Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Why Do Pitchers Wind-Up?


In the old days, ball players thought pitchers could generate more velocity with a wind-up. However, that notion was briskly dispelled once Bryce K. Brown invented the radar gun.

So why has it persisted? There are obvious disadvantages in forcing pitchers to master two deliveries and two sets of mechanics. Why not just pitch from the stretch all the time?

There may be some advantage in making hitters learn to pick up the pitcher's release from two motions. If so, why not have a half-dozen motions? Why not change with every pitch?

I find it odd that the wind-up has persisted even though the founding premise of its origin has been proven false.

2 comments:

  1. Anonymous4/29/2009

    It's the same reason people unnecessarily look at the Dow Jones industrial average for market updates. Tradition. RF

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  2. Anonymous4/29/2009

    Do you really need a backswing in golf? why not start from the back-up position? Wouldn't that help-- less issues to throw off timing? Just food for thought-- I thought it to be analogous to the windup...JD

    http://www.golf.com/golf/instruction/article/0,28136,1652866,00.html

    JD..

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