Zambrano's Arm Angle

[Backtobanks]

Brenley pointed out in Zambrano's last start that Zambrano seems to be throwing at a lower arm angle (almost sidearm) than in previous years. After he said that, I noticed the same thing. Has anyone else noticed this? If it's true, you would think Rothschild should have noticed it. Also, if it's true, I hope it's because of bad mechanics and not some hidden injury.

[Sammy Sofa]

Trade him and let it be someone else's problem.

[Pushfrog98]

He's always done the drop-down and go side-arm thing, but had rarely done it for strikes.

 

Now he seems to try to do it more often, and STILL can't do it for strikes.

[JeffH]

Zambrano's stuff is nowhere near as good as it used to be.

 

Combine that with this arm angle business and his arm is probably cooked.

 

Put another one on the pile.

 

What a shame.

[soapy]

everyone and their mother has been talking about this, and the Cubs have seemingly done nothing to solve it. awesome...

[Brendan]

the bbtn guys talked about this last night. steve phillips showed some differences between 2006 and 2007. it definitely seems as if z's arm slot is lower and that he's finishing more upright this year.

[TheDude]

I love these ridiculous, free-wheeling prognostications. Seriously, the problem with Zambrano isn't dire. His career as an effective pitcher isn't over.

 

He needs to start throwing strikes (or apparent strikes) and do so without hanging around the middle of the zone. It's the same for every pitcher.

 

Right now hitters are not helping Zambrano. Any border-line pitch they know to take, because he has struggled with command and the umpire knows it as well. As soon as he comes out and dominates a team for the first time, things will change.

[kroth1342]

I love these ridiculous, free-wheeling prognostications. Seriously, the problem with Zambrano isn't dire. His career as an effective pitcher isn't over.

 

I don't know how ridiculous and free-wheeling this criticism is. Last night on Baseball Tonight, Steve Phillips was breaking down tape comparing 2006 and 2007 Zambrano. 2007 Z brings his leg kick farther away from his body as opposed to directly straight up, is opening his hips up earlier, throwing with a flatter arm angle and not following through straight to the mound. It was a pretty clear explanation of flatter pitches with less downward movement.

[Derwood]

glad everyone sees these problems except Rothschild

[TheDude]

I love these ridiculous, free-wheeling prognostications. Seriously, the problem with Zambrano isn't dire. His career as an effective pitcher isn't over.

 

I don't know how ridiculous and free-wheeling this criticism is. Last night on Baseball Tonight, Steve Phillips was breaking down tape comparing 2006 and 2007 Zambrano. 2007 Z brings his leg kick farther away from his body as opposed to directly straight up, is opening his hips up earlier, throwing with a flatter arm angle and not following through straight to the mound. It was a pretty clear explanation of flatter pitches with less downward movement.

 

I'm talking about the idea that his career is over and we should just toss him on the pile. That's what's ridiculous.

[Backtobanks]

glad everyone sees these problems except Rothschild

 

You do wonder why broadcasters, fans, and East-coast media can see it, but Rothschild has yet to make note of it.

[kroth1342]

I love these ridiculous, free-wheeling prognostications. Seriously, the problem with Zambrano isn't dire. His career as an effective pitcher isn't over.

 

I don't know how ridiculous and free-wheeling this criticism is. Last night on Baseball Tonight, Steve Phillips was breaking down tape comparing 2006 and 2007 Zambrano. 2007 Z brings his leg kick farther away from his body as opposed to directly straight up, is opening his hips up earlier, throwing with a flatter arm angle and not following through straight to the mound. It was a pretty clear explanation of flatter pitches with less downward movement.

 

I'm talking about the idea that his career is over and we should just toss him on the pile. That's what's ridiculous.

 

ok

[Chocolate Milk]

glad everyone sees these problems except Rothschild

 

You do wonder why broadcasters, fans, and East-coast media can see it, but Rothschild has yet to make note of it.

 

You honestly don't think he has?

[Derwood]

glad everyone sees these problems except Rothschild

 

You do wonder why broadcasters, fans, and East-coast media can see it, but Rothschild has yet to make note of it.

 

You honestly don't think he has?

 

noticed it? probably

 

fixed it? no sir

[C.C.]

glad everyone sees these problems except Rothschild

 

You do wonder why broadcasters, fans, and East-coast media can see it, but Rothschild has yet to make note of it.

 

You honestly don't think he has?

