Player Profile: Brandon Moore

      
     Brandon Moore is a 6’2” 228 lb. Sophomore from the University of Arkansas. This Christian gentleman appeared in 29 games for the Razorbacks. He pitched a total of 81.1 innings, finishing off his spring with a 5 -2 record and a 2.43 ERA. He struck out 36 and only walked 11. He tallied 3 saves and posted an extremely impressive 0.95 WHIP. He has appeared in 9 games for Bourne, recording 21 strikeouts in 22 innings-pitched. Due to a few bad outings his ERA is at 5.73 and he has a 1.54 WHIP. He has pitched in some extremely tough spots, and is suffering from a lot of arm fatigue, in my opinion. He sat at 90 mph with his sinking fastball at school and has been anywhere from 82-89 on Cape Cod. He is trying to develop a slider that will compliment the late life on his fastball, that has been thrown anywhere from 76-82 mph, and he has an out-pitch in his change-up that will sit around 80 when his fastball is 86-89. It is very difficult to decipher between his change and his fastball because they have very similar action.
     As for mechanics, Brandon is a big-bodied pitcher with a very strong base. He comes to an ideal balance point and uses a front shoulder coil to put a little more behind his fastball. His arm action is, overall, very smooth (other than a slight back arm stab). He incorporates the bow and arrow technique to involve his upper body more. He throws from a low three-quarters delivery that adds even more late life to his fastball. His front foot step is very consistent and in the middle of his body. He bends his back leg before using a very nice, low leg drive. He pitches from a good power position and does a very nice job of tucking his front glove. I like the way he finishes off his pitches. By using a front shoulder coil, the bow and arrow technique, a back leg bend, and the front arm tuck, Brandon puts everything he can behind the ball. However, that has not seemed to effect his stamina. Moore has pitched 3.0 or more innings in 5 of his outings. I think Brandon has the toughest job out of the bullpen. He has taken on the role of long reliever. He has done a very good job of coming into some jams and keeping his team in the game for extended periods. His sinking fastball creates a lot of groundballs, and with a developing slider he should be very effective for Arkansas. I think he has a lot of to offer a Major League franchise. He could project as an inning-eating starter, a reliever, or even as a closer on a strong defensive team. It is rare for anyone to find a ground-ball pitcher with such a high strikeout rate, and that should speak volumes to the late-life on his pitches. Most importantly, teams will be getting a very determined pitcher who has a great head on his shoulders. These are absolute necessities for anyone to succeed on the next level. In this playoff run, I am sure Harvey Shapiro is going to use him as a very trusted arm that will eat innings out of the bullpen.

Player Profile: Jordan Patterson

   

     Jordan Patterson is a 6’5” 205 lb. Outfielder who plays his college baseball for the University of South Alabama Jaguars from the Sun Belt Conference. He is extremely polite and well-mannered. I have enjoyed talking to him throughout the summer. This past year he batted .323 (2nd on team) through 56 games and 217 at-bats (1st on team). He hits 15 doubles (led team, 9th in Sun Belt), 1 triple (2nd on team), 8 home runs (1st on team), drove in 44 runs (led team), and was 3rd in the Sun Belt in hit-by-pitches (17). He posted an impressive .938 on-base plus slugging (9th in conference in slugging and OBP). The end of his successful year was capped with a Second-Team All-Sun Belt Conference Selection. For the Bourne Braves he is hitting .263 with 5 doubles, 1 home run, and 8 RBIs. However, do not let these numbers fool you. Jordan merely started slow, he is currently on a 9 game hitting streak. In fact, he has hit safely in 14 of his last 17 games, and has collected 22 total hits in that span. In those 17 games he has raised his batting average 84 points (.179-.263) and his OPS 247 (.470-.647)! Jordan is hitting his stride at exactly the right time, for the Braves playoff push.

      Patterson is a strong-armed (major league level), athletic outfielder, who covers massive ground out in centerfield. He gets good jumps off the bat, closes quickly, and takes away hits. He has been an anchor defensively and should be brought into the argument of “gold-glove” caliber Cape League outfielders. As for hitting, he is a rhythm hitter who took a while to make the proper adjustments. He shifts his weight back smoothly, and implements a soft toe-tap to set his hands. His hands take a nice path to ball and he ends with a big finish. I think Jordan is an excellent runner but his long backswing prevents him from running any impressive times to first base. At the point of contact, Jordan had some problems getting out on his front font and letting the ball travel deep enough, early in his season. He stayed mentally tough throughout his early season struggles. I saw him constantly out near the bullpen taking extra swings off the tee. Now those problems are past him, and he is raking. In fact, I think every pitcher should fear the thought of Jordan getting those long arms extended on a fastball. While I think he will benefit from adding muscle, he shows the ability of an extremely gifted hitter (spray chart below). With his defensive tools, refined swing mechanics, and continued development; Jordan should gather a great deal of draft attention.

Player Profile: Steven Goldstein

Steven Goldstein is a Freshman at State University of New York at Stony Brook, better known as the Stony Brook University SeaWolves. He is 5’11” and a very stocky 175 lbs. He bats and throws left-handed and has played in LF since joining the Bourne Braves. This past spring he was named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American and competed in the College World Series. He hit .337, drawing 22 walks and striking out 21 times, in 166 at-bats. He collected 8 doubles, 3 triples, and hit 4 home runs. His most impressive stat is a .909 OPS (on-base plus slugging). He flashed his speed around the basepaths going 14 for 19 in steal attempts. On June 10, 2012 in the Baton Rouge Super Regional Championship, Steve shined brightly with the spotlight on him; he went 2 for 5 with an RBI. For the Braves, he was a late season addition. Through 6 games, he has 23 at-bats, 6 hits, 4 runs, 1 double, 2 walks, and is hitting .261 with a .320 on-base percentage. I am excited to watch him step-up in the CCBL playoffs the same way he stepped-up against the LSU Tigers on June 10th of this year.
    In the field, Steve takes great routes to fly-balls and covers a lot of ground. I love the fact he sprints to the spot of the baseball and is waiting underneath it before it lands.  He has made two outstanding diving plays, so he has appeared outstanding in the field. His hitting mechanics changed last game, but I would like to breakdown what I saw the first 5 games he played. He starts with a batting stance very similar to Jeff Bagwell (picture below).

He then takes a small step that borders on a toe tap. With his low stance he might have problems with keeping his head behind his hands (borderline risk in slow motion). However, I have a lot of faith in Steven's athletic ability, so he should be able to adjust. The most interesting thing about his swing is the way he aligns his entire body with the baseball. Most hitters like to stay strong through their core muscles and drive the baseball. The only other hitter I know to align their body with the ball is Major League Baseball's best contact hitter, Ichiro Suzuki. (picture below)

In fact, Steven stays even lower and more aggressive in his crouch. The first is a pitch chest-high. A lot of pitchers will try to blow a high fastball by a player who stands like Goldstein. He fouls it off in the video, and shows how tough of an out he is.

