McDuffie
- Thread starter ranzino4three
- Start date
It's early number 1 and number 2 with all the bad weather in the preseason i think he is behind. I would think he is have command issues and with more work i think he is going to be fine.
Yeah, I would have liked to have seen him go back out and work through some things yesterday.
I’ve gone back and watched some stuff from the middle of last year, and the only stark difference is his upper body is staying more upright and the glove side is flying open more than last year.
Last year when he was really good the glove side stayed closed until the last possible second while hiss chest stayed lower and went straight through the plate. This year he’s missing up and in with the fast ball and down and away with everything else. Which seems it’s a relatively easy fix in terms of balls/strikes. I know he had an injury with his finger at some point, but the biggest issue is the velocity on the slider is down, last year it was 83-86 this year it’s been 80-83. Doesn’t seem like a lot but with more velocity the more spin and rpm. I feel once he gets ramped up more, he’ll be much better. Has to find control of the fastball and change up first, he got a swinging K on a 94 mph FB but also gave up the hit on a 90 mph fastball that was middle middle because he couldn’t find the zone.
I’ve got faith they’ll get it figured out.
Last year when he was really good the glove side stayed closed until the last possible second while hiss chest stayed lower and went straight through the plate. This year he’s missing up and in with the fast ball and down and away with everything else. Which seems it’s a relatively easy fix in terms of balls/strikes. I know he had an injury with his finger at some point, but the biggest issue is the velocity on the slider is down, last year it was 83-86 this year it’s been 80-83. Doesn’t seem like a lot but with more velocity the more spin and rpm. I feel once he gets ramped up more, he’ll be much better. Has to find control of the fastball and change up first, he got a swinging K on a 94 mph FB but also gave up the hit on a 90 mph fastball that was middle middle because he couldn’t find the zone.
I’ve got faith they’ll get it figured out.
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This... I would love to know the exact injury he suffered attempting to assemble a blender.
Here’s a pic from 1/10 (WFU game) where his thumb on his right hand is wrapped. Not sure the full extent, but definitely more than just a small cut.
Great analysis, seeing the same thing. When you rotate around the slider, you loose the late life (now calculated in higher RPMs). Keeping front side closed and extending out a bit more will tighten it up. I think we also had very high expectations of McDuffie coming into this year, will need to get in a rhythm.
I'm more concerned about what I saw out of Seagraves Tuesday. Delivery was always very herky-jerky/timing based, but everything was very 1 plane, minimal rotation or hiding of the baseball. His arm is electric, but the rest of his mechanics are not synced up at all.
Think your comment is on about his slider and velocity/ spin. That pitch fooled most everyone last year. So far this year, Gus are able to “see” it and judge whether it’s a ball or strike and are efficiently laying off when it’s out of the zone. Guys didn’t see that pitch like they are so far this year.
Walker is also a “full-effort” pitcher which sometimes gets his hands and feet out of rhythm which can and will lead to flying open and getting off plane and muscling up on the fast ball especially
Went to the same church as the McDuffie’s while Walker was growing up. I’m sure he’ll be just fine, as much as I love him as a player, he’s an even better kid.
I remember my first time at Broadway United Methodist, made me feel like family as soon as I walked in. God bless the McDuffie’s.
