Thanksgiving WishList 2010.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you out there in LIM Land. Having finished up what feels like ten days worth of food, I thought it was due time to fire up the 'ole blog and shed some light on some things that we as baseball players and, specifically, pitchers can be thankful for. Similar to last year's edition with updates and improvements as we head into the think of the off-season.

In no particular order, here is our Thanksgiving Top Ten.

10. Ground Ball Double Plays
With men on first and third and 1 out, there is nothing better than throwing a good harder sinker and getting out of the inning with a nice 6-4-3.

09. Catcher's Who Can Block Balls and Call Games
Mike Metheny (SF Giants) comes to mind. There is nothing better than having the confidence that your catcher has studied the hitters as much as you have and will block every single slider you throw in the dirt.

08. Pitcher's Toe
No this isn't some odd disease only pitchers can get. Instead, the perfectly dipped plastic mold on the back foot prevents the violent movements of a delivery from tearing your new Nike's apart at the seams.

07. Long Toss
Sometimes, there is nothing better than getting outside and jushttp://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7889015573646278483t airing it out. Designed to teach the body and the arm how to throw harder and longer, it is essential to every pitchers 'in-season' and 'off-season' throwing program.

06. Single Leg Romanian Dead Lifts with Single Leg Squat
This complex full body exercise is one of the single best moves a pitcher can execute to increase balance and body control. Performed by balancing on one leg and, with the opposite arm, bending at the waste and touching the foot on the ground with that arm. At the same time, lift the other leg up to parallel. Then, return to upright and lift the free leg into a leg lift position and perform a single leg squat.

05. Roy Halladay
A pitcher who pitches the way it was meant to be. Throwing strikes, getting ahead, and getting out. He's thrown more complete games than any other pitcher is recent history. Expects to go the distance every time and doesn't rely on anyone but his defense to get the job done.

04. Free Swinging Hitters.
Only Vlad and Pablo Sandovol have been successful at swing at everything. The majority of these types of "hackers" are great at getting themselves out with pitches not in the zone. Think about Sammy Sosa early in his career or Mark Reynolds and Carlos Pena now. Sure they may hit one out of a hundred 900 feet, but the rest of the time, they usually end up back in the dugout.

03. The Change-Up
Easily the most difficult pitch to hit. Ask any pro-hitter, especially the aforementioned free swingers. Anything that looks like a fastball until it reaches the hitting zone, but isn't, tends to be the toughest pitch for a hitter to hit.

02. Phiten Necklace/Sinker Sleeves/Lucky Shirt
In other words, superstition. Pitcher's are notorious for relying on other worldly rituals to give them the edge (in addition to all other necessary work) on the mound. Whether its keeping a nickle their grandpa gave em in their back pocket during the game or always putting the left spike on first, if you believe it works....then it does.

01. Pine Tar
Like my old high school used to say..."if you ain't cheatin, you ain't tryin." Used by big leaguers across the land (literally....tons of them). This little piece of sticky heaven placed under the cap, on the laces of the glove, on the belt buckle, behind the back of the hat keeps your fingers tacky and the feel of the ball secure in any and all conditions.

So there are just a few things to think about all this Thanksgiving Holiday. Feel free to post your comments and suggestions.

Until Next Time

Wilson Vs. Cain - The Real World Series Match Up

Unfortunately, the match up between Cliff Lee and Tim Lincecum did not turn out to be the pitcher's duel that everyone had hoped. San Fran claimed the victory with a whopping score of 11-7. Game 2 is proving to be the type of game everyone was expecting It is the middle of the 7th now and the score is San Fran 1 - Texas 0.

I've been studying CJ Wilson pitch much of this season and I am increasingly impressed with his ability to locate all of his pitches in any count. Although he has been removed from the game with a blister on his pitching finger, he has proved his salt while battling the San Fran lineup. His only mistake being a fastball up in the zone, but not up enough, to Edgar Renteria.

I say many similarities between Wilson and Andy Petitte. Both lefties utilize a low 90s fastball and a good breaking ball that they use as a back door and front door breaking ball. By being able to locate his slider both inside and outside to right handed hitters, he prevents hitters from being able to sit on one pitcher or one location.

Similarly, Matt Cain has been able to remain scoreless through the entire playoff race by utilizing a devastating sinker/slider/change up combination that baffles hitters. I really enjoy how compact his hand break and arm swing is as he delivers the ball to the same release point on every single pitch. This make it next to impossible to for hitters to differentiate between what pitch is being thrown until it is in the hitting zone. The consistent downward action of all of his pitchers entices hitters to beat the ball into the ground, inducing double plays and routine groundballs.

The score is now 2-0 and Matt Cain is in control. Still, both pitchers are to be studied to try and emulate their deliveries and hopefully their success.

Pitching in the Playoffs

I've been busy...can you tell? It's been over a month since my last post and I've been letting you down. So apologies for that.

In the meantime, there has been fantastic pitching performances going on left and right. There is nothing better than October baseball. Every team is running their best starters out each night. Almost not since the opening day of the season do you get to see so many quality starters going against one another. Roy Halladay, Tim Lincecum, Carl Pavano, CC Sabathia, Matt Garza...the list goes on and on.

What may not translate directly to the camera is how much pressure these guys are under. Playoff baseball has a different feel to it, because the games finally matter. Not to say that the day/night double header these guys are playing in June doesn't matter....but these games REALLY matter. As in, if you lose twice you're probably done. It takes a special kind of player to be able to understand the magnitude of the game, but still remain calm and controlled enough to repeat their deliveries and throw strike one.

For my money, the best to watch is Roy Halladay. He is masterful. Never mind he threw only the second no hitter in playoff hitter (with respects to all other pitchers mentioned), he is, day in and day out, the best pitcher in the game today. Nothing he throws goes the same direction and still he threw 42 strikes in his first 50 pitches...thats 84%. Attacking the hitter is an understatement.

As we get deeper into the playoffs, the games will mean more and more. Stay tuned to see who it is all on their game.

Big Leaguer Breakdown: CJ Wilson

Before you even say it, I know this video is sideways. I apologize, but the video was the best clip I could find for the pitcher I wanted to profile. I realize there hasn't been a BLB in a long time, but its mainly because I've been so busy teaching pitching lessons and studying pitchers on TV during big league games. I have a new favorite left handed pitching in the MLB and his name is CJ Wilson of the Texas Rangers. His mechanics, especially his finish, are the best in the game; absolutely text book. He's been outstanding all year long and has only improved with the addition of veteran Cliff Lee to the rotation. As of September 1, he is an amazing 14-4 with a 2.88 ERA. He is one of the main reasons (besides Lee and Josh Hamilton) that the Rangers are making a charge for the playoffs. He is our Big Leaguer Breakdown.

Check out this sideways video to study CJ Wilson's pitching mechanics.
You may have to turn your laptop sideways to view it, but the first thing to notice is how compact CJ's leg lift is. I will post pictures of these clips here so you can visualize with me. His hands and front knee are moving in perfect unison and pause at a very high point as his hands are near his shoulders and knee is near his hands. Notice, also, that he hasn't begun moving toward the plate yet. Instead, he is balanced over his back leg and ready to begin the decent of his knee and hands DOWN FIRST before they go to the plate.
In our next frame, we see CJ getting into an athletic position as his glove and front knee work inward and down toward the plate. Young pitchers need to be careful here to notice that he has not rotated his hips too far inward and has not closed his front shoulder off very far. His front hip and shoulder will both still work directly to the target from this position. Also important is the height CJ maintains on his back leg. There is a slight bend in the back leg as he begins to "get athletic,: but he doesn't lose much height has the hands and elbows begin to elevate.

In our next picture, we are focusing on the hips and front foot at the "foot strike" position. His upper half is blurry, but you should be able to tell in full speed that his elbows are up and beginning to rotate forward. What we see in the lower half are the angle of his hips loaded and still closed just before the front foot hits the ground. Keeping the hips closed longer will allow a pitcher to stay on line longer and become more directional when the hips do fire.
Our last clip is the most important. CJ Wilson's ability to explode toward his target and finish with great extension over the his front knee helps him truly attack hitters. He does not walk very many hitters and really prides himself on getting ahead of a hitter and burying him. His explosive but directional finish is what allows him to do this. Observe the final pick and note the position of his chest square to the target and the chin stays on target through release. As the ball is let go, we see his back foot explode upwards. This is key. Many pitchers just turn the hips and let the leg drag behind. This does nothing to help the finish of the pitch. By elevating the back leg (think Johan Santana style) you force the chest to extend at the waist forward. If the chest extends, then the release point gets closer to the plate. If the ball is released closer to the plate then, by default, the movement of the pitch will be closer to the plate and in the zone longer.


Use this video and pics to study CJ Wilson's picture perfect mechanics. Better yet, try to catch him on TV so you can gain a better video understanding of his delivery.

As always, ask any questions you might have and I've got you covered.

