Did Koch have Tommy John surgery?

Nope.

Then he's probably in need of it.

 

Elbow problems and hard throwing don't seem to mix for very long.

Regardless how many he gets, it has to get much better than last year. My official

name for him last year was "The Human Warning Track" because every time he pitched, that is where the ball wound up.....or even farther!!

Regardless how many he gets, it has to get much better than last year. My official

name for him last year was "The Human Warning Track" because every time he pitched, that is where the ball wound up.....or even farther!!

ya it always seemed liked everytime he pitched u knew he was gonna give up a homerun.

Did Koch have Tommy John surgery?

When he was in the minors coming up he did.... very early in his pro career.

Yep. Didn't get over 91 today. Controlled though. But it is only ST...

From the Cubune:

 

The Sox had Koch throwing consistently between 90-93 m.p.h. Friday and he touched 94 a couple of times. After getting the first hitter to fly out to left, Koch struck out the last two.

From the Cubune:

I thought it was very interestin was Billy Beane said to him when he was in Oakland.

 

"Beane was like, 'Why did I trade for you? You're only throwing 92,'" Koch recalled. "I said, 'All right, watch me the next time out.' I threw 94, then 96, then 98, then 100."

It's not just his velocity last year that killed him. His ball is "flat" with very little movement, and if he's not throwing it 94 +, it looks awfully enticing to hitters. He has to rely on blowing it past guys, rather than expecting his pitches dart or dip.

Did he lose any weight when he joined the Sox? Perhaps he went on the Barry Bonds - Jason Giambi diet plan?

 

His returning to 2002 form was key in my thinking we could actually do something this year.

From the Cubune:

Just repeated what I heard during the broadcast...

Just repeated what I heard during the broadcast... 

Oh, I wasn't questioning you, Steff. Just adding more input from another source.

I thought it was very interestin was Billy Beane said to him when he was in Oakland.

 

"Beane was like, 'Why did I trade for you? You're only throwing 92,'" Koch recalled. "I said, 'All right, watch me the next time out.' I threw 94, then 96, then 98, then 100."

i saw that and was just wondering if koch's continually trying to and throwing harder and faster in 2002 was what gave him his 2003 troubles?

Where did people hear his elbow was a problem? They never said anything about it last year, and I hadn't heard that during the offseason either. Does anyone have a source where it said his elbow was giving him trouble?

Billys elbow problems

 

go to the bottom on that page where it says minor league highlights and look at 1997.

I don't give a f*** if Koch throws 12 mph...aslong as he is effective. I think he will get forty-plus saves this season.

I don't give a f*** if Koch throws 12 mph...aslong as he is effective. I think he will get forty-plus saves this season.

if he hits his spots he should be pretty effective.

 

40 saves would be very nice outta billy, and would silence all his critics here in chicago.

if he hits his spots he should be pretty effective.

 

40 saves would be very nice outta billy, and would silence all his critics here in chicago.

If we were coming into this season from the 2002 season, we would be easily favorited with just the guys we have. Frank, Mags, and CLee are knowns...what says Kong won't be back?...Crede is going to be a machine...Borchard may step it up...Jose isn't as bad as everyone says he is...etc. I really like this team, and think we will do very well.

As we continue to question Billy's arm

 

Bump........

Can anyone comment on the role of muscle mass and velocity? For example, if a pitcher was able to work out longer and harder, could it improve his velocity? Or is it a natural gift that can't really be improved?

Depends on his condition.

I dont think he'll reach 10 and he'll have more blown saves.

I dont think he'll reach 10 and he'll have more blown saves.

Nuke, we agree on something