College World Series - Comparing UCLA Trevor Baurer’s Mechanics To Tim Lincecum

by Dick Mills on June 22, 2010

Here is a video analysis of Tim Lincecum's pitching mechanics compared to College World Series UCLA starting pitcher Trevor Bauer.  Bauer appears to possibly have copied some aspects of Lincecum's mechanics in order to maximize his pitching velocity.

What I like about Trevor Bauer's mechanics is that he has good starting posture and good arm action. What I do not like, which I think actually reduces his velocity, is his lead leg action. The straightening and then swinging of the leg produces a large slowing action and thereby slows down his forward momentum.

Trevor Bauer is listed at 6'1" 175 lbs. and was throwing 90-94  mph during his frist College World Series start. Tim Lincecum is listed at 5'10" 170 lbs. and appears to have lost some of his early years velocity when he was always 95 mph or higher. This year he appears to be mostly in the low nineties.

What I especially like about both pitchers is their speed of movement toward the plate. They both move fast and explosively, an aspect of mechanics that more pitchers should try to maximize, since hitters do not like fast moving pitchers. Plus the faster you move the more energy that will be available to maximize arm speed, produce a longer stride and get the pitcher closer to the hitter.

Dick Mills

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