Tim Lincecum is an unlikely baseball star. Known as "the Freak," he
stands at 5' 11" and was originally listed as 165 pounds. In his six
seasons, he has gone has won two Cy Young Awards, been selected to
four All-Star Games, and has led the National League in strikeouts
three years in a row. Also, his ERA is under three runs a game. In
2010, his team the San Francisco Giants won the World Series. This
team won in five games and was also just as known for its talent as
well as the unique cast of characters that played. On the field, aside
from his pitching dominance, one can physically see an unorthodox
pitching motion.
stands at 5' 11" and was originally listed as 165 pounds. In his six
seasons, he has gone has won two Cy Young Awards, been selected to
four All-Star Games, and has led the National League in strikeouts
three years in a row. Also, his ERA is under three runs a game. In
2010, his team the San Francisco Giants won the World Series. This
team won in five games and was also just as known for its talent as
well as the unique cast of characters that played. On the field, aside
from his pitching dominance, one can physically see an unorthodox
pitching motion.
That slight torque and dip of the body is what give his physicality
its personalty. Its funny how these "unorthodox" pitching motions have
their little quirks which is a far cry from the whirlwind of arms and
legs that hurled the little white ball. At the turn of the century,
there was no standard way of throwing off a pitching mounds; most
pitchers through from any angle the strangest of which is underhanded.
their little quirks which is a far cry from the whirlwind of arms and
legs that hurled the little white ball. At the turn of the century,
there was no standard way of throwing off a pitching mounds; most
pitchers through from any angle the strangest of which is underhanded.
Nonetheless, pitching motion was whittled down into a high leg kick
with a stretch, and now it seems that the windup is slowly being
eliminated for a more stream lined delivery. This can be exemplified by Mariano
Rivera.
This is really a shame because it kills an aesetic of the unusual
and replaces that with the conformity of efficiency. To me, its like
art which captures everyday realism, which is great, but needs styles
like surrealism, which captures more of the abstract joy in life as a
contrast and complement. It's a grand metaphor, but the point is a
strange pitching motion gives style to substance.
and replaces that with the conformity of efficiency. To me, its like
art which captures everyday realism, which is great, but needs styles
like surrealism, which captures more of the abstract joy in life as a
contrast and complement. It's a grand metaphor, but the point is a
strange pitching motion gives style to substance.
In a more practical sense, it makes pitchers stand out from the
crowd. If everyone pitches the same, who can tell who's who? This is
especially true from the stands, fans want to know its their guy on
the mound; the oppostion will know who to fear; it is a trademark of
spectacle. It is also, a benefit in distracting batters with all the
motion breaking out. The lack of a wind up or a high leg kick or
whatever exaggeration is a sad extinction of the more colorful aspects
of the early game; the business-like must be subverted by the odd.
This is a game that at one point relished in exaggertaion and
outlandish nicknames, the best of which belongs to Bob "Death to
Flying Things" Ferguson. The pitching motion is only one means of
expressing oneself that, modern baseball seems to see less of.
In recent decades, probably due with baseball's obsession with
statistics and efficiency; the flair of the game is on life support,
in its stead is cold professionalism. How baseball is being played is
changing, but what has to survive, and it's for the best, is how
baseball can keep a colorful vibe going, an aspect which must
persevere for years to come.
crowd. If everyone pitches the same, who can tell who's who? This is
especially true from the stands, fans want to know its their guy on
the mound; the oppostion will know who to fear; it is a trademark of
spectacle. It is also, a benefit in distracting batters with all the
motion breaking out. The lack of a wind up or a high leg kick or
whatever exaggeration is a sad extinction of the more colorful aspects
of the early game; the business-like must be subverted by the odd.
This is a game that at one point relished in exaggertaion and
outlandish nicknames, the best of which belongs to Bob "Death to
Flying Things" Ferguson. The pitching motion is only one means of
expressing oneself that, modern baseball seems to see less of.
In recent decades, probably due with baseball's obsession with
statistics and efficiency; the flair of the game is on life support,
in its stead is cold professionalism. How baseball is being played is
changing, but what has to survive, and it's for the best, is how
baseball can keep a colorful vibe going, an aspect which must
persevere for years to come.
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