MLB Network hires the most solid employees... Everyone of these videos, no matter the person speaking creates such an engagement with the audience. I love it.
Yeah, but teams don't care about the long term health of their pitchers anymore. They just want 100 starts out of a guy throwing as hard and nasty stuff as he can, and then they move on when he blows out his arm. It's a quantity of pitchers throwing 98 all the time, rather than quality. Plus when you can squeeze everything out of a guy on his rookie deal, it's easy to walk away when free agency comes around.
Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine both proved one doesn't need to throw 96 to win in MLB. Spot your fastball, move it around, change speeds with it, develope an off-speed pitch.
True but no one has the control of Maddux. Glavine is one of the only guys to get close. If you don't have that control, you have to find another way to win. For Smoltz it was good control (but not Maddux level) combined with good power and devastating split fingers and sliders.
Location, movement, velocity, in that order. Greg Maddux threw sinkers and 2-seams that moved laterally, and threw cutters, not just "fastballs." He also threw curveballs and sliders that were very effective. Maddux was a movement pitcher, not a gas thrower. Glavine had a killer change-up that he would throw on the outside corner on the black.
Watching smoltz growing up as a kid, it was more than his talent. He was intelligent about pitching, as were Maddux and Glavine. Honestly, I haven't seen a more consistently successful trio in the majors since and we probably won't ever again
Little League Coach: "Stay on top of the ball." Josh Donaldson: "Don't stay on top. Those are groundball outs." LLC: "Pitchers own the inside of the plate." Bob Gibson: "Pitchers own the outside, not inside, of the plate." LLC: "Throw sliders." John Smoltz: "Don't throw sliders."
I was always taught to throw a slider the same motion as a curve, just grip the ball at tight as possible, curve with looser grip. It’s amazing listening to smoltz and Pedro on here talking about grips and names of pitches and how to throw and the other guests and variety of what/how to do it. Beauty of this game.
Great stuff ... Baseball is the most complex of all sports and it appears that even professionals do not fully understand the mechanics of baseball because there are so many variables. Even Mickey Mantle stated that there is so much you do not know about the game you have played.
Yes indeed. Sometimes it's not the best though. If you just simply throw it like a football with a STIFF wrist, you get a Steve Carlton like slider. You tube steve carlton strikeout montage. Carlton never will say how he throws it, but Joe Garagiola told me in 1978 and i explain in my video, you tube roger beshens, 8 min video is best. We are seeing new slider out there, Cole, Morton, Mccullers, corbin, paxton and others, they throw this pitch but from different arm slots, the key is the STIFF wrist. They will never tell you how they throw it, i just did. U can go out in the yard and simply throw it like football, stiff wrist and see for yourself. For 2 yrs ive been telling players, scouts pitching coaches, it's slowly getting traction. Cutters will be non existent in 3 years. Too hard to master. This pitch a 7th grader can throw.
Huh, I don’t know one was worse than the other. I was always taught that the curve emphasizes middle finger pressure and a higher arm slot. The slide has more pressure with the index and was for a naturally lower arm slot.
Never throw a slider as a kid. Get a fastball and a change up. Master the change then up move to slider next. So many young arms getting Tommy John because they’re body is not ready for a slider.
I came up with this slider that is thrown on the top outside part of index finger snapping your wrist and fingers 12 to 3. left hand slider by left hand pitcher. the spin created is awesome. your arm pronates at the end of release which releases stress on the arm.
But you can teach 95-96 Smoltzy. Tim Lincecum and his father are proof of it. He's absolutely right about syndegaard needing to learn to pitch though. Can't throw 100 forever, you're not Verlander.
+Thomas Kuramoto Lincecum was 5'10, 160lbs in college throwing 97-100mph. I don't know what his control issues at age 30 have to do with his 2 Cy Youngs and 3 strikeout titles. But I'll be here for you to explain.
swagcity - taught him to throw using every inch of his body as a catapult. There a video on RUclips explaining the methods his father used. It's some mad scientist shit. But it worked. His body broke down because of that same velocity he was never meant to have.
