Seattle Sports Insider

Ariel Miranda finishes with a 3-2 win

KKKarns and Miranda take two sides of the Athleticism continuum

Posted by

9/30/16

Miranda finished with a powerful line on Thursday, that being 5.1 IP with 0 BB, 6 K, only 1 run and 4 hits.Earlier, Sims had asked DiPoto what had attracted him to Miranda. Quoth DiPoto:

1) He's an "athletic" pitcher in his 20's with his best years ahead of him

2) Quick fastball, up to 96 MPH

3) Splitfinger is an out pitch

4) a few other little comments

....

Applying the mainframe to each of these points: (3) Is the splitfinger an out pitch? We have noted before that it sails high and gloveside; it's not the kind of Chuck Finley / Jeff Fassero forkball that rides downhill and bounces in the dirt.

The M's of course F/X these pitches six ways from Sunday, and make trade decisions based on single pitches. You'll recall Jack Zduriencik trading for Brandon League based on the concept that League's splitfinger was the very most effective pitch in any of the AL's bullpens.

With such an odd shape on Miranda's splitfinger, we've got to assume that DiPoto likes the parachute on it -- a good steady -11, -12 MPH with a good sales job on the arm action. If this be accurate you've got a "rising changeup" in the Mark Melancon mold, which is okay too. Funny thing is, the Mariners' rotation is awash in pitches that are called one thing but do another ... Felix' "changeup" which is a hard dry spitter, Iwakuma's "splitfinger" which is a shuuto breaking armside, Paxton's "cutter" which is a mushy slider or foshball, Taijuan's "split" which is a -5 MPH changeup, and now Miranda's splitfinger which acts like a classic wipeout K changeup.

....

What do pitching coaches like about "athletic" starters such as Taijuan Walker and Ariel Miranda? Honestly would have a hard time guess-ticulating. Back in the day they wanted pitchers who could run 10K's, reasoning that they'd be tough in the 8th inning. But for me, an athletic "fidgety" bowler, or dart thrower, or pitcher, might actually have a hard time falling into the "physical ruts" that create repetitive motion. :: shrug ::

Perhaps the thought is that a young athlete with body control will be able to apply coaching better. That's not necessarily my experience from aikido, as it applies to throwing a curve or executing a kotegaeshi, but ... hm. Would be interested to hear what somebody else thinks is positive about a guy like Ariel Miranda being "athletic."

....

Next March it looks like KKKarns vs Miranda in the 6th slot. 's OK by me, but Dr. D's thirst for a 16-7, 2.98 Karns season has been slaked not one whit.

BABVA,

Dr D

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Comments

Athleticism

Is touted by some as helping a pitcher change mechanics and grips quicker to help them improve several aspects of their game including velocity at times. Without coordination and the drive to improve the athleticism won't help much in that aspect. If they're planning some mechanical improvements in the offseason that athleticism would certainly come in to play. It seems to have with Paxton and Walker. Do you think less athletic versions of them would have made adjustments so quickly? They both had much more experience and failure so the drive might have come easier. And they weren't so much adjusting to league and culture at the same time like Miranda likely still is.

He's "athletic"

To me, we are all "athletes", but I know that at the elite level of sports, a special confluence of factors must come together for an evaluator of elite talent to stamp us with the anointed label of "athletic".

I suspect the major factors include:
1) Exquisite Proprioception
2) Elite genetic ability to generate power and or endurance
3) Desire to execute
4) Intuition or "feel" for the sport-how the brain is wired to respond to the stimulation of the sport

The teachable factors:
1) Proper strengthening and conditioning
2) Proper rest and nutrition
3) Optimal mechanics
4) How to play and play intelligently ie: make good decisions

The talent evaluator looks at the top list when determining if it's worth their time to execute the bottom list.

Assumimg desire and intuition, the athlete factors boil down to proprioception and elite genetic physical ability.

Some people have great Proprioception, but lack the genetic physicality to generate the proper response. Some people have great genetic physical ability, but average proprioception.

An "athlete" in high velocity sports that require painstaking precision and accuracy will have both. The ones termed "athletic" will have both to a greater degree as well as learned a few of the teachable factors listed.

When watching their bodies in these situations, the elite talent evaluator is seeing the body finitely aware and reacting with great force and precision. It stands out when you're near it, as I'm sure was obvious with every great athlete. It's fairly common to run across these athletes, but they do not all succeed, because it takes more than just being "athletic".