Baseball Pitchers and Steroids

[Thin Lizzy]

The effects of steroids on hitters are pretty dramatic. Guys who could, before juice, hit a ball 400ft; after, could hit it in the high 400s, or 20-25% farther. Now, you had pitchers who could throw 90-95mph, naturally. How come we haven't seen anyone throw 110-120mph?

[Camel Jockey]

steroids could have just been for the sake of conditioning and recovery. Can't tell me a someone just starts throwing 95 mph after a six pack and sunflower seeds.    They prepare hard before the season.

[joelocal]

They are usually used for recovery, although they increase strength, it hinders flexability, if they were to use on a constant basis, when they came off, they would be MORE prone to injury.

The hardest I've seen someone throw was that freak (can't remember his name at the moment) from Detroit who regularly throws in the upper 90's to low 100's. Remember pitching power doesn't come from a strong arm, transfer of power ALWAYS starts below the knees.

[The Showstoppa]

Heard today that Clemmens allegedly increased his fastball 5mph after he left Boston and went to Toronto. 

[joelocal]

Yep, but when he came back to NY this last year, he had a shit load of injuries!!

[The Showstoppa]

I think his increse in speed had more to do with him putting on a lot of size from squats, deads, etc...  generating more power from the knees to the chest.

[tom joad]

Heard today that Clemmens allegedly increased his fastball 5mph after he left Boston and went to Toronto. 

maybe the air is thinner in Canada or they always get stronger winds from behind the pitcher's mound up there?

[joelocal]

Maybe, but squats and deads won't create more rotational power.

[danielson]

http://www.reuters.com/article/peopleNews/idUSN2742513820071227

The hardest I've seen someone throw was that freak (can't remember his name at the moment) from Detroit who regularly throws in the upper 90's to low 100's.

That's Zumaya. He hurt his throwing hand playing Guitar Hero and was out for a long time.

[Has Beens]

That's Zumaya. He hurt his throwing hand playing Guitar Hero and was out for a long time.

Hurt my wrist playing that crap last night......pretty bad getting injured playing a video game.

[onlyme]

In high school my best friend Greg Staffon was a junior and I was a senior.  He through 96 mph.  That is documented.  He was drafted by the Expos 2nd round.  We went to St. Petersburg, FL to play winterball in 1977 (me as a walk-on).  He still holds Florida State league records I think.  He threw almost the hardest I have ever caught.  Dennis Lamp could throw around 97 to 98.  Greg was awesome though.  The problem he had was he smoked pot  He actually had some bad games and the newspaper interviewed him and asked him why he wasn't pitching well and he literally said "cause I haven't found any good pot".  Well needless to say the Expos canned him.  Really to bad too cause he should have made it to the bigs.

[GigantorX]

In high school my best friend Greg Staffon was a junior and I was a senior.  He through 96 mph.  That is documented.  He was drafted by the Expos 2nd round.  We went to St. Petersburg, FL to play winterball in 1977 (me as a walk-on).  He still holds Florida State league records I think.  He threw almost the hardest I have ever caught.  Dennis Lamp could throw around 97 to 98.  Greg was awesome though.  The problem he had was he smoked pot  He actually had some bad games and the newspaper interviewed him and asked him why he wasn't pitching well and he literally said "cause I haven't found any good pot".  Well needless to say the Expos canned him.  Really to bad too cause he should have made it to the bigs.

  Epic having absolutely nothing to due with the thread topic.

[SirTraps]

Joe is correct, you get your power throwing below the waist, but you could say the same thing about hitting.  A punch-almost any force generated is from transfer of weight.

     An arm is something you are born with-you cant throw a baseball harder by lifting weights.  The attachments of your tendons in your shoulder-thats what makes a great arm.