The race to the top

[thegreatchris]

Uh-oh...

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5482450

All the more reason to get Rendon over Purke/Cole.  Each and every single pitcher is an injury waiting to happen.  I don't wish the worst on Strasburg, and this will probably wind up being very minor, but a pitcher puts his career on the line every single time he starts his windup.

I don't want to get off on too much of a tangent, but on Driveline Mechanics, a blog I used to frequent, the resident expert predicted injuries in Strasburg's future based on his delivery. There tends to be more risk with a pitcher, but the amount varies based on a ton of factors.

[SpeedyG]

Uh-oh...

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5482450

All the more reason to get Rendon over Purke/Cole.  Each and every single pitcher is an injury waiting to happen.  I don't wish the worst on Strasburg, and this will probably wind up being very minor, but a pitcher puts his career on the line every single time he starts his windup.

Is forearm pain an indicator of any specific injury?

[houksyndrome]

Uh-oh...

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5482450

All the more reason to get Rendon over Purke/Cole.  Each and every single pitcher is an injury waiting to happen.  I don't wish the worst on Strasburg, and this will probably wind up being very minor, but a pitcher puts his career on the line every single time he starts his windup.

Is forearm pain an indicator of any specific injury?

It's an indicator of Tommy John.  Didn't Lincoln have forearm pain that was initially thought to be minor and then turned out to require TJ?

[81omar]

Uh-oh...

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5482450

All the more reason to get Rendon over Purke/Cole.  Each and every single pitcher is an injury waiting to happen.  I don't wish the worst on Strasburg, and this will probably wind up being very minor, but a pitcher puts his career on the line every single time he starts his windup.

I don't want to get off on too much of a tangent, but on Driveline Mechanics, a blog I used to frequent, the resident expert predicted injuries in Strasburg's future based on his delivery. There tends to be more risk with a pitcher, but the amount varies based on a ton of factors.

    Al Leiter did a great segment on the MLB Network about the strain Strasburgs motion puts on him and he mentioned the guys from the past who had the same delivery. To get all of that torque in his delivery he forms a W with his arms at the time his front foot is planting and it really puts a lot of strain on the arm as he whips around to finish his throw.

   One of the things about this situation with him getting hurt twice now,the Nationals announcers,especially Rob Dibble want to deny his mechanics are flawed because they see the amazing results and say how could anything be wrong when he does this good. He was on air during Strasburg's last game and actually said "I was talking to Mike Pagliarulo today before the game and he told what he thought Stras was doing wrong with his mechanics like hes some great pitching coach now" His partner goes "what is he a 260 career hitter,yea that qualifies him".  I couldnt believe they were saying this stuff on air,first off how many of todays pitching coaches were great pitchers? What was Dave Duncan's career ERA as a backup/platoon catcher in the 60's-70's? Leo Mazzone had how many Cy Youngs in his zero years in the majors? Second part was why hurl insults at a former player on the air who obviously had a point they refuse to acknowledge,if you dont agree with him just say a "former player". Third,Mike Pags was known as Mr .239 when he played with the Yankees because thats what he batted his first 2 years and when he hit .238 his 3rd year(still had a .239 career avg) they made jokes about him slipping.Way to insult a guy by giving him about 20 points on his batting avg,Mr Baseball history over here. They basically say,nothing is wrong,thats how he pitches,so there!

[SteadyFreddy_12]

In the offseason, when JR is let go, the new manager could really look good.  I mean there is little, if any, reason to expect that the Pirates can be as bad next year.  I could easily see a 15-20 game turnaround.  Doesn't mean that the new manager is that great but someone could reap the benefits of a minor turnaround.

I hope the new manager is either has a last name of Howe,Bell,or VanSlyke. I think anyone of those choices would be a top notch choice for the Pirates to hire because they are all winners and have had success at the Major League level at one point or another...If the Pirates continue playing like they are they will run away in the Anthony Rendon sweepstakes...

[by-the-Sea]

Garner

[mouse]

Tony Pena or Freddy Gonzalas.

[GoBucs21]

In the offseason, when JR is let go, the new manager could really look good.  I mean there is little, if any, reason to expect that the Pirates can be as bad next year.  I could easily see a 15-20 game turnaround.  Doesn't mean that the new manager is that great but someone could reap the benefits of a minor turnaround.

I hope the new manager is either has a last name of Howe,Bell,or VanSlyke. I think anyone of those choices would be a top notch choice for the Pirates to hire because they are all winners and have had success at the Major League level at one point or another...If the Pirates continue playing like they are they will run away in the Anthony Rendon sweepstakes...

Please not Van Slyke.  He was a huge hypocrite and a fake personality as a player.  He strikes me very much like Bobby Valentine as a coach.  The rumor I heard was that he and Leyland didn't get along and Leyland asked him to leave.  Pass on Van Slyke.

[epoc]

Fredi Gonzalez would be my choice too.

