Knapp talks Tigers pitching
Lynn Henning caught up with pitching coach Rick Knapp. Knapp broke down the various members of his staff and it makes for a very interesting read.
He talks about Justin Verlander’s arm slot and balance point (Verlander’s arm angle was a rich topic last year). With Nate Robertson it is falling off to the third base side and getting too “horizontal” which flattens the slider. Jermey Bonderman is built like an ox. Dontrelle Willis is in phenomenal shape. Fernando Rodney needs to keep his emotions in check.
I don’t have the first clue if he’s right with any of these assessments. But what I do like is that he seems to be looking at a myriad of issues. He isn’t forcing everyone into a set way to do things. I’m anxious and optimistic to see what he can do with the staff.
Tigers’ Knapp shows knack with Verlander tip | detnews.com | The Detroit News
Categories: 2009 Season, Pitching
Knapp raved about the “stuff” from the Tigers pitchers, so hopefully he can help these guys harness it into results.
What is the over/under on innings pitched for Dontrelle this year? 150?
by Mark in Chicago on Jan 21, 2009 at 9:10 am
So far I like what I’m hearing
by Dave BW on Jan 21, 2009 at 9:17 am
Interesting. If you take a close look at the images of Verlander in the link below, you can see in ’07 Verlander seemed to have much more horizontal momentum than he did in ’08, where I thought he was more vertical (and his momentum was kind of dampened because of this). You can kind of tell this from the difference in follow-thrus. So doing something that lowers the arm slot should get him more horizontal, and hopefully gets him closer to the way he’s thrown his whole life. It seems to fell right to him.
http://www.hardballtimes.com/m.....it-part-2/
by the fume on Jan 21, 2009 at 10:42 am
It sounds like Lyon will be signing soon with either the Tigers or the Twins. Hopefully it’s us.
Scott Williamson sounds interesting too.
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/articl.....Id=rss_det
by Mr X on Jan 22, 2009 at 6:48 pm
MLB Network’s Hotstove reports that Lyon is close to signing with the Tigers!!
by Mr X on Jan 22, 2009 at 7:20 pm
The best part of Brandon Lyon is that he throws strikes. He walks few batters, so even if opponents wind up batting .280 off him, he is still effective. Sort of a Jonesy-when-he’s-good kind of thing.
I would pass on Williamson. These kind of in-the-lineup-out-of-the-lineup guys are more distruptive than helpful. I would rather see a fringe player stick a full season.
by Coach Jim on Jan 22, 2009 at 8:11 pm