 

Another pitch to compare to Ichiro is the outside fastball. A lot of MLB pitchers pitched Ichiro outside because they felt that he was leaning away from that pitch. Unfortunately, they were pitching it exactly where Ichiro wanted it. He slapped the ball the other way and legged-out infield singles. In this picture set, Goldstein aligns his shoulders and hands with a belt-high outside fastball, and Ichiro attacks that pitch. I hope the reader can see that their upper bodies are aligned with the pitch, but Steven is in a lower crouch.

 

      There is no doubt in my mind that Goldstein has a very rare swing. However, I feel that he should be confident in the box. If he has confidence in that stance, and with those swing mechanics, then he should continue to use them. There is a lot to be said about a hitter having confidence when he steps into the box, and I feel like it is the most important thing involved in getting a hit. My notes on this Seawolves' Outfielder's swing: needs to keep his head behind his hands, he shows great plate coverage despite unorthodox approach, shows ability to square-up baseballs, and hits well to all fields. I feel like those are all positives. I have also noticed how fast he was out of the box. He was 4.19 down to first twice, and had a 3.76 on a bunt the other game! He finishes his backswing early to get a head start down to first like most fast left-handers (discussed here: John Murphy).

     As for a rundown, Goldstein still has another year of development before his draft-eligible summer. I hope he is back with the Braves, because he seems to be in the middle of a lot of big plays in his short time here. I think he is one of those players that makes things happen. His baseball mentality has been forged in the Aaron Payne mold of doing all the little things that help a baseball team win games. As for tools, I feel like he is a plus fielder, above average runner, and can hit for average. I have not seen his arm frequently enough, but arm strength can always develop. As for hitting for power, Goldstein hit 4 HRs in college, has an extremely powerful base, and plenty of hand speed. I think that certainly shows power potential. However, he needs to decide whether to hit like the Bagwell/Ichiro hybrid he is now, or change his approach. The decision is his. I just hope the Braves welcome him back next year, so that I can see it myself.

Player Profile: Jon Keller

  
      Jon Keller is a 6’6” 225 lb. starter who pitched for 2 years at the University of Nebraska and is transferring to the University of Tampa. He was drafted in the 11th round by the Seattle Mariners in the 2010 MLB Draft. For Bourne in 2012, he has had an up and down year. He has posted a 5.08 ERA, but is third on the team in strikeouts (35). He has a 1.68 WHIP and a 0.322 opponent batting average on balls in play. He has only thrown first-pitch strikes to 56.3% of his hitters, but still has the talent to strike them out; he averages 9.356 strikeouts per 9 innings pitched. He has had two amazing outings this year, versus Hyannis he went 5.0 innings, surrendered 1 hit, didn’t give up a run, didn’t walk anyone, and struck out 9! His last outing, he went 7 innings with 3 hits, 0 earned runs, 1 walk, and 6 strikeouts.
    As for mechanics, he has an effortless delivery. He throws much harder than it looks. His fastball has ranged from 89-96 but sits from 92-94. He has a slurve that ranges from 79-84, and his change up has been between 80-89 (sits 84-86). At 6’5” he has great height and a very strong body. He does an excellent job of standing tall and pitching North and South. His fastball has a nice downward plane, or he creates excellent angle with it. At times, the fastball has shown arm-side tail. Keller’s secondary pitches are raw but show great potential. His slurve has good movement (front-view slow motion) but lacks sharpness. He has a good change with downward movement but could make it great with more arm-side tail.  His arm action is long and smooth, which causes the ball to jump out of his hand. He implements the bow and arrow technique, I have been talking about all year. Jon’s mechanics have shown minor mechanical flaws. One start, he opened up too early and lost speed on his fastball (when it was 89-91), and at times will collapse his back-side. When his backside collapses, his fastball loses that angle and becomes flat and straight. This happened to him at Veteran’s Field in Chatham. He releases the ball out of an ideal power position (side-view slow motion). He shows an excellent finish as well. He allows his arm to slow naturally and his drive leg lands softly.
    As for a breakdown, Jon Keller is a raw, big-bodied, power-throwing right-hander. This speaks extremely well for his draft status. With improved control and more consistent mechanics , it is hard for me to put a ceiling on Jon. His raw stuff will translate very well on the next level, and I can’t help but assume that it will continue to get better through hard work. He has shown flashes of brilliance that scouts can easily project. After his last start, I feel that everything is coming together well for Keller. I expect him to be vital to the Braves playoff success!

Player Profile: Austin Wynns

    Austin Wynns is a 6’2” 190 lb. catcher from the California State University, Fresno. The athletic teams are better known as the Fresno State Bulldogs. In 2012, this backstop batted .284 while starting 57 games. He ended his college season with 194 plate appearances, scoring 35 runs, with 55 hits, 22 doubles, 4th on team with 30 runs batted-in, and 22 walks. On April 3rd, Wynns was named the Sysco Player of the Week when he batted .467 with 2 doubles, 4 RBIs, and threw out 2 runners. For Bourne, in the past three games he has 2, 3, and 1 hit respectively. Included in that span, he has hit 3 doubles and an RBI. Austin has raised his OPS .149 points (from .472 to .621) and his average .056 points (from .180 to .236). He has been an excellent midseason addition to the Braves.
    As for hitting mechanics, Austin works deep into counts because he has a great understanding of the strike-zone. He is disciplined at the plate and steps into the box with a lot of confidence. He starts his stance in a wide base with his hands in the hitter’s slot. Wynns’ hands move in a circular motion before he takes a slow, small step to set them. I like the way Austin’s head stays still throughout his swing. This is vital for recognizing pitches and improves a hitter’s ability to hit for contact. Once he steps to set his hands, he implements a very good, smooth weight shift. His weight is balanced between his legs at contact. His head stays on the baseball, and he keeps his hands close to his body before the bat head explodes onto the baseball. His swing is short and compact and he stays balanced throughout his follow-through.
    More importantly, Austin is an excellent catch and throw guy behind the plate. As for arm strength a “pop time” of 2.00 is considered average. Austin has “pop times” as low as 1.76-1.89. That is extremely impressive! Some of his intangibles behind the plate are that he calls a great game and works extremely hard on every pitch. Austin calls a great game and seems to be in the batter’s head and one step ahead of them. He is constantly aiding his fielders by verbally directing them about the situation. I love his hands and I made sure to include that in his video. You can see he has soft hands receiving the ball and pulls it into the strike zone without any rapid glove movements. Keeping glove movement to a minimum is important because when the umpire sees the glove move too much, the umpire will usually call it a ball. As for making the umpire's job easier, Wynns makes sure to get as low as possible in his crouch (Picture Below thank you to Braves photographer Kelsey Driscoll for the first one). This helps the umpire see the whole plate.
    In conclusion, Austin is a fantastic leader behind the plate for the Braves’ defense. He limits the running game with his strong arm, and works hard for his pitchers. The Bourne pitchers love throwing to him, and he is an asset to the team. He battles at the plate and hits the ball well. He works hard night in and night out for the Braves, and I am sure the Fresno State Bulldogs enjoy his presence. I feel an organization will be ecstatic with the player they draft and he will move up quickly due to his effort, intelligence, and ability behind the plate.