[houksyndrome]

In the offseason, when JR is let go, the new manager could really look good.  I mean there is little, if any, reason to expect that the Pirates can be as bad next year.  I could easily see a 15-20 game turnaround.  Doesn't mean that the new manager is that great but someone could reap the benefits of a minor turnaround.

I hope the new manager is either has a last name of Howe,Bell,or VanSlyke. I think anyone of those choices would be a top notch choice for the Pirates to hire because they are all winners and have had success at the Major League level at one point or another...If the Pirates continue playing like they are they will run away in the Anthony Rendon sweepstakes...

Your new manager:  Former Pirates Great Derek Bell!   

[gorillagogo]

In the offseason, when JR is let go, the new manager could really look good.  I mean there is little, if any, reason to expect that the Pirates can be as bad next year.  I could easily see a 15-20 game turnaround.  Doesn't mean that the new manager is that great but someone could reap the benefits of a minor turnaround.

I hope the new manager is either has a last name of Howe,Bell,or VanSlyke. I think anyone of those choices would be a top notch choice for the Pirates to hire because they are all winners and have had success at the Major League level at one point or another...If the Pirates continue playing like they are they will run away in the Anthony Rendon sweepstakes...

Your new manager:  Former Pirates Great Derek Bell!   

Only if they bring in Raul Mondesi as his bench coach.

[The Great Goemon]

In the offseason, when JR is let go, the new manager could really look good.  I mean there is little, if any, reason to expect that the Pirates can be as bad next year.  I could easily see a 15-20 game turnaround.  Doesn't mean that the new manager is that great but someone could reap the benefits of a minor turnaround.

I hope the new manager is either has a last name of Howe,Bell,or VanSlyke. I think anyone of those choices would be a top notch choice for the Pirates to hire because they are all winners and have had success at the Major League level at one point or another...If the Pirates continue playing like they are they will run away in the Anthony Rendon sweepstakes...

Shawn Chacon for pitching coach.

Your new manager:  Former Pirates Great Derek Bell!   

Only if they bring in Raul Mondesi as his bench coach.

[GoBucs21]

Uh-oh...

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5482450

All the more reason to get Rendon over Purke/Cole.  Each and every single pitcher is an injury waiting to happen.  I don't wish the worst on Strasburg, and this will probably wind up being very minor, but a pitcher puts his career on the line every single time he starts his windup.

I don't want to get off on too much of a tangent, but on Driveline Mechanics, a blog I used to frequent, the resident expert predicted injuries in Strasburg's future based on his delivery. There tends to be more risk with a pitcher, but the amount varies based on a ton of factors.

    Al Leiter did a great segment on the MLB Network about the strain Strasburgs motion puts on him and he mentioned the guys from the past who had the same delivery. To get all of that torque in his delivery he forms a W with his arms at the time his front foot is planting and it really puts a lot of strain on the arm as he whips around to finish his throw.

   One of the things about this situation with him getting hurt twice now,the Nationals announcers,especially Rob Dibble want to deny his mechanics are flawed because they see the amazing results and say how could anything be wrong when he does this good. He was on air during Strasburg's last game and actually said "I was talking to Mike Pagliarulo today before the game and he told what he thought Stras was doing wrong with his mechanics like hes some great pitching coach now" His partner goes "what is he a 260 career hitter,yea that qualifies him".  I couldnt believe they were saying this stuff on air,first off how many of todays pitching coaches were great pitchers? What was Dave Duncan's career ERA as a backup/platoon catcher in the 60's-70's? Leo Mazzone had how many Cy Youngs in his zero years in the majors? Second part was why hurl insults at a former player on the air who obviously had a point they refuse to acknowledge,if you dont agree with him just say a "former player". Third,Mike Pags was known as Mr .239 when he played with the Yankees because thats what he batted his first 2 years and when he hit .238 his 3rd year(still had a .239 career avg) they made jokes about him slipping.Way to insult a guy by giving him about 20 points on his batting avg,Mr Baseball history over here. They basically say,nothing is wrong,thats how he pitches,so there!

There was an article in the post that showed all the reasons that his mechanics were sound and allowed him to be so good. 

The fact is that there is no such thing as a good pitching motion.  Its all bad because the arm was not made to throw baseballs.

If you want to know what causes the most strain on the arm, its the increase use of breaking pitches.  Curve balls, sliders and now change ups and cutters that pitchers "turn over" cause most of the problems.  If pitchers threw more fastballs, strait cutters and change ups, and fewer breaking pitches, there would be many fewer problems.

[81omar]

   Wow Dibble had a complete turnaround on Strasburg basically overnight...

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/2010/08/rob_dibble_to_stephen_strasbur.html

[thegreatchris]

While Driveline Mechanics is being repaired, I found a decent synopsis of the points that Kyle made two years ago.

http://theprospectcorner.blogspot.com/2009/03/steven-stasburg-pitching-mechanics.html