More on #2

Thanks to Spec for his usual interesting hookups.

Sitting at the computer today banging through some non-sports work, we had a couple of KIRO's hot stove radio shows on ... one of the shows featured Tom McNamara, who is Zduriencik's version of Bob Fontaine.

McNamara, over the radio, conjures images of Burt Sugar chomping a cigar and scoffing at the latest tomata-can contenda, or maybe Mick from Rocky, or Earl Weaver, or some mosaic of all. He's a dyed-in-the-wool baseball hardcase in the best sense of the word.

As far as individuals, McNamara discussed Nick Franklin and Dustin Ackley.

=== PX ===

McNamara kinda scowled over the radio and said that when Ackley showed up at Safeco to hit, Ackley had atrophied, or something like that. Ackely had lost "7 or 8 pounds" and looked real skinny.

Come the season, sez Mac, Dustin Ackley will bulk back up and show the power that he did at UNC.

This goes along with Spec's call-out of the AZL manager who asserts that when Ackley stays back (rotating rather than lunging), the power is "definitely" there.

That, combined with the videos at UNC, have me wondering again about Ackley's 20-25 homer potential. If he has that kind of strength -- an Ichiro-type surprising pop to the pull field -- it shouldn't take a long time for it to show up. Power is guessing the velo and loading up. Ackley's a college hitter, not a high school hitter, and those guys can be within a year of producing big in the majors.

=== 2B ===

McNamara was asked about Ackley at 2B and sort of hemmed and haw'ed. Reading between the lines, it was obvious that Mac had recommended against the move.

"We knew his hands were fine," sez Mac, "and, um, so far so good. He's better than a lot of us expected."

"One thing his dad said, Dustin doesn't jump out at you defensively -- he just makes plays. And that's a good way to put it," or somesuch.

In other words, taking the field at FIRST (1B) base for UNC, Ackley didn't look laterally explosive to scouts. The idea of his playing 2B obviously caused them to choke a little, in the way that suggesting a Darin Erstad 2B move would seem bizarre. It's crystal clear that inside the M's org, this was a VERY funky-looking idea.

But McNamara manned up and said, hey, he's been legit at 2B so far. The thing that McNamara emphasized the most was that UNC's coach Mike Fox endorsed the move. Had Fox not proposed it, I'm sure that the M's couldn't have found the political capital to pull the move off.

=== HIT ===

Anyway, after the slightly-awkward concessions about defense, McNamara sat forward in his chair, "What I liked was Ackley as a hitter."

Laughter in the room all around.

Dreyer says, if you folks at home could have seen Tom's face light up as he said that...

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Dustin Ackley

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Skinny Picks?

Thanks Jemanji! Now I can get back to work! I hear people ripping these guys apart because they are not built like strong safeties or outside linebackers. The steroid generation of baseball fans today (scouts included) have gotten used to a new prototype from the old. With the success of the Lincecums and such, it will be interesting to see if people remember that baseball players should be strong but most of all skilled. It is not pushing a 300 lb lineman but hitting a 5 ounce ball. If our 2 first round picks keep getting stronger as their bodies mature (Franklin still doesn't even have his wisdom teeth), they should be just fine. Especially if their mental outweighs the physical. Would anyone want Ted Williams in our lineup? Go look at his rookie pictures...at first look, I bet a lot of modern fans would laugh at him for lack of transfat.

No doubt some of you will rip that apart...have at it, but then let's go study how many of the prototypes fail miserably too. Enjoy your day!

Great line about the 5 oz ball :- )

James also remarked that from the 1970's to the 1990's, the players got much beefier, heavier, and slower... and that now, the last 5 years, that trend is reversing. A lot. Ackley might not be competing with a league full of Bret Boones in this decade.

Teddy Ballgame and Ichiro, Joe Morgan, Fred Lynn, others demonstrate that it *is* a 5-ounce ball, as you put it ... those players who genuinely create leverage to the ball are going to be able to pull the ball over the fence to their straightaway pull field.

In the vids, Ackley *does* look like he has that extra-class leverage. We'll see.

BTW, nobody will 'rip you apart' at SSI bro'

Folks might take the other side of a question sometimes, but unfriendliness isn't allowed. :- )

Baseball chat is a diversion, a rest from labors outside baseball. If we stress out about it, that kinda defeats the pernt.

Thanks!

I should have worded the "rip" apart better but tragically a few of the other Mariner sites are worse than my kids fighting. I have read this for a few months off and on appreciating the analysis but also the fact that I can let my son read this. Says a lot about you and the others on here....keep it up!!

:daps:

Will do. Why don't you help us keep it goin' :- )

First question for Mr. HS Pitching Coach: do you have a take on Liriano's mechanics? Coupla vids linked in this article.

Check it out...

Hey, I started to read your comments because I loved the way YOU analyzed pitching and have learned a lot from it! Seriously, that is greatly appreciated. I just have a sec but looked at a quick video. His mph are down from the surgeries. But as you said, little movement. Your comments on his mechanics are right on. To me...and so much to learn, his arm is all over the place just in a few pitches. Like a buggywhip and with the slider that got him there, so much rotation kills arms. Sad as each pitch was out of the stretch which is never a good sign.

Looked like he started a strong rotation of the legs to drive towards home and got lost. He ended up never getting through a pitch and falling off. I would like to see how far or how early his head was moving forward. My opinion but does it seem like his arm was moving with his lower body rather than getting set having the arm follow? When that happens you put too much pressure on the arm and it wasn't created for that. Your opinions please!!

PS

Dr, I fully respect your opinions on pitching. Looking at the picture of Liriano you have posted, the flying elbow. Remember Miller Barber and a golf club? Or Jim Furyk? Above the shoulder is usually a no no and often players who follow that route also need medical care.

On the video, Liriano dose just the opposite of what most young hopeful pitchers have to break. When Liriano plants his lead foot (right), he is slightly closed. I think that is why he looks set to drive through with his legs but never gets there. Most kids I work with have habits the opposite - even some who had professional pitching coaches (and I am ANYTHING but that). But the norm is to open up too early. It happens in golf and tennis too. Please check those again and give me your thoughts.

Liriano has to reinvent himself but I don't think that the slider and his arm are a good match???? That is kids today....Hey, watch my slider. I thought the M's were smart to limit Felix early on that pitch, even as good as it was.

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