Why Pitching Injuries Happen and How to Avoid Them | Keith Meister, M D

Pitching injuries are on the rise and Keith Meister, M.D. is one of the top orthopedic surgeons in the world working to repair UCLs on a regular basis. In this interview, he explains why chasing "designer pitches" is largely responsible for the rise in pitching injuries.
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[@SimAlex20000]

“What’s the value of 0.8 whip if it lasts two weeks” Bingo. Meister is spot on

[@ScottyBraun-FoulTerritory]

1 of the best interviews we've done on this show. VERY IMPORTANT for all pitchers to watch this

[@michaelrowland6336]

I just learned more about pitcher arm injuries in twenty minutes than I did the previous 30 years watching baseball and its coverage. Keep up the great work guys.

[@ScottyBraun-FoulTerritory]

Thank you!!

[@EthanNiedorowski]

Have Mike Marshall on to talk about arms it will be worth it trust me

[@EthanNiedorowski]

But agreed this was 👍 great thanks for trying to help the sport we all love ❤️

[@donniebrooks21]

@@EthanNiedorowski He died in June of 2021. He understood a lot as well and had a friend who was his college coach. He said interesting guy and thought him the screwball, a pitch that is gone now.

[@cmm30]

Most important interview I have seen in recent times.

[@Rocks_a_Rolex]

Freaking awesome guest guys...A+++. Dr. Meister not only has the expertise to add insight into this serious topic but he also has the balls to be brutally honest.

[@duncanhensley7166]

Great interview, lot of moving pieces but think the pre-tacked baseballs are an important first step.

[@LoydChampion]

Keith Meister, M.D. is spot on. It's the things that these pitchers are throwing today that is the key difference to 10 years ago. I've really watched Dustin May of the Dodgers for some time. I was able to review film of him in High School, and up through the minors to the big leagues. A great talent, but you could see changes he made along the way to be that major league stud. Everyone would remark how nasty his stuff is in the show. He's now on his second surgery. I hope he pulls the nasty back a little so he can have a good career and life. I've told young pitchers to look at pitchers of the past such as Greg Maddux, Don Sutton, and Tommy John. They lived on the ball changing speeds, and great control.

[@mondoseguendo6113]

You don’t want to hurt yourself pitching, learn how to throw a knuckleball.

[@emmanuelwood8702]

@@mondoseguendo6113 That's probably a quicker way to get injured.

[@TheRoadLessChosen]

@@emmanuelwood8702how so?

[@NoelG702]

I've been saying the MLB needs more pitchers like Greg Maddux.

[@riltalk4055]

Mad dog!!

[@user-bmw528]

And more hitters need to just be Barry Bonds 🙄

[@SimAlex20000]

This is a fascinating interview. Baseball has a huge problem

[@serafinacosta7118]

That makes Trevor Bauer, with his wacky kinetic exercises and drills , a genius. Yes , he is off the kilt, but boy does he ever analyses his craft.

[@my2l]

nerds are good for baseball after all.

[@orlandogriego2898]

I just completed my 29th year as a Head High School Baseball Coach and have never had a single elbow or shoulder surgery. I appreciate your input as I try to grow my knowledge. RGHS BASEBALL O. GRIEGO

[@cgreek1]

The most insightful baseball pitching discussion I have ever seen. Why does no one remember the Braves trio who pitched together for nearly a decade under pitching coach Mazzone? They were never max effort pitchers.

[@anthonyreyes8868]

Kratz, Chapman's elite mechanics are also important. His utilization of his bottom half increases speed and alleviates pressure on his arm. Guys like Carlos Rodon are strictly upper body. He doesn't use his legs, which is a big reason why he has back and shoulder problems. Sandy Alcantra is another pitcher who has poor mechanics, and you can see precursors for Tommy John if you know what to look for. I also disagree with the notion that velocity is a problem. You can have guys throwing harder than they are currently throwing and still be completely healthy. There is a large list of pitchers and hitters who have developed inefficient ways to throw and hit balls far, not just pitchers. Through improper mechanics, they overexert themselves and cause unnecessary pressure to ligaments and muscles. From my perspective, either the teams are extremely ignorant and don't comprehend this aspect of the game, or they comprehend it and don't care because they get to keep the price down of pitchers as cheap and expendable . I do not see this lack of understanding of such a basic thing as technique in other sports.

