Prior's mechanics

[nolanwood]

Buster Olney mentioned this earlier today, "Interesting that you say that, because I had a conversation recently with a person in baseball about Prior's mechanics, and whether he might have elbow trouble throughout his career -- the fact that he leads with his elbow, puts all kind of stress on that joint, makes you wonder if the Cubs will get the kind of production they're banking on from him during his career. I'm not advocating a deal -- I'd just love to know what the Cubs execs are saying privately, behind closed doors, about what Prior will give them."

 

I thought Prior's mechanics were the best around.....? :?

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I thought Prior's mechanics were the best around.....? :?

 

That's what I always heard. I remember many calling his delivery as close to flawless as you can possibly get and for that reason they thought he would have an extremely long and healthy career.

[E.J.]

I remember Rothschild saying that Prior probably would have to deal with "inflammation" in his elbow every spring training because of the torque he gets when he throws a curve. This was his "explanation" to why Prior was having elbow inflammation last spring training.

[YearofDaCubs]

Prior's mechanics have been debated since his injury 2 years ago. I sure as heck don't really know the answer. I did hear Rothschild make those comments about Prior throwing the curve though. At the same Tom House who worked with Prior said his injury to his elbow started happening when his achiles started hurting and his mechanics changed a bit to compensate. Who knows.

[JWCUB]

If this is the case, is it something that can be corrected, or is Prior another Wood? If it can be corrected, what affects will it have on his pitches? :-k

[Soul]

I think we need to prepare for the idea that Prior & Wood will not be able to provide 2, 3 years in a row of injury-free pitching.

 

If they can, then that's wonderful. But this is madness, just counting on it to happen when the track record clearly shows they aren't likely to do it.

 

Has Hendry ever heard of a backup plan? How about the term "safety net?" Because the way he runs his offseasons, it doesn't seem like he does.

[nolanwood]

I don't understand the reasoning behind the accusations that Prior has injury problems....

 

Wood, on the other hand, is a different story....

[TB_11]

If this is the case, is it something that can be corrected, or is Prior another Wood? If it can be corrected, what affects will it have on his pitches? :-k

 

I don't know if Prior is another Wood, but I don't trust Rothschild to be the one to correct Prior's mechanics if there is a significant flaw.

[nt3d]

If this is the case, is it something that can be corrected, or is Prior another Wood? If it can be corrected, what affects will it have on his pitches? :-k

 

I don't know if Prior is another Wood, but I don't trust Rothschild to be the one to correct Prior's mechanics if there is a significant flaw.

 

Looks a lot like Tom Seaver's delivery to me. I'm not an expert of the subtlies of pitching mechanics, scouts said he had the "perfect" delivery.

[Magnetic Curses]

prior is injury prone because he can't get out of the way.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

prior is injury prone because he can't get out of the way.

 

He's more prone to being hurt by line drives heading right at him at high speed than anyone I've ever seen.

[Andy]

prior is injury prone because he can't get out of the way.

 

He's more prone to being hurt by line drives heading right at him at high speed than anyone I've ever seen.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but from my 2005 calculations:

 

Cub pitchers who missed time due to taking line drives off the hand/arm: 3 (Prior, Borowski, Fox)

 

Pitchers from the other 29 teams who missed time due to taking line drives anywhere: 1 (Halladay TOR)

[Transmogrified Tiger]

prior is injury prone because he can't get out of the way.

 

He's more prone to being hurt by line drives heading right at him at high speed than anyone I've ever seen.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but from my 2005 calculations:

 

Cub pitchers who missed time due to taking line drives off the hand/arm: 3 (Prior, Borowski, Fox)

 

Pitchers from the other 29 teams who missed time due to taking line drives anywhere: 1 (Halladay TOR)

 

I don't recall Borowski or Fox getting hit by a batted ball. Fox blew out his arm throwing a pitch.

[Andy]

prior is injury prone because he can't get out of the way.

 

He's more prone to being hurt by line drives heading right at him at high speed than anyone I've ever seen.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but from my 2005 calculations:

 

Cub pitchers who missed time due to taking line drives off the hand/arm: 3 (Prior, Borowski, Fox)

 

Pitchers from the other 29 teams who missed time due to taking line drives anywhere: 1 (Halladay TOR)

 

I don't recall Borowski or Fox getting hit by a batted ball. Fox blew out his arm throwing a pitch.