Player Profile: Patrick Young

     Patrick Young is a 6’7” 208 lb. Sophomore from Villanova University. This tall right-hander was the ace for his Wildcats team this spring. He led his team in ERA (4.39), opponent’s batting average (.273), win-loss percentage (.545), wins (6), innings pitched (82), strikeouts (61), and games started (14). This summer, he has been successful as a middle-innings reliever. He has posted a very good opponent’s batting average (.250), an excellent earned run average (2.57), and a respectable WHIP (1.240).
     His Villanova profile talks about how Patrick has an arsenal of pitches. He throws an 88-93 mph fastball that sits from 91-93, a 74-78 mph curve, a power curve/slider that he can throw from 80-84 mph, and a nice little change-up around 78 that he likes to throw to left-handed batters. On top of keeping hitters off-balance with his array of pitches, Pat creates a great deal of deception through his delivery. From the wind-up, he starts with a high leg-kick and then bends over from the waist. The initial look is that he is going to throw side-arm, but he throws from an overhand delivery. That is extremely difficult for a batter to adjust to when the ball gets on you at 93 mph! While his upper body mechanics are very unorthodox, Young shows a very good leg drive for a taller pitcher. He allows his drive leg to finish naturally, and his arm only has a slight kick back. He is successful throwing from the stretch, because he implements a slide-step. He doesn’t lose a lot of power because of the momentum his core and trunk generate through his delivery. With the departures of Tyler Skulina, Mike Mayers, and Jaron Long, the starting rotation has some missing pieces. He has proven he can succeed out of the bullpen and as a starter this calendar year. Based on his success at Villanova, I would not be surprised to see Pat Young innings increase quite a bit this last week of the season; his role could be as a spot-starter or long reliever.  I would be even less surprised if this tall, hard-throwing righty sees his named called in the 2013 MLB Amateur Draft.

Game Highlight: Jaron Long

You can read about Jaron Long's profile here. He was extremely impressive tonight. He saved his best start of the year for last. His line for the night is 6 innings pitched, 4 hits, 0 runs, and 9 strikeouts. I am sure everyone involved with the Cape League will be impressed with 9 strikeouts in 6 IP. However, it was his efficiency and control that was most impressive. While using his dominant change and a 2-seam fastball with great late action, Jaron worked in the best curve he has thrown all year. His efficiency was even more impressive! He threw 91 pitches and faced only 22 batters. Of those 91 pitches 68.1% of them were strikes. Of the 22 batters faced he threw first-pitch strikes to 68.2% of them. Those that received a first-pitch strike, he retired 86.7% of them. So to summarize Jaron's night, he got ahead of batters, threw them a lot of strikes, and then put them away. It was a pleasure to watch him pitch all year, and tonight was great. I think Jaron's acumen on the mound is impressive and he really takes a lot of pride in his craft. Long succeeds through control and a nasty change-up. He is proof that you don't have to throw hard to get guys out.

Player Profile: Jack Reinheimer

 

     Jack Reinheimer is a 6’0” 177lb. shortstop from East Carolina University Pirates. In 2010, he was rated in the National Top 1000 by Perfect Game and was selected in the 31st round by the Atlanta Braves. In 2011, Jack had the honor of being named to the Conference USA and College Baseball Daily All-Freshman team. Reinheimer was named the All-Star Game MVP of the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL). After his summer playing for the Newport Gulls concluded, Perfect Game ranked him the 9th best prospect of the NECBL. In 2012, Jack was third on his Pirates team with 11 doubles, third on the team with 89 total bases, and second on the team with 9 stolen bases. For Bourne this summer, he is hitting .273, is third on the team in doubles with 5, second on the team with 4 stolen bases, and has the least amount of strikeouts (20) among the Braves with at least 100 at-bats.

     On top of being an excellent hitter to slot in the second spot in the line-up, Jack is a strong-armed shortstop who covers a lot of range. Reinheimer runs extremely well from the right side. In fact, I have timed him around 4.22 (above major league speed), and he has legged out several infield hits. He has proven to be great at hitting the ball on the ground to the right side of the infield (spray chart below). This is an excellent skill to execute a hit and run, move runners along, and aid in a runner scoring from third base. I included some swings and misses and foul balls to show how much plate coverage Jack possesses. He doesn’t allow a lot get past him with two strikes. As for his mechanics, Reinheimer starts with an open stance and his hands high at his ear level. He closes his stance and then uses a toe tap to move his hands into the hitter’s slot. He shifts his weight back before his swing, and hits with his weight well-balanced between both legs. His hands are quick, and his hands take a direct path to the baseball. I also want the viewer to note that he stays balanced throughout his swing, and he has excellent balance through his two-handed follow through. The swing I slowed down was an example of his ability to hit the ball, hard on the ground, the opposite way. You can see Jack’s hands get inside the baseball, and this adds to his value as a top of the order hitter. Jack will continue to be a valued piece in the Bourne Braves line-up as the second hitter and in the field at shortstop. His success will weigh greatly on the Braves ability to earn that final spot in the Cape Cod League’s Western Division Playoffs.

Player Profile: Tim Giel

     Timothy Giel is a 6’2” 230 lb. Junior from Columbia University. He has been given the nickname “The Professor” by the Bourne Braves. At Columbia in 2012, Tim made 9 starts allowing less than 3 runs in 8 of his 9 starts. He was 3rd on the team in strikeouts and led the team in innings pitched. This summer in the Cape League, Giel has pitched 24.1 innings. He has posted 22 strikeouts while allowing only 6 walks and recorded 1 save. His most impressive stat is an outstanding 0.705 WHIP. He was awarded a full-time contract and has earned the honor of representing the West in the Cape Cod Baseball League All-Star Game. The All-Star game is this Saturday July 28, at Whitehouse Field in Harwich.
     Tim Giel’s repertoire consists of an 87-91 mph fastball, a 77-84 mph slider/cutter, and a power change-up that ranges from 81-84. His change-up is thrown very hard, and what it lacks in depth; it makes up for in late life. As for Giel’s mechanics, he uses a slightly raised balance point, coils his upper body, and bends his back leg to gain momentum to the plate. He does an excellent job of keeping is front leg closed. A lot of youth pitchers will lose speed and accuracy on their fastball when their front leg opens up too soon. Opening up too soon can lead to shoulder problems, and inconsistent release points. Tim’s arm action is quick with a backside stab, and he throws out of a low 3/4 arm slot. He has a stocky build that allows him to utilize a quick, strong trunk rotation. His stocky build helps his legs in his delivery as well. Tim incorporates his lower body for a strong push off of the mound. He finishes with good arm extension, and a comfortable follow-through. Personally, I enjoy watching a pitcher who has a natural, clean follow-through, and Giel allows his body to finish. You can seen him naturally walk off the mound from the side view. He controls the running game through a natural leg kick (side-view slow motion). While this seems like a contradictory statement, it is not. Tim is very quick to the plate from the stretch. It is important for any pitcher to be quick to the plate while not rushing his mechanics, Giel has found a very good balance. For the remainder of the season he will work in a set-up/closer tandem with Hawtin Buchanan and the Bourne Braves should have few problems protecting late game leads.