[@pjny21]

Chapman's mechanics are good. Billy Wagner (at only barely 5'10") got it up there with compact mechanics too. I found it so puzzling that people praised Mark Prior's mechanics when he came up. But he was so straight up I didn't really see it. And alas........ Strausburg was awkward too - reliant on centrifugal force from a 3/4 angle just wasn't going to hold up. (I dunno how Pedro's held up but he had massive hands to manipulate the ball).

[@TheRoadLessChosen]

@@pjny21are bigger hands good for pitching? How would that help take pressure off the arm?

[@LDQBBQ]

Great video. Very fascinating. Would love more with Keith Meister.

[@olig7336]

This channel is KILLING IT right now

[@wdlambert3]

Good stuff and hits deep, considering some point today or this week he's probably doing Strider's surgery

[@user-ue4bw8fl7w]

This is the best baseball story I've heard this year. BOOKMARKED!

[@jamesmichael5475]

The reality being, muscle fibers hypertrophy and strengthen at a rate exceeding that of tendons and ligaments. So as athletes train to enhance strength and power, but the tendons and ligaments do not strengthen proportionately, this leads to overload forces applied to these tissues at near max efforts. We can observe a pitcher and predict their future injures, based upon biomechanical loads and the efficiency of their kinesiology. Pitches who develop their lower extremities, have a strong core and use such efficiently, sparing loads on the upper extremities. Baseball teams in general have employed a philosophy where management has realized the exorbitant cost of pitching in free agency and they collectively made business decisions that have impacted player development and care. Management has decided that because acquiring starting pitching in free agency is so expensive, and resigning even your own player when they enter free agency can be cost prohibitive, better to ride then hard while you have them under control, because who cares what happens to them once they leave to sign with another team. This has resulted in a trickle-down phenomenon, wherein training, coaching staff, and analytics staff instruct plays to push themselves and their bodies to throw certain pitches at certain pitch frequencies, which induces tremendous overload forces on the ligaments and tendons, with insufficient recovery time between pitches and performances. The team figures get what you can out of them, who cares what happens later. It has become the assembly-line mentality of pitching. Just have a readily available supply of young fresh arms, capable of throwing 100 mph waiting in the minors, to replace the pitchers you lose to injuries or free agency, and don't worry about actually coaching and teaching them the art of pitching. Just have them throw as hard as they can, with max spin rates for as long as they can, then once they are injured, bring up the next guy. It has been known for 50+ years that youth should not throw curves and breaking balls for good reason. Similar principals apply to adults. Combine that with that fact that training, nutrition, and lets face it Performance enhancing drugs, now permits pitchers to routinely exceed velocities that were once the l=thing of legends, exceedingly rare and attained by a very select few, introduces overlord forces to the shoulder and elbow that predispose to injuries.

[@heavilymeditated2263]

100% agree with your analysis. I can't believe despite all the information & knowledge we have, it's something not focused on

[@tonyrame7548]

You only need 2 pitches if you throw hard, just look at Nolan Ryan, fastball and curveball, both were thrown with over the top delivery from the greatest power pitcher of all time that also was an Iron horse one time even throwing 200+ pitches in one game. The increase in UCL injuries definitely have something to do with arm angles and how hard the pitchers are throwing and trying to spin it.

