Image Image Image Image

Zambrano's Lower Arm Slot: cause for concern?

SportsWorld
RealGM
Posts: 51,601
And1: 133
Joined: Dec 03, 2006
Location: Chicago, IL
Contact:
       

Zambrano's Lower Arm Slot: cause for concern? 

Post#1 » by SportsWorld » Thu May 24, 2007 5:18 am

http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/artic ... r-concern/
Image

1) At around the fifth frame, notice how his torso is tilted (towards the right) a little more in '07:

Image

2) At release, his shoulder plane is flatter in '07. A few frames after release his arm has finished higher, indicating a flatter arm path consistent with a lower slot. In the following image, I drew angles to show it. The two points I linked represent where his fingers are at release and where his hand ends up three frames after release:

Image
Image

Image
The pitch on the left in '05 is not a sinker. It is (I assume, due to his much higher slot) a four-seam fastball with minimal lateral movement. His four-seam fastball is a strikeout/pop up type pitch. A pitcher wants hitters to swing over his sinker and under his four-seamer. The '05 pitch in clip two above is a "high, hard one." I see Zambrano throwing fewer pitches like this nowadays.


Image
Flaming Mo
Retired Mod
Retired Mod
Posts: 23,342
And1: 255
Joined: Jan 30, 2002
Location: Germany
 

 

Post#2 » by Flaming Mo » Thu May 24, 2007 11:18 am

Can't comment since I don't know that much about baseball but nice work on your post anyways!

You think it has something to do with a physical problem?!? If it is just the mechanics the pitching coach and Z should fix that together by watching video...
treyZz
Banned User
Posts: 5,326
And1: 0
Joined: Feb 18, 2006

 

Post#3 » by treyZz » Thu May 24, 2007 6:41 pm

I have noticed this since his first start.

I don't know if he's trying not too get injured or what.. It looks like he has a better shot of getting injured throwing like that.

He needs to get his **** together.

He might be injured & hiding it who knows.
SportsWorld
RealGM
Posts: 51,601
And1: 133
Joined: Dec 03, 2006
Location: Chicago, IL
Contact:
       

 

Post#4 » by SportsWorld » Thu May 24, 2007 8:43 pm

Flaming Mo wrote:Can't comment since I don't know that much about baseball but nice work on your post anyways!

You think it has something to do with a physical problem?!? If it is just the mechanics the pitching coach and Z should fix that together by watching video...

Don't thank me, thank that awesome website. They study a bunch of MLB players.
User avatar
Posey H8er
RealGM
Posts: 20,095
And1: 64
Joined: Jan 07, 2007

 

Post#5 » by Posey H8er » Fri May 25, 2007 9:09 pm

I thought something was up during his 3rd start of the season. He's probably too damn stubborn to say anything.

Return to Chicago Cubs