Player Profile: John Farrell

     John Farrell is a 6’2” 210lb. closer for the College of William and Mary. In fact, he is the college’s all-time leader in saves. He is a strongly-trusted, late-inning reliever for the Bourne Braves. In the summer of 2011, Farrell was selected to the CCBL All-Star team. In 2012, he pitched 42.2 innings making 24 appearances and recorded 8 saves. John posted a 2.32 ERA with a 42 to 14 strikeout to walk ratio. He posted a 1.35 WHIP for the William and Mary Tribe. This summer for the Braves, Farrell has been lights out. He is 2-0 with a 2.46 ERA, has recorded 2 saves, has 24 strikeouts in 18.1 innings pitched, and has an outstanding .980 WHIP.
     Farrell’s arsenal includes a fastball that sits anywhere between 88-92,  a curveball between 79-83, an 81-84 mph slider, and a devastating 82-86 mph change-up with vicious arm-side tail. As for mechanics, John uses a quick leg kick because he is a reliever. This adjusted slide step would look like it would steal some of his power. This is not true because John has an outstanding back-leg drive (side view slow motion). His upper body stays strong through his delivery; he creates as much angle as a 6’2” pitcher with a low 3/4 delivery is going to create. That low 3/4 delivery does take away some of his downward angle, but it does not take away from his arm side tail. His fastball has good movement. His curveball and slider compliment both his fastball and his change-up. Farrell’s out pitch is a very strong change-up that breaks sharply like a 2-seam fastball, but comes in 6-10 mph slower (slow motion front view). In fact, his arm speed and motion is so similar to his fastball that his own father had trouble distinguishing his change from his heater! John will continue to operate in his closer/set-up role for the Braves, and with his arsenal will continue to find success.

Player Profile: Trent Gilbert

      Trent Gilbert is a 6’1” 175 lb. Freshman at the University of Arizona. In 2011, he was drafted by the Florida Marlins in the 40th round of the MLB Amateur Draft. He enjoyed a great deal of team success this past year, as the Arizona Wildcats won the 2012 NCAA National Championship. As a true freshman, he started 64 games and hit .272. For the Bourne Braves, he had a rough start making some adjustments to the speed of the Cape League. Despite his struggles, he still has managed to produce an on-base percentage 120 points higher than his batting average. I am very impressed with his great grasp of the strike zone, especially considering that he is a young baseball player.
      The reason I am writing a player profile on him is that I fell in love with his swing at first sight! In my opinion, his swing is very pretty. He has a nice, compact swing and his hands get through the zone quickly. He has impressive power for a player his size because his hands generate so much snap through the zone. I would say: his bat-head explodes through the hitting zone. As for mechanics, he starts his swing with his weight back, his elbow up and his bat on his shoulder. He uses a slight toe tap to set his hands into the hitter’s slot. When the bat comes off of his shoulder, his front foot lands and his weight shifts to the middle of his body. At this point, his hands move directly to the baseball. His hands come through the zone before the bat-head. The bat-head then explodes into the baseball. He hits the ball out in front and his head stays down. His eyes are on the bat when he makes contact. I firmly believe that Trent’s average will begin to soar when he makes the necessary adjustments. He sees the ball well, and his swing is impressive. In fact, I believe he may already be turning it around. He has at-least one walk and one hit in the last three games he has been in the starting line-up. That includes a home-run at Falmouth on July 20th.

Teaching Moment: Outfield Drills

Today I am hoping to do a Triple Feature! It will include one pitcher, one hitter, and this teaching moment. This first posting is some helpful outfield drills. It is hard for me to record an individual fielder, but I hope these drills help you understand what to look for when assessing the ability of an outfielder. I would like to thank Sacred Heart’s John Murphy and Eckerd College’s Ted Regan for allowing me to film these drills. My favorite part of these drills is: all they need is a partner and you can do them in your backyard or anywhere you have about 20-30 yards of grass (except shagging).

Drill One
Don’t Step In The Bucket
The most important thing about this drill is not to step straight back or backpedal. If you have developed the habit of stepping straight back or backpedaling, simply put a bucket behind you! The idea is to turn your head and sprint to the spot of the baseball. Ideally, you want to catch the ball over your throwing shoulder. Make sure to work using both shoulder.

Drill Two
Going Straight Back
The hardest ball to read in the outfield is the ball straight at you. In fact, any baseball hit over your head is difficult to get a true read on. Rather than backpedal, the outfielder needs to turn to their glove side, “create some depth” in other words the outfielder needs to make sure the ball is not traveling directly over their head, and then sprint to the spot of the ball. In this drill, you throw the ball directly over the fielder’s head. The fielder wants to avoid drifting to the baseball. Ideally, a fielder will have his shoulders facing the infield while making the catch.

Drill Three
Shuttle Drill
This drill prepares the fielder for a line drive with a lot of spin. Sometimes the outfielder will be running in one direction and the spin off the bat causes the outfielder to change their route. In the drill, the outfielder starts running in one direction and is forced to change direction on the drop of a dime. It is imperative that the fielder turns his head and not his entire body. Initially, this can feel very unnatural, but through hard work this can become easy. Be sure to find the baseball after making the turn, and work on turning both ways when doing the drill.

Drill Four
Shagging
This requires more room than the other three drills. Be sure to implement all of the fundamentals worked on in the previous drills. See the ball off of the bat, sprint to the spot where you think the ball is going to land, and always make an attempt to catch the ball over your throwing shoulder.

