LA Times: Angels' Kevin Jepsen is banking on new arm motion

[AngelsWin.com]

Reliever is throwing from a three-quarter slot, giving his curveball more bite and better control of the fastball. <br/><br/>TEMPE, Ariz. — No one in camp is comparing Kevin Jepsen to sidearm-throwing Joe Smith , but there is a noticeable difference in the delivery of the Angels reliever, who has gone from a straight over-the-top motion to a three-quarter-arm slot.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/latimes/sports/baseball/mlb/angels/~4/Q8z2SAjEY60" height="1" width="1"/>

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[jshep]

oh my god, I love Spring Training storylines.

[stevestevens]

Jepsen is throwing from the best arm slot rotation of his life

[Marsaka]

i laughed when frieri revealed his new change up.  now jepsen and blanton have new deliveries.

 

at least they are not complacent at being terrible.

[jshep]

If there is a kind and loving baseball god, next Michael Kohn will reveal he's going to start throwing left-handed.

[eligrba]

It is worth a shot having him do something different to help his pitches.  I hope it works and becomes a storyline to follow.

[Brent Maguire]

These headlines are great.

I can't wait to see Blanton's new motion which involves him setting up the ball on a tee rather than just throwing the ball.

[jangel7]

Thank God Jepsen  and Blanton changed their motions. They certainly can't pitch worse. Bring on Spring and start pitching and stop yapping.

[Angel Oracle]

And Butchey, start earning your salary!

[EDinTUSTIN]

These headlines are great.

I can't wait to see Blanton's new motion which involves him setting up the ball on a tee rather than just throwing the ball.

LOL

[Taylor]

The arm is rotating from his arm socket nicely. 

[gotbeer]

Hopefully it's not like this change in delivery.

 

http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120213&content_id=26677354&c_id=atl

[CaliAngel]

I think Jeppy is going to need a liiiiiittle bit more than just a new arm motion.

[Docwaukee]

Blanton adjusted his delivery to finish facing the outfield wall so he could take the strain off his neck. 

[Docwaukee]

so jeppy now has three pitches he can command?  F it.  Put the guy in the rotation. 

[gurn67]

How about an arm motion that makes him throw a first pitch strike.

[CaliAngel]

Blanton adjusted his delivery to finish facing the outfield wall so he could take the strain off his neck. 

 

How about an arm motion that makes him throw a first pitch strike.

 

love both of these

[tennischmp]

This is what it looks like this new motion looks like

 

http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/21753540/v28900749

 

Oh and what they forgot to mention is now when Jepsen pitches, the catcher will set up half way between home and 1st

[HaloMagic]

At almost $1.5mm for sucking donkey balls, he's certainly banking something.

[wopphil]

Almost never do these new arm motions, new deliveries, and new pitches result in meaningful new results.  I guess Joel Piniero added another couple of seasons to his career with a new pitch, but I can't think of many (if any) guys who started doing new things at age 30, with different results.  I will believe Jeppy is a better pitcher when I actually see better results. 

[nando714]

And Butchey, start earning your salary!

Was thinking this too...

Let's see how good Butchy is. Probably not very.

Edited February 24, 2014 by nando714

[Mark68]

These headlines are great.

I can't wait to see Blanton's new motion which involves him setting up the ball on a tee rather than just throwing the ball.

Less wear and tear on the arm.

 

Of course, is that necessarily good?

[eaterfan]

Phil, I actually disagree.

 

A lot of MLB scouts will tell you not to write off pitchers as quickly as position players and part of the reason for that is that adding a new pitch or a slight tweak in the release point or throwing motion can remake a pitcher. Not to say this always works, but it's worth a shot and IMO a much better sign than simply "I worked out hard this off season and am in the best shape of my life".

 

Cliff Lee was bad to average for most of his career until he turned 29. Not sure if any mechanical adjustments were made or maybe it just all clicked.

Edited February 24, 2014 by eaterfan

[Marsaka]

Almost never do these new arm motions, new deliveries, and new pitches result in meaningful new results.  I guess Joel Piniero added another couple of seasons to his career with a new pitch, but I can't think of many (if any) guys who started doing new things at age 30, with different results.  I will believe Jeppy is a better pitcher when I actually see better results. 

 

ra dickey?

 

maybe blanton should go that route and start throwing the knuckleball, it cant get any worse.

[Jim]

"maybe I'll throw it where I want to and keep the ball down."

 

A novel idea indeed. It only took him 20 years of baseball to figure that out? There's hope yet.