This is a video of Shane Victorino from the left side. You will notice the same swing issues I pointed out front the right side.

The major issue is a lack of “Scap Load” because he never pulls his hands back into a powerful position and therefore cuts down on his torque, which in turn cuts down on his power, and allows him to push his hands forward which is weak.

Scap Load will pull the hands behind the back shoulder, it will actually block the hitter from “Throwing the Hands, because the hitters rib cage will be in the way, which will force the hitter to rotate, and drive the ball.

Shane must have been told that if you move your hands back to far, it will take longer to get them forward, but that is simply not true. You need to pull your hands back with a scap load to ensure maximum power potential, and if you rotate properly your bat will pick up speed and enter the hitting zone quickly, with max speed and bat mass going into the ball. Also, this will allow your bat to be on plane longer, and maximize your area of impact.

Just some thoughts, please let me know what you think.

I was looking around the web for high profile players and swing mechanics, flaws, or things I could help them improve upon.

I came across the is video of Shane Victorino from the right side and noticed a few things.

From the right side of the plate, he lacks any kind of “scap load”
The lack of a “Scap Load” keeps his hands in front of his body and allows him to push them foward.
Pushing the hands forward is not powerful and does not get the bat on plane early, which causes inconsistencies in contact, which is why his HRs are low, and Ks are higher than BBs
Notice how short Shane’s bat is in the hitting zone, this is called Area of Impact, and his Area of Impact is very short, therefore his margin for error is very low, causing him to need better timing than other hitters.

last video dealing with when the foot comes down. Again notice as the heel plants on the front foot, you can see the shadow of the ball. All of the videos posted also show scap load.

If you need more evidence of the foot getting down when the ball is in the air you will have to search the web, but if you find any video of hitters getting them down very early, or when the pitcher releases the ball, please let me know.

You cant actually see the ball, but you can see the shadow, and you can see that Adrian’s foot is down, with the ball well on its way to the plate.

Double Play footwork at 2B. I posted about this a long time ago, and here is some video to show you.

Notice the Second Baseman getting his left foot to the base. Now the throw dictates his next next action. On this video you will see him take step across the bag on the first and last ground ball. Notice the step across isn’t huge, and you can only tell it is across, because his foot disappears behind the base. He steps to the ball.

On the second ground ball, notice how he gets his left foot to the base (always left foot to the base) and he steps back, because the throw takes him there. The key on this play is getting to the base early, reading the throw, and then stepping to the ball. Notice the player never steps back (toward right field), I am not saying guys never do this, but the correct steps, are across the bag, and toward left field if the throw takes you that way.

I am going to look for better video, but this is a start.

Even at full speed with the help of a few pauses and replays you can see all the same mechanics in the delivery of Andy Petit. Check it out, they are all there.

Cliff Lee. Front side high. I want you to stop this video at :42 seconds and look at Cliff Lee’s front foot pointing toward home plate, not closed. Also, look at his lower half, and notice how it is open, then scan to his shoulders and notice how they are closed (torque) just like in hitting. Cliff Lee has a ton of separation between his front hip and back shoulder, which is one reason he is able to throw as hard as he does.

Another thing to notice is around the :41 second mark. Check out his back elbow poking out behind him due to, what else, “Scap Load” another reason he is able to throw hard, and another similarity to hitting.

Just watch these videos and emulate them, if you do not like my opinion or partial breakdown. I will say if you watch these videos, you will notice a lot of the same things in all the best pitcher, just one more similarity to hitting.

See Sam, I told you the shoulders point down…oops, wait, now I see. That is correct, Roy Halladay starts a lot like Roger Clemens, but even more pronounced, but then like all high level arms, he gets the glove side high and creates separation.

More video for you pitchers. This goes pretty deep, I hope you are a baseball nerd like me. If not you will be bored to death. Again, notice those shoulders are not pointing down, just had to throw that in there.

Pitching Mechanics: I had a debate with a guy who told me the shoulders should be pointing down while the pitcher is striding to the plate. I told him he was wrong, and he said I was stupid. I said “I am stupid” but that does not matter in this debate because I am correct.

Notice how Clemens shoulders point down for a brief time when his leg is at the top of his wind up. Then notice as he strides to home plate, his shoulders begin pointing up. The shoulders stay in this position even after his foot lands.

Why? It has nothing to do with steroids. Roger Clemens, like great hitters creates torque and separation between his lower half and upper half. When his foot plants his torque takes over and powers the back side through which in turns pulls his shoulders down. Very simple explanation because that wasn’t the point. The point is, the shoulders point up, not down. Down causes an inconsistent arm slot, poor timing, and a loss in velo, due to a loss in torque.

Downhill, does not mean point your shoulders down and fall to the plate.