbow. https://t.co/z70Bd21Fv7

There's a reason why I call what Shohei Ohtani does the Tommy John Twist. https://t.co/Cycd7zDhCF pic.twitter.com/s7RU0tlJXb

I've been studying Verlander for years.

Shohei Ohtani is no Justin Verlander, and never was. https://t.co/6qOa548esS

What got Ohtani's elbow?

As I pointed out on December 7th...

1. Flat Arm Syndrome https://t.co/rH9ObB4qyx

...caused by...

2. Inverted L https://t.co/S6mfpiRmEG

P.S. Driveline teaches the Inverted L. They call it the Elbow Spiral or Spiral Staircase. pic.twitter.com/Zf1gTVVPk6

Here's what concerns me about Ohtani. Yes, there's a dropped frame. But this looks like FAS. https://t.co/rH9ObB4qyx

At a minimum, a Timing problem. https://t.co/zxLh9YLwMN pic.twitter.com/eaYgn66Lj5

See how Ohtani's (front) foot is down and his (pitching) arm is FLAT and not UP?

That's bad. https://t.co/rH9ObB4qyx https://t.co/lieiYQCQ2F

Here's a summary of my concern about Ohtani, and why I think he will have trouble staying healthy in MLB.

Yes, his arm is UP in the second pic, but look how it starts out FLAT.

And how far it travels under excess load.

That's bad. https://t.co/rH9ObB4qyx pic.twitter.com/9eSWzk6gaV

Like most Japanese elbow lifters, I don't see Ohtani withstanding the rigors of a 5-day rotation.

At least he can also hit. https://t.co/tR0v6PLd5c

Ohtani's yet another Japanese elbow lifter who will have a hard time holding up as a starter pitching every 5 days.

P.S. His Timing isn't terrible in this clip -- Volquez-esque -- but I've seen scarier clips recently. https://t.co/xFbErIHXDS

At a glance, I can only hope the Cubs (or the Red Sox for old time's sake) sign Shohei Ohtani. http://t.co/c3Wxb2vfXI pic.twitter.com/tH4FkZ8lrF