while your at it . . . a quick question

My turn to add my spin to this thread. Arm position is of some importance, but not an absolute key (IMHO). Very rarely will you see anyone come straight over the top (12:00). Usually, the "slot" as it is called, is somewhere around 3/4 (10:30 or 1:30). The slot IS important, because varying the slot can add movement to the ball. You will hear about pitchers delivering the ball from different slots, and that, along with change of speed and location, can very well help throw off the hitter's timing.

For the 2 kids you're speaking of, stand at first and see how much movement on the ball they have on the throws from SS and 3rd. Then, see if they have the same movement from the mound. Sooner or later (sooner, if in travel ball), speed alone isn't going to cut it for much more than one trip through the batting order. All the youth pitchers are going to have to learn how to pitch (mentally) by varying speed, location, and yes, arm slot.

That mental approach, as well as the necessity to learn it at a younger age, is what, IMHO, is going to result in a great crop of pitchers coming up to MLB in the next 10-15 years. Why? I think because the high tech rocket launchers are dictating they learn to truely pitch (not just throw) at the younger age. JT