Big Leaguer Breakdown: Zack Greinke

One of the greatest stories of the 2009 season was that of Zack Greinke's ability to recover from a multitude of mental and mechanical problems early in his career to become one of the most dominant pitchers in the game. After beginning the season with 38 straight scoreless innings, Zack finished his season with the AL Cy Young award; boasting a record of 16-8 on a mediocre Royals team and a 2.16 league leading ERA and 242 k's in 229 innings, Greinke is without a doubt one of the best young pitchers in the game.

We'll look at this video of multiple pitches to see how he does it.

As you can see, the video is of great quality since the clips are from ESPN highlight footage. Unfortunately, some of the footage doesn't show much of his mechanics because of the timing. We'll start at the 27 second mark. Notice as he lifts his leg, there is slight inward rotation in both his front shoulder and front hip. I have no problem with this as long as the pitcher is able to get that front side back toward the targer without over-rotating on the way to release point. Zack utilizes a high hand position for his hand break. Notice how smoothly the hands separate as the back leg bends slightly and the front leg extends forward. (29 seconds into the video) When working with my pitching students, I describe this as "getting into an athletic position." There is a slight bend in the back leg as the elbows work up to that position. At the release point of this clip, you see how well he gets his upper half parallel to the ground and finishes to the target. The best aspect of Greinke's mechanics is the over all fluidity of the movements. There is no herky-jerky movements and the entire body works together to stay tall and powerful at the same time.

At the 48 second, we see a strikeout by Greinke where he gets a guy swinging on a high fastball. I want you to the clip and study his finish. To purposefully elevate a pitch, it is less imperative to finish downhill and bend on that front leg. Instead, you can see how Greinke almost stands up on release. Keep in mind it requires absolute mastery to be able to does this ON PURPOSE and still maintain a quality release point on subsequent pitches.

So as you can see, Zack repeats that fluid delivery quite effectively on ALL of his pitches. Splitter, slider, fastball, all are almost indistiguishable from each other to the viewer and, obviously, the batter.

Go through these clips and others on utube of Mr. Greinke to really see how well he times his body up for release.

Until Next Time!!

A Poem About Pitchers

Today's post will just be a forward of a very interesting piece of literature I came across during my "travels." I post quite a bit on a pitching website called LetsTalkPitching.com. One of the administrators actually wrote a poem about pitchers that I decided to share with you. The author identifies himself as Coach Baker and has obviously had quite an extensive baseball career, both playing and coaching. So here it is...



Wizards and warlocks, out of deepen darken halls,
with spells and chants, as they dance the white ball.
With seams that spin, wobble and churn,
with the flick of their wrists, and a turn of their palm.

This man does stand on mysterious ground,
from ten inches high, measures the mound.
A stark white mantel is the perch that he stands astride,
as his magic is spun upon the horse hide he drives.

Now not all wizards are gifted as such,
nor are they equal with all the magical stuff.
Some have pitches with spells that react,
while other take chances with happenstance.

Ah, but then there are those that history will say,
had the gift of true wizardry, on any given day.
That special man who could weave at his will,
like words of an author with the stroke of his quill.
And many a roster, regardless of mix,
has tested this master will all of this tricks.

But try as they may to unseat from his mound,
the true wizard of wizards, and remove his bright crown.
With fastballs, curves, sliders and more,
with change-ups and pitch-outs, their frustration did soar.
Again and again, they charge the old man,
with battle axes of lumber gripped in their hands.

But with the stroke of his wands, and a glare cold as ice,
he’d vanquish the rosters, and turn men into mice.
These were no ordinary spells, no chants of delight,
for they were as deadly in the sunlight as they were in the night.

And as the last spell was cast, and the last battle done,
after so many years, he put down his ole wand.
And yet he was drawn to this mysterious game,
a game that gave meaning and a purpose to his name.
Lined up were those that who would serve the ole man,
and learn all they could from his experienced hands.

For this is the way of the heart and the mind,
the way of the ball and the magic of nine.
And the young apprentice listens with glee,
to learn from the master, the magic of STRIKE THREE!

Coach B.

Pitching Health Tip #1

We'll keep it short and sweet today. Sometimes when I think about the information I've accumulated over the years about pitching, I start to delve into some pretty technical and complicated aspects of the art of pitching. I forget sometimes, that not everyone has had the experience and benefit of dedicated pitching coaches and personal trainers to give you some of the seemingly obvious advice that I take for granted.

So in light of that revelation, I've decided to provide, on a semi-routine basis, health tips that can help the Intelligent Pitcher compete at his highest ability level at all times. For our first installment of Pitching Health Tips, I'd like to encourage any and all pitchers to begin taking a multi-vitamin every day. In a perfect world, all athletes would receive all the vitamins and nutrients in their daily routine diets. However, depending on your living situation and budget, eating perfectly isn't always an option. For example, when I would get finished with a game in South Bend, Indiana at 11pm, the only thing open was usually Stake N Shake. Not exactly healthy. So, to make up for the holes in an daily diet, a multi-vitamin is extremely important. It is important to understand, however, that multi-vitamins cannot make up for complete deficiencies in a diet. If you get not Vitamin C for example, a pill will not make up for that completely .

