pitching into the wind

I doubt it.

 

Radar guns usually get the speed right out of hand.

 

But, if the guns stayed up after the first inning, and if they stuck around until the end, then you probably don't have anything to worry about.

Sound to me like he just had an off game as far as velocity went, or the previous readings had been “fudged”.  With more than 2 K’s per inning, it sounds to me like either he was pitching against a pretty weak team, or he was having success DESPITE what you see as unimpressive velocity. Join the crowd who have kids who go through that every single game, where they have great success but get snubbed because of readings on a gun. I wouldn’t worry about it because there’s nothing you can do about it.

I do believe the wind would have an effect.  It will slow down the arm motion/speed and thus the ball's exit or release velocity.

 

4 mph?  No idea, but I do think it would decrease velocity some.

 

Also, 84 is not slow for a HS pitcher and does not mean he faced a weak team.

 

There is a Friday night LHP starter at a local D1 that topped out at about 81/82 as a senior in HS wind or no wind...was undefeated (something like 7-0...maybe 8-0) on a HS team that plays in the toughest league in Northern CA.  Doubt he is much more than 84/85 now.  He freakin' knows how to pitch.

Definatly there will be a drop in velocity pitching into a headwind just as there will be an increase in velicity with wind at your back. I have seen it many a time locally here where I live which gets very windy. The resistance of the wind on the arm coming through into release has a rather drastic effect on velocity. Try sticking your arm out the window at 50 mph, feel the resistance, then speed up to 90 and you will feel a lot more resistance. That resistance your arm and hand feel at 87 mph out the window is equal to the same resistance a pitchers arm goes through at the moment of release.

Justbaseball,

 

Maybe it would negatively affect velocity, but then wouldn’t it help it if the wind were blowing out? That’s why decisions aren’t made on just one gun reading on one day. There’s an “average” velocity that’s looked at.

 

However, I know that many pitchers love a wind in their face because it makes the ball move more, so whether it’s a good or bad thing is up for grabs.

 

Who said anything about 84 meaning he faced a bad team? I don’t understand how the two things have anything to do with each other.

 

Is that league in the SJS? Don’t mention any names, but can you give a few hints as to what team he was on? The school I score for is a D1 in the SJS and our league ain’t exactly a bunch of push-overs. We had a LHP who graduated last season who seldom threw a pitch in a regular season HS game that was recorded over 84, but was 18-7-2 over 3 seasons, and 7-0-1 as a So.

 

He’s easily one of the best HS PITCHERS I’ve ever seen, but had to settle for JUCO this season. Hopefully he’ll have similar success there and will be given the opportunity to pitch at a higher collegiate level or the pros, but he’s fighting one heck of an uphill battle there.

Pitcher I'm referring to pitched in the WCAL in HS...now pitches in the WAC in college.  Friday night starter.

Originally Posted by justbaseball:

 

Pitcher I'm referring to pitched in the WCAL in HS...now pitches in the WAC in college.  Friday night starter.

 

What is the “WCAL”? My best guess is the “West Catholic League”.