12/21/24
October 19, 2005
DRAWING PITCHERS: Witte’s scientific theory, the specifics of which he refuses to divulge, has something to do with how successful pitchers keep their gloves elevated at the start of their windups, let their back shoulders drop, and lift their front legs high.
Great article, I'll be mailing that link around, thanks.
posted by the red terror at 09:14 AM on October 19, 2005
Drysdale!!! Seaver!!! What a great article.
posted by NoMich at 10:25 AM on October 19, 2005
Hey, I was about to post that! Great article!
posted by worldcup2002 at 01:19 PM on October 19, 2005
Hmm, I can see Gibson and Seaver, but I don't see how Drysdale's windup fits the description-- he didn't really drop his back shoulder or kick his leg high... 
posted by cl at 01:46 PM on October 19, 2005
Wow if he really is right- he can make a shitload of $$$!!!
posted by redsoxrgay at 08:21 PM on October 22, 2005
Interesting stuff. Sounds like this artist has unscientifically hit on some things that scientific studiest of the kiniesology of pitching are also more and more aware of. It only really proves its value if a biomechanical assessment finds these quirks and helps eliminate them- or, in the case of pitchers whose anatomy makes it desirable to "be flawed", teaches them to maintain health and longevity despite the unnaturalness of throwing a 95-mph pitch. Whenever I hear these stories of people claiming some new insight, part of me is the skeptic, but part of me recalls "The Great American Novel", in which a character is the brilliant sabermetric analyst that is completely dismissed. Baseball, sadly, is still full of grumpy old stick in the muds like Joe Morgan and others, who can't see the wisdom in anything more sophisticated than scratching their own crotch and ego, at the same time.