Borowski got hit with a ball in spring training, but I confess myself incorrect about Fox. Two for the Cubs and one for the other 29.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

prior is injury prone because he can't get out of the way.

 

He's more prone to being hurt by line drives heading right at him at high speed than anyone I've ever seen.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but from my 2005 calculations:

 

Cub pitchers who missed time due to taking line drives off the hand/arm: 3 (Prior, Borowski, Fox)

 

Pitchers from the other 29 teams who missed time due to taking line drives anywhere: 1 (Halladay TOR)

 

I don't recall Borowski or Fox getting hit by a batted ball. Fox blew out his arm throwing a pitch.

Borowski got hit with a ball in spring training, but I confess myself incorrect about Fox. Two for the Cubs and one for the other 29.

 

Clement got cracked in the head too.

[BCVM22]

Clement got cracked in the head too.

 

Somehow, though, he managed to not miss any subsequent starts.

[Rusch33]

Clement got cracked in the head too.

 

Somehow, though, he managed to not miss any subsequent starts.

 

 

He isn't the same Matt Clement after though.

[Bote McBoteface]

prior is injury prone because he can't get out of the way.

 

He's more prone to being hurt by line drives heading right at him at high speed than anyone I've ever seen.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but from my 2005 calculations:

 

Cub pitchers who missed time due to taking line drives off the hand/arm: 3 (Prior, Borowski, Fox)

 

Pitchers from the other 29 teams who missed time due to taking line drives anywhere: 1 (Halladay TOR)

 

I don't recall Borowski or Fox getting hit by a batted ball. Fox blew out his arm throwing a pitch.

 

I really wish that hadn't happened :(

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

I remember Dick Mills saying something on his website a few years ago about how the only flaw he ever saw in Prior's mechanics is that he shortarms the balls. He also went on to say that he didn't think this is much of a problem...

 

This is a "problem" alot of pitchers have, Johan Santana does the same thing. Shortarming does put alot of pressure on the elbow, but alot of great pitchers do it and are perfectly fine.

 

I don't think its anything to worry about. Prior is 6'5 235 and still could fill out a teeny bit, if a guy like Santana (he's like 6'0 200) can do it and stay healthy it just MAY be that Prior was ridden ridicuously hard at age 22? Or that he was worked very hard after he got hurt?

 

I'd be more worried about the crappy manager + pitching coach combo I've now come to hate than Prior shortarming the ball.

[CardsFanInChiTown]

How does anyone really know what "good" mechanics are? I'll admit I know just about nothing on this subject but it seems like a bunch of pseudoscience and speculation.

[UK1679666180]

There are absolutes to pitching mechanics, similar to hitting stances, there can be variation, but it still has to fall back to those absolutes. Balance/Center of gravity, flex T of the elbows, complete follow-thru, etc.

[CardsFanInChiTown]

There are absolutes to pitching mechanics, similar to hitting stances, there can be variation, but it still has to fall back to those absolutes. Balance/Center of gravity, flex T of the elbows, complete follow-thru, etc.

 

How were those absolutes delevoped? Is there any good reading on this subject?

[UK1679666180]

There are absolutes to pitching mechanics, similar to hitting stances, there can be variation, but it still has to fall back to those absolutes. Balance/Center of gravity, flex T of the elbows, complete follow-thru, etc.

 

How were those absolutes delevoped? Is there any good reading on this subject?

 

Recently it was developed thru biomechanics, Dr. House (not on Fox) helped revolutionize mechanics thru use of computers as far as minimizing fatigue/damage.

 

It's all progressionary, mechanics have changed throughout the history of baseball, they've had to.

 

Personally, mechanics are just the final stage of a process that starts back with training.

 

The best line ever used when judging a pitcher and his mechanics is that "you are only as strong as your weakest link".

 

The Pitching Edge by Tom House is a great book.

[Gracies Girl]

Somebody call Steve Stone and ask him what he thinks.

[Bote McBoteface]

Who here thinks that if Prior got on a personal jet and it crashed over the Florida everglades, everybody would blame the injury on his mechanics?