Strasburg's Injury Perspective

Poor Nationals fans. Just when they thought they had a savior for their franchise. Not only did they lose a bonafide number 1 starter, they also lost the 5th most marketable face in Major League Baseball. The culprit is a villain that has claimed many pitchers over the course of baseball history; tommy john surgery. Put simply, the main ligament in a pitcher's arm wears down, frays, and eventually tears from the repeated stress of throwing a baseball. Usually the culprit is poor pitching mechanics, but in Stephen's case, that doesn't appear to be the the reason.

So, from a pitcher's perspective, what does this mean. For starters, it will be a long lonesome road of rehab. Strasburg will go back to the Nationals spring training complex in the off season and report to the training room every day at 7 or 8am. After he has the surgery, he will begin a slow and arduous rehab that starts with light movement drills and will eventually get to throwing. That of course will be handled at the most careful pace possible with a star athlete such as Strasburg. Typically, the rehab process has gotten perfected so much that sometimes pitchers can come back in as little as 10 months. I doubt they will rush things with Strasburg, but another side affect that seems to come along Tommy John Surgery as the pitcher is able to refine his delivery and even gain velocity. Now, I doubt Stephen will be able to eclipse 103mphs, but I guess you never know.

One thing is for certain however. The Nationals will continue to take care of Strasburg as if he is the savior of their team. Quite frankly, I don't blame them. Even a hurt Strasburg will generate media attention and keep the Nationals relevant as their other star, Bryce Harper comes along.

I'll talk more in depth about TJ surgery in another post, but in the meantime, here's to a speedy recovery and even more velocity this time next year.

Until Next Time!

Less Is More Pitching Thesis Statement

Sorry for the delay between posts. It's been a hectic few weeks with tons of pitching lessons taking up plenty of time. As we head back into the fall baseball season, I wanted to take a moment to re-establish the Less Is More Pitching Thesis Statement.

From my years of personal experience pitching at the professional level, working with professional coaches and players, and studying the deliveries of numerous major league pitchers I have come to the following "over arching conclusion" about pitching:

"The better a pitcher can create positive muscle memory through dedicated drill work, bullpens and dry run repetitions, the more likely he will be able to replicate his delivery and get to a consistent release point with out having to utilize "maximum effort." Instead, he will be so familiar with his delivery that he will literally feel looser and smoother the LESS hard he tries allowing him to apply MORE velocity, movement, and depth to all of his pitches at the end of his delivery as it naturally explodes to the plate."

The bottom line is the better you know your delivery, the less hard you will have to try to repeat it. The less hard you try, the looser your muscles will be. Loose muscles are explosive muscles and explosive muscles = velocity.

The path to this goal is through repetition. A pitcher must learn to "try less" by forcing his muscles to be so used to the proper positions of the delivery that it will literally become second nature.

All of my pitching lessons are centered around this goal and utilize light shoulder exercises, proper warm up techniques, long toss, dry run drills, short spin drills, bullpen work and mental exercises to help pitchers all over to achieve this goal.

If you're interested, shoot me a line here or on my website to get connected!

Until next time!!

In Between Season Long Toss

Now that many of the summer travel ball and legion seasons are coming to a close for most ball players, it is time to turn our sights on the off-season. It is a time that can truly make the difference between repeating the previous years performance or taking the next step toward achieving a ball player's dream of moving from high school to college or college to the pros. As an old sporting goods commercial used to say... " All men are created equal....some just work harder in the off season."

For the professional pitcher (i.e. any pitcher older than 12), this is the perfect time to start a dedicated long toss program. I think it is wise to take a month off to allow the arm to recover from the strain of a long spring and summer season. However, if the fall ball season starts in September or October, then we don't want to take any more than a week or two to ensure that no atrophy of the throwing muscles occur. With that in mind, we can take the extra time without actual games to get with a throwing partner and long toss atleast 3 times a week. The extended distances of the throwing and high intensity of the finish sets of a solid long toss program will allow the arm to build strength with less regard for "throwing strikes." This thought process may seem contrary to what we are trying to do (throw strikes). However, I believe that within the frame work of quality long toss (keeping head on the target, leading with the chin, not falling off to the side, the body must be trained to throw as hard as possible with out trying to throw strikes first. Then, once the velocity is increased, it must be "reigned" into the frame work of a pitching delivery.

So, take some time to get out there at least 3 times a week to begin the program. Try to increase the distance of your longest toss by about 10 feet, once a week. Be sure to mix in a solid weight lifting program and sprint/long distance cardio program. By increasing your overall physical strength in conjunction with the long toss, you can give your body the best chance to increase over all velocity, stamina, and ability repeat a delivery.

Again, this time period starting in mid August and carrying all the way into the winter is a great time to focus on building arm strength. You should try to dedicated atleast 2 solid months of long tossing 3 times a week to truly see any results. But truly, long toss should be a part of a year long throwing program. However, you wouldn't want to do it this often (3 times a week) within the season or pre-season.

If you have any questions about specific distances or actual throwing breakdowns, please comment and I will be happy to respond.

Until Next Time!

Thank You Letter to Matt Garza

Dear Matt Garza,

Thank you for throwing the fifth no hitter in the 2010 Major League Baseball Season. Thank you also for making it the first no-hitter thrown in Tampa Bay history. Thank you thirdly for demonstrating one of the finest displays of dominance with a fastball in recent memory.

Your feat further solidifies my 2010 thesis that the balance of power has now begun to swing back in the hitters favor. You have proven yet again this really is the "year of the no-hitter." While the record is eight no-nos in season (1984), that was in the dead ball era. No, in the live, post-steroid era, you have achieved near perfection for the first time in your career.

There will no doubt be more no-hitters thrown by Tampa Bay pitchers. My bet is that David Price will have atleast one in a Rays uniform before its all said and done. However, someone needed to step up to the challenge for the Rays and you have done this. Your dominance had been brought into question after a few of your previous starts didn't go as well. Your own father acknowledge how you've been off your game, but you answered in the best fashion possible.

Most importantly, you utilized your fastball in 80% of your pitches to no-hit the Tigers. Literally, in 120 pitches, you threw 100 fastballs. I know you throw 95 mphs, and I am sure that helps some. But pitchers everywhere can learn from how you established your fastball in every count to every hitter. It requires a lot of confidence to throw that many fastballs, but it is necessary to make your other pitches more effective. In addition, there is no reason to veer away from the fastball if the hitters never prove they can hit it. Too often, I see pitchers switch up pitches just for the sake of it. If the hitters can't put a good swing on the fastball, you proved that you can keep throwing it. Thank you for proving once again that the philosophies of Less is More are sound and based in Big League success stories like your self.

May your efforts land you in the hall of fame some day.

Thanks again,


Forrest Cory
Founder, Less Is More Pitching

If You're Gonna Give 'Em Up, Make Sure They're Solo Jobs.

The enigmatic title "If You're Gonnna Give 'Em Up, Make Sure They're Solo Jobs" is a piece of advice that every pitcher should subscribe to. It refers to a pitching philosophy that revolves around keeping runners off base. In practice, it means that every pitcher is going to give up home runs, but the best ones can minimize damage and not give up as many long balls with runners on base.

I am reminded of this adage as I am watching the Orioles vs. Rays tonight on MASN. Matt Garza is on the mound for the Rays and has given up 4 home runs through 5 innings. He is also only losing 4-2. The Orioles pitcher has given up 2 home runs as well. It is not hard to imagine that this score could be much worse for both teams had those home runs not been solo shots. So, in practice, a pitcher must learn when to attack hitters and when to be careful. Of course, a pitcher must always "attack." However, early in the game and early an inning, the worst thing a pitcher can do is walk a batter. Walks and poorly placed pitches that lead to base hits are obvious things to avoid. However, this is never more true than early in those situations. With less than two outs, walking batters create more problems for the pitcher; especially if the next batter hits one out of the park.

With that in mind, if there are runners on and the game is getting into the last three or four innings, a pitcher must be careful to execute every pitch as perfectly as possible to prevent a late inning scoring onslaught. In fact, when facing a tough hitter with runners on, a good pitcher will "not give in" to a hitter by giving him a good pitch to hit. He will non-intentionally intentionally walk the batter to get a weaker hitter. He will make perfect pitches down and or just below the knees on the edges of the plate. These pitches will be so tough to hit that there is very little chance for a hitter to do damage with them. Keep in mind that this is an advanced technique that requires a very high command of ones pitches and of the strike zone. However, if executed correctly, a good pitcher can avoid giving up a mult-run hit or home run to a good hitter by making the hitter either swing at the pitcher's best pitches or be patient enough to take the walk.

The score of the game will dictate whether this strategy is a viable option. Obviously, if the score is within one run, a solo bomb is as devastating as any other home run. You would want at least a 2 run lead to begin considering putting more runners on base to get to weaker hitters.

Regardless of the situation and score however, if you are going to give up homeruns, it will always be better that they are solo shots. The less runs that score the better your ERA and your teams chance to win will be.

Until Next Time!

