Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Baseball Intellect - Trade Review: the Impact of Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte
Nady has a high leg kick as he strides into foot plant. Just before planting, his knee twists open a bit, which can cause him to occasionally open up too soon. He also plants his front foot more in the direction of the pitcher. Usually I like hitters to plant more in a 45-degree angle because it’s easier to keep the hips closed and rotate firmly on a front leg. However, Nady compensates for the way he plants by rotating to the point where he is rolling over his front foot, so he is still getting the hip rotation he needs.
Here’s an interesting look at Nady and Marte from a scouting perspective. Of particular interest is a subtle change in Marte’s mechanics which has helped both his control and his HR rate.
Update: Ny Times: Posada Will Have Surgery and Be Out Six Months.
That’s not really newsworthy, but in the link there’s some good news:
MATSUI TAKES SOME SWINGS Wearing a brace on his inflamed left knee, Hideki Matsui took 20 swings off a tee before Monday’s game. Matsui said he felt fine and that barring any setbacks, he hoped to begin a rehabilitation assignment in a week or two. Matsui can take his time, because he could have surgery on the knee in November and still be ready for spring training.
WANG’S CAST COMING OFF Chien-Ming Wang said he expected to have the cast removed from his right foot on Tuesday, the first significant step in a monotonous recovery from the injury he sustained June 15. Wang will be on crutches for another week as he starts to walk again, and he may begin throwing while seated in a chair.
Asked if he thought he had enough time to return to the Yankees this season, Wang said, “I’ll try to do it.”
Wang said he spent most of his time watching television and playing basketball on PlayStation. He summed up his rehab in one word: “Boring.”
UPDATE ON HUGHES AND PAVANO Because of bad weather in Tampa, Fla., Phil Hughes and Carl Pavano are now scheduled to pitch on Tuesday for Class A Charleston. They will be limited to two innings, or roughly 35 pitches, but because of the nature of their injuries—a fractured rib for Hughes, an elbow operation for Pavano—Hughes has a greater chance to contribute this season.
“Hughes has a chance to fly through his rehab more so than Pavano, because Pavano’s coming back from elbow reconstruction, and that has a lot more obstacles,” Brian Cashman said. “Phil Hughes has no elbow or shoulder issues. Carl’s going to have a tougher road.”
Getting Matsui and Wang back would be huge. Huge I tell ya.
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