So what kind of vitamin should you take? In my experience, the best to take is a liquid multi-vitamin such as Vit-acell by Max Muscle Nutrition. Liquid vitamins generally generate more completely than their pill counterparts and this particular mix has a great vitamin and mineral profile that is both balanced and effective. If you must go to a pill form, I would recommend a chewable variety for the same reason. The compacting techniques of the basic swallowed pill makes it extremely difficult for your stomach to digest. In fact, many times the pill isn't digest at all and its passes straight through. I currently utilize Centrum Chewable multi-vitamin and have had positive results. On the contrary, the non-chewable counterparts are less effective.

There are many varieties out there and the most important thing is to check the nutritin label to ensure there is the correct mixture of both minerals and vitamins.

Feel free to comment with any questions or comments you may have.

Until Next Time!!!

Big Leaguer Breakdown: John Smoltz

Today we examine one of the most versatile, durable, and explosive pitchers of the modern baseball era. After 21 big league seasons, the majority of which with the Atlanta Braves, Smoltz has become one of the only pitchers to accumulate 200+ wins and 150+ saves. Even this year, after struggling to recover from arm surgery with the Boston Red Sox, he was picked up by the St. Louis Cardinals and returned to form as one of the anchors of the Cards rotation. His mechanics have been largely the same since his rookie since ('88) and are one of the main reasons he's been so electric and effective for so long. I personally believe his mid 90's fastball and slider combo is one of the best in the history of the game. That is why John Smoltz is this week's Big Leaguer Breakdown.

Check out this unique video analyzing his mechanics during a bullpen where he is simultaneously videoed throwing a fastball and a change-up.

The point of this video is show how Smoltz keeps his delivery the same throughout both of his pitches. As an Intelligent Pitcher, its important to understand that the delivery must remain the same through each pitch, so the hitter is not tipped off as to what pitch is coming. At the seven second mark, you see how both legs lifts and hand slots are identically and properly loaded over the back leg. Notice how his chin is tucked down and level over the center of his body. Click the video one second forward and you can see the smoothness of his handbreak as he simultaneously loads the back leg. You can notice a slight bend on the back knee as the front hip rids down the mound. This works well for keeping the weight on the back side for the hip turn fires. Smoltz is also very smooth with his hand break but be sure to see how his hands stay timed up with front foot. Basically, as the foot goes forward, his hands work up and out.

We'll look at the 24 second mark of the video (the second pitch) to again watch how quickly and easily Smoltz gets his elbows up and into the power position. Notice how his front foot hasn't quite hit the ground yet and his hips are still on target. As we know, this is essential for allowing the lower half to "power" the upper half to release. As the end of the 24 second mark, Smoltz has turned his glove down and his throwing elbow is leading the hand to release. Here, his chest is completel square to the target with the hips completely turned. The chins is perfectly level on target and ready for the finish over a slightly bent front leg.

The last half of the video does a good job of breaking down some of his movements as well. You can see how symmetrical his body his throughout many parts of his delivery. Make sure to study these pieces as well as the the entire video.

I'm always available for any comments or questions.

Until Next Time!

Pitching Backward?

Hitter's are born to hit the fastball. They are bread from the first day of Coach pitch to hit the straight ball. Generally, hitting the breaking ball is a skill that is acquired by some of the better hitters at every level. Weather its high school, college, or the pros, hitting the off speed pitch is an acquired skill that takes years of dedication. Of course there are other types of hitters who attempt to get by just waiting and working the count to get the straight one. In scouting reports, these guys are typically described as "dead red" or "first pitch fastball" hitters. Also, many scouting reports ON pitchers will show a pitcher's tendency to throw a lot of off-speed stuff or that he possibly throws fastballs early and soft stuff late. Any of these scenarios would represent good situations to "pitch backward."

So, what does pitching backward mean? Essentially, it is a pitching strategy that entails throwing fastballs in breaking ball counts and breaking ball counts. For example, most first pitches of an at bat are expected to be fastballs, so a hitter would be ready and looking for the fastball. Here's a perfect opportunity to spin a breaking ball in for a strike. Most hitters will be on their front foot and just take the pitch...looking for the holy grail (fastball). On the flip side, if you have a hitter who works the count to a 1-2 or 2-2 situation after a variety off-speed stuff, this would be another perfect opportunity to ring him up with an fastball. I am personally a huge fan of an inside fastball here that can "freeze" the hitter for strike three. Middle counts don't lend themselves as much to pitching backward. Basically, you can do what you want to get to the '2-strike' count. Of course, you don't want to fall into a pattern when setting up hitters. But that's a post for another day. Just be aware of counts where you think a hitter might be looking for a fastball and throw a breaking ball and vice versa.