Rest In Peace George Steinbrenner

A legend of the professional baseball world passed away on Tuesday. George Steinbrenner, aka "The Boss" bought the Yankees in 1973 and ruled with an iron fist for three decades. In the time since he acquired the Bronx Bommers, he returned a struggling franchise to its former greatness. The Yankees generated more revenue, won more World Series', and produced more All-Stars than any other franchise during his tenure.

George suffered a massive heart attack before passing at the age of 80. Less is More Pitching would like to extend its sincere condolences to the entire Steinbrenner family and Yankee nation. This truly isn't just a loss for his family and team. The game of baseball will not be the same without Steinbrenner. He will certainly never be replaced.

Until Next Time.

Pitching in the Heat of Summer

I've noticed recently that many of the Less More pitching clients have been struggling mightly through our hour long pitching lessons.   After only 20 minutes of warm up and long toss, they are panting, sweating, and even dizzy.  The weather is brutal, no doubt.  In Virginia in July, the temp routinely tops 100 degrees with even more oppressive humidity.  The kind of weather that has you sweating the second you step out doors.  What's worse; there's been no rain in almost 2 weeks and the ground is dry and scorched.  As tough as the weather is, I always tell my clients that baseball is played in this weather every single day.  Heck, when I played in Mobile in 2008, the rain would come around 5pm, raining out batting practice, only to have the field turned into a sauna for game time after the sun came back out.  Try gripping a baseball when your arm and the air itself is sweating!

So I am here to shed some light on a few secrets I've picked over the course of my career to help you battle the heat on the mound...

1. Hydrate!  Too many times I see my pitchers dying of thirst even though they've brought a bottle of Gatorade with them for the lesson.  The problem is, by the time you are thirsty, it is too late to get fluids.  A pitcher must drink water 30 minutes and an hour before hand to make sure the body is properly hydrated before the physical activity begins.  That way, when you start to sweat, drinking will help maintain your hydration.  

2. Work Out in the Heat.  Most people agree that pitchers should run both long distance and sprints in between their pitching outings.  Those workouts should be done at least some of the time in the same conditions of a mid-day game.  Sure it makes the work outs harder, but that is basically the idea we are shooting.  A pitcher must acclimate his body to breathing oxygen in humid air and exerting himself physically when the sun is at its hottest. 

3.  Get Proper Rest.  The advantages of sleep are compounded when a pitcher is working out and pitching in the heat. Sleep allows the body to recover from all of the physical work of the previous day.  If the body doesn't get a MINIMUM of 6 hours, it will be unable to function at its highest potential the next day. 

4. Use Antiperspirant.  No, I am not suggesting that you stink when you sweat.  (Although that may be true).  When your arm begins to sweat in the middle of a game, it can make gripping the baseball difficult.  To combat this, spray deodorant/antiperspirant on your entire throwing arm.  This will not completely eliminate the sweat, but it will minimize the liquid during your outing.  

5. Use Pin Tar. Under the hat, on the laces of the glove, on your belt hook - if you ain't cheatin' you ain't tryin.  Learn what the sticky stuff feels like and get used to how much you need to create some tackiness on those finger tips.  This age old secret is only a problem if you get caught. (I do not normally condone this line of thinking - pine tar is the ONLY exception).  You can rest assured that almost every big league pitcher utilizes pine tar in one form or another.  

6. Feel the Spirits of Ammonia.  This ancient Indian remedy has been used to help invigorate and revitalize.  There may be more myth to it than actual medical value, but all I can tell you is that rubbing your neck with an icy towel dipped in this stuff (mixed with a lot of water) does wonders for keeping you sharp in the summer heat.  Keep in mind that Spirits of Ammonia is not the same as actual Ammonia.  Make sure you know the difference before attempting to use this remedy.  One of my former coaches used to keep a cooler full of water, ice and spirits of ammonia in the dugout for many of our summer tournaments.  

7. Keep a change of shirt and socks.  For particularly sweaty days, its a good idea to have a second dri-fit under shirt and dri-fit game socks to change into if you happen to sweat through your first pair.  Sometimes a fresh shirt is all it takes to get you back in the zone.  

So be sure to get comfortable with all of these changes before you implement them in the championship game of your tournament this summer.  However, once you get used to using them, you'll never play a game without them. 

Post some comments with other ideas!

Until Next Time!

Is Strasburg an All-Star?

So as we near closer to the July 13th mid-summer classic, the ballots have been cast for the American and National League All-Stars. Many names called are the ones that everyone expects. Jeter, Pujols, Ramierez, Sabathia and others. Other names may be confusing such as Omar Infante or perhaps Chris Young. However, the biggest question may well be whether or not Stephen Strasburg should be an All-Star. His numbers would suggest the easy answer is yes. To date, he is 2-2 with a 2.45. Even more impressive, he has recorded 53 punch outs in just over 36 innings and only walked 10. His star appeal and fan following would also indicate that he would be an easy choice. Strasburg is one of the most googled names in Major League Baseball. Tickets to Nationals park are still selling out for his starts. If he were to pitch in the All-star game, he would undoubtedly increase the popularity of an already famous event.

However.... I do not believe Steven Strasburg should be an All-Star. It isn't because I don't think he is good enough. Clearly, thus far, he has proven so as mentioned above. However, there are many unwritten rules and unsaid guidelines that govern how rookies are treated and how priority and tenure plays in a big league clubhouse. Granted, I've never been in a Major League clubhouse for more than a spring training game, I have played with enough current big leaguers to know that young ball players are expected to earn their place in the League. Of course, all players want to win at all costs. However, it is still a career and a job and Stephen's place on an All-Star roster will take the place of many other guys would have, at the very the least, pitched the whole season instead of a couple starts. Guys like Carl Pavano and Joel Pinero whom have been around the league for a few years and are beginning to have years that are worthy of all-star recognition.

Also, the All-star game is no longer just an exhibition game. Instead, it is played for home field advantage in the World Series. Allowing a rookie with little experience to make the All-star game because he would bring more fans to the stadium is irresponsible. I don't really think the All-star game is hurting for fans to begin with. So if it counts for something more than bragging rights now (which it does), then I say TV ratings shouldn't factor into the selection process.

Finally, young ball players just need to pay their dues somewhere. I agree the Strasburg is good enough to be an All-Star. I agree he's one of the most electric pitchers in the game today. However, he only spent 2 months in the minors and he is already touted as the next coming of Nolan Ryan. If his character is how it is described (a true gamer), than an all-star skip this year will only make him hungrier for the second half and the pennant run.

Let me know if you agree...

Until Next Time!!

We Can All Learn A Lot From Zambrano

A few years ago, Carlos Zambrano may have been the best pitcher in baseball. His mid 90's fastball and devastating breaking ball worked extremely well with a 'Take No Prisoners' competitive edge that had many batters feeling uncomfortable just to step in the box. Unfortunately, much has changed since those days. In an earlier post this year, I posed the question "How Will Zambrano react to being sent to the bullpen?" He is known for temper flare ups and not always being a team player. So, there was reason to be concerned about a perceived demotion to the bullpen. Apparently, these concerns were validated after Zambrano's most recent dugout spat with teammate Derek Lee. Of course, no one truly knows what was said and in what context it was perceived, but DLee is one of the classiest ball players in the game today, and I find it tough to believe he was out of line. Either way, the Cubs could scarcely afford any more distractions during an already disappointing season - especially with cross-town rivals, the White Sox on an 11 game win streak. The fallout of the incident has landed Carlos on an indefinite suspension and none of his teammates seem to miss him yet. Alfanso Soriano referenced this when saying simply that the team was not inspired by the tirade (as Zambrano tried to spin it) but that they would rather not have him.

So, what can an aspiring pitcher take from this whole mess? For starters, it must be understood that it is a very thin line that a pitcher walks from being the meanest mother on the whole baseball field and not taking any crap from anyone and still respecting the game to completely showing no self control, respect for the game, or discipline. In fact, I'd say respect for the game is the ultimate issue. By allowing your emotions to get the best of you, your actions tell the other team and everyone that you are not mentally tough enough to handle the tests of a baseball game and season. Now, this is by no means and easy task, but it is a task that players have handled with grace for years. Personally, I feel it requires far more mental fortitude and "strength" to swallow ones pride and handle both your terrible defeats with the same demeanor as your greatest victories. It shouldn't matter if you throw a no-hitter or give up 9 earned in the first, a the true gamer keeps his emotions and on an even level. Because, if you allow yourself to ride that emotional rollercoaster, it will impossible to replicate any kind of success. It appears that Zambrano had been struggling with this for many years, but he had been able to keep at bay for the most part. Unfortunately, I fear this may be one of the last (if not THE last) straw for him. The Cubbies do not appear to be interested in his antics now that his performance has suffered.

So, going forward, the "Intelligent Pitcher" must be willing to walk that line. The one between extreme focus and intensity break down. The line between firery determination and emotional breakdown. It is no easy task, but the true gamers achieve this as they dominate the competition.

