07-28-2010, 07:58 AM
<!--quoteo(post=108344:date=Jul 28 2010, 06:09 AM:name=Runnys)-->QUOTE (Runnys @ Jul 28 2010, 06:09 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=108343:date=Jul 28 2010, 01:20 AM:name=Fella)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Fella @ Jul 28 2010, 01:20 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=108341:date=Jul 27 2010, 10:52 PM:name=Destined)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Destined @ Jul 27 2010, 10:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=108340:date=Jul 27 2010, 09:08 PM:name=dk123)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (dk123 @ Jul 27 2010, 09:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=108336:date=Jul 27 2010, 10:44 PM:name=Runnys)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Runnys @ Jul 27 2010, 10:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I just don't understand why all these pitchers have arm problems. How were guys able to average well over 250 innings a year for a decade and never have a serious arm injury...but these guys get to 200 and they blow out their arm the next year...I just don't get it.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I have been wondering that for a long time. I have thought of a variety of theories, but none of them really seem to hold up.
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The advancement of breaking pitches. The splitter and sinker are relatively new pitches. Plus, the curves and sliders guys are throwing today put way more torque on the arm than before. Pitchers are pushing the limit of their arsenal.
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Yeah, if you believe the sports physiologists, this is the reason.
40 years ago guys just got on the mound and threw the ball. Sure some threw very hard, some had pretty sweet movement on the ball, but guys just weren't doing the things with their arms they do now. Some starters throw 5 or 6 different pitches and everyone tries to get the most torque and movement possible. Fastballs used to be everyones pitch of choice, it was what you saw 80% of the time, other stuff was just to change it up and make you think. Now days some pitchers rarely even throw a fastball at all.
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Why has it changed some much then? I mean, if guys were getting by with throwing fastballs 80% of the time and mowing down hitters, why did it evolve into throwing the fastball maybe only 60% of the time? It just seems that if guys like Wood, Prior, Strasburg, etc. could have been/be just as dominant if they would throw their overpowering fastball 80% of the time and use the breaking pitches to just switch things up a little.
Again, I just don't understand all the arm problems that these guys have...blows my mind.
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Because throwing 80% fastballs would mean you pretty much never fooled a hitter. Hitters now have video. They can break down a pitcher's motion and know what they're really seeing as opposed to what they thought they saw. Arm angle, release point...all that. Sure, the mounds higher and pitchers are stronger but hitters have more sophisticated coaching and they're far more athletic too. Then there's the generally tiny strike zone. It''s more important than ever to get a lot of movement because it's become more important to get hitters to swing at balls off the plate because the called strikes are scarcer.
I have been wondering that for a long time. I have thought of a variety of theories, but none of them really seem to hold up.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The advancement of breaking pitches. The splitter and sinker are relatively new pitches. Plus, the curves and sliders guys are throwing today put way more torque on the arm than before. Pitchers are pushing the limit of their arsenal.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yeah, if you believe the sports physiologists, this is the reason.
40 years ago guys just got on the mound and threw the ball. Sure some threw very hard, some had pretty sweet movement on the ball, but guys just weren't doing the things with their arms they do now. Some starters throw 5 or 6 different pitches and everyone tries to get the most torque and movement possible. Fastballs used to be everyones pitch of choice, it was what you saw 80% of the time, other stuff was just to change it up and make you think. Now days some pitchers rarely even throw a fastball at all.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Why has it changed some much then? I mean, if guys were getting by with throwing fastballs 80% of the time and mowing down hitters, why did it evolve into throwing the fastball maybe only 60% of the time? It just seems that if guys like Wood, Prior, Strasburg, etc. could have been/be just as dominant if they would throw their overpowering fastball 80% of the time and use the breaking pitches to just switch things up a little.
Again, I just don't understand all the arm problems that these guys have...blows my mind.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Because throwing 80% fastballs would mean you pretty much never fooled a hitter. Hitters now have video. They can break down a pitcher's motion and know what they're really seeing as opposed to what they thought they saw. Arm angle, release point...all that. Sure, the mounds higher and pitchers are stronger but hitters have more sophisticated coaching and they're far more athletic too. Then there's the generally tiny strike zone. It''s more important than ever to get a lot of movement because it's become more important to get hitters to swing at balls off the plate because the called strikes are scarcer.