Strasburg anticipation thread

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Doesn't a 12-6 curve from a righty to a righty give the optical illusion of being a headhunter, even if it's not?

[Guest]

Doesn't a 12-6 curve from a righty to a righty give the optical illusion of being a headhunter, even if it's not?

You almost have to throw a 12-6 curve from over the top, so you're not really coming in from an extreme angle at all even if you toe that side of the rubber. Now, if someone is leaning way out over the plate (righty or lefty, which again, is kind of my point here), the pitch will probably start at their head.

[champaignchris]

Doesn't a 12-6 curve from a righty to a righty give the optical illusion of being a headhunter, even if it's not?

 

Yes. Coming off the hand, it looks like it's coming straight for your head. The initial reaction is to back off the plate. By the time you realize it's dropping right over the plate, you can only lunge at the ball. Thus the "knee-buckling" curve ball.

 

Now, most hitters who actually make it to the big leagues can pick up that it's going to be a curve from the delivery and release point and adjust.

 

The traditional up and down curve ball is a slow pitch by big league standards and had a looping curve. Kerry's delivery on his curve was well-disguised, was a relatively fast pitch, and had a real tight, whip-like break.

[imb]

a 12-6 curve from a RHP to a RHB absolutely gives the impression of a fastball that got away and is headed right into your face

[NonProfitCow]

a 12-6 curve from a RHP to a RHB absolutely gives the impression of a fastball that got away and is headed right into your face

This. Hell, anything that isn't immediately moving down gives the impression that it's coming at your head.

[ELCABALLO45]

I remember the first time I ever saw a live curve ball during a game. Not a fun moment.

[Clem Fandango]

I remember the first time I ever saw a live curve ball during a game. Not a fun moment.

 

+1. Little league, I was so young and naive at the time I didn't think anyone could do anything other than throw fast. When he threw the curve I ducked out of the batters box for dear life. Didn't help that he also was the hardest thrower in the league.

[Careless]

I remember the first time I ever saw a live curve ball during a game. Not a fun moment.

Yeah, it was embarrassing.

[Rob]

First time I saw a curve, I already knew that it was supposed to look like it was going straight for your head so I didn't bail out.

 

It was a fastball.

[Ski]

Doesn't a 12-6 curve from a righty to a righty give the optical illusion of being a headhunter, even if it's not?

 

Yes. Coming off the hand, it looks like it's coming straight for your head. The initial reaction is to back off the plate. By the time you realize it's dropping right over the plate, you can only lunge at the ball. Thus the "knee-buckling" curve ball.

 

Now, most hitters who actually make it to the big leagues can pick up that it's going to be a curve from the delivery and release point and adjust.

 

The traditional up and down curve ball is a slow pitch by big league standards and had a looping curve. Kerry's delivery on his curve was well-disguised, was a relatively fast pitch, and had a real tight, whip-like break.

I smile everytime a hitter backs away from a Marmol slider, only for it to break right over the plate for strike 3.

[erik316wttn]

First time I saw a curve, I already knew that it was supposed to look like it was going straight for your head so I didn't bail out.

 

It was a fastball.

 

And just fine are your brains for good today!

[Guest]

I'm not sure what you guys are talking about. A 12-6 curve ball doesn't look like its going to hit you at all.

[A-Cal]

can't wait to see the highlights of his debut later. i am getting ready to go to the yankees v. pirates!

 

hoping to see Pedro Alvarez!!!

 

wOOt

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I'm not sure what you guys are talking about. A 12-6 curve ball doesn't look like its going to hit you at all.

They're not talking about a 12-6 curve.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

For those of us with MLB.TV subscriptions, Strasburg's pitching right now for the Nats. I missed his first inning but his second is about to start.

 

He apparently only needed 7 pitches in the first inning, so he may go 3.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Gave up a couple two-out singles but no runs in the second. Looks *very* Prior-esque to this untrained eye.

 

I'm reminded of what some opposing manager said about Kerry Wood in ST of 1998: If they've got five guys better than him, they can start planning their World Series parade.

[Clem Fandango]

Sent down to Double A today...

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/spring2010/news/story?id=5012625

 

I'm not shocked they sent him to the minors, but sending him to AA and not AAA was a little bit surprising.

[illiniguy]

Sent down to Double A today...

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/spring2010/news/story?id=5012625

 

I'm not shocked they sent him to the minors, but sending him to AA and not AAA was a little bit surprising.

Same thing we did with Prior. Will sell tickets to both AA and AAA this year as he will spend a bit of time with both.

 

As for the Wood Prior arguments, man I cannot believe we had two talents like that at the same time and broke them both. Sheesh.

[imb]

What's really, really sad is that Prior would probably kill his mom to have Wood's career.

[shnsajax]

What's really, really sad is that Prior would probably kill his mom to have Wood's career.

 

Right now he would probably do it to have Carlos Silva's career.

[TruffleShuffle]

strasburg has allowed 2 hits and 1 run in 2 innings, but has 3 k's. according to keith law's twitter, his slowest fastball has been 97 mph.

[Clem Fandango]

strasburg has allowed 2 hits and 1 run in 2 innings, but has 3 k's. according to keith law's twitter, his slowest fastball has been 97 mph.

 

You can watch his game live for free on ESPN 360 (or ESPN3 as its now known)

 

http://espn.go.com/espn3/player?id=3283

[TruffleShuffle]

5 ip, 4 h, 4 r, 1 er, 2 bb, 8 k... his day is done.

[Careless]

5 ip, 4 h, 4 r, 1 er, 2 bb, 8 k... his day is done.

unlucky with the runs?

[cubfan]

Doesn't a 12-6 curve from a righty to a righty give the optical illusion of being a headhunter, even if it's not?

 

Yes. Coming off the hand, it looks like it's coming straight for your head. The initial reaction is to back off the plate. By the time you realize it's dropping right over the plate, you can only lunge at the ball. Thus the "knee-buckling" curve ball.

 

Now, most hitters who actually make it to the big leagues can pick up that it's going to be a curve from the delivery and release point and adjust.

 

The traditional up and down curve ball is a slow pitch by big league standards and had a looping curve. Kerry's delivery on his curve was well-disguised, was a relatively fast pitch, and had a real tight, whip-like break.

 

From my experience a 12-6 curve looks like it is over the plate from the start and drops straight down. Very few people actually throw it. The spin is hard to pick up since it has no "tilt". A guy on my team used to throw one and I probably faced two different pitchers that had one. Everyone else had a slurve. A good slurve would look like it was going to hit you and break back over the plate. I didn't play at the highest level in college so I'm sure thing would be a little different with better competition but I would expect 12-6 would be the same.