http://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...ltz-hall-of-fame-tommy-john-surgery/29874857/
Something for Beachy to consider:
Something for Beachy to consider:
Smoltz last pitcher to be inducted into HOF with TJ?
- Thread starter Knucksie
- Start date
KB21
Where's My Cup of Coffee?
On this note, here is a good article on the source of these injuries:
http://jugssports.com/what’s-the-reason-for-all-the-tommy-john-surgeries
http://jugssports.com/what’s-the-reason-for-all-the-tommy-john-surgeries
To me it's about technique. Before I became a tennis instructor 7 years ago, I studied baseball mechanics since I was like 9.
In tennis, the serving motion is similar to a pitcher's motion and an outfielder's arm. For pros, they serve at max effort for hours. Before actual matches they practice for 2-3 hours as well. In professional tennis though, nearly every person no matter shape, size, height, etc. has the core fundamentals of a serve. Some have different windups, but the motion from where the racket starts at the base of the kinetic chain, all the way to point of contact and follow through is similar.
Serving max effort in tennis on both the first and second serve, I'm creating as much arm speed and shoulder rotation as I was when I was playing baseball. If I had played tennis at the same time or before I did baseball, I probably would've never gotten shoulder problems. I can play baseball now and my throwing mechanics are perfect now thanks to tennis.
I don't think playing baseball year round will injure kids with good technique, but I also advocate playing other sports. Soccer and basketball are excellent for footwork (outfielders tracking and moving, infielders moving side to side). Tennis and baseball for hand eye, football for throwing and HIIT. Hockey is great for balance, hand eye, and anticipation.
In tennis, the serving motion is similar to a pitcher's motion and an outfielder's arm. For pros, they serve at max effort for hours. Before actual matches they practice for 2-3 hours as well. In professional tennis though, nearly every person no matter shape, size, height, etc. has the core fundamentals of a serve. Some have different windups, but the motion from where the racket starts at the base of the kinetic chain, all the way to point of contact and follow through is similar.
Serving max effort in tennis on both the first and second serve, I'm creating as much arm speed and shoulder rotation as I was when I was playing baseball. If I had played tennis at the same time or before I did baseball, I probably would've never gotten shoulder problems. I can play baseball now and my throwing mechanics are perfect now thanks to tennis.
I don't think playing baseball year round will injure kids with good technique, but I also advocate playing other sports. Soccer and basketball are excellent for footwork (outfielders tracking and moving, infielders moving side to side). Tennis and baseball for hand eye, football for throwing and HIIT. Hockey is great for balance, hand eye, and anticipation.
Not so fast. First, look at the total number of pitchers currently inducted. (You will be astonished.) Then consider the other factors involved (ie longevity. Agreed though that Wainwright is on the right track, unless he goes to an early retirement. However, we can safely say that 300 wins has already become rare.
Well, sure, 300 wins is out the window as a prerequisite for induction, though. As roles change, so do the way we evaluate players at all positions. The steroid era meant that HR aren't valued the same way they once were. Relief pitchers will start to get in at a higher rate.
Regardless of how many innings starters are throwing, the best will still get into the HOF. And there will continue to be fewer and fewer starters who haven't had TJ. It's inevitable that guys who have had TJ will start getting in.
It's how voters evaluate that counts. Here's the complete list of pitchers, who are inductees:
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/hof/hofstpi.shtml
As said before, it's the Hall of Fame, not the Hall of Very Good. So, when Mussina & Halladay don't get in, that doesn't bode well for marginal candidates.
Of course not. They're not letting McGwire, Sosa, Bonds, Clemens, etc. get anywhere near the place.
Right now, you have Goose Gossage, Bruce Sutter, Dennis Eckersley (he's not in for being starter) and Rollie Fingers. No Lee Smith. Probably a few recent names like Trevor Hoffman, Mariano Rivera and maybe our buddy, Wagner, but there will not be a flood.
Smoltz is a pretty articulate guy and is obviously following the game now. Please read the article, if you haven't already to see what he said. His induction speech is going to be GREAT, based on his comments, regarding this subject.
For current pitchers, Clayton Kershaw is about a sure thing and Hernandez maybe Verlander with a few others at least in the discussion (Sabathia, possibly). With TJ happening at earlier stages of careers, pitchers will break down sooner, and not have the longevity that the BBWA want to see for consideration. That's Smoltz's point. He knows of what he says.