By Garrett Quinn Pitching Coach, Liberty University
It is always interesting to sit at various ballparks during the hot summer months and listen to pro scouts and college scouts evaluate the pitching mechanics of a particular prospect. This is a discipline where beauty, most certainly, is in the eye of the beholder. As the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at Stetson University, I have a great deal of latitude when it comes to identifying the prospects we will pursue and those we will avoid. Therefore, I try to identify and evaluate prospects that will be compatible with our pitching philosophy at Stetson and those prospects who also, with proper guidance, will continue to improve and develop over time.
When evaluating a pitcher, there are several aspects of the pitching game that must be assessed. Those aspects include velocity, movement, command, depth and spin of the breaking ball, athleticism, and competitiveness, to name a few. Yet, the pitching delivery is one aspect that will oftentimes determine the long-term pitch-ability and repeat-ability of a prospect on the mound.
Arm Action
Without a doubt, one of the first things scouts notice about a prospect is his arm action. This is a very important part of the delivery because, in many cases, arm action will determine the possibility of future increases in velocity. Arm action can also indicate, although not definitively, the likelihood of future arm injuries.
In most cases, there are two particular styles of arm action that are the most desirable in a pitching prospect. I have termed these particular actions as the “elbow climb” and the “down-back-up”. Both of these arm actions are desirable because they allow the arm to take a free and smooth path from the time the hands separate until the arm reaches the point of release.
The elbow climb arm action is very quick and generally creates “whip” in the arm. It is also very easy to recognize. This arm action is initiated when the hands separate by a pulling apart of the hands. As the hands pull apart, the elbow “climbs” quickly into a position where it is even with or higher than the shoulder. Once the elbow reaches its highest point, the lower half of the arm (elbow to fingertips) begins to rotate into a position that launches the arm into its slot. This tends to be a compact action which propels the arm into the throwing slot very quickly. Because this action tends to be compact and quick, there are normally very few issues with timing which allows minor mechanical flaws to be overcome naturally.
The down-back-up arm action is generally slower than the elbow climb, but with proper timing can be just as effective. This action is initiated by the throwing hand dropping down as the hands separate and it extends into a long arc until it reaches its highest point (generally with the ball facing second base). Once the hand reaches its apex, the shoulder will rotate and the arm will be launched into the slot. This action necessitates good timing because the length of the arm path creates more opportunities for mechanical flaws to have an impact on the point of release.
Now, there are many “acceptable” deviations in each of these arm actions. However, a good rule to follow when projecting arm action is to avoid anything that looks laborious, unnatural, or overly robotic.
Arm Slot
The angle of the arm at the point of release--as it relates to the body--is commonly defined as the arm slot. This aspect of the pitching delivery is also heavily critiqued by coaches and scouts. There is no right or wrong arm slot; each slot is individual based on arm action, posture, and other mechanical subtleties. However, each slot does have its advantages and disadvantages.
The 12 o’clock slot (commonly referred to as “straight over the top”) tends to be a very difficult slot for pitchers to master command. This is due to the high degree to which a pitcher must tilt his head, shoulders and upper body to achieve this slot. The “head tilt” is of particular concern because it will adversely affect an athletes equilibrium. Most pitchers who throw from this slot will miss up and down with their pitches very frequently—there exists a very small margin for error in the point of release with this slot. However, there is a distinct advantage for pitchers who can master the 12 o’clock slot. Because their point of release is so high, it allows them to throw the ball at a steep downhill angle which makes the ball difficult to hit. Furthermore, their curveball will also tend to break on a vertical plane which is another tough adjustment for hitters to make.
The 12 o’clock slot is one extreme on the arm slot spectrum, the other extreme is the sidearm or submarine arm slot. This can be a very advantageous slot for any pitcher for a couple of reasons. The first reason is that these slots tend to produce a lot of movement of the fastball. The second reason is that these slots are somewhat uncommon and hitters will have a difficult time seeing the ball. Having one or two pitchers on a staff who utilize this kind of unorthodox delivery will give coaches several match-up options in later innings especially right-on-right or left-on-left. Contrary to old-fashioned beliefs, this type of delivery does not put unwanted strain on the arm.
Somewhere between the 12 o’clock slot and the sidearm slot exists a huge gap that can generally be categorized as the three-quarter slot. Now, there are many varying degrees of this arm slot ranging from a “high” three-quarter slot to a “low” three-quarter slot to a “true” three-quarter slot. Nevertheless, this slot usually provides the most advantages for the pitcher for a variety of reasons:
1. It allows the pitcher to maintain a balanced and athletic posture throughout the delivery which aids in command, direction, and rotation. 2. It oftentimes provides run and sink on the fastball. 3. It gives the pitcher the ability to create a vertical plane on breaking pitches. 4. It results in a release point that allows the pitcher to throw the fastball on a downhill plane. 5. It can provide some deception, especially when pitching to armside hitters. 6. It exerts no extra strain on the throwing arm.
Lower Half Mechanics
Lower half mechanics tend to be the least scrutinized aspects of the pitching delivery. This is probably due to the fact that a lot of lower half mechanical deficiencies can be corrected rather easily. For instance, many pitching coaches insist that a pitcher must maximize his directional momentum towards the target. Yet, some pitchers stride severely offline because their pivot foot is not planted parallel to the pitching rubber. This tends to be a very easy and quick fix. By adjusting the placement of the pivot foot the pitcher can attain a more directional approach towards the target.
