Homer Bailey mechanics story

[Bip Roberts]

http://www.drivelinemechanics.com/2008/12/11/690239/pitching-mechanics-homer-b

Pretty brutal if you read it all.

[RED VAN HOT]

Thanks for posting this. The site is very informative.

As for the Bailey piece, it is beyond brutal. The explanation is consistent with the observation that his good fastball usually follows a more lengthy rest. I can also understand the natural tendency to revert to the style that has worked for him as he struggles to attain the next level. It makes me think he should be taken out of the competitive environment for a year to re-work his mechanics before a shoulder surgery ends his career altogether.

[Bip Roberts]

It looks like he is almost trying to be too repetitive at times. The follow through is so awkward looking.

[SunDeck]

I had no idea he was actively supinating through release on his curve ball and cut fastball.
The kid is clearly toast.

[HokieRed]

One thing the piece does is give you a little more sympathy with the Reds brass as they tried to get him to change a bit, Dick Pole included. My sense all along was that they were trying to get him to stay more upright, to avoid some of that tendency, which the piece showed clearly, of getting his body so far ahead of his shoulder and arm.

[OnBaseMachine]

deberly (Cincinnati): How would you help Homer Bailey's mechanics? Do you agree they are terrible?

Will Carroll: They're not good, but I've never thought his mechanics were a big issue. I'm coming more and more to the idea that mechanics are an issue for youth pitchers, maybe college, because by the time they get to the pros, they're pretty much locked in besides small tweaks. Maybe you can "Roy Halladay" someone, but that's really it. Bailey's coachability and desire have been the issues I've always heard about, all the way back to HS. I think you could change his ball release and get him to pronate. Bailey's one of the guys I look forward to being able to talk to in Cincinnati. How many questions about pronation do you think he's heard from the press? :)

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/chat/chat.php?chatId=556

[redsmetz]

deberly (Cincinnati): How would you help Homer Bailey's mechanics? Do you agree they are terrible?

Will Carroll: They're not good, but I've never thought his mechanics were a big issue. I'm coming more and more to the idea that mechanics are an issue for youth pitchers, maybe college, because by the time they get to the pros, they're pretty much locked in besides small tweaks. Maybe you can "Roy Halladay" someone, but that's really it. Bailey's coachability and desire have been the issues I've always heard about, all the way back to HS. I think you could change his ball release and get him to pronate. Bailey's one of the guys I look forward to being able to talk to in Cincinnati. How many questions about pronation do you think he's heard from the press? :)

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/chat/chat.php?chatId=556

I think the real question is, does he floss?

[corkedbat]

deberly (Cincinnati): How would you help Homer Bailey's mechanics? Do you agree they are terrible?

Will Carroll: They're not good, but I've never thought his mechanics were a big issue. I'm coming more and more to the idea that mechanics are an issue for youth pitchers, maybe college, because by the time they get to the pros, they're pretty much locked in besides small tweaks. Maybe you can "Roy Halladay" someone, but that's really it. Bailey's coachability and desire have been the issues I've always heard about, all the way back to HS. I think you could change his ball release and get him to pronate. Bailey's one of the guys I look forward to being able to talk to in Cincinnati. How many questions about pronation do you think he's heard from the press? :)

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/chat/chat.php?chatId=556

Isn't Pronation a felony in Cincy? :confused:

[camisadelgolf]

Isn't Pronation a felony in Cincy? :confused:

Yes, I believe so. I believe it's fornicating with a virtual woman.

[TOBTTReds]

There are a lot of different opinions on mechanics. This guy lists Mark Prior as an example of how not to throw a ball. True, he had a real bad high elbow a tad late in his delivery, that has basically murdered his career. But what did he do differently at USC when he appearantly had the greatest mechanics of any pitcher out there?

[Emin3mShady07]

There are a lot of different opinions on mechanics. This guy lists Mark Prior as an example of how not to throw a ball. True, he had a real bad high elbow a tad late in his delivery, that has basically murdered his career. But what did he do differently at USC when he appearantly had the greatest mechanics of any pitcher out there?

Yeah that's certainly very true. I have been a pitcher for a while and recently had to call it quits due to a tricep injury, but I've heard some of my coaches tell me that Mark Prior and Kerry Wood have extremely good mechanics and say guys like Mark Buehrle have issues with their delivery, health history would suggest that they are wrong, but it really didn't change their opinions on the matters. However, that being said, Homer's mechanics don't look easy to me and it looks like he is putting a lot of stress on his arm. Maybe he will be fine. Maybe not, but it looks like he could get a little more out of his body and strain his arm less.