Comments on: Understanding Crow http://kingsofkauffman.com/2012/02/19/understanding-crow/ A Kansas City Royals Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and More Thu, 29 Nov 2012 02:29:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: somedevil04 http://kingsofkauffman.com/2012/02/19/understanding-crow/#comment-2020182 somedevil04 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 20:42:03 +0000 http://kingsofkauffman.com/?p=12205#comment-2020182 @Kevin Scobee @mmeade17 well i'm no scout but let me try to explain. I think crow tends to open up too early leaving his arm too far behind his front leg which makes for an unintegrated delivery. also, there is a lot of movement with his upper body which i think is a result of having a high effort delivery. The real problem i have is that he he can't consistently repeat his mechanics. Im fine with his long stride or openning up early or even a lot of movement in his upper body (see Trevor Cahill) these things can be fine if he finds a way to consistently repeat them to throw strikes. I have a hard time believing that a person who pitched as well as he did the first half and made the all-star game struggled mentally to handle the second half. Again, i'm no scout but these are the things i see, or think i see, take that for what u will. @Kevin Scobee @mmeade17

well i’m no scout but let me try to explain. I think crow tends to open up too early leaving his arm too far behind his front leg which makes for an unintegrated delivery. also, there is a lot of movement with his upper body which i think is a result of having a high effort delivery. The real problem i have is that he he can’t consistently repeat his mechanics. Im fine with his long stride or openning up early or even a lot of movement in his upper body (see Trevor Cahill) these things can be fine if he finds a way to consistently repeat them to throw strikes. I have a hard time believing that a person who pitched as well as he did the first half and made the all-star game struggled mentally to handle the second half. Again, i’m no scout but these are the things i see, or think i see, take that for what u will.

]]> By: Kevin Scobee http://kingsofkauffman.com/2012/02/19/understanding-crow/#comment-2020181 Kevin Scobee Tue, 21 Feb 2012 20:41:02 +0000 http://kingsofkauffman.com/?p=12205#comment-2020181 @jim fetterolf @kevin @somedevil04 @mmeade17 I can agree/see to that. There's an awful lot of glove side action and step-by-step, rigid, non fluid movement involved with his delivery. Being "polished" in the "he must look like a pitcher" ways that athletes are trained doesn't necessarily mean it's a good thing. He is very mechanical with his delivery in that everything (seemingly) is point A, point B, point C... and his timing sequences gets thrown off because of the overactions of the glove pull (which is nonsense and should never be taught) and the traditional idea of "mechanics". It's like a golf swing - you can have a terrible golf swing be still make solid contact, just your ability to repeat that swing and consistently make solid contact are jeopardized. @jim fetterolf @kevin @somedevil04 @mmeade17 I can agree/see to that. There’s an awful lot of glove side action and step-by-step, rigid, non fluid movement involved with his delivery. Being “polished” in the “he must look like a pitcher” ways that athletes are trained doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a good thing. He is very mechanical with his delivery in that everything (seemingly) is point A, point B, point C… and his timing sequences gets thrown off because of the overactions of the glove pull (which is nonsense and should never be taught) and the traditional idea of “mechanics”. It’s like a golf swing – you can have a terrible golf swing be still make solid contact, just your ability to repeat that swing and consistently make solid contact are jeopardized.

]]> By: jim fetterolf http://kingsofkauffman.com/2012/02/19/understanding-crow/#comment-2020180 jim fetterolf Tue, 21 Feb 2012 20:30:59 +0000 http://kingsofkauffman.com/?p=12205#comment-2020180 @Kevin Scobee @somedevil04 @mmeade17 What I hear on Crow is that his release point, like that of Jeffress, varies quite a bit, so the reception point would also tend, like Jeffress, to vary quite a bit. @Kevin Scobee @somedevil04 @mmeade17 What I hear on Crow is that his release point, like that of Jeffress, varies quite a bit, so the reception point would also tend, like Jeffress, to vary quite a bit.

