Questions from Braves on pitch count, curve balls, "perfect" mechanics

From Braves via Stephen Strasburg thread...

"I'd like to get your opinion on pitch counts at the different ages; throwing a curveball at a certain age, and how does one develop "perfect" mechanics as a pitcher? Heck, for that matter, what is perfect mechanics?

What I like that you do is your ability to explain to us common folks, so that we will understand.

Thank you...and if you want to start a new thread covering these topics, go right ahead. "


Pitch Counts…

I think the LL guidelines are a good attempt overall. However, with the physical maturation variance among adolescents I don't personally think all 12 year olds are the same just as all 9, 10, 11 year olds are the same. A 12 year old throwing 30 pitches with suboptimal mechanics may be worse than a 12 year old throwing 60 with good mechanics. Therefore, putting a number limit isn't the answer in my opinion. To borrow a phrase from a good friend and mentor of mine... "where you fail is where you start". That simply means, a pitcher's pitch count limit should be where he first begins to a) lose velocity, b) lose command, c) verbally reports fatigue, d) mechanics begin to change. So where his pitching performance begins to fail (change) is where his pitch count limit should be set for future outings.

Conditioning through purposeful bullpens is how to increase pitch count endurance in my opinion.


Throwing a Curve Ball…

This is a loaded question that is going to potentially make some people upset at me. But my opinion was asked for so here it goes…

I don’t think there is an ideal age for throwing a curve ball. I have to use the same rationale from above when talking about pitch counts. It will be different for different pitchers but the way to tell if the pitcher is physically ready to throw the curve ball is his elbow angle when he throws it. Most inside of the elbow/ulnar collateral ligament (Tommy John/Stephen Strasburg ligament) occur from the stress placed on this aspect of the elbow during the acceleration phase of throwing. More stress is placed at inside of the elbow when the elbow is bent at 90 degrees or greater (with 70 – 80 degrees possibly the most optimal). So if the youngster isn’t able to control his elbow at an angle between 70 – 80 degrees during the acceleration phase while attempting to throw a curve ball, then in my opinion he is not ready. (Biomechanics research is available if anyone wants to read a bunch of physics stuff – let me know.)


Perfect Mechanics…

Braves really wants to get me into trouble here – lol.

I try not to use the phrase “perfect” with my clients. I like to talk about “optimal mechanics” and “efficient mechanics”. The reason I choose these phrases is that there appear to be different ways to get to certain “check points” of a mechanically efficient throwing motion.

One of my check points I look for with the video analysis is “disconnection”. Do the hips and shoulders rotate at the same time or do the hips rotate then the shoulders?

Another check point is hip stability on the plant foot. If the plant leg is unstable, then the whole kinetic (body) chain has to compensate – usually the elbow eventually.

I am a believer in the hand/ball being above shoulder level at foot plant due to the cam effect of a low hand/ball causes on the front of the shoulder when the spikes dig into the mound.

I like to see pitchers moving towards home plate versus spinning out to 1st base (righties) or 3rd base (lefties).

I also take angle measurements, look at trunk lean, arm slot/follow through angle amongst other things.

These are just a few of the check points for efficient mechanics that I use.

Hope this answers some questions Braves…

 

This is a great start to a potential great thread. I have some questions pertaining to what you said, but I'm too tired to ask tonight.

I encourage everybody to take advantage of ATC's visit.