I would always grip it very tightly with my index finger along the lower right of the U shaped horseshoe (I'm right handed). I found out that if I simply threw the hell out of the ball without focusing on supinating my wrist, it would happen naturally.
+billy bob sliders and cutters don't all have the same movement despite being gripped the same, some sliders move like change ups, some sweep, and some cut. Kluber has a slider that manny call a cutter. Chapman has a slider that is gripped like a cutter but is thrown so hard that it moves like a slider. Kershaw is so good because his fastball, slider, cutter are all just ~5mph speed differential but move so differently, it's why hitters look so stupid swinging at a 91 mph cutter when they were hunting an 88mph slider.
+Diiirty Biiirdy it's not, the rotation is different. If you've ever attempted or seen a slider vs cutter leave the fingers it's a completely different pitch. Sliders are hard curves which break less while still maintaining high velocity. Cutters are just fastballs that move away from the hitter while only losing 3-5mph off the fastball.
I only throw the slider because my pitching coach is Mike Jackson he played 18 years in majors so he taught me and everything that smoltzy said is the same thing he tells me
Throw it like a football, stiff wrist, over the top. Get a little Carlton/Guidry action. Oh the DROP. I think it's banned from MLB since 1990 because too many toes were broken. Carlton, Guidry and sparky Lyle patented it. You can't throw it, it's illegal. Andrew Miller uses it but it's not over the top so it's ok.
I’m 15 I have been throwing slider for a year now and it does not effect your arm. Read books and watch videos like this to get proper form. First go through the motion with a ball in hand and get proper form that you learn from these videos and books. Once you feel you have it pitch live. People always tell about how it’s bad for your arm, but it’s not a fact. What it’s really about is SELF PREFERENCE. Also, don’t listen to your parents when it comes to breaking pitches unless if you are comfortable with it.
Just because it didn't hurt YOUR arm doesn't mean you are right. There's a ton of evidence that sliders should not be thrown by young kids. You got away with it, is all.
Guys, most of the time I agree with MLB Network, but this is not one of them. Don’t let this stop you from throwing a slider because they can tell you this or that is bad for your arm. But to make it easier for you it’s SELF PREFERENCE you do you. I throw a slider rather than a curveball and right now I am trying to learn how to throw a curveball. Good luck to the players that are learning the slider it’s very effective I’ll tell you that.
MLB Network hires the most solid employees... Everyone of these videos, no matter the person speaking creates such an engagement with the audience. I love it.
Smoltz's thoughts on Syndergaard seem even more intelligent now. I love watching these all time greats talk about technique and theory, its awesome.
Yeah, but teams don't care about the long term health of their pitchers anymore. They just want 100 starts out of a guy throwing as hard and nasty stuff as he can, and then they move on when he blows out his arm. It's a quantity of pitchers throwing 98 all the time, rather than quality. Plus when you can squeeze everything out of a guy on his rookie deal, it's easy to walk away when free agency comes around.
@@gf4670 I hate hate hate HATE that this comment is so accurate
@@WhoIsDanteFresh This is not true for the braves!
@@stephenstrang590 That's fair enough. The Braves have ALWAYS been very resourceful and crafty with their pitching development
Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine both proved one doesn't need to throw 96 to win in MLB. Spot your fastball, move it around, change speeds with it, develope an off-speed pitch.
@Giant Killer yup, pitchers not throwers
True but no one has the control of Maddux. Glavine is one of the only guys to get close. If you don't have that control, you have to find another way to win. For Smoltz it was good control (but not Maddux level) combined with good power and devastating split fingers and sliders.
control isn't as sexy as velocity.
@@redsnflr control is nastier than velocity though.
Location, movement, velocity, in that order. Greg Maddux threw sinkers and 2-seams that moved laterally, and threw cutters, not just "fastballs." He also threw curveballs and sliders that were very effective. Maddux was a movement pitcher, not a gas thrower. Glavine had a killer change-up that he would throw on the outside corner on the black.
Watching smoltz growing up as a kid, it was more than his talent. He was intelligent about pitching, as were Maddux and Glavine. Honestly, I haven't seen a more consistently successful trio in the majors since and we probably won't ever again
Little League Coach: "Stay on top of the ball."
