Sorry to be so ignorant but I am rather in the dark when pro scouts make reference to a "live arm" Do they mean arm strength, movement, rubber arm, velocity or what? Thanks
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quote:Originally posted by purpletitan:
Sorry to be so ignorant but I am rather in the dark when pro scouts make reference to a "live arm" Do they mean arm strength, movement, rubber arm, velocity or what? Thanks
Generally, it means that someone has a smooth, easy, and fluid motion. Someone who looks like they are hitting 90 without even trying (which suggests they may be able to throw harder). This can help with deception and make a guy sneaky fast, meaning someone who throws much harder than it looks like they are throwing. Guys that I think fit in this category are Greg Maddux and Jeff Suppan.
The opposite of a guy with a live arm would be a "max effort" guy. Someone who looks like they are throwing with every bit of their strength (and thus are unlikely to be able to throw harder). A guy who fits in this category is Tim Lincecum.
Thanks "painguy". This particular pitcher is LHP that throws 85-87 and occasionally more with plus off-speed curves and a slider. I just never was certain precisely what they were talking about and they keep saying he has a live arm, so I guess that is good.
quote:Originally posted by purpletitan:
Thanks "painguy". This particular pitcher is LHP that throws 85-87 and occasionally more with plus off-speed curves and a slider. I just never was certain precisely what they were talking about and they keep saying he has a live arm, so I guess that is good.
It's definitely good.
It means that they think he's projectable; that they could see him throwing in the 90s when he gets older and fills out.
Good luck.
Thanks again PainGuy, he will be happy to hear that I am sure. He is a jr. in college right now and probably his greatest weakness was the fact that he never had a pitching coach until now. He is already beginning to improve and hopes to pick up addl. pointers this summer in the Northwoods. Hard to work on velocity when you make appearances in half the games then head straight into summer ball. Was never really sure what to do to help himself in the velocity catagory anyway, definitely can probably pick up some mph honing his mechanics, always had a cannon for an arm in center field but gave up hitting (always hit over .400) by choice to concentrate on pitching. Very very solid but often overlooked due to 5'11 stature I think. Has always been a pitcher not a thrower and though very very successful as reliever/closer probably even better as starter (which he was his whole life) due to ability to keep hitters off balance which has made it tough for them to string hits against him. Sure would have given anything to get him the kind of instruction he needed in h.s. etc. His window of opportunity is growing so small.
quote:Originally posted by purpletitan:
Thanks again PainGuy, he will be happy to hear that I am sure. He is a jr. in college right now and probably his greatest weakness was the fact that he never had a pitching coach until now. He is already beginning to improve and hopes to pick up addl. pointers this summer in the Northwoods. Hard to work on velocity when you make appearances in half the games then head straight into summer ball. Was never really sure what to do to help himself in the velocity catagory anyway, definitely can probably pick up some mph honing his mechanics, always had a cannon for an arm in center field but gave up hitting (always hit over .400) by choice to concentrate on pitching. Very very solid but often overlooked due to 5'11 stature I think. Has always been a pitcher not a thrower and though very very successful as reliever/closer probably even better as starter (which he was his whole life) due to ability to keep hitters off balance which has made it tough for them to string hits against him. Sure would have given anything to get him the kind of instruction he needed in h.s. etc. His window of opportunity is growing so small.
I wouldn't worry about his height too much. Pedro Martinez is 5'11" and there have been a lot of good pitchers who were 6'0". Also, the #10 and #12 picks of the 2006 draft were 5'11" (and #12 Kiker was a 5'11" LHP).
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/draft/y2006/tracker/search.jsp
quote:Originally posted by purpletitan:
Sorry to be so ignorant but I am rather in the dark when pro scouts make reference to a "live arm" Do they mean arm strength, movement, rubber arm, velocity or what? Thanks
A live arm is someone that throws hard and has movement......period. Lincecum has a live arm.
Sorry, bbscout. That ain't no arm on Lincecum. That's a dang propellor. 