Let me hear your thoughts.

Until Next Time!

The Power Position

There are probably over a thousand ways to teach pitching mechanics. There are probably even more ways to pitch effectively that aren't considered "proper mechanics." However, we here at Less Is More believe that there are few key components of the delivery that most pitchers most hone to be able to repeat their motion and repeat their release point. Balance throughout the delivery, utilizing the hip turn for velocity and finally, getting into the "power position" with the elbows and scapula "loaded" before those hips turn. So instead of words today, here are a few pictures of big leaguers in the Power Position.

Here is CC Sabathia with elbows up.

Notice how the front foot has not yet hit the ground.

The hips are just about to turn, forcing the upper half to release.

Even though he has a long stride, the weight is still on the back leg - allowing those hips to fire.

Front side is on target and loaded.


Although is low arm is unconventional, Ubaldo Jimenez gets both his elbows up faster than anyone.

Just before the front foot hits the ground again, look where his power is - his back leg.

The throwing arm elbow is behind his back - prepared to reach full power position.

Front shoulder is closed and on target.

Weight is back, power is still in hips.

Verlander throws 100mphs by getting those elbows up.

This pic has him just before front foot hits, with weight still back.

The throwing arm is coming up and the shoulder blades are "loaded" as the hips are preparing to turn.

The hall of famer, Nolan Ryan gets into the power position better than any one.

The power is in the hips - notice they are still closed.

Elbows are perfectly up - still bent.

Front shoulder and hip are both are on target with weight on back leg.


These are just a few examples of what the power position can look like. Ideally, Nolan Ryan's pic shows the true PP. The elbows up and parallel to the shoulder. The weight is still on the back leg and both the front shoulder and hip have not rotated off target.

Now, get to work developing your own Power Position.

Until Next Time!!

Big Leaguer Breakdown Ted Lilly

As the major league seasons plows through June, the talking heads at ESPN are beginning to realize what I have been saying for at least a month. This year in baseball, is the "year of the pitcher." Of course, yours truly has blogged already twice about the fact that the balance of power is swing back towards the pitchers. Case in point, yesterday, the Chicago White Sox played the Chicago Cubs. Gavin Floyd was on the mound for since the Sox and Ted Lilly took the ball for the Cubs. What resulted was nothing short of masterful on both sides. Gavin and Ted both took no-nos into the 7th inning, where Floyd ultimately surrendered a few hits and the only run of the game. Lilly on the other hand, kept the White Sox hitless into the 9th when Juan Pierre finally ended the no-hit bid. It had been 8 starts since Lilly's last win, and despite a roller coaster ninth for the Cubs' bullpen, the game ended with a win for the Cubbies. I had a chance to study Lilly during the game last night and felt it was reason enough for Lilly to be this week's Big Leaguer Breakdown.

Here is a clip from youtube user cleveworld of Lilly warming up in Spring Training.

Ted Lilly makes his living interchanging an assortment of off speed pitches to complement a mid 80's fastball. While not over-powering, Lilly is also successful by utilizing some deception in his delivery. It is difficult to see, but at the 22 second mark, we see how Lilly rotates his an entire body and front leg around, showing his jersey number to the hitter. By doing so, Lilly does an excellent job of hiding the ball until he rotates back forward. He also keep the ball in his glove behind his back shoulder as you can see in the video. At the 23 second mark, you can see the hand break as his shoulders tilt back and the hand drops behind his back leg. The ball is still hidden at this point. Personally, I don't like how far he has collapsed on his back leg here, but moving forward, we see the tell-tale elbows elevating and hips rotate at the same time. Lilly could have used his inward to turn to try and develop more velocity, but it is my feeling that is merely for deception. I feel this way because you see very little "explosion" upon release of the ball. Going further in the video, we see how upright Lilly is as he finishes his pitch. There is very little upper half tilt forward at release either. By staying upright, the tends to flatten some of his pitches, but also helps to increase some of the balls lateral (side to side) movement. On a the next pitch in the sequence, we do see Lilly do a better job of finishing over his front foot and locating down in the zone. It is important to notice how controlled Ted is as the ball is released. Undoubtedly, this is a product of his control getting to the foot strike.

Repeating this delivery is made possible by how deliberate Ted Lilly is with his front foot and front leg when it is planted. Instead of being out of control, he lightly lets the foot plant and works down over the mid-line of the body. This is important to aide in the repeating of the body.

So we see a unique aspect of the pitching delivery in Lilly. His inward body rotation allows him to keep the ball hidden. It also allows him as well to put unique spin on his pitches as he rotates toward the midline and finish down.

Keep studying and post and questions.

Until Next Time!

Stephen Strasburg is the Real Deal

It's is the top of the 8th in Washington and Strasburg has just punched out the side to end his much anticipated Major League debut versus the Pittsburg Pirates for the Nationals. The score is 4-2 and after 14 total strikeouts, Strasburg's start was nothing short of legendary. He set a Nationals franchise record for K's in a debut after going 7 innings, giving up only four total hits, 2 earned runs, and the 14 K's mentioned previously. His stuff was "as advertised." The gun on MASN has his fastball at 93 - 103 MPHs. (The gun was probably juiced a few ticks, but still no doubt he was hitting triple digits) His curveball was a knee buckling 82 MPH and the slider and change-up were equally devastating. More than once, as Pirates hitters were gearing up for another heater, Strasburg would drop in that hammer and buckle the knees of those Big League hitters. Most of those strike-outs were wild swings and misses on super heaters and exploding breaking stuff.

So it almost doesn't even need to be said that Strasburg is good. Truly, the only question that remains is 'Will Strasburg be the perennial All-Star that everyone expects him to be?' While I'm not fortune teller, I do consider myself an expert on the subject of pitching. Without attempting to tell the future, I think the answer to that question is a resounding yes. The main reason for my confidence in the phenom is found in his delivery. Very few guys are able to replicate such incredible velocity with such poise and apparent ease. Who knows, he could blow out his arm tomorrow, but I'm not betting on it. When compared to other 100 mph fireballers, Stephen has the smoothest, most fluid delivery of all of them. Other pitchers in this category are guys like Ubaldo Jimenez, Justin Verlander, Joel Zamaya, and perhaps old-schooler, Nolan Ryan. Of those, only Nolan Ryan rivaled Strasburg's apparent lack of "effort." All of the others appear to be trying to throw that hard. On the contrary, he is smooth loose and the only thing that is violent is the ball exploding into the catcher's glove. These facts tell me that Strasburg has mastered the art of staying loose and under control and allow the lower half to do the work for you. The ultimate thesis behind the Less Is More philosophy.

So going forward, I look forward to seeing what becomes of Mr. Strasburg. It is my prediction that he will be an All-Star by next year. Plus, if Bryce Harper turns out to be the offensive stud that everyone say he is, then the Nationals could be led by two no. 1 draft picks all the way to the 2015 World Series. A bold prediction, but I'll stand by it as long as those two are healthy.

I look forward to five days from now to see Strasburg start again. Look for a Big Leaguer Breakdown on him fairly soon.

Until Next Time


Image By Geoff Burke, U.S. Presswire

MLB Power Swing Part 2

Just a quick post. Actually, this is more accurately a follow up to my previous "MLB power swing" post. This past Saturday, Roy Halladay threw the 20th perfect game in MLB history. What made this even more unique was the fact that Dallas Braden threw a perfect game just 3 short weeks ago on Mother's Day. This feat hasn't happened in professional baseball since the late 1800s. Going a step further, Ubaldo Jimenez threw a no-hitter earlier this year as well. So if you're scoring at home, that's 3 separate games where the opposing hitters have failed to get even one hit. I'm not sure of the statistics on this particular situation, but I'd venture to say this doesn't happen very often.

So, I reiterate my initial thesis. I believe the balance of power is shifting back to, at least, even. Where it was recently a hitter's game, the pitchers are beginning to really reclaim some of their territory. I don't expect to see a 50 homer season and especially not more than one. Perhaps we haven't seen the last no-hitter this year either. I will check back in toward the end of the year to see just how these stats have played out. I am projecting that starting pitching innings pitched, complete games, shutouts, and strike outs will all be up this year.

Stay tuned for more info!!

Until Next Time!!

Pitching to the Ball Park

Much to do is made about the ball park in which a pitcher is pitching. Fenway in Boston is known for being a great place for lefties to pull the ball and righties to hit high towering balls over the monster. Yankee stadium, new or old, is notoriously easy to hit balls out of the yard. The left field line is only 314 ft. There are middle schoolers who can clear that distance. In Houston, the left field fence is so far forward that the left fielder has to adjust where he normally stands to adjust for how the ball will come off. The question becomes, though, does a pitcher need to adjust how he pitches based on the field in which he is playing. The quick answer is "no." That is to say, a pitcher should not alter the pitches he throws or how aggressive he is based on the stadium. Sure, the possibility exists that hitter could hit a less than towering drive and it might slip out of the park. However, that kind of happening cannot always be controlled. By altering what pitch you throw because of the park, a pitcher is more likely to loose his rhythm and his ability to put away a hitter once he is ahead. As I've said many times, a pitcher must always lean toward pitching to his strengths. If you have a "plus" fastball, then you want to stay with that pitch even if the hitter is a power guy.

That being said, making "adjustments' that play into your pitching strategy are always a plus. For example, focusing on locating pitches down in the zone is a strategy that is good for any pitcher to adopt. It also would serve the purpose of keeping balls in the yard more frequently. Pitching on both sides of the plate and changing speeds with all of your pitches are also great philosophies of pitching that also will help keep the hitter from squaring up pitches.

As we get more advanced, certain situations and hitters in the lineup can dictate pitches are thrown and when based on the pitcher. This requires a pitcher to be able to throw multiple pitches for strikes in any count. The situation could be when a number 3 hitter is at the dish with 2 outs. You don't necessarily want to challenge this guy inside early in the count. As a generally, staying away here to get ahead and get to a two strike count is a good idea. Similarly, if you have runners on first and third, with one out, using your ground ball pitch to get the double play is another way to pitch well in any park, not just a hitters park.

So let that be your guideline. If the philosophy matches up with overall good pitching strategies, then it is good to use to keep hitters in the park. Keep the ball down, change speeds, and attack the hitters!

Until Next Time!!

Never EVER Walk the Lead Off Hitter.

The Baseball Gods are a very strict bunch. They have very defined guidelines that decide what constitutes quality baseball. They are also relentless. If a player crosses one of these guidelines, the vengeance is usually swift and severe. Case and Point. Last night, Chris Carpenter of the St. Louis Cardinals was pitching a gem against the Washington Nationals. It was the 8th inning and the Nationals managed to scratch out a run to tie the game at 2 - 2. The momentum was swinging back to the Nationals as they took the field to start the 9th inning. Tyler Clippard took the mound for the Nationals to face the lead off hitter...

One of the most important rules held by the Baseball Gods is NEVER WALK THE LEAD OFF HITTER...especially when your team has just come back to tie or take the lead late in the game.
What did Tyler do? He walked the lead off hitter. Now, the Cardinals tried to bail him out. First, Felipe Lopez attempted to bunt him over to second. Instead, he popped the bunt up for the first out of the inning. Then, the runner at first was picked off by Tyler. (A another offense to the Baseball God's, but not as severe). So, the situation now looks pretty darn good for Clifford. He has two outs, nobody on base, and Ryan Ludwick is at the plate with a 1-1 count when the runner was picked off. All Tyler has to do is get this last out. But the Baseball God's wouldn't allow it. The very next pitch after pick-off, Clippard hangs a slider and Ludwick deposits it roughly 20 rows back over the left field wall. Cardinals win 3-2. Carpenter gets the win and Franklin gets a save. (This has nothing to do with my point except both Carpenter and Franklin are on my fantasy team...holler).

I'm not saying the Baseball Gods made him throw a bad slider. I am not even saying the Baseball Gods exist. What I am saying is that more often than not, walking the lead off hitter will come back to haunt a pitcher. Usually, it is the lead off hitter that scores. I believe the percentage is around 70% of the time. Granted, the example here has nothing to do with that. But isn't it interesting that some how things went foul for Tyler after walking the lead off hitter. If you're team has worked hard to gain the lead or tie the game, the best thing you can do is attack the hitter and prevent giving back that run. Late in the game, it becomes even more pertinent to hang a zero up after a great come back.

This story goes well with my over all philosophy on pitching. Always be on the offensive. Attack the hitter. Don't allow the hitter to ever be comfortable in the box. Throw strikes early and often and control the game!

Until Next Time!!


Image Source: http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.thearchnemesis.com/images/Baseball%2520Gods.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.thearchnemesis.com/Baseball%2520Gods.html&usg=__O_mrdefMJlGnEnqQNE-5wDuWzmQ=&h=321&w=455&sz=45&hl=en&start=1&sig2=uzyOw_NIkboS8CeC-BmqCA&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=L2_Vd5up1Bq0qM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=128&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbaseball%2Bgods%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26hs%3DWTG%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26tbs%3Disch:1&ei=l5n0S9OtI460tgPNvcmHBQ

Major League Power Swing

I know this blog's title might sound like it is about hitters. It is actually about the balance of power between pitchers and hitters. It is safe to say that from the mid 90's to the mid/late 2000's, there was NO balance. What is now referred to as the "Steroid Era," was undboutedly the most prolific decade for hitters ever seen. Just from the broken records alone one can see how hitters flourished. The formerly unbreakable single season home record was shattered three different times in the span of a couple years (Sosa, McGuire, and Bonds). The second most hallowed record in all of baseball (behind perhaps Dimaggio's hit 52 game hit streak) was broken a few short years later with Bonds surpassing Hank Aaron for the ultimate home run record. All the while, these records were considered tarnish by the terrible, steroid-induced asterisk.

However, Major League Baseball finally got its act together and implemented a much stricter drug testing policy and the over-arching the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program was adopted in 2006. Since then, the balance of power has begun to shift. It is my opinion that MLB has actually achieved what it set out to do. That is, they have shifted the power back closer to even between pitchers and hitters. It is my opinion, of course, that this is a positive change. As a self-proclaimed baseball purist, I think a 3-2 pitcher's duel is baseball at its best. I agree that home runs are wonderful and a lot of fun to watch, but when baseball scores began to look as though they were achieved with 50 yard bombs to the end zone, I think everyone knew something was wrong. Thankfully, that aforementioned changed did occur, and the steroid era appears to be over. Case and point, from '95 to '07, the average number of homeruns hit by the league leaders was well above 50. In fact, 15 times in that span, a home run leader broke the 50 home run mark. Of course, there was a handful of years where the number crested 60 with others in the 50 range and culminating with Bonds' 73. However, in 2008 and 2009, the leaders hit only 37, 38, 48, and 47 respectively. Now I realize that two years is hardly a trend, but it is my belief that 2010 will show similarly lower numbers. Of course, this is good news for baseball purists near and far. For, if those numbers did not decrease, there would be little reason to believe steroids had anything to do with the power surge.

So, heres to the conclusion of the steroid age, and the dawning of a new age of balance. I look forward to the next few 20 game winners. Perhaps now, there will be more than just one or two in each league. 2009 had none and 2008 only had Webb and Lee, Mussina, Halladay and Beckett. I suspect these numbers will increase as well over the years.

Stay tuned and let's see if I'm right.

Until Next time!!

Big Leaguer Breakdown: Dallas Braden

Happy Mother's Day from Less Is More and what a day it was. Dallas Braden's grandmother got one of the most unique and rare gifts ever given on a Mother's Day, a perfect game. Only the 19th such accomplishment in MLB history! The lefty faced the minimum, walked none, and his teammates made no errors on his way to beating the Tampa Bay Rays 4-0. What made the feat even more incredible is that the Rays only swung and missed at 5 pitches that Braden threw; the fewest in a no-hitter since 2007. Dallas improved to 4-2 on the season by punching out six hitters and of course, walking none. His perfect game did as much to establish himself as a bonafide star as it did to quelsh some of the negative attention that had been simmering since his lashing out verbally at Alex Rodriquez after AROD trotted over the pitcher's mound after getting out in a game earlier in the season. Side Note...I think it shows a lot about Braden's fire and determination on the mound that he felt the need to "defend his territory" after Rodriquez essentially disrespected his mound by jogging across it. I like it and I think every pitcher can learn from it. Either way, Braden was awesome today and he is this week's Big Leaguer Breakdown.

Check out this video of Dallas Braden from my favorite youtuber, laflippin.

You can see right off the bat that Braden comes set with the glove far away from his body and his feet wide on the mound. I have always been a fan of looking imposing on the mound and applying this stance is a great way to do so. As he starts his delivery, we see him utilize a very long side step (instead of a drop step back). As a general rule, I prefer a drop step to stepping to the side because it makes finishing toward the target more difficult. However, Dallas uses the side step to create some misdirection and deception in his delivery. He repeats this very well and it does a lot to disrupt a hitter trying to track the ball.

At the :23 mark, we see Braden's foot almost disappear behind his back side. This position tells us that his leg lift well above average in height. As long as the pitcher's body (legs and core) are strong enough, a high leg lift that is controlled can help a pitcher generate more momentum in his delivery while staying taller longer. What how Dallas accomplishes this from the :23 mark to the :32 mark. We can see a lot about his delivery in this segment. From the leg lift, we see the glove and front leg work in perfect unison down and out toward the target. All the while, his back leg does not collapse much at all. While all this is happening, Braden does close off his front shoulder some, showing his back to the right handed hitter. You can't see this in the video here, but if you watch him pitching from behind, you can see what I mean. At the :32 mark, we see how Braden's elbows have elevated to a perfect power position just before the front foot hits the ground. Notice also how the back foot has begun to rotate, which indicates that the hips have turned as well. With the hips firing, but the elbows are still closed, the pitcher can really generate some power in delivery.

