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40 replies

Do I have a chance, should I try out for the team?

K kayboshMember
Hey all this is my first post, but i have been lurking over here for the past few months. Anyways here is my story. I never played baseball or even picked up one in high school. I am 19 and currently in my 2nd year at a JUCO with one year to go.
About 4 months ago i started throwing the ball around with my younger brother, practicing with him for his high school team. I started pitching from a little league mound at the park just for fun. I quickly noticed that i had a pretty good arm and even my younger brother commented that it was pretty good. During Christmas my uncle visited and he had a radar gun. For fun he checked my velocity and i was consistently registering in the mid 90's touching 96 and even 97. i was completely shocked as was he. my question is what chance would i have trying at for my juco team. i have never played baseball before and of course am very raw and have zero fundamentals. should i even bother trying out?
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P PGStaff10,000+ posts
Kaybosh,

Someone throwing mid 90s from a little league mound SURE WOULD look “pretty good”! I pity the catcher! Wink

Don’t think I’ve ever heard the “should I tryout” question, coming from someone with a 97 mph fastball.

If what you say is true, just go tell your JC coach what you’ve posted here. He will have you out at the field in a hurry. After all, he might end up with the hardest thrower in all of JUCO baseball. If that doesn’t work, get to the first pro tryout you can find.

Also, if what you say is really true, please feel free to email us and we’ll make sure you get seen right away. pgjerry@qwest.net

Sorry if this sounds kind of skeptical, but what you have written seems nearly impossible. NEARLY being the key word. If you are telling the truth you will be very happy that you sent the email.
M micdsguy1,000+ posts
quote:
get your catcher to come out too - anyone who can catch 90+ MPH from 45 feet has incredibly quick reactions... Roughly 2/10ths of a second...
Correct!

I'm dubious on this one. Sounds like "The Natural, Part II."

You sure unc's radar isn't on a metric setting (kph)?

Don't worry about learning the fundamentals, you'll get all the aid you need from a corp of voluntary instructors, sports med experts, medical researchers, orthopedists and other agape professionals.

Next step: try a different gun.
M Majorkahuna10+ posts
97mph with no training or arm development?

From a LL mound that is that velocity = 125mph.

Are you a lefty or righty? What is your size and weight? Do you have control?

Advice get on a regulation mound with a Jugs gun. You did not say what kind of gun your Uncle had. From 60 ft 6 inches you will probably be more like low 80's. Not bad for someone with no training.

Most good Juco programs the pitchers are high 80's low 90's with at least 3 pitches they can throw for strikes.

If you pass the above test, ask the coach for a tryout.

good luck
M micdsguy1,000+ posts
quote:
From a LL mound that is that velocity = 125mph

A radar reading doesnt depend on whether the ball is thrown from 60-6 or 46 feet.

Jeesh! You've been listening to too much LL World Series on TV

----

I've seen 70. I've seen 80. And I've seen 90 among kids your age. Let me tell you: I, and just about anyone on this group, would notice 97 as something extraordinary... Something Stunning. No radar needed. The dead HS catcher would be one clue. A sound like a cherry bomb, would be another.

Com'on Kaybosh, answer some questions: What kind of radar was used? How is it your uncle happens to own a radar, a very rare device even among baseball fanatics? How big are you? Does your little HS bro throw 92?
Last edited by micdsguy
T Texan1,000+ posts
Folks, the radars are measuring out of hand speed, as a couple of posters have pointed out. It makes no difference whether the threw from 46', 60.5', 30' or 90'.

Throwing from 60'6" will, however, give the young man an idea of what kind of control he has this point.

And kaybosh, if you want to go for it then by all means do so. Can't hurt, might result in a lot of fun for you.
FungoFungoHighly Regarded and Beloved Old Timer
Texan is correct on the radar theory. The distance is irrelevant. I got a speeding ticket a few years back and I told meeting the judge I was just going a short distance down the road. He informed me the law and radar were not concerned with distance only the speed .... nonopay the clerk!
Fungo
observer44observer441,000+ posts
.
Kaybosh...

While I would like to share my Karmpatriots enthusiasm for your velocity...

I guess it's my Karma to be the bearer of bad news...

We have been reminded many, many times on this site that college coaches are really not that excited with such radar readings unless you can get batters out...

All our posters great enthusiasm is only a silly knee jerk reaction...

...now if you could throw in the mid 80's and get batters out I am sure that you would not only elicit some honest enthusiasm among our posters but have a real shot at playing on a college team and/or beyond.....


Good luck!

Cool
Last edited by observer44
observer44observer441,000+ posts
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PG...

Just kidding of course!!

It is too perfect a post and response from the choir....NOT to at least note the glaringly obvious....

While I was not smart enough to think it up....

This whole thread is the perfect experiment to see if high velocity...with little else...colors peoples perceptions of a pitchers ability and worth...No one wondered if he could get people out. No one cared.

Been arguing that at a certain point velocity unconditionally qualifies and been shouted down in that opinion....


Cool
Last edited by observer44
P PGStaff10,000+ posts
You guys are right... it sure does sound like a big tale! It's just that once every Blue Moon something like this actually happens.

For the record... I do believe all components of pitching are important. That WOULD include velocity! 97 mph is not good velocity... it is GREAT and RARE velocity! I'm sure everyone must know that.
observer44observer441,000+ posts
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Like I said....the perfect set up.....Could not have been better designed....throw in the velocity and everyone bites...strongly...and unconditionally...

PG...Of course we all believe that all aspects of pitching are important...No one thinks that it is velocity alone...

But the obvious point/conclusion is that velocity qualifies...even though we are told that it does not...

Cool
M micdsguy1,000+ posts
This odd discussion raises the interesting question: Has anyone ever thrown 90 without years of working on arm speed?

When I've watched carnival radars, seems 100% of the 75+ mph throws come from experienced baseball players, usually pitchers. And I see tons of powerful football types who can't hit 55.

This is hard to test here, since virtually all US boys have some baseball (or football) throwing experience. It would be fun to take a Stalker to eastern Europe and test the arm speed of kids raised 100% on s****r.

Any ideas?
KrakatoaKrakatoa1,000+ posts
Interesting....I have had this odd fascination with quitting my job and just taking off for remote places that have naturally athletic persons and trying to find that natural talent -- Samoa comes to mind. Why aren't there more Samoan baseball players/pitchers? (Tuiasosopo comes to mind - thinks he's going to UW???)
They've proven themselves to have tremendous throwing arms as quarterbacks, and are just outstanding athletes. And yet - baseball has not seen their influence.
To find raw talent globally, in obscure places, then develop that talent.......that would be a fun occupation.
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