There are some other aspects of the lower half that should be evaluated. They are as follows:
1. Post Leg – The post leg should be firm and slightly flexed. Although some “drop-n-drive” pitchers may flex the post leg to a greater degree for added velocity. 2. Leg Kick – The leg kick should proceed at an angle slightly towards second base. This allows the hips to be engaged and will provide some torque in the delivery. 3. Stride – Watch out for pitchers who swing the stride leg. This can create momentum away from the target and can expose the arm to injury and can cause early pitch recognition by the hitter. It also causes the hips to “fly open”. 4. Foot Plant – Make sure the front foot is landing slightly closed. If it lands open, then the hips will have opened prematurely and this leaves the upper body to do all the work. 5. Stride Leg – Make sure the stride leg has some flex without totally collapsing. This enhances stability as the arm accelerates to the point of release.
Top Half Mechanics
Top half mechanics are an integral part of the pitching delivery and they encompass many different movements and actions that must all work together efficiently. Poorly executed top half mechanics almost always result in a loss of velocity and a loss of command. Therefore, it is important to have a good understanding of this part of the delivery in order to evaluate and project a prospect on the mound. Furthermore, it is important to know which mechanics can be taught or corrected easily and which ones cannot.
One of the most common problems with young pitchers is that they all want to light up the radar gun. As they try to throw harder, they end up recruiting extra velocity from the wrong part of their delivery. This is oftentimes the cause behind a pitcher “flying open”. The most notable effect of a pitcher flying open is that they will consistently miss high and to the armside of their intended target. This is because they are trying to “pull” their throwing arm through the armslot with the front side of their body. Rather than dropping their front side elbow into the slot and rotating on a diagonal axis towards the plate, their front side elbow will swing open horizontally which pulls the entire body away from the natural release point. Although there are many different approaches to correcting this problem, it is very fixable and should not be the sole reason for eliminating a prospect.
Another common mechanical deficiency with young prospects is the tendency to have a weak front side. See pictures below. This poses problems for many prospects because failure to properly use the non throwing arm as a stabilizer causes the entire delivery to be inconsistent. You can see in the first picture Aapitcher utilizing a strong front side. In the second picture the same pitcher fails to block off his front side-causing a weak front side.
This ultimately results in a loss in velocity, but the biggest and most notable problems will be a lack of control and command. This type of mechanical problem is relatively easy to correct and oftentimes pitchers will experience immediate positive results.
Perhaps the most overlooked aspect of the pitching delivery is the pitchers head. This is one area that should be afforded a good amount of attention during any evaluation. As everyone knows, the head is the nerve center for the entire body and it is where equilibrium is controlled. Because pitching relies so heavily on hand-eye coordination, it is imperative that equilibrium is always in check. As a result, pitchers who have a pronounced “head tilt” during the acceleration phase of the pitching delivery oftentimes will struggle with command. Command problems of this type can be very difficult to overcome unless the pitcher undergoes a mechanical overhaul.
Another common problem that involves the pitchers head is the “head jerk” or “head thrust”. This problem usually involves a violent movement of the head as the ball is being released from the hand. Because this movement tends to be so quick and violent it will usually throw off a pitchers balance. Furthermore, it will take the pitchers eyes off the intended target. Pitchers who share this characteristic are very prone to command and control issues. The head jerk is also nearly impossible to correct with some pitchers which further complicates the matter because command may never improve. However there are some outstanding pitchers who don’t seem to be adversely affected by a head jerk; Hedeki Okajima of the Boston Red Sox is a perfect example.
Rhythm
In the evaluation process it is very beneficial to pay attention to the rhythm of a pitchers delivery. Those pitchers who exhibit a delivery that flows in one solid rhythm from start to finish are not always easy to find. Rhythm can play and important part in the delivery for a variety of reasons. First, a delivery that is fragmented, or has stops and pauses, is usually very difficult to repeat. Oftentimes a pitcher will pause during the delivery in an effort to recruit more power and strength. In many cases the result is a loss of velocity because somewhere energy gets lost in the kinetic chain. As soon as a pitcher begins to slow his delivery, he will create more inertia that must be overcome in a short period of time.
Second, a delivery that is slow and overly deliberate can also cause problems with repeat-ability. These repeat-ability problems arise when the pitcher reaches the acceleration point of the delivery because he is forced to rapidly speed up his body in order to get maximum acceleration through the arm slot.
Another problem involving rhythm occurs when a pitcher speeds through his delivery too quickly. This is commonly referred to as “rushing”. When this takes place the pitchers body will have a tendency to get ahead of his arm. The result will be a loss of command, especially high and to the armside of the intended target. This results from the pitchers front foot landing well before the throwing arm has a chance to be launched into the throwing slot which can greatly affect the timing of the delivery.
There is no formula or exact science to determine whether or not a pitcher has the perfect rhythm. Rhythm is ultimately determined by each individual pitcher. Yet there is a noticeable difference between those pitchers who exhibit the ability to proceed sequentially through the delivery with relative ease and those who do not. Here, again, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.
It is always interesting to sit at various ballparks during the hot summer months and listen to pro scouts and college scouts evaluate the pitching mechanics of a particular prospect. This is a discipline where beauty, most certainly, is in the eye of the beholder. As the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at Stetson University, I have a great deal of latitude when it comes to identifying the prospects we will pursue and those we will avoid. Therefore, I try to identify and evaluate prospects that will be compatible with our pitching philosophy at Stetson and those prospects who also, with proper guidance, will continue to improve and develop over time.
