It also applies to the infamous "drop and drive". Drop and drive is an example of lengthening out the duration of the delivery so that a pitcher can be more aggressive (faster delivery) and maintain synchronization (look at Bartolo Colon of the Indians). Pitchers with small stature usually have to over rotate to make up for their smaller radius (shorter distance and time they apply force to the ball)compared to a taller pitcher.

We have done numerous studies on major league pitchers. You might be surprised to know that Pedro Martinez (a boarder line flailer and over rotates) is as fast from the highest point in his leg lift to his release as Roger Clemens. Clemens has a very short circle and in much more direct to the plate. But Clemens is also 5-6 inches taller and 50 pounds heavier. So Pedro has to have more motion to achieve the same distance that he is applying force over to equal that of Clemens (and thus a comparable fast ball). Rob Nen is another good example of generating very high velocity with over rotation (so is Billy Wagner).

We have just completed an analysis of a well known major league pitcher who has lost 8 MPH off of his fast ball since 1993 (he's only 28 years old with no history of arm or other physical problems). We found his mechanics have changed significantly since 1993 (it's been a gradual change). He is now going directly to the high cocked position (no over rotation). He is also trying to stay tall and fall. This is completely different than his mechanics in 1993 where he would be much more horizontal with his break/circle and over rotate to a moderate degree and more of a drop and drive. Our analysis shows his throwing distance (distance from high cock to release) is 20% shorter than 1993. His time from high cock position to release has not changed (same today as 1993). This is important because unless you can generate 20% greater force to offset the reduced distance (reduced distance in same amount of time means slower acceleration of baseball) he will not generate the same velocity.

To put this in some perspective. The time duration of this pitchers applying force to the ball is about 70/1000th seconds (70 milliseconds). Increasing the throwing distance by 10% while maintaining the same force will increase velocity by 10% (8-9 MPH). The additional time to do this is 7/1000th seconds. That’s 1/5 of one frame on your camcorder. Unless you have an extremely good eye for subtle differences in mechanics, you will never see this change (loss or gain). That's one reason video analysis can be deceiving and lead to incorrect conclusions (conclusions like your hips rotate after foot plant, this is TOTALLY WRONG; hips reach their maximum rotational velocity BEFORE foot plant if you want maximum lower body contribution).

One of the greatest dangers of Dick's program is it uses the "cookie cutter" approach (one size fits all). He applies one set of rules no matter the pitchers physical capabilities. I remember when he first started selling his program he used Randy Johnson as a model of good mechanics. My only question is if Pedro Martinez at 5'9" tall can throw 96 MPH why isn't Randy Johnson throwing 115 MPH (simple extrapolation which Dick loves to do).

One last "shot". You will never develop maximum throwing velocity if you think that pulling off the rubber is how to do it. If pulling off the rubber is taken in the same context as a batter "following through" to develop more bat speed that's OK. But you DO NOT pull off the rubber. This and "Tall and Fall" are two of the reasons why pitchers in general are not throwing harder (Nolan Ryan was recently lamenting that today’s pitchers are bigger and stronger but not throwing comparably harder then those of his era).

Hope this livens things up until Dick returns.

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