[@joshuawellwerts2078]

Thank you for this video. My son is a sophomore in high school and we have been dealing with inner elbow pain for the last 3 years. Physical therapy pictures and nothing. Great information

[@jeffgo5742]

I pitcher timeout is a great idea. Just like the batter they get one. Also let pitchers use something for grip

[@Radbra712]

Dr. Meister repaired my throwing shoulder and bicep tendon in 2008when I injured it in college baseball. I have not had any issues since. His rehab team is fantastic and sport specific.

[@radamrussell]

Great question from AJ. I was wondering what Doc's take is on at least allowing some form of 'stick'em' for pitchers...rosen or a range of products/substances that could be allowed across the board?

[@EruptTelevision]

Great interview

[@Sammy_Boy_Smith]

This Dr. Needs to be lecturing to all 150 MLB & MiLB teams.

[@user-bmw528]

Why? No one can prevent elbow injuries over the last 30 years.

[@dougp9806]

Finally.....you don't need analytics to know spin rate and velocity are the problem. Not pitch count or clock.

[@mbdg6810]

Pitch clock is a factor if one is throwing hard too. If you do the same movement tear at a faster rate, of course your arm problems can be worse.

[@rhgamecock1]

Great interview and information. I think pitchers are headed in the direction that RB's in the NFL are currently at. Go hard 3-5 years and on to the next guy. Just running them through a meat grinder so to speak.

[@BruceEdmonds821]

Pitchers should only have to do 3-4 years of service time before FA then. Because it's so difficult to remain healthy for 6 years plus minors/college/high school

[@rhgamecock1]

@@BruceEdmonds821 Agree

[@soundhead18]

Pivetta has a sweeper now and look when happened to him today. He’s having elbow recovery issues and is on the 15-Day IL

[@JamesAvila-xu7ds]

That’s like 20 pitchers during April now lol

[@redbeard2952]

I would love to hear what the reason for the increase in position players needing TJ surgery. Surely they can't blame the pitch clock on that can they? And talking about having the pendulum swing back in the other direction, maybe players need to put the baseball down in the off-season, lay off the designer pitchers and work on the beer belly. Worked pretty good for Boomer Wells

[@wind_runner6836]

Very informative and it seems that the MLB really should take action.

[@maxxramas5770]

As a pitcher in high school I found it to be common sense knowledge that virtually any non fastball (maybe a standard 3 finger change up too) will cause more pain and result in injury. The curveball particularly is the most vicious pitch on the elbow and shoulder.

[@TheRoadLessChosen]

Curve ball that injures the arm is not being thrown correctly.

[@maxxramas5770]

@@TheRoadLessChosenthe curveball is widely considered to be the most dangerous of the standard pitches. It’s why so many kids and even high schoolers are not advised to throw it.

[@TKO-1503]

I think those super fast pitches should be reserved for the best of hitters and for when you’re in a traffic jam. The human arm is not meant to exude this much force, whatever it is I hope health and safety for these pitchers who bring us valuable entertainment.

[@gregthegroove]

1. Analytics have made the performance translate into numbers and digits. Then every pitcher tries to achieve spin rate numbers and they simply cannot. They try to throw hard all the time and they can’t. They try to be like the stars and they’re not. People need to understand that not everyone can be a star folks. Some guys can throw 100 all their careers but they’re built for it or whatever the case may be. That’s why they get paid big $ Stay in your lane. Be the best you can be at a level where you’re actually playing in the field. Chasing the dragon and the numbers and spin rates. 2. I’m not sure how much this applies or calling out any players but it’s been noted quite clearly that some coming off steroids or PEDs or whatever you call it can subject themselves to injuries because they’re trying to perform like before with no drugs. 3. Throwing MAX velo all the time. There’s no need for it. Get to the playoffs. Get on the big stage. When you face the stars in postseason then bring out the guns. You don’t need to be hurling 99 mph all game long on a Tuesday night at Tropicana when you’ve got the 5-0 lead. It’s like guys aren’t playing the game anymore by looking with their eyes on the conditions. Why do I need to throw this 100 right now? To keep stats elevated and get paid. DUMB. STUPID.

