Skenes to the big leagues

[jhssketchcards]

Ask Billy Wagner


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[Rbradleigh]

Originally Posted by cardsin47

Hey all you Pitchers and Pitching Coaches- question for you.

Skenes is 6’ 6” / if he was 5’ 11” would his velocity be the same, or likely less since he would have a shorter wingspan; cover less real estate with his windup and delivery?

Who gives a #@#@#@#@, he is 6’6’


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[Rbradleigh]

Originally Posted by jhssketchcards

Ask Billy Wagner


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The late Yordan Ventura was a lil guy and threw gas for more than an inning.

I also remember Pedro Martinez being a slight guy that could bring 98 in the 8th inning.
When you’re blessed, you’re blessed. Don’t matter 6’6” or 5’6”


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[mfw13]

Originally Posted by Rbradleigh

The late Yordan Ventura was a lil guy and threw gas for more than an inning.

I also remember Pedro Martinez being a slight guy that could bring 98 in the 8th inning.
When you’re blessed, you’re blessed. Don’t matter 6’6” or 5’6”

Yep....velocity is a function of good mechanics, not height.

[cardsin47]

Originally Posted by Rbradleigh

Who gives a #@#@#@#@, he is 6’6’


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I give a #@#@#@#@, or I wouldn’t have asked.

I am allowed to ask Baseball questions on these Boards, am I not Rbradleigh, or have the rules changed overnight and I didn’t get the memo?

[OhioLawyerF5]

A pitching arm is a lever, and the shoulder is a fulcrum. So while there are definitely some smaller guys able to coax a lot of velocity out of their arms, from a purely mechanical standpoint, it is easier to get more velocity from a taller player than a short player. But again, with so many other variables at play, there will be nearly as many exceptions as rules.

[cardsin47]

Originally Posted by OhioLawyerF5

A pitching arm is a lever, and the shoulder is a fulcrum. So while there are definitely some smaller guys able to coax a lot of velocity out of their arms, from a purely mechanical standpoint, it is easier to get more velocity from a taller player than a short player. But again, with so many other variables at play, there will be nearly as many exceptions as rules.

Thank you for answering my question OLF5

[finfangfan]

To get thread back on topic … looks like Skenes will be pitching tomorrow in another day game.

Although it would be interesting to know how much speed Skenes fastball would have if he remained 6’6” but had little stubby baby arms. Lol

[Promethius88]

Originally Posted by finfangfan

To get thread back on topic … looks like Skenes will be pitching tomorrow in another day game.

Although it would be interesting to know how much speed Skenes fastball would have if he remained 6’6” but had little stubby baby arms. Lol

Like if he was a T rex?

[finfangfan]

Originally Posted by Promethius88

Like if he was a T rex?

Yeah… Hypothetically, how much velocity would T-Rex Skenes’ fastball lose when throwing a pitch to a velociraptor?

[OhioLawyerF5]

Originally Posted by finfangfan

Yeah… Hypothetically, how much velocity would T-Rex Skenes’ fastball lose when throwing a pitch to a velociraptor?

[Hollywood42]

What I did find interesting was that despite being 6'6", Skenes has pretty poor extension on his pitches. Not that he really needs any more min/maxing, but if he used his big frame to release the ball a little closer to the plate, in theory he'd become even more difficult to hit!

[cardsin47]

Originally Posted by Hollywood42

What I did find interesting was that despite being 6'6", Skenes has pretty poor extension on his pitches. Not that he really needs any more min/maxing, but if he used his big frame to release the ball a little closer to the plate, in theory he'd become even more difficult to hit!

More difficult to hit!? That could potentially open the floodgates to Pitchers being more desirable for all They could be back in demand? …. which I would love. ( like in the Maddux days )

When I was younger, Pitchers were kings, right up there with power hitters. Then Teams flooded their pitching Staff with staters, middle relief, end of middle relief, starting closer, and ending closer to the point that no single Pitcher could go all 9 as a complete game winning, Collector stud. I miss those days ….. maybe they’ll return ?

Maybe Skenes is the Pitching Messiah ?

[unreal13]

Not the free game today Enjoyed watching the last 2.

[awz50]

No 10 K's already?

Bust

[awz50]

Keeping the pitch count low today

[ScooterD]

Originally Posted by awz50

No 10 K's already?

Bust

Strasburg K’d 10 per 9 during warmups in 2010

[hammertime]

And the blowpen ruins the W for him...

[finfangfan]

Originally Posted by hammertime

And the blowpen ruins the W for him...