The art of the pick-off move

Today, I would like to discuss the pick-off move from a left-handed pitcher. This is something that is often feared by youth league coaches and overlooked at the advanced levels. However, James Shields (RHP), Jarrod Washburn, Chris Capuano, and Andy Pettite are able to use it as a weapon. The pick-off move can be used to keep a runner close, and a great pick-off move can get a pitcher an easy out. I am going to be using the University of Central Florida's Chris Matulis as an example of how one little problem in your mechanics can make it easy on the runner. First, let me discuss some of the things Chris does correctly. His head movement is excellent, he is always looking to the plate whether he throws there or at the runner. Some LHP are so predictable that coaches/players will know where they are going to throw just by where they are looking. His does a good job of varying his timing. He pauses goes to the plate and one time pauses and throws to first. Another thing he does that is vital, he pushes that imaginary 45 degree angle the front foot has to step on to stay within the limitations of the "distance and direction" discussed in MLB rule 8.01(c). Another important aspect of a good pick-off move is the leg kick; you want to have the same leg kick towards first base as when you deliver the ball to the plate. Chris does an excellent job of replicating his leg movement. However, the reason Matulis is not deceiving the runner is because of his hand motion. When throwing to the plate, Chris breaks his hands at his chest, and when throwing to first he brings his hands down to his waist. When watching the video you can see as soon as his hands drop below his chest the runner appears on the screen. At the college level, these players will pick up on that slight mechanical flaw every time! Barry Zito does an excellent job of replicating his throwing motion (picture below), and he isn't known for a great pick-off move. As for Chris, he is making an amateur mistake, and I am not sure if anyone has even pointed this out to him before. I did not notice it until reviewing it last night. I think with this minor adjustment, he will see a vast improvement in his ability to keep runners close.

Player Profile: Aaron Payne

Aaron Payne is a sophomore from the University of Oregon. Payne hit .277 with 42 runs, 16 stolen bases, and 84 total bases in 65 games with the Ducks. He also led the Pac-12 conference by getting hit with 25 pitches.  He was 2012 Pac-12 All-Academic Second-Team, 2012 Pac-12 All-Conference Honorable Mention, and named the Pac-12 Player of the Week twice (May 7 and April 30). He has been playing extremely well for the Braves, as well. In just 16 games, Aaron is batting .340 with 4 stolen bases, 9 runs scored, and 7 runs batted-in. He will doing anything to get on base for his team, so it is no surprise he leads the Cape League in hit-by-pitches.
Aaron Payne is just a hard-working player that is willing to do anything to help the Braves pick up a win. I say this with the utmost respect for Aaron's style of play; I consider him a "scrappy" ballplayer. In the field, he never gives up on the baseball, and his ability to get the ball out of his glove and make successful snap throws to first base makes him a very capable fielder. At the plate is where Aaron's true "scratch and claw" mentality shines. He will see 4 pitches in a majority of his at-bats. Aaron loves to grind out plate appearances until the pitcher makes a mistake. When he does get a good pitch he possesses very quick hands (slow-motion swing and miss) and excellent plate coverage (slow motion foul ball). These attributes have allowed him to be a table-setter for Colin Moran during his recent success. Personally, I think his presence has stabilized, a once inconsistent, top of the order. As for hitting mechanics, Aaron starts with an open-stance and his back leg right on the boundary of the batter's box. In fact, the first thing Payne does when he leads off is scrape off that boundary, so he can stand even closer. One unique thing about Payne's hitting mechanics is the way he sets his hands. Most hitters with a high leg kick use the beginning of the leg kick to start their hands. Payne's hands don't start moving back until a brief pause while he leg is descending. When that front foot does touch, he is in an excellent hitting stance. The slow motion video shows that his weight is back, his hand's are in the hitter's slot, and he is square to the pitcher. I included a back view so you can see exactly how close he is to the plate. I noticed in the back view that he does pull his back leg early to get a head start to 1st base.
I firmly believe that Aaron Payne will will be drafted in the 2013 draft. He has appeal to an organization's system in the David Eckstein mold. I believe any team that drafts him will be elated with the player they get back.  He will be solid in the field and do whatever it takes to help his team win baseball games.

Player Profile: Justin Leeson

Justin Leeson is a Junior at Georgetown University. He was signed by the Braves after having played a week with the Harwich Mariners. Justin enjoyed a good deal of success for the Hoyas this past year, he was voted 3rd Team All-Big East. Leeson hit .325 with 69 hits. He recorded 8 doubles, 5 triples, and 2 home runs. He scored 40 runs and batted-in 21. He posted a very good OPS (.858) and when on base he was 18 for 24 in stolen base opportunities. To cap off his successful season, Justin Leeson was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the 39th round of the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft.

Justin has shown that he has 3 useful tools for a Major League franchise. First, I have timed him 4.38 down to first. That is considered an average time for a right-handed major leaguer, and I know he will run faster before the end of the year. Second, he shows good range in the outfield, and I am confident he will continue to improve going back on a baseball.  Third, he has a nice, compact swing that should translate into hitting for average. In the first slow motion replay, you can see his hands move too far back. This causes a little bit of a loop in Justin’s hand path. He makes the proper adjustment in the same game, he keeps his hands in that hitter’s slot, and he is able to hit a nice line drive to right field. As for hitting mechanics, he does a very good job of setting his hands in the hitter’s slot. While setting his hands, Leeson shifts his weight to his back leg. He then implements a little toe tap for timing purposes. The toe tap is used to start his hands and back leg. He starts his back leg (load leg) early, the same way John Murphy does (shown here). His hands travel to the ball, and Justin makes sure not to roll his wrists early. He keeps his head on the baseball throughout his swing and finishes with a two-handed follow through. Personally, I don’t think anyone is going to be “WOWED” by Justin’s play night-in and night-out. However, Justin always puts himself in the right spots, can bunt, and hustles. There is a lot to be said about a baseball player who plays the game right, and has a good head on his shoulders. Mr. Leeson is joy to watch at Doran Park, and should be drafted in the later rounds in 2013.

Follow-up: Colin Moran

 

In the preseason, I broke down Colin's swing mechanics, and talked about how important going to the opposite field was. (Link is here)     Colin Moran has been tearing the cover off of the ball throughout his summer in the Cape Cod Baseball League. This is nothing new, he has been an outstanding hitter since arriving at the University of North Carolina and was an All-Star in 2011 for the Bourne Braves. He leads the entire Cape League in runs batted in (24) and is tied for 5th in home runs (5). Moran is 3rd on the Braves in batting average, hitting an even .300. He is pacing the Braves in hits with 27, and is showing an excellent grasp of the strike zone; ranking second in walks (11). It is evident by his hitting chart (below) that he knows how to use the whole field. His ability to hit is even more apparent when you watch him take batting practice or make contact during a game. He hits everything on the sweet part of the bat. I hope I don’t jinx him, but he hasn’t broken a single bat this season. All this should not discount the fact that he moves well in the field, shows soft hands, and can make all the throws at third base. I cannot fathom a scenario where he is not in the upper half of the first round in the 2013 MLB draft. He is worth the drive to Doran Park, because he is just that impressive of a hitter. 