 

noticed it? probably

 

fixed it? no sir

 

It was the same thing last year. Everyone saw that his mechanics were messed up, and it took him and Larry a month to correct.

[Backtobanks]

glad everyone sees these problems except Rothschild

 

You do wonder why broadcasters, fans, and East-coast media can see it, but Rothschild has yet to make note of it.

 

You honestly don't think he has?

 

Well, if he has, I would think that the two of them would have corrected the arm angle problem by now. By looking at yesterday's game, it doesn't look like anyone is trying to correct the situation. Again, I hope it's poor mechanics and not a hidden injury.

[Chocolate Milk]

glad everyone sees these problems except Rothschild

 

You do wonder why broadcasters, fans, and East-coast media can see it, but Rothschild has yet to make note of it.

 

You honestly don't think he has?

 

Well, if he has, I would think that the two of them would have corrected the arm angle problem by now. By looking at yesterday's game, it doesn't look like anyone is trying to correct the situation. Again, I hope it's poor mechanics and not a hidden injury.

 

I'm not really a defer to the Coach type of guy, but I think it's not as easy to change things around as we might think.

 

I don't understand how you could infer the bolded by yeserday's game.

[Jon]

glad everyone sees these problems except Rothschild

 

You do wonder why broadcasters, fans, and East-coast media can see it, but Rothschild has yet to make note of it.

They showed a clip of Rothschild talking about it during last night's game. He knows about it, but he just doesn't think it's much of a factor. Larry basically said that Z has been dropping down like that for a while, so it's not a problem.

 

Shocking, I know.

[moorecg]

Just a reminder...last year at this time he was 0-2 with a 5.35 ERA...and the sky was falling then too.

 

If I remember right, he finished OK.

[treebird]

i couldn't see the game last night, but in z's previous start, the way he was dropping his arm definitely seemed indicative of some type of shoulder injury.

[seanimal]

Just a reminder...last year at this time he was 0-2 with a 5.35 ERA...and the sky was falling then too.

 

If I remember right, he finished OK.

 

NO YOU DON'T REMEMBER RIGHT HIS CAREER IS OVER

[UK1679666180]

Him and Barrett probably did mention it to him during his start before yesterday's, it's also up to the pitcher to process that info. and then use it.

[Shilzzz]

i don't have my copy of bp007 here with me at work right now, but didn't PECOTA predict that z would be worse than in the last couple of years.

[Sammy Sofa]

Just a reminder...last year at this time he was 0-2 with a 5.35 ERA...and the sky was falling then too.

 

If I remember right, he finished OK.

 

NO YOU DON'T REMEMBER RIGHT HIS CAREER IS OVER

 

OK, so we'll pretend that these problems are just going to get better as he gets older, as opposed to reality, where they've just gotten worse year after year. He walks more guys every season, his back problems are tied into his weight, which is going to be harder to keep down as he gets older, and as opposed to getting more mature with each season, he seems to be regressing and melting down as soon as someone scores on him or someone on the Cubs makes an defensive error. Everything indicates he thinks he's this team's ace and he deserves that kind of money. Sorry, but aces are better than that. I'd much rather capitalize on the positive aspects of his reputation and his youth now and net a juicy return once he pulls out of his funk. His emotional midgetry and inevitable physical problems are not something I want to see the Cubs saddled with if they have to give him ace years and cash.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

Just a reminder...last year at this time he was 0-2 with a 5.35 ERA...and the sky was falling then too.

 

If I remember right, he finished OK.

 

NO YOU DON'T REMEMBER RIGHT HIS CAREER IS OVER

 

OK, so we'll pretend that these problems are just going to get better as he gets older, as opposed to reality, where they've just gotten worse year after year. He walks more guys every season, his back problems are tied into his weight, which is going to be harder to keep down as he gets older, and as opposed to getting more mature with each season, he seems to be regressing and melting down as soon as someone scores on him or someone on the Cubs makes an defensive error. Everything indicates he thinks he's this team's ace and he deserves that kind of money. Sorry, but aces are better than that. I'd much rather capitalize on the positive aspects of his reputation and his youth now and net a juicy return once he pulls out of his funk. His emotional midgetry and inevitable physical problems are not something I want to see the Cubs saddled with if they have to give him ace years and cash.

 

Exactly Mojo.

 

Z's career isn't over, but he's probably the last "young ace" I'd give big money and a long term contract too.

 

Way too many risks, and a guy who walks 5 guys per 9 is rarely going to last long as an ace.