So there we have it. Not the longest post ever...but the point is essential to get the better of the more advanced hitters you may face. A good pitcher must know his hitters and be able to read hitters he doesn't know. This is definitely an advanced topic, but its one that all pitchers must address.

Always comment if you have any questions.

Until Next Time!!

Big Leaguer Breakdown: Billy Wagner

For this week's Big Leaguer Breakdown, I've decided to look at one of the best relievers in recent history. With 385 career saves and one of the most electric fastballs from a left handed pitcher, Billy Wagner and his intro song (Enter Sandman by Metallica) have been terrorizing hitters in the 9th inning for over a decade. Wagner is also unique from a mechanical standpoint because despite his smaller stature (he's 5'10") his electric arm speed and powerful lower half allows him to generate serious velo.

Check out this video of him warming up to study those mechanics.

Starting at the 3 second mark of the video we should look at two specific things. First off, his leg kick is extremely high...well beyond the parallel mark of his hips. As a reliever, he doesn't need to use the wind up and doesn't really need to be overly concerned with being quick to the plate with runners on. Therefore, he utilizes a very exaggerated leg kick to help generate his velocity. Also notice how high his hands are at this point; raising in unison with his leg to an equally exaggerated height. This placement is key to showing the extremely rare elasticity that Billy uses to help generate so much arm action.

As we watch the video forward from this point, we notice how well Wagner keeps his weight back as the hands break and he begins moving toward the target. After the leg lift, the front leg works down first before working forward with only a slight bend on the back leg. This is still at the 3 second mark. What is important to see here is that his hands have not yet broken. Typically you would want your hands to break as the knee works down and forward. This is what makes Billy so unique. His hands, elbows and arm speed so fast, he can afford to break his hands later and still remain on time with his hip turn. Let's watch further in the video.

At the 4 second mark, Wagner's hands have broken and already elevated to an awesome power position. He again utilizes his excellent hand speed and also a very very short arm swing to get to that power position. His elbows are up and loaded BEFORE the foot hits the ground...as you can see from this point of the video.


From here, its explosion time. The hip turn is quick and direct and he tucks his glove under his chest. The glove turn is a bit on the rotational side but he is able to keep his chest and chin direct over the target as he explodes to the target. His front knee does lock out on release, but his flexible waist and core allows for a proper finish.

So there we have Billy Wagners mechanics broken down in ultimate Less is More fashion.

Make sure to post any questions or comments.

Until Next Time!!

Pitching in 2010

With 2010 less than a day old, I figured it was high time to look forward to getting ready for the new baseball season ahead. Pitcher's report to big league camp in mid-February and high school tryouts are just a short week or two behind. So what does this mean for all of you in Less Is More Pitching land? Its time to start preparing for the up coming season to allow yourself the best chance to be the best pitcher you can be.

We know the off-season is for getting stronger and hopefully gaining some muscle and core strength. If you've spent the off-season dedicated to a weight program to achieve this goal, then it is time to switch that program to a lower weight/higher rep explosive lifting program. You no longer need to be gaining muscle mass, but instead, training those muscles to be as explosive as possible with some Olympic style lifting mixed with stability exercises and agilities. It is also time to ramp up your cardio program. Running more frequently and staggering how you run is important. For example, interval training, sprints, and long distance should all be utilized to create the proper mix of cardio work.

As for throwing, now is a good time to begin your long toss program if you haven't already. Start slow and shorter, gradually increasing the distance you throw and how often you throw. Maybe three times a week the first week and then add to that in the following weeks. You want to be up to a good arm strength by the beginning of February, because it is at that time, that you would want to begin throwing you bullpens in preparation for tryouts and the season ahead. I hope you don't need convincing to begin your long toss program...but in case you do...here's a quote from Greg Maddux in a 1999 issue of Collegiate Baseball Magazine.

"I'll start playing long toss in January. If I can throw it 200 feet, I try to throw it 300 feet. I don't stop at 120 feet, I throw it as far as I can."

...he continues by saying...

"I think long toss is a great way to build your arm up, to get in shape to throw off the mound."


Also, if you haven't already begun doing jobe exercises or band work before and/or after you throw, this is the time begin doing that as well. There are plenty of indoor facilities in most areas, like the WISC in Williamsburg, VA where I train (shameless plug) to allow you begin your season preparations regardless of what the temperature is out side.

If you have any specific questions or comments about how to get ready for the season, please post them here and I'll respond in as much detail as you can handle...I tend to over do it with these types of things because the most important thing you can control right now is how hard you work...and there better not be anyone who works harder than you do...right now!!

Until Next Time!!