Player Profile: Tyler Skulina

     Tyler Skulina is a 6’6” 225lb. Sophomore from Kent State University. While a lot of college baseball fans remember the outstanding run Kent State had in the NCAA Tournament, few recognize the Golden Flashes for their outstanding regular season. KSU won 32 of their last 39 games, and including 21 of their last 23. Skulina was vital in is team’s amazing success. Among MAC pitchers, Tyler led the conference with 11 wins and 17 games started, plus ranked 3rd with 97 strikeouts. He paced his team with a .786 winning percentage and 36 strikeouts looking (over a third of his overall total).
    Tyler Skulina is another tall, big-bodied right-hander. In fact, between Jeff Thompson, Josh Dezse, Hawtin Buchanan, Patrick Young, Jon Keller, and Chris Matulis, I think it is safe to say Bourne has the biggest (size-wise) staff on the Cape. As for Tyler, he features an arsenal of pitches. His fastball hit anywhere from 90-93 on the radar gun, his curve was 69-70, his slider sat around 80, and change-up around 76. When Skulina gets ahead in the count he likes to compliment his throw-me over curve, with an explosive slider. In fact, I wrote down in my notebook that his slider is filthy (7/4) and then last night I described it as nasty. After having seen it more frequently in his second start, I think this pitch could contend with a select few pitches as one of the best I have seen on the cape this summer. As for mechanics, Tyler features a huge leg kick. That massive leg kick allows him to generate great push and extension to the plate (slow motion side view). He gets excellent arm extension to the plate, and that is important for a tall, long-armed, right-hander. He stands tall throughout his delivery. A scout at the game described this as a “North-South delivery”, and explained how this is their organization’s preferred way of throwing. His pitches come to the plate with a great downward plane. One adjustment I would like to make with Tyler, is he was between 1.58-1.72 to the plate with runners on-base. I feel like a pitcher with a 1.8+ WHIP needs to be more conscientious of the baserunners. However, I think with Tyler’s mechanics, and repertoire, his WHIP will plummet by season’s end. As for the 2013 draft, I would be surprised if he fell lower than the 3rd round, with a current ceiling the 2nd.

Follow-up: Mason Robbins

On 6/21, I posted a Game Highlight on Mason Robbins. I included a hitting chart showing how Mason was more successful hitting the ball the other way. I still believe that Mason’s power is to the right-center gap, but he has hit one home run to right and the other to left (in the same game). My only defense, other than watching batting practice, is his only triple of the season was to right-center. Regardless of where his power lies, he has found more success going to the opposite field. He has more hits, and made less outs, hitting the ball the opposite way. Robbins has 12 hits to left this season and 6 to right (hitting chart below).

His recent hitting success can be attributed to an adjustment to his swing, as well. In the video below you can see Mason on 7/1 pulling his front shoulder off of the baseball. I am referring to his front shoulder opening up to the pitcher rather than staying under his chin. This tends to cause a loss of power, not letting the ball travel deep enough in the zone, a reduced rate of contact, and hitting the ball directly into the ground (topping off). Since 7/1, Mason's batting average has risen from .306-.390, and his OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) from 0.776 to an outstanding 1.056. He has hit 3 doubles and 2 home runs. It is obvious in the video, that after the first hit, his chin goes from shoulder to shoulder. I slowed down the last hit for two reasons. The first is to show how well Mason goes to the opposite field. The second is to show how, on a similar pitch, Mason not only makes contact, but he hits the ball with great authority. Currently, he is 10th in the entire Cape Cod Baseball League with 15.429 runs created (sabermetric stat). Runs created is a formula, which is based on hits, walks, at-bats, and total bases, and predicts the number of runs a batter scores in a season. If Mason continues to stray true to his swing, this number will continue to rise!

Player Profile: Hawtin Buchanan

Hawtin Buchanan is a 6’8” 250lb. freshman at the University of Mississippi. He was drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 19th round of the 2011 MLB Draft. Baseball America chose him as the SEC’s third-best newcomer in their season preview. In 2012, Hawtin was 1-0 in 15 appearances for the Ole Miss Rebels. He pitched 20.1 innings and struck out 31 batters, while only walking 8. For the Braves, he has pitched 7.0 innings in 5 appearances. Buchanan has struck out 9 batters, and has a 0.86 WHIP.

My initial reaction to watching Hawtin take the mound is “Wow, he has a pro-pitcher body!” His body-type reminds me of Josh Johnson (6’7” 248), a lot (see pictures below). He is a huge pitcher, and I become more impressed when I put the radar gun on him. He throws between 92-95mph with an 11-5 curve that sits around 81mph. I like that he has a 10mph difference between his power fastball and his show-me curve. For a freshman pitcher that seems to be growing into his body, he repeats his throwing motion very well. Buchanan uses his large-frame to throw the ball on a nice downward plane. His arm action is slightly concerning to me. Hawtin is very “arm-fast,” which is normally a good thing. However, I am worried about the way his elbow leads into the pitch (slow-motion front view). Other than that minor hiccup in his arm motion, Buchanan shows good mechanics for somebody his size. He starts with a slight step to the first base side of the mound and uses a high leg kick (impressive for such a big body) to generate his momentum to the plate. While he doesn’t fully extend into the power position, he plants his front leg and uses that action to throw the ball on such an aggressive downward plane (slow motion side-view).  He uses the “bow and arrow” technique and tucks his glove very well. His rotation and finish are smooth. He allows his back leg to fall into place, squarely facing home plate. His arm has a little “snapback” action, but I do not think that is an issue. This Biloxi, Mississippi native is going to pitch in some tight spots, as a reliable reliever, for the Braves this summer. Right now, Hawtin is a big-body power arm, and I really believe he can turn his curveball into a plus pitch as he gains confidence in it. With continued development, tt would be hard to picture Buchanan going anywhere other than the top 5 rounds in 2014.

Player Profile: Ryan Donahue

Ryan Donahue is a 6’4” 200lb. LHP from La Salle University. He made 24 appearances for the La Salle Explorers this past year, including 9 starts. He pitched a total of 65 innings and posted a 2.91 ERA. He struck out 62 batters and walked 34 of them. He ranked third on his team in ERA, second in wins, third in total appearances, and third on his team in strikeouts.

I know the first thing people are going to ask themselves is “How does a guy like this, who doesn’t put up the best statistics for his small-baseball school, pitch in the Cape Cod Baseball League?” The question becomes reinforced when I talk about how Donahue throws 84-85 mph with a 70-73 mph breaking ball. I am going to pile on to the argument when I talk about how he is below-average (1.53-1.55) to the plate with runners on base. I will defend his ability to keep the running game in control by telling you that he led his team at La Salle in pickoffs, and I will defend Ryan as a pitcher by talking about how unique his mechanics are. I have never seen a pitcher with an arm slot/motion like Ryan’s. He has an extremely deceptive delivery, and that delivery comes from a left-handed arm. As for the 5 points of emphasis used in assessing pitching mechanics, Donahue does everything well. His footwork, balance position, power position, rotation, and follow-through are solid. After watching the video you notice he has strong, yet unique, mechanics. I would not support any youth pitcher trying to emulate his pitching form, but Ryan is successful because his throwing motion creates so much deception. He is not going to blow the ball by anyone in this league, but he will keep hitters off-balance. One of my favorite things about his motion is the step to the first base side, and throwing back across his body. That action creates a lot of movement on his baseball and confuses the hitter. This is evident because he is averaging 14.2 strikeouts per 9 innings. He is going to work exclusively out of the bullpen throughout this 2012 season. Ryan is going to throw the ball funky for the remainder of the year. In doing so, he is going to confuse most hitters and make every left-handed hitter uncomfortable in the box.