[@theycallmehoipilloi5495]

I've been around long enough to remember when the slider was losing popularity because it was said that it would blow your arm up. I'm not sure when it changed, if it was Steve Carlton's and Ron Guidry's success or what. Nolan Ryan never had arm trouble and basically went fastball and 12-6 curveball. He was also fanatical about working on his legs. He'd throw 100++ pitches in 7 or 8 innings then ride an exercise bike for another hour after the game. Are pitchers still working on their lower bodies as much?

[@MIKEDOMO]

Biomechanics are the key, I have two bulging discs, my symptoms are improving everyday, the first thing told me my PT avoid the things are hurting you, that apply to the pitchers.

[@wizardoferror9942]

MLB needs to see this!

[@jonivey1972]

have we studied the Pitchers with 5 plus years MLB service with no elbow injuries. What type of pitches thrown, weighted ball training, sleep, hydration, weights- All the whole thing??? What is a common in those non injured pitchers. This is such a hot topic... No quick fix, need to start at youth level. Are they on the mound too soon? Would machine pitch be a better altenative until balls drop? Too little throwing? Too much throwing? No answer here just want solutions. I had my oldest with MLB service time that got hurt and out of the game. he saw Dr. Meister multiple times. I now have a 15 year old lefty that was born to throw hard and does, I am worried about him. I take precaution, no year around pitching, train hard and prep great....... I can do all the right things and still get him hurt.

[@TheRoadLessChosen]

Randy Johnson had horizontal movement on his sweeping slider. He was tall but not bulky. How did he do it without injury?

[@tonyrame7548]

probably because he was 6'10 and he was the tallest player in MLB history so his UCL tendon was remarkably longer then normal pitchers, also he could throw hard with very little stress, just watching him warm up he would throw in the 80s which look like he was in slow motion. He was a freak and not normal in any sense.

[@joelneedham7589]

Dr Mike Marshall in 1975 figured out pitching injuries. His videos are all on KZbin explaining the cause of all pitching injuries. It’s just no one cared to listen.

[@JamesAvila-xu7ds]

Do you have any links

[@joelneedham7589]

@JamesAvila-xu7ds just type in Dr mike marshall causes of pitching injuries part 1 and 2

[@TheRoadLessChosen]

I’ve searched and searched for good info and never ran into any of his videos.

[@rudivanrooijen7611]

Just some remarks: 1) Athletes will always be willing to put their health at risk to reach elite levels; generally that is a feature of what sets them apart from the regular crowd; 2) the pitch clock being a factor with regards to injuries is speculation at best. Furthermore, traditionally pitchers were taught to work quick without that leading to excessive injuries in the past; 3) Could it be that nowadays players that are injury-prone reach the big leagues in spite of their propensity to get injured, because of improved medical treatments ? If so that could be part of the explanation that average velo has increased as well as the risk of injury. Back in the day more hardthrowers would blow out their arm before reaching the big leagues and were done; 4) The TJ- surgery is a reconstruction of the elbow, which means the UCL is not repaired, but it's function is taken over by an added tendon that provides said function through a mechanically different action. Fundamentally the TJ-procedure could (or should ?) be considered 'performance enhancing surgery'; 5) I'm not convinced that squeezing the grip harder will lead to higher spin rates. I do think many players falsely assume they have to squeeze to generate more spin. My take is that the last phase of release and the start of pronation need to overlap to finish the fingers' pull; 6) Wasn't the usage of 'sticky stuff' getting out of hand ? Pedro only needed rosin and sweat to have a HoF career. He knew how to put movement and velo on the ball.