]]> By: Kevin Scobee http://kingsofkauffman.com/2012/02/19/understanding-crow/#comment-2020179 Kevin Scobee Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:50:44 +0000 http://kingsofkauffman.com/?p=12205#comment-2020179 @somedevil04 @mmeade17 what exactly about his "mechanics" do you think is bad? That's a non-definition buzzword that has no specific meaning to the pitching delivery. @somedevil04 @mmeade17 what exactly about his “mechanics” do you think is bad? That’s a non-definition buzzword that has no specific meaning to the pitching delivery.

]]> By: somedevil04 http://kingsofkauffman.com/2012/02/19/understanding-crow/#comment-2020171 somedevil04 Sun, 19 Feb 2012 20:57:16 +0000 http://kingsofkauffman.com/?p=12205#comment-2020171 @mmeade17 I don't know. When I watch him pitch his delivery seems, to quote Milly from Bull Durham, "sorta all over the place." Which is ultimately where his pitches end up, and I don't think Susan Suranden or Kevin Costner can fix it. I'm not dismissing the idea that it could be mental. I'm just saying that with his mechanics, a below-average changeup, and not many innings starting, I don't see him excelling as a starter. I hope I'm wrong. By the way, I'm more like Cain to your Abel because I'm killin you bro, oooooooooh in your face. But really, Bull Durham is an awesome movie, what was I talking about? @mmeade17

I don’t know. When I watch him pitch his delivery seems, to quote Milly from Bull Durham, “sorta all over the place.” Which is ultimately where his pitches end up, and I don’t think Susan Suranden or Kevin Costner can fix it. I’m not dismissing the idea that it could be mental. I’m just saying that with his mechanics, a below-average changeup, and not many innings starting, I don’t see him excelling as a starter. I hope I’m wrong. By the way, I’m more like Cain to your Abel because I’m killin you bro, oooooooooh in your face. But really, Bull Durham is an awesome movie, what was I talking about?

]]> By: mmeade17 http://kingsofkauffman.com/2012/02/19/understanding-crow/#comment-2020170 mmeade17 Sun, 19 Feb 2012 19:26:58 +0000 http://kingsofkauffman.com/?p=12205#comment-2020170 @somedevil04 Disagreed with by my own brother. I feel like Julius Caesar (you're Brutus in this scenario). Let me tell you why I don't think it's mechanical. Coming out of college, Crow was touted as extremely polished mechanically, and during his brief stint in A+, he didn't walk anyone. I think he felt confident that he could dominate A+ and felt comfortable staying in the strike zone. Also, if you look at a graph of his release point, it looks pretty consistent. Maybe not Roy Halladay, but not Jeremy Jeffress either. I think he's somewhat afraid of catching too much plate against MLB hitters, and this causes him to lose command. Could he tighten up mechanics? Sure almost everyone could, but I think his mind is playing a major part. I think you're right about his slider late in the year, and it will help if he can learn to keep it in the strike zone occasionally to keep hitters from simply recognizing slider and letting it slide (Oh I hot today with puns). Good comment ... traitor. @somedevil04 Disagreed with by my own brother. I feel like Julius Caesar (you’re Brutus in this scenario). Let me tell you why I don’t think it’s mechanical. Coming out of college, Crow was touted as extremely polished mechanically, and during his brief stint in A+, he didn’t walk anyone. I think he felt confident that he could dominate A+ and felt comfortable staying in the strike zone. Also, if you look at a graph of his release point, it looks pretty consistent. Maybe not Roy Halladay, but not Jeremy Jeffress either. I think he’s somewhat afraid of catching too much plate against MLB hitters, and this causes him to lose command. Could he tighten up mechanics? Sure almost everyone could, but I think his mind is playing a major part.

I think you’re right about his slider late in the year, and it will help if he can learn to keep it in the strike zone occasionally to keep hitters from simply recognizing slider and letting it slide (Oh I hot today with puns).

Good comment … traitor.

