Zach Phillips
by NovaO on Mar 28, 2008 5:27 PM CDT
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PrintHey guys, I'm not a Ranger fan, but I thought you might find this article interesting (link below):
www.baseball-intellect.com/Articles/mid-level-to-top-10.html
The article includes a breakdown of Zach Phillips, who most of you I'm sure are aware, resides in the Rangers farm system. He gets lost in the shuffle of all the young arms the Rangers have stockpiled, but he is a sleeper to watch in my book.
The scouting report gives you an idea of what he looks like, the quality of his stuff, and the soundness of his mechanics.
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Hes good
Its just hes at the same level as Poveda and Kiker who are better. I like the guy and hope he makes an impact. The Bakersfield rotation this year will be sick. Poveda, Kiker, Phillips, and Hunter.
Yeah, I've got to get out to see Bakersfield game this year
I missed Chris Davis, I really don't want to miss Kiker or Hunter or anyone else.
His delivery reminds me of Ted Lilly's
Shroom -- do you still have that link to pitchers' video clips?
Next track for OC, et al:
Del tha Funkee Homosapien - Catch A Bad One
by inactive lsb user on Mar 28, 2008 5:46 PM CDT reply actions
clips link
http://www.pitchingclips.com/ - no Ted Lilly though
From Chris O'Leary re: scap loading ...
Don't Move The Elbows Above And Behind The Shoulders
Some pitching gurus believe that one thing a pitcher must do to generate significant power is to make an upside-down W with both arms; to have the hands at the level of the shoulders and the elbows above the level of the shoulders.
Based on what I have seen in the first 40 (or so) analyses I have done, I think this is potentially very bad advice.
I am not exactly certain what the exact mechanism of injury is, but I believe it might be related to the impingement of the muscles of the rotator cuff on the bony structure of the shoulder. Regardless, it seems that virtually all of the pitchers whose motions I have analyzed who have had shoulder problems -- and none of the pitchers whose motions I have analyzed who have not had shoulder problems -- take their elbows both above and behind their shoulders at some point in their delivery.
By way of confirmation of this, at the end of 2005 I predicted that Mark Prior would experience shoulder problems because he does this.
Personally, I'm pretty comfortable with Zach's delivery just the way it is.
this is the same thing
that they said is going to give liriano shoulder problems - "the upside down W." they showed matt cain with the same wind up though and he hasn't had any issues. it's pretty interesting; seems like those guys generate a lot of power doing that.
Hmm interesting...
The scapula load does generate significant power and every pitcher does it to some extent, but I have a hard time believing that the scap load in itself creates injury. It might be what is done after the extreme scap load that causes injuries.
If you want to see the definition of scap load, watch Billy Wagner. That's the number 1 reason he can throw so hard for his size. I'm not aware if he's had shoulder problems.
by slimshadty12 on Mar 28, 2008 11:36 PM CDT up reply actions
yeah
scap load i think is being unfairly criticized. there are lots of pitchers that do it (C.C. sabathia for one).
i've only started reading about this stuff. I'm gonna spend some free time this summer scouring those pitching video sites. i never paid attention to this stuff before
Well I'm a baseball trainer for a big franchise...
I'd start off by saying we are by far the most advanced of any baseball training facility. So with that said, we teach scap loading and encourage it (the loading process actually comes without thinking if you do other things properly) because without it, it's very hard to throw a baseball hard. I don't think there's any evidence there to blame Prior's injuries strictly on scap loading. What about his other mechanics? Was his elbow high enough through the release? Was his hand outside the elbow? Did he follow through diagonally finishing low and at his opposite leg? Was he tense during the decelleration process?
So as you can see, there are 100 different variables for injuries besides just scap load. Seems kind of ridiculous to me to say "my theory was proven correctly because I forecasted Prior's injuries."
by slimshadty12 on Mar 29, 2008 9:30 AM CDT up reply actions
re:
The scap load, if efficiently executed is a major source of a pitcher's velocity. There is a feeling that it puts extra stress on the shoulder, and the injury risk increases when the elbow goes above the shoulder, but the post below does an excellent job of explaining it. Pitchers need to scap load if they intend to throw hard.
There are a bunch of articles over at the hardball times that deals with mechanics including a piece of Matt Cain. The author is a major proponent of scap loading, while O'Leary is worries about the injury risks associated with it.
www.baseball-intellect.com
this guy
isn't part of some other board. he's just a visitor i think from baseball-intellect.com, so the new system wouldn't have really helped him anymore at being able to login.
otherwise, i don't get it. really informative article about one of our lower level prospects offering many the first glimpse of his windup and delivery. this is exactly the reason that the ability to post should be opened up to more people. when we start getting real spam, I'll complain.
ironic how a relative newcomer wants the board to be exclusive.