[@JADiaz10]

I think it’s lack of Cardio. This is a problem for all positions. Position players can pull something running to first cause they pump iron but don’t keep the body loose because they think static stretching gonna work. Running also helps pitchers heal in between days. Wish I knew this sooner but I remember hearing about James Shields habits. he threw gas and had a healthy career because he was running after every start. Once I started doing that I noticed it was way easier to heal in between starts. No im not a ML and don’t throw anywhere near 100 but it was a significant difference in how long soreness lasted…

[@SuperReviews4you]

The problem the MLB has is that we all know velocity and spin equals outs. There is no putting that cat back in the bag.

[@gumball3D]

The next market inefficiency: Less emphasis on velocity and more on changing speeds and control

[@SuperReviews4you]

​@@gumball3D Sure control and changing speeds matter too but velo and spin is a big factor too in how hittable is a pitch. There just is no simple recipe because a player knows if he can throw 97 and have a couple of ok secondary pitches he has a good shot at the MLB.

[@davidmacgown321]

Are managers getting it wrong about pitch count? Paul Skenes recently had a no hitter going and was pulled after 6 innings. He was dominating (14 strikeouts I think) but as soon as he reached the magic number of 100 pitches thrown his manager pulled him in spite of his no hitter. My belief is its not the number of pitches thrown you should be looking for but rather the number of stressful pitches thrown. In this case he hadn't been in any stressful situations, he was cruising right along. Am I wrong or right about this?

[@black17fireup]

All that body extreme forces are stopping the arm drastically. The muscle are crying in pain!🚨🚑 No arm, no pitcher!

[@makeplays]

this problem can't be understated and it's going to get worse

[@arkansasrebel348]

Need to go back to teaching the art of pitching!!

[@dougwbenson]

Wish we had more pitchers like Jamie Moyer in the game.

[@michaelallen1154]

What if you throw with a "locked" wrist, as you would a hammer?

[@kjorlaug1]

Give the pitchers a timeout in at-bats that last longer than 6 pitches. But keep the pitch clock. The injuries are clearly linked to spin and velo, not the pitch clock.

[@mbdg6810]

The pitch clock can be a factor, if one is throwing hard at a faster rate.

[@nofurtherwest3474]

Random ques - but I've been wondering - can someone pitch without a UCL? Like, maybe it tears completely but they just don't get surgery, what would happen? I play soccer. I ruptured my ACL and never got surgery, but I still play alot of soccer. I just am more mindful and go about the game differently. And of course did some rehab.

[@anthonyreyes8868]

You can't dude it hurts and you lose velocity

[@nofurtherwest3474]

@@anthonyreyes8868 ohh ok. i was just wondering. like maybe it becomes loose but that's ok, it just becomes more like a whip

[@nofurtherwest3474]

@@anthonyreyes8868 i would like to experiment, to have a doc remove my UCL and let it heal and see how it goes

[@GDavis49]

RA Dickey didn’t have a ucl

[@nofurtherwest3474]

@@GDavis49 interesting

[@GH-ru9kk]

I think they should increase the roster size and allow teams to increase bullpen sizes and limit pitches.

[@jgould30]

Throwers, not pitchers. And they're building and used like an F1 car. Tear the engine down after 100 miles. Not like a reliable truck to run thebsand dunes for 100k+ miles.

[@toucantango1]

Goose Gossage threw VERY hard. He told me his most impressive achievement in his 20+ years in MLB is that he never had an injury.

[@vivalavivarium]

Tbh I’m not worried, these pitchers will stop getting huge contracts and the smart duravble pitchers who don’t push it will become more valuable. Yeah this gen might have to be a sacrificial gen but it will be a great experiment to tell the future pitchers where the max is and they can find a good medium. Sucks but they know they will get hurt and they still choose to do it cause they’ll get the bag, so not really the same as runners twisting ankles of the bags

[@Ayouguys]

They'll have to bring back the ball tack.

[@rhgamecock1]

The Commissioner should call in some of the great older pitchers for a roundtable on this while they are still living. The ones who pitched a ton of innings and never needed elbow surgery. Would include Randy Johnson, Jim Palmer, Bert Blyleven, Jack Morris, Greg Maddux, Steve Carlton, and Roger Clemens to name a few. By the way, they weren't on innings limits and pitch count limits. Seems those limits have made things worse as well.