Game Highlight: Josh Dezse

     I know I did a player profile on Josh during the preseason, but I wanted to record some video and talk about his game tonight. In tonight's game at Doran Park, Josh hit the go ahead home run in the Bottom of the 7th. Then, he came in to record the save. In tonight's save, Josh dropped his ERA an entire run from 5.79 to 4.76. His WHIP was 1.71 and dropped to 1.59. Batters are hitting a paltry .200 (71.4% weakly hit average), and Josh records outs on 85.7% of the hitters he starts off with a first pitch strike. Most Importantly, Josh is 100% in his save chances.
    As for his mechanics, they are flat-out effortless. Ordinarily, It is difficult to hit a player who throws in the mid-90s with a high-70s curve. However, when the ball jumps out of the hand of the opposing pitcher, your task becomes that much more daunting. Josh takes a small step to the first base side, keeps his head above his drive foot, and uses a strong base to work into his balance point. While Josh's leg is slightly higher, than that ideal balance point that Chad Green had, he is very balanced before his delivery. Josh turns his trunk slightly to gather a little bit more momentum to the plate. I would like the viewer to notice that his hands are together and right above his raised leg. This is my preferred hand position. I know that pitchers, like Dice-K, are a little bit different, but this is what I feel best prepares the pitcher to deliver the baseball. The next step is the power position. I know it is petty to tell a guy who throws in the mid-90s that he can generate more power, but this is where I feel Josh is losing those 2-3mph on his fastball he had last year. If the viewer stops the video at exactly 0:09 seconds,or chooses to watch the slow motion side view, you can see that Josh could drive that little bit extra before delivery (see photo of my favorite pitcher Greg Maddux below). The contrast is that Maddux's leg is straight and fully extended, and that Josh's is slightly bent. You can notice that Greg's front foot is pointed because he needed that little-extra on his fastball. I feel if Josh gives that little extra push, off his back leg/foot, his fastball will EXPLODE! The next step is rotation. Josh does an excellent job of involving his core muscles in his delivery. He uses the "bow and arrow" technique and whips his entire upper body to the plate. Finally, he allows his leg and arm to come to a natural stop. I have heard from a former trainer that more damage is done to the arm while stopping than during the actual throwing motion. It is important for all young pitchers to let their body naturally finish their delivery. As for Josh Dezse, he is going to close out games and come in during pressure situations. This is expected from this flamethrower who has a bright future ahead of him. So bright that the Bleacher Report has him projected as the #11 overall pick in the 2013 Draft!

Player Profile: Justin Jones

     Last night was the debut for 6’2” 188 lb. LHP Justin Jones. In 2012 at the University of California-Berkeley, Jones appeared in 16 games (starting 15) and posted a 4.57 ERA. In 80.2 innings of work, he struck-out 50 and walked 31. In the Bleacher Report’s “Omaha Eye-Openers” they said that, “He controls his high 80s fastball very well. His curveball and changeup both have slightly above-average potential. That was enough to get him tabbed in the seventh round out of high school by the White Sox.”
         Jones fastball registered on the gun 86-89 mph, with a lot of inside tail to a right-handed batter, and his curveball sat 76-79mph. He was 1.58 seconds to 1.79 seconds with runners on, but that is because of his quirky delivery to the plate. The first weird thing Justin does is pitch from the third-base side of the mound. This is obviously something he feels comfortable in doing. Pitching from the side of the mound is common among several big-leaguers, including C.C. Sabathia (Picture and funny animated GIF Below). Justin Jones takes his “footwork” step to the third base side as well. I firmly believe that it doesn’t matter where, or how, a pitcher steps to set his feet. The important thing is that his head remains above his balance/drive foot. Jones does an excellent job of keeping his head above that drive leg. The next unusual thing, Jones does is when he kicks his leg; he curls his body to gain more momentum to the plate. Justin then kicks his leg out and swings it to the plate. Another belief of mine is that as long as a pitcher maintains balance throughout his delivery and reaches the “power position” effectively then it doesn’t matter what he does. Jones does an excellent job of driving off his back leg to reach that power position upon delivery. Rather than using the “bow and arrow” technique, he uses a straight arm tuck. Finally, Justin Jones does a very good job of allowing his arm and body momentum to finish his pitch. I really like his exaggerated finish. From the side view, I want the viewer to notice that Justin does such an excellent job of driving off his back leg that you can see that his knee has scraped the dirt. From the front view, you can see how he does an excellent job of “hiding the baseball” from the hitter. In fact, you don’t get your first look at the baseball until it is behind his head and on the way to the plate. With this being Justin Jones first appearance, I am not sure what role he is going to fill in the Braves rotation. However, I can see why this lefty, with a high-80’s fastball, was taken by the White Sox out of high school, and he garnered attention from the Bleacher Report.

Player Profile: John Murphy

   
     John Murphy is a 5’11” 175 lb. Junior infielder from Sacred Heart University. He enjoyed an extremely impressive season in Fairfield, CT. On top of being named to the 2012 New England Conference All-Tournament team, John ranked among the top 10 statistically in batting average (3rd-.347), slugging (9th-.476), on-base percentage (3rd -438), runs scored (7th-38), triples (2nd-4), walks (7th-25), and stolen bases (2nd-24). He led his team in runs-batted-in with 36, and hits with 61, as well. If that is not impressive enough, Murphy was second on the team with a .965 on-base plus slugging.  While playing for the Bourne Braves this year, he has attracted a lot of attention. Most recently an article titled “The Braves man in the middle” was written about him. My favorite notation from this article is that: “He has been making the action happen as he ranks in the top three in every major offensive category on the team while also leading the team in runs scored with six and stolen bases with four through the first eight games.”
    John has very quick, soft hands as a fielder, and he turns an excellent double play. He has plus speed, meaning he runs well-above average. I have timed him 4.07 down to first, and I will not be surprised if he breaks 4.00 before the end of the season. I would describe his hitting approach as a slap-hitter who does a very good job of turning on a fastball (while not a direct comparison think Ichiro or Wade Boggs during batting practice). John’s hitting mechanics are slightly unorthodox, but with his statistics, why fix what isn’t broken? He stands upright in the box with his hands at ear level. He keeps his hands over the “hitting slot” and then takes a huge stride. In the process of his stride his hands slide into that hitting slot with his elbow down. He then pre-bends his back leg and turns his hips into the ball. In fact, when he takes a pitch, you can see his back knee bending and turning before the ball arrives. Regardless how he gets there, John has a very strong base and good balance at the point of contact. Moments after striking the baseball, he supplants his back foot and begins running towards first base. This is very common among leadoff hitters, and is a great way to “leg-out” infield hits. I slowed down two different hits that John had in the Hyannis game. The first is a 3rd inning ground out to the pitcher. I hope the viewer notices that John plants that left foot and runs directly up the line to try for an infield hit. The second hit is a 1st inning double to right-centerfield. Murphy hits the ball, plants his left foot, takes two steps, and immediately takes a wide turn. This is an example of great situational base-running. A popular baseball cliche is “Triples are hit out of the box” or “thinking double after the ball is hit.” John Murphy follows that popular cliche, but why should I be surprised? This “man in the middle” makes the action happen!

