Don't Show the Ball to Center Field
There is a throwing and pitching cue out there that people
are advocating as a key to fixing problems like pushing the
ball. Some people also state that by doing this you will reduce the
risk of experiencing elbow problems. This cue goes by a number
of different names...
- Show the ball to Center Field
- Show the ball to Second Base
- Keep your fingers on top of the ball
- Stay on top of the ball
- Get on top of the baseball on the back
side
- Get on top facing the other direction
- Cobra position
- Feed the giant
- Put the can on the shelf
- Palm turned away from the face
The problem is that this
cue can in fact
increase the risk of elbow
problems (and won't fix the problem of pushing the ball). You can see people pushing this idea all around the
internet...
The logic behind this cue is that it is supposed to help you
stay behind the ball. The problem is that
the people who advocate this idea have little to no idea
what a pitcher's arm actually does as they throw the ball.
What's more, by following this cue you will significantly
increase the risk of elbows problems, at least in young
pitchers, by forcing them to supinate their forearms through the
release point. This increases the load on the UCL, which can
lead
to growth plate problems in younger pitchers and Tommy John
surgery in older pitchers.
This is
why very few major league pitchers actually do this. Instead,
they show the ball to Third Base, which is what people tend to
do naturally. For example, it's what Jeff Suppan does in the clip below.
Jeff Suppan Showing the Ball to 3B
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