For one
I've been posting here for 5 or 6 months, and lurking much longer, which I hardly think is analogous to a drive-by fanpost.
Second, this was more a cumulative opinion, as it was the second such fanpost of the day.
Third, I'm not beholden to you or anyone else to justify my opinion, especially one based essentially on vague and difficult to define emotions.
Fourth, your argument rings false, because if I truly wanted this board to be exclusive, I'd certainly want to cleanse it of smarmy, useless posters like yourself.
But thanks for taking so much concern in all of my opinions. It's sweet. Really it is.
by brettgardner on Mar 28, 2008 6:34 PM CDT up reply actions
useless posters
funny. but even after a whole 5 months, you're still a newbie. and if you really wanted to "cleanse the board" you'd probably get rid of everybody except three people which you probably can't justify. if you act like this after 5 months, i imagine it won't take long for you to start calling this your board. it was funny enough when you tried to get ben banned after a month of posting.
Tried to get him banned?
Don't know what you're talking about. I never wanted him banned. I've always found his diatribes against me pretty humorous. If I ever said it, which I don't think I did, it was not in seriousness. But I wouldn't expect you to actually know what you're talking about.
I don't mind being a "newbie", because, contrary to your silly little strawman, I've never claimed any authority over this board. Nor would I. I enjoy posting here, but I read more than I post. Don't think I've ever even started a diary. I hardly think that justifies your claim, but why bother with logic?
What I'm curious about--and I really mean this--is why don't you just use your little crybaby script and block my posts, which I assume you find distasteful, since you hardly miss an opportunity to question any and every thing I say? It's fine, I suppose, but undoubtedly odd.
By the way, when do I shed "newbie" status and graduate to your advanced level? I can only hope to contribute as much as you some day.
by brettgardner on Mar 28, 2008 11:38 PM CDT up reply actions
Good lord man.....
Have you ever been in one of these odd little battles and not gotten in the last word?
geez
"Second, this was more a cumulative opinion, as it was the second such fanpost of the day."
First, I can't find the other "outsider" fanpost, so I'm not sure what you're talking about.
Second, this was an interesting, informative piece. You're sure you would prefer another useless fanpost about the opening day lineup or how much Ron Washington sucks?
Third, you're a newb.
Fourth, get over yourself.
by a bebop a rebop on Mar 29, 2008 2:10 PM CDT up reply actions
heh
I can recall an incident, I think it was probably December/January because I took about a month off from LSB in November, in which you berated me, the newb, for daring to question you. I thought it was pretty funny.
by a bebop a rebop on Mar 29, 2008 3:37 PM CDT up reply actions
A very
Poignant and thoughtful post. Thanks for sharing. I'm very interested in what you have to say.
Yep, I haven't been posting for as long as others. What a bastard I am.
by brettgardner on Mar 29, 2008 4:55 PM CDT up reply actions
it's a very weird combination
Sarcastic ennui and frankly embarrassing defensiveness.
by a bebop a rebop on Mar 29, 2008 11:08 PM CDT up reply actions
What's embarrassing
Is that you get your rocks off by feeling superior to me. I mean, isn't the weirdest thing that you would feel the need to constantly put someone you know you're better than in every way in their place?
I bow down to your powerful brain a bebop a rebop. You've demonstrated again and again that you're not only more intelligent than me, but that you've got that world-weary routine down pat. You're an amazing human, who so effortlessly blends in emo words with your nuggets of wisdom.
I can only hope that you continue to monitor me, and help me out as I slowly work to take the training wheels off.
by brettgardner on Mar 30, 2008 12:02 AM CDT up reply actions
Welcome NovaO
Don't mind the maggots.
by robert_d_wilfong on Mar 29, 2008 1:45 PM CDT up reply actions
universal login
I'm on the record expressing skepticism about the universal login. However, I will say that this diary from NovaO is more interesting, informative, and relevant than anything you've ever posted here that I've read. Most of your posts either congratulate yourself for your brilliance or insult others who have had a much longer and more positive relationship to this board than you.
But that river of tears has dried for all of us.
universal login
I'm right there with you as having been against universal login. But so far it hasn't been too bad, though the true test will be during the season when people cross post to trash talk
"When we're mad we'll use our words. Then the rest of the world will play nice with us. And the only boom-booms will be in our pants." - Ralph Wiggum
Yep.
Jeez rentz, you're such a colossal asshole for having a rational opinion. Get over yourself man. This one fanpost is obviously indicative of everything that will ever be posted, so you better not insult the process because I like the substance. Me. I like it, but get over yourself for not.