The :33 mark shows an absolutely picture perfect chin position, glove turn and front leg bend. This tells us a lot about how consistent Braden is with his delivery. At 36 seconds, we can see his body is almost entirely parallel to the ground at the ball comes out of his hand.

Overall, there's not much negative about Braden's delivery and this tells us quite a bit about how he was able to throw a perfect game. If I'm being picky, there isn't a ton of tempo through his delivery. He seems to be moving a touch slower than the average pitcher, but then again, that isn't necessarily a bad thing.

So, it goes without saying, Dallas Braden has a good idea about how to deliver the baseball. We here at Less Is More tip our caps to you Dallas. Congrats on your fantastic game!



Image source: yahoo sports - http://sports.yahoo.com/

The Curse of the Knucleball

Every now and then I feel the need to rant a bit about some of the things I see going on in a certain aspect of the game of the baseball. Today is one of those days. I'm not really that upset mind you, just a tad bit frustrated about the over use of the knuckleball by littler leaguers in the Williamsburg area. It's not that I think the knuckleball is necessarily a bad pitch. The problem I have is the fact that many very talented young pitchers are wasting time working on an aspect of pitching that has very little chance of helping them in their future careers. Quick, name more than two knuckleballers who have pitched in the Bigs in the last twenty years. Tim Wakefield is one...the most obvious choice. How about another... waitng ... waiting... Tom Candiotti anyone. Most of my pitching clients have probably never even heard of him and past that, I can't even name another.

The point is there is a less than 1% chance that a youngster will end up throwing a knuckleball later in life. Now, it wasn't that long ago that I was a little leaguer. I can remember how much fun it was to try and make the ball dance as I played catch with some of teammates. As best as I can tell, that is the main appeal of the pitch. The problem with this is that it requires a pitcher to completely change his delivery to throw the pitch correctly. For anyone who knows my philosophy on pitching, it goes without saying that I am completely against changing ones delivery, arm slot, or arm speed to throw a pitch. It is this philosophy that explains why Big League knuckleballers only throw fastballs and knuckleballs. To make matters worse, the coaches of these kids are neither encouraging or discouraging this practice.

I think it is time that we take a position on the over use of a pitch that really has no benefits in the future games of these kids. I guess I tend to be a baseball purist. I would much rather see I young pitcher continue to develop useful pitches (fastball, change-up, breaking ball) at the expense of some early success with a trick pitch. I just put more value in the development of the pitcher than a few little league strike outs due to a knuckleball.

I'd love to hear any contrasting opinions from players and coaches out there. Feel free to post and I will respond.

Until Next Time!

Zambrano to the Pen?

In relatively recent events, Chicago Cubs manager announced that normally unhittable ace, Carlos Zambrano will be delegated to set-up man duties to help out the Cubbies struggling bullpen. He also mentioned that the return to Ted Lilly to the rotation made this move even more necessary. I'm not sure if I buy it, but alas, I'm not a big league manager. I realize Zambrano has struggled in his first few starts, but he still has the "stuff" of an ace and, as long as he is healthy, will likely bounce back from the early season mishaps.

Regardless, this has nothing to do with LessIsMorePitching or my philosophy. What this does have to do with is the mind set of a pitcher like Zambrano who has to make a change. As a pitcher, you may be asked to make changes to your delivery, your role on the team, or your pitching style. Speaking from experience, late in my professional career, the Diamondbacks asked me to start throwing side arm, after throwing overhand for my entire career. Although this marked the possible end of my career, it has, for others, launched their careers into the next level. For Zambrano, it could go either way. He could become the most dominant set-up man in the league. For you, it could also take one of two courses. No matter what, it starts with your mind set. And this is the point of this blog post. Your coach may not always think the same way you do about different aspects of pitching. However, you are obligated to some degree to try the suggestions your coaches make. If you hate them, hopefully, your coach will take the time to work out an agreeable solution. If this is not the case though, and you are left with an adjustment or change that you are not comfortable with, then it becomes your job to make that adjustment with the optimism and determination of your entire being. Because if you don't, you will be leaving part of your ability off the field. As competitive as baseball is, you cannot afford to only have half your heart on the field.
So far, Zambrano seems to have made the change without causing too much of a fuss. This is called "professionalism" in the biz. Every player could use a dose of this type of approach. Big Leaguers aren't always the best example of how to carry yourself on the field. I, for one, hope my initial reactions are not betrayed later on.

Stay tuned as always.

Until Next Time.

Big Leaguer Breakdown: Doug Fister

I apologize for the lack of posts this week. No real excuses here, I've just been a bit busy. Regardless, it is already Sunday which means its time for another segment of Big Leaguer Breakdown. This week, we look at a lesser known pitcher for the Seattle Mariners. His name is Doug Fister and just this past Saturday he threw 8 innings, giving up 2 runs and striking out four...the day after I added him to my fantasy team. (I take my fantasy baseball very seriously). Fister is a second year rookie this season after spending four seasons in the minors at various levels and making his big league debut last year and totaling 61 innings and a 4.13 ERA. He is 6'8" and uses his size to his advantage; throwing the ball on a great down hill plane and mixing his fastball with plus slider and change up. He is young and wet behind the ears but he is still this week's BLB.

Check out this great slow motion video by youtube user BrianDLarsen1988 to study his mechanics.

Hopefully, the first thing you notice about Doug is how long and lean he is standing on the mound. Fister clearly has the build that scouts look for as they project young college and high school talent. The first 4o seconds of the video shows Doug utilizing and over the head glove movement out of the wind up. Study his hands as the come back over his head and rest right around chest height. At the same time, as the hands come down, the knee raises to meet the glove at chest height. This requires very solid core strength and balance in the lower half as the knee raises past parallel. It is also great, however, for generating momentum as the leg works down and toward the plate.

At the 46 second mark, notice how the front foot is tucked back in toward the body. This small adjustment gets the foot in better position to stay along the mid line path toward the plate. Many young pitchers will allow the foot to stay loose and swing around the mound on its way forward. Unfortunately, this generally causes a multitude of other problems and should be avoided in the saw way that Doug has eliminated this issue.

However, if we watch the video from :46 to :53, we see Fister get all the way to foot-strike without ever getting into what I call the "athletic position." Instead, his back is arched back behind his heels and his front foot is landing closed. We see his glove side clear violently as he attempts to get over that front leg and finish downhill. What saves Doug here is the fact that he is so long and lanky that he is able to get his throwing arm up and through release as the front knee bends. Doug is also utilizes a very powerful hip turn and drive with the back leg which forces the upper half forward and down to release point.

So, at the :56 mark, we see the release point. The first thing we should notice is how far off the mid-line his head falls because of his improper body posture at foot-strike. However, as mentioned before, he is very athletic in his core and is able to get some extension on release. It is the opinion of this blogger that Doug could utilize even more extension if he were to stay athletic longer through the delivery.

Regardless, we see the video conclude with Fister's chest parallel to the ground and full elevation of the back leg. Two key signs that he is utilizing much of his lower half to throw the baseball. It remains to be seen if Doug will blossom into a perrenial all-star but he definitely has size and velocity (he throws 94) on his side. I'd say he is a risky permanent addition to a fantasy roster but with huge upside.

Let me know how your season are going in the real world and I'll answer any fantasy questions as well.

Until Next Time!!

Big Leaguer Breakdown: Matt Cain

Another Sunday means its time for another Big Leaguer Breakdown. This week's victim is another from YouTube user laflippin's fantastic slow motion posts. This time around, we look at a guy whose 2009 was nothing short of an amazing breakout campaign. Having never posted an ERA lower than 3.65 in his previous 5 full seasons (which is pretty good anyways), Matt Cain completed the '09 season with a minuscule 2.89 ERA and 14-8 record on a mediocre San Fransisco team. Enjoy this week's analysis of another major leaguer's delivery.


Click here for the YouTube video of Matt Cain delivering the baseball.

The video begins with Matt out of his wind-up with the ball in his glove and throwing hand by his side. When a pitcher does this, it is important to have the ball held between the pinky and thumb so that it does not rest deep in the glove. The reasoning here is that you don't want the baseball to be difficult to grab and get the seams you need for the pitch you want. I don't know if Cain does this, but I know from experience that it is important to set the ball shallow in the glove and make sure the seams are set either in a two-seam or four-seam pattern. This is important because most pitch grips can be achieved from those two starting points.

As Cain drops back and starts his delivery, we can see how balanced he is with his feet slightly wider than shoulder width as he begins his drop step. Study closely around the :30 mark. We see Cain utilize a very short drop step to maintain this type of balance when the leg begins to lift. Most young pitchers love to step way back and off to the side. I much prefer a drop step similar to Cain's from a balance stand point.

