Scott Kazmir Shortens Stride

by P Brady on Aug 12, 2008 3:01 PM EDT Comment 38 comments

OAKLAND, Calif. — LHP Scott Kazmir said a small adjustment in his stride should result in a big improvement in his pitching tonight.

Kazmir has been a mess lately, struggling to throw strikes due to problems with mechanics. He has failed to last six innings in eight of his past 10 starts and didn't get through five in his past two.

After talks with manager Joe Maddon, pitching coach Jim Hickey and assistant Brian Anderson, Kazmir said he adjusted his stride in a bullpen session Friday, and the results were obvious.

Per The St. Petersburg Times

This is what Brian Anderson talked about when he was on Rays TV a week or so ago. I remember him saying that he would recomend waiting to shorten the stride until after the season, but I guess he took the initiative to do it mid-season. If we can get the early season Scott Kazmir back, that would be a big boost. For reference, Scott Kazmir's Ball-Strike counts in his first first 8 starts, and his last eight starts:

Time	Balls	Strikes	Strike Percentage
First Eight Games	282	545	66%
Last Eight Teams	302	502	61%

As we can see, Kazmir has been missing a lot more lately. Shortening his stride has to be good news.

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If this is true....

Which I believe, then why did it take so long to figure this out? There are high school coaches that can notice this flaw. A MLB pitching coach that has access to video footage should have noticed this after 3 starts.

by td32 on Aug 12, 2008 3:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

hey at least they have found out something wrong with him, before it gets too late

we will see how it works out tonight, but if this is what is going to fix him, then im really looking forward to days when kazmir pitches, lately he has been all over the place, so if fixed we are going to run away with this division evem without cc and longo

Longo=ROY. Friedman=Executive of the year. Maddon=Manager of the year. Rays=WS champs 08! fiddler cat=best way to show your excitement. BJ UPTON IS NOT LAZY! ! ! Gabe Gross=caption clutch.

by RaysOfHope on Aug 12, 2008 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I imagine it playing out like this:

Hickey: Scotty, we’re having movie time in the cafe, just a few of us, do you want in?
Kazmir: PINEAPPLE EXPRESS?
Hickey: Uh, what?
Kazmir: DUDE PINEAPPLE EXPRESS. IT’S ONLY LIKE THE BEST VERSION OF THE ODYSSEY EVER.
Hickey: I see. So you want to see it?
Kazmir: DO I SMOKE?
Hickey: Uh, no?
Kazmir: BUT DO I CARE?
Hickey: Why yes, yes you do.
Kazmir: LET’S ROLL UP THIS JOINT.
Hickey: What?
Kazmir: I SAID LET’S ROLL UP INTO THIS JOINT.

Ten minutes later
Kazmir: I DO NOT KNOW WHY YOU INSIST ON STRAPPING ME DOWN, BUT I FIND IT RADICAL.
“movie starts”
Kazmir: SAY, THAT IS NOT SETH ROGEN.
Hickey: Scott, we need to talk about your mechanics.
Kazmir: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

by R.J. Anderson on Aug 12, 2008 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions 4 recs

bahahahahaha rec'd

"STP is me. He can do everything I can do." - R.J. Anderson

by P Brady on Aug 12, 2008 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

rec'd

Top Josh Paul Pornos- Big Navi Stroking, 2pitchers1cup, BJ to the Balls, Riggans Your Thingans

BELIEVE in 08!

by SRQman on Aug 12, 2008 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ain't no one gonna break his stride

Nobody’s gonna hold him down
Oh no
He’s got to keep on movin

by kericr on Aug 12, 2008 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why must you blame weed for Scott Kazmir's last eight starts?

Shorter strides on the mound and Longer tokes from the bong. That would be my pitching coach advise

Mound Visit

by Mound Visit on Aug 12, 2008 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I remember laughing

When first hearing last year about how going back to pitching on his chosen side of the rubber was going to bring Kaz back to dominance…and then not laughing anymore after a few starts in

by GomesSweetGomes on Aug 12, 2008 3:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i'm excited about any sign that Kaz will return to dominance

but I’m always wary of quick fixes. starting pitchers tweak stuff all the time and most don’t mean much. at least we’re hearing about this tweak ahead of time, versus after a good start like we usually do.

my blog // calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy // past results do not guarantee future performance

by Sky Kalkman on Aug 12, 2008 3:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs