Comments on: Checking Back In With Mitch Harris

By: azruavatar

azruavatar — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 04:49:08 +0000

The flip side of those gambles is Scott Bittle when things don’t work out so well.

By: fpslackers

fpslackers — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 01:51:07 +0000

The shoulder joint is an inherently unstable joint, whether mature or not. The bigger determinant of shoulder stability is scapular stabilizer/rotator cuff strength. I’d assume being in the military he must stay in very good physical shape so one would hope arm strength would be a non-issue.

By: Gruntosaurus

Gruntosaurus — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 22:14:33 +0000

Yeah, at the very least, he has some built-in nicknames ready on arrival … particularly if he can learn to throw with a submariner motion. :-)

I’m never sure what to think in situations like his. Nobody goes to a military academy expecting to become an elite athlete. One would like to think that in the exceptional cases where somebody does develop that way, a solution can be found, or at least sought by all parties, that is win-win.

By: BigJawnMize

BigJawnMize — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 16:52:52 +0000

I train pitchers from time to time…I think his shoulder will hold up well. It is a mature stabile joint at this poing. The problem I see for him will be tendonitis and potentially elbow issues. Basically use injuries. He is probably only throwing the equivilent of 60 inning a year right now. As he adds more throwing in he is going to have tendonitis…just a fact. The problem always comes down to how you manage it.

By: VolsnCards5

VolsnCards5 — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 13:28:14 +0000

I’m stuck between two camps on this one. Part of me says “he made the commitment, he needs to see it through.” the other part feels the armed forces should be in the business of protecting the American dream, not postponing it. If he’s willing to finish his commitment time after he’s done with baseball, where is the harm. I think it would be great PR. can you imagine the sportscenter specials if Harris were to make it to the bigs?

By: rydeshelby

rydeshelby — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 11:56:11 +0000

Harris reminds me of some other draft day gambles, like Reifer (coming off an injury), or 3B Matt Carpenter (5th year senior), or high school OF Wilson this summer (risk of going to Stanford) or C/1B/LF Stephen Hill (positional fit). Harris has a problem (Naval time), but he has prototypical size and a solid arm. When he finally gets in a pro baseball uniform, he may do well.

By: Gruntosaurus

Gruntosaurus — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 02:48:35 +0000

I wonder, though, whether this “historical” generalization (which you describe accurately) applies to a pitcher who has thrown essentially NO innings at age 23 and 24. There is very little precedent for a situation like that, at least that I’m aware of. That said, I sure hope we get to do the experiment.

By: tenniner

tenniner — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 23:30:07 +0000

25 is the age historically where the kid gloves can be taken off pitchers. It’s great that this guy will have a young, ready arm. Fortunately, Wainwright wasn’t overused – he’ll be a stud for years to come. The challenge for the Cardinals will be to use, but not abuse, Garcia and Miller the next several years.

By: bc

bc — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 21:49:01 +0000

Beat Navy.

By: cj

cj — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 20:44:26 +0000

I think its pretty impressive that he is doing his best to keep in baseball shape even while he is serving his time in the navy.