The next position to check out is the :45 mark. We see one of my favorite positions with the leg lift at its highest point. Notice how Matt has purposefully rotated his torso toward 2nd base to hide the ball from the hitter. His hands are tucked around his belt in a good starting position. This low hand slot may be low for some pitcher's taste but it helps with the hand break which is about to follow. However, at the :46 mark, he raises his hands to begin that hand break and separates his hands with what I will call the "down hill" hand break. In other words, the front shoulder and arm is angled upwards toward the sky and the throwing arm is bent in a down angle in relation to the front arm. This is one method of generating whip action in the arm as it comes through, but it is very important to get the back elbow up and through as Matt does at the :51 second mark.

From there, the hips fire through and the elbows follow. Watch how the front elbow rotates forward and down without yanking the body off the midline. The throwing arm follows through with level shoulders and a high three quarters release point. At the :54 second mark, the finish is excellent over a slightly bent front knee. Young pitchers could learn a lot from Cain's ability to go straight toward the target and get extension over that front side.

As always, continue studying the mechanics of the guys who know how to do it.

Keep the questions coming and I'll keep you up to date.

Until Next Time!!

Arm Soreness Vs. Pain

Pain is part of being a pitcher. For better or worse, a pitcher's ability to withstand a fair amount of pain, mostly in his throwing arm, will determine at least some of his ability to progress through the ranks of high school, college and professional baseball. Literally, a pitcher must have a high tolerance for pain to succeed.

Everyone knows that throwing the baseball as much as a pitcher does in one of his starts is very hard on the arm. The over-hand motion is tough on the elbow, shoulder and all related tendons, ligaments and muscles. With every pitch, those muscles create tiny tears and "bleed." The tendons and ligaments are stretched from the bone and manipulated in ways that are not exactly how nature intended. All of these motions create varying degrees of discomfort and pain. To be successful, a pitcher must be able to differentiate between soreness, which can be "thrown through" and pain which indicates injury, which should halt any further throwing.

Soreness is the type of pain that generally results from the over use of the throwing arm and typically resides in the muscles of the arm. For example, after a long outing, the pitcher will find some soreness in the triceps, forearm, behind the elbow and in the back muscles. This type of pain is usually a dull, aching feeling that throbs after the pitch is released. Usually, this pain will subside after a few days of cardio and some light icing. Many times, even throwing itself can help facilitate blood flow to the sore areas and alleviate the pain. Even if the pain persists, it will usually subside with continued throwing (even with some pain) or the cessation of throwing to allow the muscles to heal. A pitcher with this type of pain is usually experiencing tendinitis. Many times, an increase in ibuprofen intake and the aforementioned icing and throwing will help this pain subside in one to six weeks.

On the contrary, the pain from an actual injury will be very acute and sharp. The pain will "shoot" through the injured location during the release of the pitch itself instead of after the pitch has been released. The epicenter of this pain is almost IN the joints. That is to say, the inside of the elbow and inside of the shoulder capsule will create the pain. This indicates an injury, not of the muscles, but of the ligaments, tendons and nerves. The tendons could possibly be torn, the nerve could be pitched, or any other part of the arm including the bone could be compromised. Instead of the inflammation associated with the dull pain of tendinitis, the actual structure of the arm will be altered. Examples of this injury would be the torn labrum (found in the shoulder) or the torn UCL (the tommy john ligament). The elbow could experience bone chips or bone spurs and the shoulder's rotator cuff itself could be torn. Recovery from these types of injuries almost always requires extensive physical therapy, rehab, and surgery. The time to full recovery can range anywhere from 6 weeks to a full year (for Tommy John labrum surgery).

As a pitcher, you must be able to take care of your arm when the pain is only soreness from throwing. This means doing your shoulder and elbow maintenance exercises and ensure that your delivery is as close to flawless as possible to prevent causing any unnecessary wear and tear.

This post isn't meant to scare you, but it is meant to keep you informed so that you can best take care of your body.

Until Next Time!!

Big Leaguer Breakdown: Jake Peavy

It's been a few days since the last post, but it's been a busy week with a wedding and road trip to take care. With that behind me and being that it is Sunday, we find ourselves ready for our next installment of Big Leaguer Breakdown. This week, we will look at one of the Chicago White Sox's best starting pitchers. After 7 seasons with the Padres (including the footage of this video), Jake Peavy was traded, mid-season, to the White Sox while on the DL with an ankle injury. Despite the set back, he was still 9-6 with a 3.45 ERA. His career numbers are even better with a W-L of 95-68 with a 3.27.



Check out this youtube post of Peavy warming up with the Padres by elcarquis.

We can tell immediately that Peavy is not at max effort during his pre-game bullpen. Many pitchers utilize this approach with the thought that they do not want to waste any of their best stuff in the 'pen. However, we see that his mechanics are very repeatable with some key points along the way. Much of Peavy's success is attributable to a mid 90's fastball, but it is also a direct result of the deception created in his motion.

By freezing the video at the :09 mark, we have seen Peavy go over the head with his hands, settle back down and then relift them to shoulder height with the knee lift. This is quite a bit of movement, but it is very beneficial from a timing and arm action standpoint. By going over the head, as the thought process goes, a pitcher can promote both deception (the hitter would have trouble following the ball in the glove) and a fluid arm swing as the motion of the arms facilitates a looser arm on the hand break. As we watch the video, we see Peavy utilize this movement to get compact on the leg lift. From here, we watch the hand break and notice one of the key features of Jake's delivery. At the :10 mark, the hands have separated, but not directly at the target. Instead, Peavy's body rotates in toward the third base side. Thus, the throwing arm will come behind the body toward the first base side. This movement is difficult for a hitter to follow as he will see a lot of the pitchers body and the arm slot will have some rotation to it as it comes to the front and ultimately, toward the hitter.

Two more clicks through this video (still at the :10 mark) and we see exactly what we are looking for. The arms come up and through to release point. Here, we can see Peavy's low three quarters arm slot that allows him to create very effective downward movement. As I've said many times, the upper half rotation is very effective for creating movement on the ball, but it is only helpful if the delivery can be repeated. Peavy is able to do that and we see him here, with his head on target, chest square and ready to finish, executing the pitch with proper finish mechanics.

The rest of the video is much of the same. The other thing to take note of if the straight front leg that Peavy has on all of his pitches after he release the baseball. Many sinkerballers like Peavy and Derek Low feature the straight front leg because it forces them to short arm the baseball, but also promotes even more movement on the fastball. I don't teach this to my pitchers, but some guys can execute it with great effectiveness.

Keep studying these big leaguers and look for what works and what doesn't.

Until Next Time!!

The Key to Long Toss

Just a short piece today. I have been doing quite a bit of long toss recently with my young clients. Everyone seems to know that long toss will help you throw the ball further and harder. However, what they fail to realize that if they do not pay attention to their mechanics when long tossing, they run the risk of creating poor pitching mechanics as well as, possibly injuring their arm.

The key to the distance throwing that is long toss is the ensure the elbows and arms work linerally (in a straight line) to the target. The only thing that should change is the angle of release. When we throw off the mound, we trajectory should be from high to low, ending at the knees of the hitter. On the contrary, when throwing long, the ball should have about a 30 degrees angle of release upward (toward the sky, in a way). The easiest way to throw the ball upwards is to throw around the body in a circular motion. This is completely contrary to what we are trying to accomplish on the mound. Instead, the pitcher must force his elbows upward (with a slight tilt of the front shoulder up) and as the hips turn, the front elbow works (not around) and the back elbow works up and through the release point. The other key is to keep the fingers and hand on top of the baseball, even though the ball is being released higher than normal.

Once the ball is released, the chest and torso should finish forward and down after release. Like pitching off the mound, the front knee must bend slightly allowing the arm to get extended as the arm whips through to follow through.

Work on these techniques next time you throw and be sure to post any questions.

Until Next Time!!

The Art of the Opening Day Start

Greetings and Happy Easter to everyone out there is Less Is More land. With the risen Lord appropriately honored and glorified today, it is only fitting we celebrate with the first day of the regular Major League baseball season. The big game being, of course, Yankees vs. Red Sox and, more importantly in some ways, CC Sabathia vs. Josh Beckett.

So, what does it mean to get the ball on opening day of the season? As a veteran of multiple high school and college open days (I was a reliever in pro ball), I speak from experience when I say it is both an honor and a responsibility to take the ball on day 1. Much can be said for getting that first win of the season out of the way and much of that responsibility falls on that starting pitcher's ability to throw strikes, get ahead, and give your team a chance to win. In some ways, this is the pitcher's job every time he goes out, but some things may be slightly different depending on where you are during you season. In this case, since it is the first game, the general rule of thinking is that the hitters will still be slightly off on their timing and the pitcher should have the advantage. This information should give the pitcher the confidence needed to immediately be in attack mode. There should be no nibbling on the corners and throwing excessive amounts of off-speed pitches. Instead, start with and ride your fastball. Move in and out, up and down, and when you get ahead in the count, then worry about changing speeds. Utilize the hitter's lack of live pitching in spring training to your advantage. Of course, you can't throw every pitch down broadway. It is still essential to locate down and out of the middle of the zone. It is still essential to locate those off-speed pitches where you want to. Suffice it say that the margin for error is slightly larger.