Josh Donaldson: "Don't stay on top. Those are groundball outs."
LLC: "Pitchers own the inside of the plate."
Bob Gibson: "Pitchers own the outside, not inside, of the plate."
LLC: "Throw sliders."
John Smoltz: "Don't throw sliders."
Dino Irish To be fair, you can’t teach Einstein without teaching Newton.
Hit LINE DRIVES!! And NEVER throw sliders in Little League!! PERIOD!!!
@Philippians 44 a home run is an automatic run
Smoltz is a GREAT analyst and broadcaster. Seems like a really good guy.
How is he annoying?
I thinks smoltzy is the best analyst on mlb network :)
He and Pedro are hands down, the best
+billy bob yea Pedro is awesome
Pedro and his busted up English always make me laugh. You never know if he is going to mumble some non-sense or tell a super interesting story.
Yeah they know their stuff and you can tell they do their research.
+WI_Badgers_18 if you throw a curve or slider the way e showed, you'll have TJS the way he did lol
I miss smoltz. I wish he was still playing for Atlanta
I really like listening to Smoltz. Wanted to hear more of his take. They cut the video off too early. But still a nice post. Thank you!
I was always taught to throw a slider the same motion as a curve, just grip the ball at tight as possible, curve with looser grip. It’s amazing listening to smoltz and Pedro on here talking about grips and names of pitches and how to throw and the other guests and variety of what/how to do it. Beauty of this game.
Nostalgia is definitely a factor, but Smoltz has to be my all time favorite pitcher.
Great stuff ... Baseball is the most complex of all sports and it appears that even professionals do not fully understand the mechanics of baseball because there are so many variables. Even Mickey Mantle stated that there is so much you do not know about the game you have played.
THANK YOU JOHN SMOLTZ!
Smoltz was amazing...
Very intelligent comments from a smart pitcher.
Yes indeed. Sometimes it's not the best though. If you just simply throw it like a football with a STIFF wrist, you get a Steve Carlton like slider. You tube steve carlton strikeout montage. Carlton never will say how he throws it, but Joe Garagiola told me in 1978 and i explain in my video, you tube roger beshens, 8 min video is best. We are seeing new slider out there, Cole, Morton, Mccullers, corbin, paxton and others, they throw this pitch but from different arm slots, the key is the STIFF wrist. They will never tell you how they throw it, i just did. U can go out in the yard and simply throw it like football, stiff wrist and see for yourself. For 2 yrs ive been telling players, scouts pitching coaches, it's slowly getting traction. Cutters will be non existent in 3 years. Too hard to master. This pitch a 7th grader can throw.
Wow he looks like he could suit up again and get back on the mound. Braves were my team back in the day
big fan of Smoltz, means business on the show..and great loafers
Being a Red Sox fan AL didn’t get to see Smoltz, wish I had.
Uh, he played for the Red Sox
Smoltz was spot on when he spoke on Thor. Look at him now. I'm sure this could've been applied to Chris Sale as well.
Huh, I don’t know one was worse than the other. I was always taught that the curve emphasizes middle finger pressure and a higher arm slot. The slide has more pressure with the index and was for a naturally lower arm slot.
Would you people buy Smoltzie a suit that fits? He looks like he raided the wardrobe of David Wells
Looks like a typical suit in the 90s. Maybe he likes the extra range of motion vs wearing a tighter suit.
Never throw a slider as a kid. Get a fastball and a change up. Master the change then up move to slider next. So many young arms getting Tommy John because they’re body is not ready for a slider.
I came up with this slider that is thrown on the top outside part of index finger snapping your wrist and fingers 12 to 3. left hand slider by left hand pitcher. the spin created is awesome. your arm pronates at the end of release which releases stress on the arm.
My friend threw a slider in little league. injured his elbow by age 14 and couldnt play the same again.
But you can teach 95-96 Smoltzy. Tim Lincecum and his father are proof of it. He's absolutely right about syndegaard needing to learn to pitch though. Can't throw 100 forever, you're not Verlander.
👍🏽
+Thomas Kuramoto Lincecum was 5'10, 160lbs in college throwing 97-100mph.
