TPC Video Break: The Freak

A nice compilation of Tim Lincecum related clips for your viewing pleasure.



I really like the comparison between Lincecum and cricket bowler Shoaib Akhtar, who at one point held the world record for fastest cricket ball in the world (100.2 mph). Both Lincecum and Akhtar use "momentum pitching", which helps them attain maximum velocity by creating a significant amount of forward momentum with their bodies, which is then transferred to the ball via their arms.



In contrast to the momentum approach, here's a clip of Felix Hernandez, who actually comes to a complete stop in his motion before throwing to home plate.



I'm not an expert when it comes to pitching mechanics, but I would much rather see a pitcher use their whole body like Lincecum than to use the stop-and-start motion that Hernandez uses. It seems to me that by utilizing your body more, it reduces the overall stress on your arm, and increases velocity without increasing fatigue. There's a really good article at Drive Line Mechanics about Hernandez and the whole momentum versus stop-and-start pitching approach.

Daisuke Matsuzaka seems to have a mixed approach, creating some momentum, but not quite as much as Lincecum.



This final clip is of Greg Maddux during a bullpen session. He uses a very smooth momentum based approach that allows him to create velocity without putting much strain on his arm, and allows for a very efficient approach.



Everybody's different, so it's impossible to say that one approach is always better than another, but I think I prefer the momentum based mechanical approach. ...Read more

TPC Video Break: Brett Cecil Bullpen Session

I haven't seen much of Brett Cecil, but the following video gives us a glimpse of his mechanics, at least during a bullpen session. It's not much to go by, and without breaking the video down by frame it's hard to really critique his arm and shoulder motion. However, Cecil has a nice fluid motion, and I really like his transition from leg kick to plant, and then follow-through. I've seen a lot of young pitchers that have a lot of wasted motion in their move to the plate, but Cecil looks very efficient. 

There's also a decent forum discussion at TwoPlus Two Poker I found covering the topic of Cecil's mechanics if you're interested, although I couldn't get the animated images to work.

Tommy Hanson Pitching Mechanics

As most of you know, I think that Tommy Hanson has been a bit over hyped, and he'll struggle for a few years in the majors before putting it all together. DriveLineMechanics.com has an interesting breakdown of his mechanics. Good arm action, but his finish leaves his release point high in my opinion, which helps explain his low GB% (the dominant and glaring weakness in his game).

Trevor Cahill Mechanical Analysis

For those of you interested, there's a nice article breaking down Trevor Cahill's mechanics at DriveLineMechanics.com. While it seems Cahill doesn't have the most ideal motion, it doesn't look like he's high risk either. There are a few indications that he could increase his velocity with a few adjustments, but hey, if it ain't broke, don't fix it, right?