From a pitcher's preparation point of view, there should be no gap in the arm strength category. Generally, you are not going to be expected to go 9 innings. You will, however, be expected to go five to six STRONG innings. Hopefully, you've spent the preseason getting ready physically and mentally. Undoubtedly, you've prepared by throwing to hitters and getting the feel of the catcher and hitter in the box.

For the day of the game, try to make it a bigger deal than it needs to be. As always, the mound is still 60 ft. 6 inches from home and the bases are still at 90ft. Trust your stuff as you toe the rubber with a cool confidence that you know you will out match the opposing hitters. The worst thing you can do is make the game bigger than it is. Remain composed, avoid walks at all costs, and allow your defense to make the plays they are supposed to. By accomplishing these three things, you should find yourself ahead after six and able to turn it over to a fully capable bullpen to take it to the 9th.

Good luck this year to those in pro ball, and for those whose seasons are already under way (high school and college) keep getting sharper every time out.

Until Next Time!!

Which Side of the Mound to Pitch From?

So, there are many things about pitching that are extremely complicated. Something as simple as 'what side of the mound to pitch from' can be analyzed and generate multiple approaches and theories. I am here to set the record straight. The concept is relatively simple. The hand that you throw with should determine what side of the mound you throw from. So obviously, a left handed pitcher will throw from the first base side of the rubber and a right hander from the third base side. Why is this? To create an angle that will make it difficult for the hitter to pick up the baseball out of the pitcher's hand. For a righty, throwing from right side to a right handed hitter, the ball will appear to come from behind the batter. Contrasty, if the righty is throwing to a lefty, the ball will appear to be coming across the plate instead of straight toward the hitter. This change in geometry can really give hitters a tough time squaring up the baseball. This, obviously, translates even further into change-ups and breaking balls.

Of course, as with everything is the game of baseball, this theory is only true 90% of the time. There are certain scenarios where it will benefit for a pitcher to throw from the other side of the mound. For example, a pitcher who steps across his body when he pitches could benefit from throwing from the other side of the mound. By doing this, a "cross-stepper" will end up in the middle of the mound and it will allow him to locate his pitches in the zone with more consistently.

Secondly, sinker ball pitchers also benefit from throwing from the opposite side of the mound. By doing this, the sinker (which moves downward and arm side) has more of the plate to move in and still within the strike zone. Effectively, a pitcher can start with his throwing arm in the of the rubber (by standing on the glove side of the rubber) and, with good mechanics, work his sinker to both side of the plate with more effortless adjustments.

Aside from these two scenarios, the rule of thumb is to throw from your the arm side half of the rubber. The adjustment is very easy to make and will return immediate dividends. Good luck applying this in your next outing and let me know how it goes.

Until Next Time!

Big Leaguer Breakdown: Heath Bell

In much the same way that Brian Wilson established himself as a premier closer with a fantastic 2009, Heath Bell dug himself out of relative Major League obscurity to post an amazing 42 saves for a mediocre San Diego team. His stop and go delivery of a mid-90's fastball and sharp breaking ball allowed Heath to post a 2.71 ERA with a 1.14 WHIP. We've got another great video from youtube user laflippin to look at this week's Big Leaguer Breakdown: Heath Bell.

Peruse this video of Heath Bell warming up to see how he delivers the baseball.

The first thing to do is watch this video all the way through. It is important to notice the short and choppy nature of Heath's delivery. Notice how he lifts his leg low, hitches forward on his hand break, and elevates his entire body through a back foot lift. Then, he jerks down with the glove and the hand fires through with the hip turn. There are many pros and cons to this approach. First, the hesitation in the delivery makes it very difficult for a hitter to pick up the rhythm and timing of the baseball. Usually, a hitter will "load" and stride as the pitcher begins his leg lift down toward the target. This is very difficult to do with a delivery like Heath's because that slide forward has a sort of "hiccup" that changes that timing. However, the hitch can also make the timing of the pitcher's body difficult to repeat unless it is executed perfectly every time. Years of repetition are likely required to ensure the hand break and foot strike are timed perfectly with the elbow and chest and finish.

With this in mind, we'll look at a few keep points in this video. First, the 0:40 mark shows the hitch to which I am referring. By coming up off the heal of the back foot, the front foot is forced downward sooner than the average delivery. This, of course, shortens the stride and forces Bell to throw over a relatively stiff front leg. We do, however, see at this point in the delivery that the requisite "elbows up" position is achieved even without getting very "athletic."

From here, if we just click through the delivery just a few ticks (still the 0:40 mark) we see Heath has turned and released the baseball. His head is well on target but the chest and front leg are very stiff and flat. Generally, we like to see a slight bend in the front knee and some torso flexibility that would all the pitcher to get extended to his target. Bell, however, does not get very far forward over that front leg as he releases the ball, thus preventing himself from getting extension on release.

As with most big leaguers, Heath does a great job of repeating his delivery extremely well. There are some key factors that I, personally, do not love. However, per usual, he has done a great job being effective with his unique attributes.

Take some time and keep studying those deliveries.

Until Next Time!!!

Controlling the Running Game Part II

So far, we spoken specifically about what the pitcher, individually, can do to prevent runners from stealing bases. Approaches such as changing looks, timing, and pick offs are all part of the defenses at the pitcher's disposal to catch would-be base stealers.

In this installment, we will look at a couple scenarios that involve not just the pitcher, but the other fielders to help hold the runner on and prevent him from getting any kind of stealing jump. The first relationship to be discussed is between the catcher and the pitcher. Since the catcher has a better viewing angle on what the runners are doing, he can see, better than the pitcher, what the runner is doing. Regardless of whether the sign originates from the dugout (called by the coach) or solely from the catcher, the catcher can indicate to the pitcher that the runner is taking too many liberties on the base and he needs to pick over. Generally, there is a unique set of signs that indicate to the pitcher that a pick is on. For example, the "horns" series is created by putting the index and pinky fingers down as the first sign, followed by either a 1, 2 or 3. The second sign dictates where the pick should go with first base obviously corresponding to the number 1 and so on and so forth. It is important to note here that it is essential for the fielders to be reading the signs as well. If a short stop or second baseman sees a "horns 2" sign, this indicates a timing pick based on the number of looks is coming to second. This tells the short stop or second baseman to break to the bag as the pitcher looks back toward home (on the predetermined number of looks). After he looks, home, he will continue his rotation back around to start the pick off to second base. Also, from the horns series, the catcher can indicate other unique pieces of the running defense. A "horns - horns" sign can indicate a pitch out and a "horns - fist" can tell the pitcher to hold the ball until the hitter steps out of the box. Just make sure that the first sign is unique enough to tell the pitcher it is not a sign for a pitch.

Another relationship designed for the cessation of base stealers exists between the fielders and the pitcher. At any point in a game, in between pitches, a sign must exist that allows a fielder to indicate that THEY want the pitcher to pick to their bag. The sign itself, of course, can be any number of things as long as it is inconspicuous. A good example would be covering the emblem on the hat as if the fielder was adjusting his hat. The key here falls two-fold on the pitcher. First, he must disciplined enough to look at his fielders after every pitch when a runner is present. It doesn't have to a long look, but just enough for the fielder to cover his hat, for example, to indicate that he wants the pick. With a thousand other things to consider, it is easy sometimes to forget to look at all the fielders. Secondly, it is the pitchers responsibility to acknowledge that he has received the pick sign as well. This sign can be just simple as long as it is discreet. The adjusting of the cup could serve the needed purpose quite well. Generally, speaking, once the pick is put on by the fielder and acknowledged by the pitcher, it is cued off of the head looks of the pitcher. For example, if the first baseman gives the sign, then the pitcher (a righty) will come set, check the runner once, check him twice, and after looking home, spins and picks. For a lefty, the leg lift will cue the pick is coming. The key, of course, is communicate silently to the each other that the pick is coming.
The last relationship involves the middle infielders when there is a runner on second. Sometimes, an opportunity presents itself for the pick off after the pitcher comes set. If the runner extends its lead too far, for example, or seems to loose focus while off the bag, the infielder can indicate to the pitcher to essentially "PICK NOW!" The fielder does this with what is know as the "flash pick." In the case of the short stop, he will wait until the pitcher looks his way and then break to the bag with his glove hand extended to the bag. As soon as the pitcher sees this, he must immediately turn and spin pick, getting the throw to the bag at the same time the fielder gets to the bag. On the flip side, if the second baseman does the break to the bag, he shows an open throwing hand when the pitcher is looking and the picks is timed in similar fashion. This technique should be used sparingly because the element of surprise is the key to making this work. However, if timed correctly, the pitcher can quickly get himself out of a sticky situation.

So there we have it. I know this is a bit in depth and I, truthfully, I could do a post on each scenario. However, this should suffice for now. Let me know if you have any specific scenarios or questions.

Until NextTime!!!