[@lovejoyb20]

All I can say is, it's about time someone advocated for sticky stuff (whatever from that may take). "MLB says spin rate hasn't change since the sticky stuff crackdown." There's only one way that happens, and it's all muscular. Make the ball as sticky as you can get it and still get it out of your hand for all I care. Everyone who's argued against that seems worried about increased spin. So what? You still have to get the ball in the little box called the strike zone.

[@seamsWILD]

thumbnail title is real

[@Tmalbers21]

Man, it seems that these pitchers would really benefit from using a sticky substance to help them with their grip 🤔

[@Michael-tj5bk]

Oh they sure would. They would generate super spin rates with not natural. The offense would be even worse if possible

[@Tmalbers21]

@@Michael-tj5bk I think pine tar and sunscreen would be just fine. Ask most MLB hitters, they want the pitcher to know where the ball is going. Added benefit would be less TJs, tough to argue with that.

[@Mark-jm5vy]

@@Michael-tj5bk the thing is then average spin rate would go up so to become elite pitchers would just try and grip even harder to get an even higher spin rate. Era would fall so pitchers would need a higher spin rate to have a lower than average era or whip

[@Mark-jm5vy]

@@Tmalbers21 the thing is then average spin rate would go up so to become elite pitchers would just try and grip even harder to get an even higher spin rate. Era would fall so pitchers would need a higher spin rate to have a lower than average era or whip

[@emmanuelwood8702]

The issue is training they need to get back to teaching pitching properly the way they used to. None of the analytics number crunchers are going to reinvent the wheel all they're doing is injuries these players.

[@markdecarolis8714]

Keeping legs strong.

[@chazbedlam]

How pervasive are pitching injuries in Japan or Korea? They throw disgusting breaking stuff, but don't they use balls that come out of the box with some kind of tack on them? That might be the simplest quick fix for this problem.

[@nohalfsteppin2823]

How bout changing the ball to the ones they have in Japan how many Japanese pitchers are getting TJ surgery

[@JADiaz10]

What are the differences there?

[@nohalfsteppin2823]

​@JADiaz10 the ball is tackler and smaller and lighter in weight

[@jgould30]

The way you throw a cutting pitch is with proper arm slot but the big thing is the lower half. Your pitch plane and how you open your hips. Note thet some of the really special pitchers that lasted had beefy lower halves. The guys that are tall and skinny tend to tear things because they have no bottom half. Pitching velocity and movement is heavily controlled by your liwer half but it seems like everyone is teaching to open your hips and torque the heck out of the shoulder and elbow like a slingshot. And then you wonder why you have injuries? 🙄

[@JimmyFlorida337]

The MLB for years has tried to De-emphasize starting pitching. Whether it is the Openers. Pitch Counts. 5 inning starts. Bullpen games. Pitch clocks. Checking their hands for substances. Why??? $$$$$$$$. MLB doesn't want to pay starters big money. Blake Snell and Montgomery found out this off-season. When you tell your starters go out and throw Max velocity for as long as they can that is not pitching. That is throwing.

[@MatthewSmithA2K]

We need more players and more rest time in the big league

[@MatthewSmithA2K]

And tools to test how long is a safe day

[@MatthewSmithA2K]

It's for the best a couple hand full of minors and contract extensions in minors

[@johncrabtree8857]

Baseball is good for his business it seems

[@MatthewSmithA2K]

If you throw a lot you gotta find 3-4 months off a year

[@vivalavivarium]

U know what it is, they teach how to throw hard and fancy and not how to actually PITCH!!!! Look at ever great great pitcher ever. They were smart, they knew HOW to get hitters out not just blow thing by them, I miss that.

