I've noticed with some starting pitchers they have

[kairos12]

eliminated their full windup throwing motions and pitch only from the stretch. I hear this is done to simplify their mechanics and have only one throwing motion. I get it.


But, I miss the pitching ballet of of Tom Seaver, Bob Gibson, and Nolan Ryan. Their drop and drive motion was something to behold. Also, Jim Palmer, the most elegant motion ever.

[dawg day]

1. I remember some pitcher (Royals?) who would end up after releasing the ball

actually touching the ground in front. It looked very painful. He'd wind up and then have a follow-through that looked like he was going to fall splat on the ground.

[Doc_Technical]

10. Dan Quisenberry?

[CentralMass]

2. You can't discuss windups without including the Boston Red Sox legend Luis Tiante. Aka " El Tiante "

His wind up pivot had him facing center field.

[RussellCattle]

3. Got to love Luis Tiant. He had numerous wind up motions. My favorite was one where his forward foot.

....would come down and stamp on the mound before he released the ball. He would throw it in once in a while to throw off the batters timing. Thanks for the post from an old Indians fan.

[CentralMass]

4. Yes: thank you for the memory jog. I had forgotten that one

He was great to watch.
A clip from his shutout in game 1 of the 1975 World Series.

Link to tweet

?s=09

[RussellCattle]

8. Thanks again. Just perfect.

[dawg day]

5. That was a real ballet move!

He was a great showman. (Good pitcher too!)

[tirebiter]

6. Taking the time to wind up makes it easy for runners to steal

[kairos12]

7. The full windup is done with no runners on or

a runner on third. Otherwise pitchers throw from the stretch.

[Doc_Technical]

9. Juan Marichal