In this episode, Joe and Angel interview Dr. Glenn Fleisig, Research Director for American Sports Medicine Institute (ASMI) and the foremost expert on biomechanics of the baseball pitching motion. Among the topics covered include Major League Baseball’s willingness to accept science in general and biomechanical analysis in particular; how quantitative and qualitative analysis work together to correct flaws in the pitching motion; and how science can prevent pitching injuries. Dr. Fleisig explains the process of evaluating and applying mechanical adjustments. Finally, Dr. Fleisig answers hot-button questions such as: 1) can mechanical adjustments enhance performance; 2) what is keeping pitchers from making necessary changes; 3) how can pitchers avoid second — or third — Tommy John surgeries; 4) are pitching injuries inevitable.
The New York Mets announced that Zack Wheeler underwent successful Tommy John surgery to repair his UCL and a torn flexor tendon. That’s good news. However, Wheeler could have avoided the surgery. How? Listen to Season 2, Episode 5 of The Fix.
Baseball pitching motion expert Angel Borrelli and Joe Janish discuss the rash of pitching injuries suffered in the first week of 2015 spring training games. Is long toss a good idea when a pitcher has a sore arm and/or a possible arm injury? Should he “throw through” soreness? A particular focus on Gavin Floyd‘s chronic and recurring elbow injuries, as well as the contrast between how Yu Darvish and Mark Appel reacted to warning signs experienced during their pregame warmups. Other pitchers discussed include Cliff Lee, Brandon Cumpton, Tim Collins, Adam Wainwright, and Vincent Velasquez. Finally, Angel shares a secret to pitching velocity.
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Homer Bailey has had multiple arm issues throughout his big-league career, and many of them can be traced to mechanical flaws in his pitching delivery.
Pitching motion expert Angel Borrelli and baseball coach / blogger Joe Janish talk about the offseason for pitchers — both healthy pitchers and those recovering from injury. In particular, what baseball pitchers should be thinking about, doing, and training in preparation for the spring. Angel addresses the question of whether pitchers should be playing other sports, and also explains how to reverse-engineer their offseason throwing program to ensure they’ll be ready for spring training / spring practice. Finally, Angel and Joe discuss mechanical adjustments — when they should occur, and when and why they can be dangerous.
In Episode #2 of “The Fix,” Angel Borrelli and I follow up on Jonathon Niese’s shoulder issue, and Angel — a scientist and expert on human body movement as it relates to the pitching motion — goes into detail on how shoulder injuries can occur and how pitchers can avoid them.
According to various reports and rumors swirling about the baseball blogosphere, Johan Santana is throwing this winter with an eye toward returning to the mound in 2014.
Though the Mets declined a $25M option to keep him another year, the team didn’t close the door on signing him to a much less expensive deal for next season. There also has been some banter that a reunionbetweenSantana and the Minnesota Twinsis a possibility. With pitching a priority for every MLB club not based in St. Louis, some team, somewhere, almost assuredly will take a flyer on Santana. I get the feeling he’s going to look for a one-year flyer at somewhere between $6M and $10M. Will he be worth the gamble?
