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http://www.torontosun.com/2013/02/10/bl ... s-returned

Last fall, he embarked on Adams’ velocity program and his training kit is in a cloth bag in his locker: A half-dozen weighted balls, each inside its own sock. The balls range in weight from two ounces to two pounds. He has been at it since last October and has already seen significant improvement in his velocity. Reluctant to discuss radar gun numbers, his enthusiasm for the process tells you all you need to know about the progress he’s made.

“Before I started the program, they did velocity tests to set a baseline for the program then every so often they go back to the radar gun to see where you’re at. Even without the (gun) readings, I can feel there is more arm speed as I go through my motion.

“I’m really excited about this and excited to keep working on it as we start facing live hitting here in camp,” he said.

Between the move to the 'pen, and his commitment to this program, Cecil could be poised to become an important piece of the picture. I really liked him after his 15-win campaign - he seemed to find a way a beat the best teams. But after the last few years it's been hard to get excited about him. Perhaps he could be on a Scott Downs-type career arch - never quite good enough to be a starter but finds himself as a shut-down reliever.

Mr. Fidlin jumped the gun here. P's and C's haven't even reported yet and he's already written his first, "Why Player X might not suck so hard this year" story. Next up for Mr. Fidlin: "Lind hopes aliens destroy all left-handed pitchers" then "Rasmus hopes driving recreational vehicles will increase on base percentage." Get typing Fidlin.

^ while I do agree with your assessment of Mr. Fidlin's journalistic philosophy, I do find it noteworthy that a once promising young arm who mysteriously lost velocity has embarked on a program that is responsible for salvaging Delabar's fledgling career. Velocity is just one of the variables in becoming a good pitcher, but with Cecil it seemed to be especially significant (If only psychologically). I was glad to hear he tried the program and wonder how many other pitchers on the team Delabar introduced to the program?

Sure, I wasn't trying to poo-poo the whole idea, just that he has written the classic first day of camp article. I think the Tennis comparison and holding something in the follow through to build up muscles makes sense, not that I'm any kind of doctor or anything.

If it works, then fan-blankety-tastic, but before we see any actual game action there'll be articles about how Melky is off the juice and onto some new pro-biotic yogurt that will help even more, that Dickey's fast knuckler cured a young boy's cancer and struck out Babe Ruth in his grave at the same time, that Moises Sierra is competing to make the club and has decided to emulate the cuban voodoo guy from Major League to get there, he's even hired Tom Berenger(sic) to follow him around ST to really complete the effect.

Early ST is the land of insano sports journalism, so let's not get our carried away 'cause Cecil hopes to be better because this offseason he practiced pitching by... wait for it... not actually throwing the ball. So he's throwing 93-94mph, but he's Lalooching BJ Birdy in the head every game.

edit: I swear I started out trying to be semi-serious, but I guess I'm just a big bag of snark today.

This would be a lot more encouraging if he would actually divulge the radar gun readings. This wreaks of hocus-pocus alternative voodoo. I'm sure it *feels* like he's throwing harder after throwing a weighted sock (???), just like it *feels* like you're swinging faster after swinging a weighted bat.

satyr9 wrote:Sure, I wasn't trying to poo-poo the whole idea, just that he has written the classic first day of camp article. I think the Tennis comparison and holding something in the follow through to build up muscles makes sense, not that I'm any kind of doctor or anything.

If it works, then fan-blankety-tastic, but before we see any actual game action there'll be articles about how Melky is off the juice and onto some new pro-biotic yogurt that will help even more, that Dickey's fast knuckler cured a young boy's cancer and struck out Babe Ruth in his grave at the same time, that Moises Sierra is competing to make the club and has decided to emulate the cuban voodoo guy from Major League to get there, he's even hired Tom Berenger(sic) to follow him around ST to really complete the effect.

Early ST is the land of insano sports journalism, so let's not get our carried away 'cause Cecil hopes to be better because this offseason he practiced pitching by... wait for it... not actually throwing the ball. So he's throwing 93-94mph, but he's Lalooching BJ Birdy in the head every game.

edit: I swear I started out trying to be semi-serious, but I guess I'm just a big bag of snark today.

^ I hear ya. The lucky stiffs get to bask in the sun, be around baseball all day, spend evenings on patios drinking cold bevvies, and typically the stuff we get is pretty mediocre. But, I prefer hearing about novel throwing programs to speculation about where Buerle's dog will be residing. Oh, and I can totally see Sierra as that cuban voodoo guy, good call! Then we'd just need to sign Charlie Sheen to be our 'proven' closer and we're set.

So Cecil's in the best shape of his life?

Randle McMurphy wrote:So Cecil's in the best shape of his life?

Glargh, thank you. I couldn't make my brain recall that trope yesterday and it was driving me batty. Two posts about rote ST articles and I was sitting here going, "what's that phrase?" for way more time than is healthy.

So yes, the first of many, semi-serious best shape of their life articles.

Is this the same throwing program that Delabar was doing?

^ yup. That's why I thought it was interesting - the program saved Delabar's career. I'm curious to hear if other Jays pitchers have given it a shot. It started out as a way of decreasing injuries, ended up adding velocity as well.

The annual "Cecil is throwing harder" news.

9er_4life wrote:^ while I do agree with your assessment of Mr. Fidlin's journalistic philosophy, I do find it noteworthy that a once promising young arm who mysteriously lost velocity has embarked on a program that is responsible for salvaging Delabar's fledgling career. Velocity is just one of the variables in becoming a good pitcher, but with Cecil it seemed to be especially significant (If only psychologically). I was glad to hear he tried the program and wonder how many other pitchers on the team Delabar introduced to the program?

He was drafted out of college as a reliever... makes sense that he returns to that role, especially given his struggles over the last 2 seasons

In Cecil's September call-up his velocity had returned to the 91-94 range again pitching as a reliever. When he was effective in 2009 & 2010 that's where he was sitting. I think that's probably where he's going to sit this year.

A big part of his problem (obviously) was that as a starter his fastball had slipped to the 87-89 range and he was still throwing his 84-85 mph slider and changeup. There wasn't enough velocity separation to fool the hitters.

Cecil can be a pretty dominant lefty specialists in the league coming out of the bullpen.