Strasburg hits 103 mph

[love_that_reefer]

They did not sign their draft pick from last year.

[Kingdom]

Pittsburgh is no longer the perennial cheap skate.

[HollywoodLeo]

Also it's been said for years that Prior had excellent mechanics

Mark Prior's Pitching Mechanics: A Different Perspective

[Porter]

If the Nationals are dumb enough to let him go. They should just send Boras into negotiations for the M's now. There is NO way we let him get to #3. Why the **** we had to beat the A's for this situation is beyond me.

[padrefanforever]

Mark Prior's Pitching Mechanics: A Different Perspective

Wood....find something from pre injury that suggests everyone didn't think his mechanics weren't perfect.....

anyone can write something after the fact......that's easy to do.......

[padrefanforever]

That's not true at all. Rick Peterson saw his flaws in his mechanics before Prior was drafted and made his report to the A's.

Link me.......I've been searching for even ONE person who said his mechanics were flawed pre injuries........I'd be all for reading it.....

And don't mistake what's being said here Reefer........I'm not saying his mechanics were perfect......I'm saying that pre injury everyone, including the "experts" said they were.....after the fact analysis is proven they were flawed, pre injury he was the golden boy

[love_that_reefer]

I did link you. Find the SI article on Lincecum. I have the actual SI magazine right in front of me. Rick Peterson saw it before he was even drafted and explained why scouts overlooked it.

[padrefanforever]

There is no link

[love_that_reefer]

Sorry if you have to go out and buy a subscription. Fact is, Peterson saw it when he was at USC.

[love_that_reefer]

The mechanics of diminutive Tim Lincecum—looks 18, throws - 07.07.08 - SI Vault

Here you go lazy! I was wrong, Peterson saw it in 2003 and not before the draft but he did see it before he broke down. He gave a report to the A's scouting department during Prior's career year. So there ya go! The entire A's scouting department saw his poor mechanics during his best year.

[padrefanforever]

Thanks for that....good read...a couple things however

One of Oakland's scouts, responding to Peterson's red-flag warnings, said, "Hey, that's what Prior does. Are you saying that we shouldn't draft a player like that?"

Replied Peterson, "No, not exactly. He's one of the best pitchers in the league right now, but what I am saying is, If he doesn't have maximum [shoulder] rotation, it will lead to injury. It's like slamming the brakes over and over. The brake pads are going to wear out until it's metal on metal."

He gives huge IF's here, and when asked if they shouldn't draft him, his response is "not exactly...."

"Prior is almost all upper body," Chris Lincecum says. "You could cut his legs off and he would throw just as hard. I don't like to put my finger on players, but I've been doing this a long time. I've said, 'He's going to blow his elbow out' or 'His back will go out.'

This couldn't be further from the truth where Strasburg is concerned......he launches off the mound, and takes a huge step using his lower body hugely

Seventy percent of the pros have poor mechanics."

Probably 99% of everyone does since there are no set schematics for perfect mechanics, especially when Prior was considered by everyone, but the A's evidently, to be perfect......and the overhand throw is a trainwreck waiting to happen no matter what.

Do you have the ability to contact Rick Peterson ? Or do you know how to contact him ? I'd be interested to hear him discuss Strasburg.....I'd say the biggest issue for Steven is the fact that he throws with such velocity that it's hard to say what will happen to his arm......not much of a precedent here

[love_that_reefer]

Peterson says "No, not exactly" because he knew he could fix those mechanics.

Here's something Strasburg does have to worry about:

Prior lifted his throwing elbow higher than his shoulder before reaching the loaded position, increasing the stress on his elbow and shoulder;

That's what I say looks identical.

I do not have a way to contact Peterson but I am sure SI will contact him and the ASMI when they do a story on the top pick of the draft. I am sure a lot of GMs are already asking what he thinks of the kid since he is unemployed at the moment. Might be able to reach the ASMI though. It was a good read and I learned a lot about mechanics for sure.

[HollywoodLeo]

One thing that needs to be kept in mind is that reports of this nature regarding Strasburg's mechanics is in no way some set in stone prediction of what will happen.

The comparison is simply being made to point out a cause of concern, however slight that cause may be.

[love_that_reefer]

Definitely, if the right team gets him and can alter his mechanics then there should be no problem. That's why I don't see him being rushed like some think he will. No one in here but Boras sure seems like he won;t have to wait to put on a ML uniform.

[padrefanforever]

Well that sucks......the slow motion video I posted was removed.......