Sympathy for your Shoulder. Sounds like a song by Elton John but about 2am each night I want to scream. I just got back from a coaching conference in Denver. It was interesting that pro scouts are watching carefully now for kids from southern states. The last few years have seen the beginning of kids getting into high levels that grew up with one sport/one position rather than multi-sport, etc. The injury factors will be curious to watch in years ahead as suddenly northern climates might actually be an advantage in today's overdone world. As you said, history, genetics, training (flexibilty with strength), form, pitches. One report, hard to figure with instant publicity, from a top baseball state, had one of the top prospects for HS ball throw over 160 pitches one day and repeat that two days later.
A few years ago a lot of kids were almost boastful that they had already received their TJ surgery, like they had lost their virginity. Like a loose life, ultimately catches up with most.
Excellent thoughts on Pineda. Tendons can be frayed a bit at a time like Uncle Jed whittling wood. Form is an important part but even more factors to go into the equation today. Even if you are the Big Red Machine, in the end, you still need several capable arms to take the mound. 

Interesting thought of the one sport generation: Reports are that girls now from years of spiking the volleyball are having unprecedented amount of shoulder problems. Now those are high elbows!
Taro, if you read this, good points. Interesting debate and thought. To find the perfect formula!

Let me think on that one further...Plug the brain in. You have me searching for comparisons. Always so much to learn.
You want flying elbows? Check out Don Drysdale. I loved watching him and Koufax as a kid:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSWRrLl3cBM&feature=related
Could this be a case of a lower elbow that requires a bit of double jointedness? That particular movement could be considered a risk but I think we would all love to have Drysdale alive in an M's uniform. And he consistently pitched 250+ innings a year in winning his 209 games.
Oh yes, Pineda!  LOL! Later!
 
 
 
 
 

I always respect your judgment more but here is a quick shot. I hope for a long career for Pineda...with the M’s. Per Taro, the right trade notwithstanding (i.e. Montero). But someone does have to pitch. Taro, I think you said a lot of good things to warn about potential dangers. I do not want to lessen what was said. I fully agree that the inverted L’s and W’s put arms into positions not meant to be. I honestly do get how guys like an Aaron Crow come up today. The instruction with instant videos should prevent such. I think that coaches and players (their parents especially) are expedient wanting instant/short term rather than long term success.
Pineda’s arm does come up a little high in the pre-delivery. I picture the arm like the hammer on a gun. It comes in with perfect precision and the force ignites the bullet. The hammer was design to prevent extra movement…so should arms in the pitching motion be. That hammer arm does not fly high. So that is a legitimate complaint about Pineda. But, I also know that the M’s have coaches that know all this far more than me. Potentially this is how his arm feels best, is natural, etc. The inverted arm often is associated with shoulder/rotator cuff issues. Pineda’s arm history is elbow related isn’t it? Could this relief pressure on the elbow? Something he is comfortable with? I would be curious if you could get coaches from minor leagues to ever comment on players. I am sure that this kid has been surrounded with coaches checking all this out.
The second frame from the #2 article has a high elbow and it looks like he is about to lower the arm to skip a rock on water. But several frames later his position looks solid. If I could try something on him it would be to simply try lowering his lead arm just a touch as you will note it is fairly high (that is consistent with the best pitchers). The exact and opposite reflection is often true. Lower one and the other follows. I really love how Pineda, for a big man, drives his legs through to home plate. If he has directional consistency with his strength, he will drive to home plate and take a lot of pressure off of the arm.
All the comments are great to follow. Makes it fun waiting to see what happens!
 

Could this be a new joke? How many inverted arms does it take to change a light bulb?
Taro, those are great points. I honestly think that the foot strike leads to the strong body rotation with the arm following. In this way, much pressure is taken off the arm. Do you remember a guy like Keith Foulke? He seemed to use his arm too much to throw with. Sometimes those guys can have the right slot, angle, etc but do more damage.
Can you figure with the video instruction to look at slomo, etc, how do people end up throwing so many ways?

That makes total sense. You hit it early and your muscles don't have the leverage as hitting with right timing??
Jeff, with what Merk said, watch a pitcher like Maddux and how far he releases the ball towards home. That not only gives visual mph to each pitch and late break but, I would think, healthier!
I have shoulder sympathy for you Merk. Middle age set the rebuild engine light on.

Well put Taro. I agree that you can pick out the flaws. And like anything, those flaws might be caused by or be the cause of other flaws. 
You know all about this. Teams passed on Lincecum being scared of potential arm injury yet they went after others who had previous injury and such delivery flaws as you have talked about. Lots of inconsistencies. But that does all make baseball great fun doesn't it?
I figure that you have read Chris O'Leary? If so, do you like him?
 
 

Thanks Taro. I have read several good articles by O'Leary but never much by Boddy. I will have to pay more attention to him. What you said makes total sense. Physics cannot be erased from pitching. Bodies are different but guess work is frustrating. The ball goes where it is sent...and fun to watch and continue to learn.