Seriously, this was my biggest concern, as I had the suspicion, from using other universal boards, that other teams' fans would either ask irrelevant questions about a particular Ranger, or gloat about a win.
But I'm the asshole of the day I guess. Oh well.
by brettgardner on Mar 29, 2008 5:16 PM CDT up reply actions
Perhaps that's true
And if that's the major rub, then I'm sorry. It had nothing at all to do with the substance of this particular post. I could have just as easily expressed it in any other fanpost, but I did it here.
The way I see it, though, is that I expressed a relatively innocuous opinion that involved nobody else and people went crazy. That's weird to me.
by brettgardner on Mar 29, 2008 8:20 PM CDT up reply actions
Disagree
With the idea that your opinion "involved nobody else". People (including me) took it as directed at NovaO. I don't disagree with your concerns over the universal login, but this is the exact type of post I imagine for which the login system was designed. It's an informative post about the Rangers that we might not have otherwise read.
What happened to my old signature?
agreed
so far we've had some really good posts from people crossing over from other boards.
also, while i still dont like the universal login idea, it has encouraged me to signup for other boards, such as minorleague ball.
either way, this really isnt the thread to discuss such things, we've taken a good post and gone way off topic
"When we're mad we'll use our words. Then the rest of the world will play nice with us. And the only boom-booms will be in our pants." - Ralph Wiggum
If I offended
You or him, then I'm sorry. It wasn't my intention. In hindsight, it was probably the wrong thread to actually spell out what I was thinking, but it was more a stream-of-consciousness thing than a pointed attack on this particular fanpost.
I thought it was pretty innocuous myself, but I'll try to learn to control it next time.
by brettgardner on Mar 30, 2008 12:10 PM CDT up reply actions
re:
No, I wasn't offended at all.
I do feel a little uncomfortable making posts that highlight my own work, but I don't think it's a problem unless I'm posting something that isn't informative.
Now, I would like to contribute to this community, but with the time it takes to produce content, network/market a site, and do everything else associated with running a site, the time to do that is limited, though I will try to make an effort.
I have an article that uses the same video analysis on Chris Davis set to be published this week (though it will be written for Baseball Digest Daily) and I'll make a diary highlighting that article because I think readers would benefit from reading it. If you watch him swing, one can really see how he produces such excellent power.
www.baseball-intellect.com
wow
that was more information on zach phillips than i've ever read. thanks a lot. that scap loading stuff was pretty interesting
Man...
I click a link on a recommended thread and it's swamped with assclownery.
Thanks, baseball-intellect guy, good link enjoyed the read.
"I know you're a bit dense but no, it doesn't. Obviously lying isn't a problem for me."
enjoyed the look at Phillips delivery
If he can locate both those pitches, he looks like a major leaguer to me.
Also, couldn't help but notice what a piss poor job of setting a target and receiving the ball by that catcher.
Pedro: "I wasn't cockfighting, I just have a wide stance."
i took that to mean
that the pitch had really good movement.
i wonder if those pitches are the standard or if those were just the best pitches he's ever thrown.
re:
His pitches do move a bit, but I think his delivery makes his pitches a little tougher to pick up.
One thing to remember about these video breakdowns, as you mention, is the sample size being used. I try to pick pitches that are representative of what he usually throws, or if I really want to highlight how good one pitch is, I'll use a pitch that highlights that fact, but I'll note if there are consistency issues.
I have one inning of pitches from Phillips. The fastball was pretty standard. The curveball was about as good as he can throw it, but he managed to throw it multiple times with a similar quality as the pitch shown.
One thing I want to mention about his fastball...it does lack oomph to it. You can see it doesn't have that explosion some pitchers get where it seems to pick up life as it hits the catcher's mitt. The batter in the fastball clip is Travis Snyder (top Blue Jay prospect) and you can see he picks the pitch up pretty quickly as he watches it go by him.
www.baseball-intellect.com
sure
There are some that feel scap loading increases stress on the shoulder, but really there are so many factors that could heighten the injury risk for a pitcher...are they letting the ball pick up the elbow or the elbow pick up the ball? Are they giving their arm enough room to decelerate...are they cutting their finish short, are they firming their front side up, is their arm durable enough to take the wear-and-tear of pitching, what was the pitcher's workload, etc, etc
However, scap loading is a key ingredient for producing velocity and arm speed and if done correctly and efficiently, the injury risk is minimized.
I do believe there is something to not having the elbow go above the shoulder. I do think the injury risk is probably heightened at that point.
www.baseball-intellect.com
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