I turned off the game… that’s a shame to hear. Wasting another quality outing.

[jhssketchcards]

Velocity does not come from the pitchers arm. The torque generated from a strong lower half, especially the legs, generates the velocity. The arm is along for the ride as the body unwinds from a motion. The upper body (chest and shoulders) help with the action but the arm itself is more like a sling from a sling shot. The farther the sling is pulled, the more velocity is generated. Its all about the lower half driving off the mound and all the energy flowing up from the legs, core and upper body and the arm guides the ball forward. Small, tall, thick or thin, plays little into a pitchers velocity.

Billy Wagner 5’10 180 - 100 mph routinely
Randy Johnson 6’10 225 - 100 mph routinely

That’s a 12” height difference

Paul Skenes 6’6 235 - 100 mph routinely
Jacob deGrom 6’4 180 - 100 routinely

That’s 53 lbs. weight difference.


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[cardsin47]

Originally Posted by jhssketchcards

Velocity does not come from the pitchers arm. The torque generated from a strong lower half, especially the legs, generates the velocity. The arm is along for the ride as the body unwinds from a motion. The upper body (chest and shoulders) help with the action but the arm itself is more like a sling from a sling shot. The farther the sling is pulled, the more velocity is generated. Its all about the lower half driving off the mound and all the energy flowing up from the legs, core and upper body and the arm guides the ball forward. Small, tall, thick or thin, plays little into a pitchers velocity.

Billy Wagner 5’10 180 - 100 mph routinely
Randy Johnson 6’10 225 - 100 mph routinely

That’s a 12” height difference

Paul Skenes 6’6 235 - 100 mph routinely
Jacob deGrom 6’4 180 - 100 routinely

That’s 53 lbs. weight difference.


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Thank you jhs —— this is the kinda’ stuff I was asking about in a previous post, but was focusing just on the difference height makes on velocity- not all the other body parts you mentioned to complete the answer

[OhioLawyerF5]

Originally Posted by jhssketchcards

Velocity does not come from the pitchers arm. The torque generated from a strong lower half, especially the legs, generates the velocity. The arm is along for the ride as the body unwinds from a motion. The upper body (chest and shoulders) help with the action but the arm itself is more like a sling from a sling shot. The farther the sling is pulled, the more velocity is generated. Its all about the lower half driving off the mound and all the energy flowing up from the legs, core and upper body and the arm guides the ball forward. Small, tall, thick or thin, plays little into a pitchers velocity.

Billy Wagner 5’10 180 - 100 mph routinely
Randy Johnson 6’10 225 - 100 mph routinely

That’s a 12” height difference

Paul Skenes 6’6 235 - 100 mph routinely
Jacob deGrom 6’4 180 - 100 routinely

That’s 53 lbs. weight difference.


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This is not accurate. Both the arm and the rest of the body play a role. Every kinesiologist will tell you that the arm absolutely plays the role of a lever in throwing a ball. There are other factors, but it is NOT just "along for the ride." Velocity is affected by the lower body, the hips, the upper body, AND the arm (as well as grip and other things).

So again, you can certainly find examples of flamethrowers of all heights, if everything else is equal in the mechanics and strength of the pitcher, the longer arm will result in higher velocities. It's physics.

And even using your concept of throwing (which is not accurate), the arm would be more like a whip than a slingshot. And as such, a longer whip has a higher velocity at the tip than a shorter whip.

Either way you view pitching mechanics, a longer arm is a benefit to velocity.

[awz50]

Originally Posted by hammertime

And the blowpen ruins the W for him...

So stupid

[cardsin47]

Originally Posted by awz50

So stupid

Yes it is —- when you focus on load management / capping your successful Starter to a max of 6 innings, instead of focusing on winning the game, this is what you get

[jhssketchcards]

Originally Posted by OhioLawyerF5

This is not accurate. Both the arm and the rest of the body play a role. Every kinesiologist will tell you that the arm absolutely plays the role of a lever in throwing a ball. There are other factors, but it is NOT just "along for the ride." Velocity is affected by the lower body, the hips, the upper body, AND the arm (as well as grip and other things).

So again, you can certainly find examples of flamethrowers of all heights, if everything else is equal in the mechanics and strength of the pitcher, the longer arm will result in higher velocities. It's physics.

And even using your concept of throwing (which is not accurate), the arm would be more like a whip than a slingshot. And as such, a longer whip has a higher velocity at the tip than a shorter whip.

Either way you view pitching mechanics, a longer arm is a benefit to velocity.

Quick question… what was your max velocity?


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