Hi Brent.

Please analyze the first video…

Here is the link to Daniels first mechanics analysis performed (for reference)…

http://topvelocity.net/forum/m…..8;search=1

To summarize, you suggested that Daniel work on triple extension v. internal rotation of the post foot and leg, improve force vector alignment, and achieve a better delivery angle with better forward chest position at release.

He does appear to internally rotate the post knee…

but not always (youtube video Au6k6CykAeg)

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Best regards,

The Smith Family

How long has Daniel been working the program?

Daniel hasn't been working Brent's 3X program since the first (July 4) post.  It was the end of the season.  Daniel worked on a slide step delivery during the off-season (somewhat optional for lefthanders that have good pickoff mechanics but not if you are going to consider 3X pitching as a lefty).  It's an additional asset in controlling the running game and may possibly give Daniel something to relate to as he focuses more on momentum mechanics and triple extension. His team is starting practicing again and we wanted to see where he stood today.

Yes, the mechanics at the beginning of a delivery do determine how the delivery finishes.  Momentum mechanics at the beginning of a delivery will result in better mechanics at the end of the delivery to achieve more velocity on the throw.  Brent would have liked to have seen Daniel improving on his triple extension to achieve improved hip shoulder separation (including all aspects of his instruction required to get to that goal). Daniel's accustomed to lifting his drive/post/plant heel and internally rotating his drive/post knee while reaching/extending out his stride leg to square up his lower half rather than keeping the back heel planted and driving the back leg with triple extension.

Lefthanders can have an advantage when it comes to the running game if they work on a good move to first base.  It isn't possible for a lefty to employ everything about velocity mechanics and have a good move to first (I did witness Chapman pick-off a AA call-up in the rookie's first MLB appearance as a pinch runner later last season).  It's not too hard to understand. The constraint on the lefty throwing to first base is that his stride leg cannot pass beyond an imaginary 45-degree line between first base and home plate.  Momentum mechanics to achieve velocity require rapid directional force of the hips towards homeplate. So at the beginning of the delivery, a lefty who may want to throw to first base may well end up more over his post leg in the knee lift phase because he must initiate his stride down the 45-degree angle first and then direct his momentum towards home (this is more than likely the explanation for Brent's observation that Daniel starts off a little too balanced and a little slow coming out of his knee lift and then his leg speeds up into the 'load' position because he is already past the ability to travel down that 45-degree limitation and can begin to accelerate his hips towards his target). What we notice about the high velocity pitchers that we see as (right and left-handed) examples is that they lead with their glove arm out ahead of the stride leg knee until it lines up with home plate.  A lefty who may want to change direction and make a throw to first base may not be able to lead out in front with his glove arm that rapidly without that momentum pulling him beyond the 45-degree boundary.  Daniel's glove arm trails his stride leg knee during his delivery (which probably allows him to have a choice to throw to first, up to a certain point) and then it has to catch-up to his knee and this may be what is responsible for him losing hip-shoulder separation.  But these considerations don't exclude the possibility of triple extension and what it can contribute to Daniel's hip-shoulder separation.

Then again, maybe it's these considerations that explain why MLB lefties generally don't throw as hard as righties…

And lefties can throw like righties and employ pure momentum mechanics (including a good slide step delivery) and forsake the gift of control of the basepaths to gain velocity.  If you can get the ball to home plate in a hurry, that'll work.  See it all the time.  Better have a good catcher – Daniel's team doesn't.  In the meantime, we've witnessed Daniel pick-off runners at first base in 75% of his attempts, five consecutive runners 'caught stealing' in the first game that he employed his pickoff move last June.

Daniel worked on his slide step delivery during the fall just to have the opportunity to limit base stealing and have the opportunity to even consider 3X pitching…