Angels' Alex Meyer: Worked on new delivery, physical fitness

[Chuck]

Meyer reworked his delivery over the offseason, speeding up his windup while keeping his shoulder closed before he releases his pitches, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. Meyer also worked with a physical therapist and Angels minor league pitching programs coordinator Matt Wise to develop a program to preserve his health.

 

The altered shoulder positioning may go a long way to curing the shoulder issues he's endured. Like many tall hurlers, the 6-foot-10 right-hander has struggled to sustain a consistent delivery and stay healthy. He sustained a 4.57 ERA in five starts with the Angels last year, striking out 24 but also walking 13 batters in 21.2 innings. He still has the notable upside from his prospect days, but he faces obstacles with his own makeup and a crowded Halos staff in the way of an opportunity.

[Docwaukee]

he now throw's an 87 mph fastball.  

[tomsred]

Just now, Dochalo said:

he now throw's an 87 mph fastball.  

.....with no movement.

[ukyah]

i'd look very hard at mimicking chris young's delivery if i was rebuilding meyer's delivery. chris young was a giant of a pitcher as well, his delivery used his height as an advantage to make his fastball seem much faster than it was by virtue of him extending out towards the plate so much further than your average pitcher.

[eligrba]

Maybe the adjustments saves him from dehydration?

[Jobu]

3 hours ago, Dochalo said:

he now throw's an 87 mph fastball.  

The rock pile adds another 6.

[Second Base]

It's important to note that there has never been anything structurally wrong with Meyer's shoulder. But he deals with consistent inflammation and discomfort because of a throwing motion that is conducive to discomfort.

The same thing happened with Randy Johnson early in his career. He was wild and dealt continually with lingering soreness, until Nolan Ryan and his pitching coach pulled him aside in the tunnel and gave some advice that changed his career. Meyer will eventually figure this new arm angle and motion out.

[Angelsjunky]

You know Scotty, I was just thinking of Randy Johnson. People forget that he was basically a Bobby Witt type - great stuff, but wild and overall a #4-5 starter - for his first couple years in the majors, then took a step forward at age 26. But even then, he was more of a #3 for a few years until he became an ace in 1993, at age 29. Even then he wasn't done improving, reaching his full powers a couple years later at age 31 and remaining a Cy Young candidate through 2004, his age 40 season. Truly a freak of nature.

Now I'm not saying that Meyer is going to be another Randy Johnson, but sometimes pitchers - perhaps especially tall pitchers - take awhile to figure things out. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if by the end of the year, Meyer is the fourth best starter on the staff - after Richards, Shoemaker, and Skaggs. There is a best-case scenario where he challenges Shoe and Skaggs.