How Is Velocity Determined At Showcases?

Well, just based on my experience watching a couple of Perfect Game Showcase events (they're the best), infielders pick up hit grounders and then throw over. Stalker radar guns are used and they measure velo out-of-hand.

Any showcase that's not using either Stalker or Jugs is going the cheap-o route and the data will not be very reliable.

We only use the radar gun on the pitchers in games


During the throwing drills we are more concerned with seeing "arm strength" not measuring it

We have also noted over the years that fielder tend to show better arm skills during the games than they do in the drills---all too many tend to overthrow in their efforts to impress the scouts

As for catchers, the pop times are nice but it is even better to see what a catcher does in the games when runners are attempting to steal.


Again I say to all--do not get hung on the velocity thing--it doesnt mean as much as people make it out to mean

Just one mans opinion

MPH on position players are clocked from the outfield on throws to home plate maybe 50 feet in front of the outfielders

infielders throws to 1st base from behind the 1st base

catchers behind the catchers.


clocking MPH determines arm strength or confirms it.

Good example had a ball player throw 93 mph from the outfield. MLB scouts wanted to see that player on the hill. He showed 88- 90 mph fastball. Never pitched in college that year. Was signed by the Padres after throwing 94 mph a few weeks later

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I love this...with all due respects....and hating to reopen a long an emotional thread... BUT...being a cynic....

We as parents of players are assured that Pure Veloicty numbers don't matter and are overrated...

BUT...
our pitchers are told that they don't have the velocity they need to ber considered EVEN if they get players out.

BUT..
Pure velocity numbers are measured and recorded:

- Off the mound on every pitch
- Out of the hands of infielders
- Out of the hands of outfielders
- Out of the hands of catchers

Being the cynic I am....
It's a really Good thing that those pure velocity numbers don't matter much...



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only those who dont have velocity claim it is not important.
You need a certain level of arm strength to get interest from the MLB scouts. Just watch a game and see what happens when a pitcher does not show enough MPH guns go down and they get NP.

MLB scouts also make too much of MPH. Just because they light up guns does not mean they can actually pitch and get anyone out.

Perfect Example
Jason Neighborgal who reached 97 mph this year signed for $500,000 int he 3rd round after going
http://www.sports-wired.com/profiles/NE/tbc42094.asp
2005 college stats
7.13 ERA 5-3 IP53.0 H47 R52 ER42 BB53 SO72

pro stats

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats...&did=milb&pid=459979

pro stats

Dibble

Again you digress---the question had to do with fielders and catchers

TR , I address clocking outfielders and infielder with a radar gun. Any camp I am involved with , radar is used on all players and recorded and posted. MPH matters, any showcase that says otherwise, is just saying that because they are embarrassed how bad the talent they have on the field. A good arm is vaulable, a bad arm is a major liabilty

others have mentioned pitchers velocity, just pointing out just pure velocity does not make a pitcher successful. Can you say Steve Dalkowski.

DIBBLE

Your above post refers to pitchers not fielders

I don't know about you but I dont need a gun on infielders and outfielders to see how good or how bad a players arm is.

yeah but the parents and players need a MPH reading so they will know exactly how strong or weak their arm is.
Good example a players dad claims his kids arm is much better now, shows 79 mph now from the outfield still very weak. Consider it a lie detector to the dads who like to greatly exaggerate to other parents and mlb scouts about their kids ability

Dibble

Again you did not answer the direct question---can ryou, Andy May/Dibble tell the strength of a players arm without a radar gun reading?

One other thing: the radar gun reading tells you nothing about accuracy--- a strong arm is not necessarily an accurate one--can you say Rocky Colavito ?

Interesting topic.

I don't think too much is made of velocity, however. Without a certain amount of velocity/arm strength. it doesn't matter how accurate you are. The scouts therefore like to be sure everyone has sufficient arm strength, and then the process weeds out those who canot develop sufficient accuracy.

So yes, we all have examples of players with strong arms who were not effective, but given the speed of the game today, it would be foolish to draft weak armed, but accurate players because they can't throw people out. The strong arm guys may become useful (at throwing out runners), the weak armed guys never will.

This discussion assumes, of course, that the player lacks the arm strength necessary for his preffered position, with catcher, ss, 3b and rf placing the highest premium on it. Having watched Juan Pierre try to throw from the OF, it is evident that if your other skills grade out high enough, they will find a place to try to hide the weak arm.

quote:

Originally posted by Krakatoa:
Any showcase that's not using either Stalker or Jugs is going the cheap-o route and the data will not be very reliable.

A most reliable and consistent radar gun reading is from the Decateur (Ray-Gun).
It's been around for decades!

I agree with TRHIT on this one. Obviously it is important to know a pitchers velocity, but for OF's and IF's, I think that stat is pretty useless. From an IF's perspective, there is so much more than just pure arm strength when it comes to measuring good IF's. If they feel it is important to measure, why not pull out the old stopwatch and measure pop times just like they do catchers - glove to glove. There is an old saying that says you field with your feet, so if you have poor footwork, your arm strength is not very important. Low- mid 80's velocity with quick hands and solid footwork is plenty sufficient through the college level.