[@peterdaddabbo7110]

Great interview. Two critical points missed. One touched on, but not explained. We are taking players with the internal infrastructure to throw high 80s and teaching/training them to throw high 90s. Like putting 80 story building on 40 story infrastructure. Unsustainable. Point two. The market will correct this...moneyball 2....teams will start to figure out that spending 30 million plus per year on high velo guys is not cost effective as the likelihood they will break down increases. Teams will start looking for and demanding and paying more guys like Jose Quntana, who doesn't blow people away but starts 30 plus games every year.

[@LDQBBQ]

Do we place any blame on youth coaches or gurus who encourage poor mechanics and/or overusage?

[@c2itccase9]

No…there’s a pitch count for games, tournaments and for any and every other reason.

[@jonivey1972]

Weighted balls?

[@mariohnyc]

Easy fix. Switch to underhanded pitching, lol.

[@baseball-xt3uj]

I cant believe that mlb and players dont understand how to avoid injuries and why theyre on the rise. Is for one thing and very simple. They do not train for withstanding more throws they inly train for increasing velocity. Tell me which pitcher in the offseason goes all the way to 100-150 pitch bullpens? Nobody absolutely nobody. The only way to be prepared to throw 100 throws in the game is that in the offseason you slowly progress all the way to 100-150 throws. You might call me crazy to encourage offseason bullpens of 100-150 throws but its even crazier to think that 30 pitch bullpens will prepare you to throw 100 in the game. That is foolish nonsense. The arm doesnt know how many throws is doing it only knows stress. If youve only throwing 30 pitch bullpens and the increase it all of the sudden to 100 youre increasing more than double of what your body can handle. Now if you slowly progress in the offseason to 150 throws your body and arm are going to get use to that stress. But pitchers from today dont give their body the opportunity to get use to the stress. Sometimes you only need logic and common sense to solve a problem. Its ironic that sometimes common sense is the less common sense the human uses.

[@michaelsarzen2814]

The best way to avoid an injury is to never play

[@BOOSTEDSS396]

Couldn’t break Chapman’s arm with a 4lb Plyo

[@kvonzwild8979]

Very interesting. How did Greg Maddux remain healthy when nobody could make X's out of the plate with balls running in then away like him?

[@samuelsuggs9751]

I think it's because Maddux got the spin to make it break without throwing with 100% effort. He had the ability to throw with more velocity than he did, but he was a better pitcher with 5% less velocity, more break, and better location.

[@edgewound]

Hitters can use stickum to grip the bat. Pitchers should be allowed the same advantage.

[@islander5858]

Shut up

[@Legnerps]

I don't think those are equivalencies.

[@edgewound]

@@Legnerps yes they are... grip is everything. Take away batters' grip, watch bat speed go way down.

[@waylonmercy1533]

@@edgewoundno

[@edgewound]

@@waylonmercy1533 why? Defend your position.

[@davidmacgown321]

It sounds like they're not learning how to pitch. They're just throwers today. A pitcher like Greg Maddux wouldn't even be drafted today.

[@toucantango1]

Travel youth baseball is putting those who pitch into far too many games. 125 games a year can be good for hitters and fielders but bad for young pitchers. That is the hazard that causes injuries to many young pitchers and continues until the elbow gives out.

[@ceasarblackman9501]

This won’t be much different than the steroid era… the gain.. getting the contract will always outweigh the chance of just being around as a major leaguer…

[@emmanuelwood8702]

Doc is wrong about horizontal movement only achieved through pronation or supination. It is being taught that way by analytics people who have no experience, but it is wrong you can get horizontal movement without torquing the foreman. It's probably one of the reasons that pitchers are getting hurt, they're been taught by people with no onfield experience and they're been taught stuff that's getting them hurt because it's wrong.

[@HKim0072]

It’s literally all he does. I think we can trust his analysis.

[@emmanuelwood8702]

@@HKim0072 Not at all, he has a theory he doesn’t have proof of it either.

