Q.  By the way, what does that mean, "get on top of the ball"?  You mean, throw with an overhand arm slot?

A.  No, not at all. 

They're talking about a subtle difference in getting the fingers over the ball a little more at release getting a more vertical spin, as opposed to dropping the wrist down and kind of undercutting the ball.

It can also refer to dropping an elbow, forearm, or arm slot into a lazy position, or getting tired, which sometimes does produce the same slide-the-fingers-under-the-ball* effect.

Anyway, when Morrow is being un-lazy, snapping the fingers down crisply at release, getting the good overhand spin, the fastball is just a laser beam.  As well as going where he wants it.

.

Q.  So it turned out not to be variable foot plant, or upper-body timing, but getting his elbow and wrist up and getting over the ball. 

Will he repeat this fix?

A.  The funny thing is, it's not clear whether he was even conscious of it.  Maybe he was.  It's possible he wasn't.

The pitching coaches will tell you that dropping your elbow, or wrist, undercutting the ball so to speak, is usually a result of laziness (or fatigue).

And what do you know, the announcers had been complaining that Morrow "loses the radar" in one inning late in the game -- around the 6th.

So it's quite possible for the correct mechanics happening naturally with a bounce in your step.  For example, a basketball shooter might be dipping his knees, bouncing in his step, because he's happy that day.  Seriously.   Then when he gets fatigued, he starts using more upper body and less lower body, pushing the ball, and he isn't even aware of what he's doing when he's shooting better.  It's just the extra energy that has the parts lining up correctly.

Adair went out to the mound in the 8th, and I was hoping to see Morrow instantly get back on top of the ball, but that was not the case.

Of course, it's not like Rick Adair is unaware of this general principle.  :- )   So I like his chances to weld this fix in.

.............

As we've mentioned, Morrow has great basic mechanics -- good smooth acceleration, good balance, light on his feet, glides down the centerline, finishes lightly, all that stuff.

Dropping the wrist would explain everything.

.

Q.  How was the offspeed stuff?

A.  And since the fastball was automatic, the offspeed stuff was murderous.  

On a 2-2 pitch in the 6th, Morrow tossed an 84 curveball waist-high and Kennedy couldn't have pulled the trigger if he wanted to.   On the other hand, a 2-strike splitter to Cust in the 7th, Cust tried but had no shot.  Garbage swing, strike three.

When the 95-96 fastball is an automatic strike, the hitters are behind and panicky, and then every offspeed stuff is a beast, whether taken or swung at.

...............

There is room for Morrow to throw his curve and change better than he did Wednesday -- and his Clemens 87-split was actually lousy.

He can execute all of his offspeed stuff better, but he didn't need to.  Not at all.  Played off of automatic 95 mph strikes, any change-speed at all, with deception, was devastating.

If he were to pitch that game again, except with his good bite on his offspeed stuff, you'd be looking at some kind of Satchel Paige exhibition.  We kid you not.

.

Q.  Why the weird garbage swings on offspeed stuff.

A.   One last thing.  Never having seen Morrow throw strikes at will, we didn't realize what deception he has.  

The Clemens 87 splitter was spiked in the ground to one hitter -- who swung for strike three anyway.  The hitters reacted to offspeed pitches as though they were fastballs.  The deception out of Morrow's hand was superb.

.

Q.  Good game to finish on.

A.  Yeah.  Except now we don't get to see if the "get on top of the ball" theme is going to be the magic sparkle dust he needed.

That's okay.  Now the start will resonate all winter.

Be afraid,

Dr D