Player Profile: Chad Green

     Chad Green is a 6’4” 215lb. He is a Sophomore, RHP from the University of Louisville. He was drafted in the 37th Round by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2010. In 2012, Chad was 5-0 with a 2.70 ERA. He appeared in 22 games and started 6. He recorded 42 strikeouts in 46.2 innings pitched and walked 23 batters.
    Chad Green pitched 3.2 innings last night before the skies opened up. Chad threw very well. He threw 64 pitches and 67.2% of them for strikes. He struck out 5 of the 11 batters he faced and he retired every single batter he threw a first-pitch strike to. When the ball was hit, 87.5% of the batted balls were weakly hit (fly balls and ground balls). After seeing Chad twice this season, I made these observation: Chad has very nice mechanics. They are slow and deliberate, which allow him to possess a nice 3/4 arm motion. Chad shows a slight shoulder turn while coming to his balance point. A minor adjustment Chad has made to his mechanics is viewable on the front view in slow motion. The adjustment is that he steps ever so slightly to the third base side. I noticed this during his first appearance of the year when his fastball was sitting 89-91mph. Unfortunately, I was unable to attain any velocities last night due to the inclement weather. From the side view, you can see Chad using the “bow and arrow” technique I posted about in the Mike Mayers Player Profile. From the front view, I hope the viewer notices that Chad Green comes to an ideal balance point.  While every pitcher’s mechanics are like fingerprints (no two the same), and every pitcher is comfortable with different leg kicks, ideally, you want a leg kick where you can balance a tray at its peak.

Player Profile: Logan Norris

 
     Tonight’s Reliever was Logan Norris a 5’10” 175 lb. RHP from Bossier City, LA. He pitches at LSU-Shreveport, an NAIA school. This season Logan compiled a 3.50 ERA going 9-1. He pitched 3 complete games, including 1 shutout. He pitched 64.1 total innings and struck-out 57 batters while allowing 27 walks. Last year he pitched 10 innings for the Braves and struck out 5.

     Logan Norris does not possess the typical major-league pitcher’s body. It is safe to say that he is on the small side. With this being true, he needs to do some unorthodox things with his mechanics to throw an 87-89 mph fastball. In the wind-up, he uses a huge leg kick to gain a lot of momentum towards the plate. His fastball shows a lot of late action; riding in on a right-handed batter. His curveball is a nice compliment to the tailing fastball he throws. He gets every ounce out of his 175 pound frame by staying closed and whipping his upper body around. A lot of pitching coaches would not advise throwing off your front foot, but I feel like Pedro Martinez (another small pitcher) pitched like that throughout his career. In the video, you notice that Logan uses his front leg the same way Pedro did. I posted a picture below of Tim Lincecum (yet another small pitcher) spinning off his front leg. In Logan’s first outing at Falmouth it looked like his front shoulder was swinging open, and I felt like that led to his control issues. However, you can tell in the video he keeps his front shoulder tucked-in and threw first pitch strikes to 91.7% (11/12) of the batters he faced. At Falmouth he threw only 32.4% strikes. He was very successful today, throwing 75% of his pitches for strikes. In the video, I would like to point out that Logan utilizes the slide step, when in the stretch, to control the running game. The slide step is when a pitcher does not lift their leg as high and their front foot sort of “slides” towards the plate before the release point.

Game Highlight: Mason Robbins

 

      Tonight, I would like to talk about how Mason Robbins played an excellent all-around game, In tonight’s 9-3 loss against the Chatham Anglers, Mason was 2 for 4 with a double; He increased his batting average from .250 to .292; and increased his slugging from .400 to .458. Out of the 4 times he came to the plate, he produced 2 quality at-bats. He used the entire field to hit (had a base-hit to left and then hit a double to right). Not only did he have a good day at the plate, Robbins gunned out Aaron Brown at second base when he attempted to stretch his 7th inning single into a double. Robbins has had a hit in every game except the game Monday against Orleans. I noticed that in his spray chart, he has 4 hits to the left side of the field while creating only 3 outs. When hitting to the right side of the field, Mason has 4 outs with 3 hits. I firmly believe that Mason's power is based on his ability to drive the ball to Right-Center, but I wonder if he will continue to find more success hitting the ball the other way throughout the season.

Player Profile: Mike Mayers

     Mike Mayers is a 6’3” 195 lb. RHP from the University of Mississippi. He was an excellent three-sport athlete out of Grove City High School in Grove City, Ohio. He was named All-League in Football, Basketball, and Baseball. This year, he was a weekend starter for the Rebels. Mayers was 6-3 with a 3.50 ERA, he held batters to a .222 batting average (8th in SEC), and pitched 92.2 innings (10th in SEC). He struck out 70 batters and walked 30. Arkansas second baseman, Bo Bigham, raved about Mayers’ talent saying, “You can’t sit on anything. He throws all his pitches for strikes. He just keeps the hitters guessing, and that’s been tough on us.”
     Mike’s fastball was thrown in the 90-94mph range and his slider was 79-81mph. When he geared it up, his fastball even sounded impressive. I felt like he had some nice action on his slider too. Mayers did an excellent job of getting the ball to the plate with runners on (3.18 range). He throws out of a 3/4 arm slot. Mayers generates his power through crisp mechanics. He uses a high leg kick to initiate an excellent low drive to the plate. Mike does a very good job of “staying closed” which means he doesn’t open up his front foot to the hitter until the final moments of his delivery. He does a very good job of incorporating his upper body into his mechanics, as well. While looking at the side view in slow motion, I noticed that this Ole Miss Rebel does an excellent job of driving off his back leg. The front view, on slow motion, shows Mike using the technique that I like to call the “bow and arrow” technique; this is where you flex your back, the front elbow is pointed at the throwing target, and the glove hand is relaxed near the chest area. Mayers then tucks his glove into his armpit and uncoils his back muscles. Mike Mayers finished the night with 4.0 IP, allowing 4 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), 2 walks, and striking out 5. In the process of recovering from his arm being taxed during Mississippi’s NCAA Regional run, the best is yet to come from this Bourne Brave.