[@emmanuelwood8702]

@@HKim0072 He’s an expert at repairing damaged ligaments doesn’t mean he’s an expert at identifying the causes of damaged ligaments. The only thing he established was a correlation between pitching and ucl injuries . We already knew this we didn’t need him to say it.

[@emmanuelwood8702]

What needs to be looked at is why some cant stop snapping their ucl over and over and over and over and some never do even though they throw hard like chapman, Nolan ryan, Pedro and throw horizontal breaking pitches like Marcus stroman etc .

[@HKim0072]

@@emmanuelwood8702 Ok, Bozo the Clown. The dude went to Med school and then did residency for Orthopedics for 4 years. He's been involved with the Rangers since '04. Has run a Sports medical clinic since '04. Stop with the dime store analysis and vomiting correlation isn't causation or it's only a theory bro.

[@Zane_Zaminsky]

Too much weight training. Muscles get too strong for the tendons and ligaments. As the great former world record shotputter, Brian Oldfield, said: “It’s like putting a Cadillac engine in a Volkswagen.”

[@jerryharris6342]

"Will the owners use this information to pay the players less?" I love the comedy on this show. I'm dying. Yeah, tell injured pitcher, Shohei Ohtani that he could have gotten so much more.

[@Alan-rw3ez]

Bottom line, learn to PITCH and not throw. Greinke never threw harder than 92 from his age 31 onward. Prior 2 or 3 seasons he sat at 94 most of the time. They can do it too but it takes time and effort and the short term easy way is to yank the arm for that precious 99.

[@johnshepherd9676]

AJ caught a guy who seldom hit 90 and had a long injury free career -- Mark Buehrle.

[@JamesAvila-xu7ds]

Greg maddux he threw natural 90 not some wierd throwing program that increased 5-7 mph adding more stress to the elbow and showilder

[@144Donn]

If pitchers pitch to contact and do not focus on K's, the game will be A LOT more interesting! Many games have are filled with K's or HR's and nothing else VERY BORING!. Pitching to contact will reduce the stress on an arm and allow pitchers to stay in the game longer.

[@user-bmw528]

Pitching to contact lol enjoy their ERAs of 5.50+

[@ablank6888]

Wait he started off saying push for more velo was issue, then went on tanget about percentage off speed pitches. I call bs. Nobody knows including Meister.

[@user-bmw528]

Thank you. Nobody knows. They’re all guessing.

[@kevingross4141]

Pitching should be about DECEPTION, not power. Change speed, location, and arm slot. Not throw 100 mph hour curveballs. And yes, movement begins with the hips.

[@tommyriam8320]

Let pitchers learn and practice the art and craft of _'PITCHING'_ for God's sake and *cease* indulging this perverted obsession with 'throwing'

[@poopshoes7579]

If you SLAP tear it doesn’t matter, you’re most likely done…speaking from experience

[@jmart_4]

From experience, I can say the same thing. I'm fact I had Dr. Meister repair it not once, but twice since the first one didn't take. Now I have an AC joint without cartilage and reduced ROM!

[@Michael-tj5bk]

Bullshit. Sticky stuff was unfair advantage. It was used to create super soin not to get a grip. Pedro and other pitchers had no problem with grip without sticky stuff. Get a clue

[@Sliqhs]

Buddy you really think sticky stuff is a new invention?

[@gregthegroove]

That’s essentially the problem. Every MFer thinks he’s Pedro FN Martinez. I just said this. They’re chasing spin rates because the tech is there now and everyone is trying to get to certain numbers instead of just playing the damn game in front of you. No need to throw 99 mph all game long on a random 5th starter type bullpen game on a Tuesday night in front of 7k fans with a 7 run lead for example.

[@edgewound]

Take away the sticky stuff from bat handles and batting gloves. Bat control AND ball control is all about grip. Take away the super sticky grip from the hitter and bat speed will decline.

[@williamcoolidge9884]

The balls are not the same.