I don't know what his control issues at age 30 have to do with his 2 Cy Youngs and 3 strikeout titles. But I'll be here for you to explain.
What did his father instruct him to do to throw that hard?
swagcity - taught him to throw using every inch of his body as a catapult. There a video on RUclips explaining the methods his father used. It's some mad scientist shit. But it worked. His body broke down because of that same velocity he was never meant to have.
mallexjansen damn right he's not Verlander haha
Thanks
I would always grip it very tightly with my index finger along the lower right of the U shaped horseshoe (I'm right handed). I found out that if I simply threw the hell out of the ball without focusing on supinating my wrist, it would happen naturally.
That's more like a cutter
Benitos Burritos I guess so, but I threw a traditional cutter, too, and their movement is noticeably different.
+billy bob sliders and cutters don't all have the same movement despite being gripped the same, some sliders move like change ups, some sweep, and some cut. Kluber has a slider that manny call a cutter. Chapman has a slider that is gripped like a cutter but is thrown so hard that it moves like a slider. Kershaw is so good because his fastball, slider, cutter are all just ~5mph speed differential but move so differently, it's why hitters look so stupid swinging at a 91 mph cutter when they were hunting an 88mph slider.
+moegerms oml yes they do a cutter is a smaller version of a slider
+Diiirty Biiirdy it's not, the rotation is different. If you've ever attempted or seen a slider vs cutter leave the fingers it's a completely different pitch. Sliders are hard curves which break less while still maintaining high velocity. Cutters are just fastballs that move away from the hitter while only losing 3-5mph off the fastball.
God I love smoltz
The Leo Mazzone school of pitching
Hey y'all is this ethos logos or pathos??
Why is he wearing Bobby Cox’ pants?
john smoltz is one of the best slider in the 90s
Is this logos pathos or ethos
Logos I think
Brent Porceiau says otherwise on teaching velocity but he is right for the most part
No he's not lmao
His programs have gotten guys from low 80's to low 90's. So idk what you're talking about.
+ipwn3du I know about that part, but John was almost all wrong
Diiirty Biiirdy What MLB team do you play for ?
ipwn3du Brent Porceiau and Texas Baseball ranch have proven that you can dramatically increase velocity through proper training.
This is great
My Great uncle bill shudlich drafted John smoltz
This aged well...
john needs to iron his pants
I only throw the slider because my pitching coach is Mike Jackson he played 18 years in majors so he taught me and everything that smoltzy said is the same thing he tells me
The only slider I can throw is the Steve Carlton, you tube steve carlton slider montage. If you want to throw that one, I got it for you.
Being a pitcher looks painful 😢
This era of 85-pitch limits is a joke.
Throw it like a football, stiff wrist, over the top. Get a little Carlton/Guidry action. Oh the DROP. I think it's banned from MLB since 1990 because too many toes were broken. Carlton, Guidry and sparky Lyle patented it. You can't throw it, it's illegal. Andrew Miller uses it but it's not over the top so it's ok.
Roger Beshens that is a tommy John's surgery pitch if i have ever seen one
Brent Porcieau teaches people 95mph on a regular basis now. How times have changed
The obscene stopwatch aditionally hand because mallet neuroanatomically sound through a dapper salmon. new, irritating kale
I’m 15 I have been throwing slider for a year now and it does not effect your arm. Read books and watch videos like this to get proper form. First go through the motion with a ball in hand and get proper form that you learn from these videos and books. Once you feel you have it pitch live. People always tell about how it’s bad for your arm, but it’s not a fact. What it’s really about is SELF PREFERENCE. Also, don’t listen to your parents when it comes to breaking pitches unless if you are comfortable with it.
Just because it didn't hurt YOUR arm doesn't mean you are right. There's a ton of evidence that sliders should not be thrown by young kids. You got away with it, is all.
Guys, most of the time I agree with MLB Network, but this is not one of them. Don’t let this stop you from throwing a slider because they can tell you this or that is bad for your arm. But to make it easier for you it’s SELF PREFERENCE you do you. I throw a slider rather than a curveball and right now I am trying to learn how to throw a curveball. Good luck to the players that are learning the slider it’s very effective I’ll tell you that.