]]> By: mmeade17 http://kingsofkauffman.com/2012/02/19/understanding-crow/#comment-2020169 mmeade17 Sun, 19 Feb 2012 19:17:03 +0000 http://kingsofkauffman.com/?p=12205#comment-2020169 @jim fetterolf Yes, I agree that it's a great luxury that he can just go back to the pen if he can't make it as a starter. I don't know that his fastball doesn't have movement though. One graph fangraphs provides displays horizontal movement on fastball, and it seems from that, and from watching him pitch, that his FB has enough movement. I think he needs to use that movement better. I can certainly remember instances where he started a fastball on the corner and it tailed right into the heart of the plate. Crow's average fastball is just over 94, but you're right if he's going to be a starter he'll live around 90-93 I think, just to save his arm for more innings. @jim fetterolf Yes, I agree that it’s a great luxury that he can just go back to the pen if he can’t make it as a starter. I don’t know that his fastball doesn’t have movement though. One graph fangraphs provides displays horizontal movement on fastball, and it seems from that, and from watching him pitch, that his FB has enough movement. I think he needs to use that movement better. I can certainly remember instances where he started a fastball on the corner and it tailed right into the heart of the plate. Crow’s average fastball is just over 94, but you’re right if he’s going to be a starter he’ll live around 90-93 I think, just to save his arm for more innings.

]]> By: somedevil04 http://kingsofkauffman.com/2012/02/19/understanding-crow/#comment-2020168 somedevil04 Sun, 19 Feb 2012 19:13:26 +0000 http://kingsofkauffman.com/?p=12205#comment-2020168 part of me just doesn't think that crow is ever going to be a starting pitcher...i tend to think his problems are less mental and more mechanical. specfically the fact that he doesn't repeat his mechanics. I would love to see him turn into a starter but there are too many things to fix. he needs more consistent mechanics, a better changeup, and to stretch out his arm for more than an inning. Also, i think hitters started laying off the slider a lot the second half of last year because he hardly ever throws it for a strike. its almost always low and outside to righties, which i understand is what he wants to do but if you can't ever throw it for a strike hitters will just stop swinging at it. this all being said, now is the time to try to make him a starter and i think you have to give it a shot. Here is to him becoming a solid starting pitcher for the 2012 or 2013 year (me raising a symbolic shot glass of "victory" whiskey). part of me just doesn’t think that crow is ever going to be a starting pitcher…i tend to think his problems are less mental and more mechanical. specfically the fact that he doesn’t repeat his mechanics. I would love to see him turn into a starter but there are too many things to fix. he needs more consistent mechanics, a better changeup, and to stretch out his arm for more than an inning. Also, i think hitters started laying off the slider a lot the second half of last year because he hardly ever throws it for a strike. its almost always low and outside to righties, which i understand is what he wants to do but if you can’t ever throw it for a strike hitters will just stop swinging at it. this all being said, now is the time to try to make him a starter and i think you have to give it a shot. Here is to him becoming a solid starting pitcher for the 2012 or 2013 year (me raising a symbolic shot glass of “victory” whiskey).

]]> By: jim fetterolf http://kingsofkauffman.com/2012/02/19/understanding-crow/#comment-2020167 jim fetterolf Sun, 19 Feb 2012 18:05:42 +0000 http://kingsofkauffman.com/?p=12205#comment-2020167 Agreeable piece. I expect Crow in AAA to start and expect him to be healthy, so he'll be concentrating on a consistent 3rd pitch and taking a little off the fastball to get some movement. Great fastball pitchers like Justin Verlander, even though they can crank 100mph, usually pitch 92-95mph with motion and the ability to unleash the alto queso as a wake-up call before going back to varying speeds. If Crow can add a change and/or two seamer from the same release point he'll be fine. If not he can go back to the 'pen after Broxton is traded at the break. Agreeable piece. I expect Crow in AAA to start and expect him to be healthy, so he’ll be concentrating on a consistent 3rd pitch and taking a little off the fastball to get some movement. Great fastball pitchers like Justin Verlander, even though they can crank 100mph, usually pitch 92-95mph with motion and the ability to unleash the alto queso as a wake-up call before going back to varying speeds. If Crow can add a change and/or two seamer from the same release point he’ll be fine. If not he can go back to the ‘pen after Broxton is traded at the break.

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