Craig Stem

13 year pro pitcher turned Performance coach @TreadHQ | Follow me to learn about pitching development or to sign the guys I coach!
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[Craig Stem @CraigStem]

This NAIA pitcher went from 88-89 MPH to 96-98 MPH

In 10 months.... 🤯

Here's how: ⬇️

[Craig Stem @CraigStem]

@MRambusch I will always remember the folks who trusted me with their training before I was established. Thanks for the video, gonna break it down for you on Monday

[Craig Stem @CraigStem]

I always find this argument interesting. Command used to be more incentivized than velocity. A lot of people believed this was better and still do. Today, it’s flipped. The result is the lowest league-wide batting averages in over 100 years. It is clear which strategy gives hitters a tougher time, no matter how you feel about it

[Doug Mientkiewicz @DMEASrecruiting]

They refuse to listen to actual experience. The way players were promoted back then was different. It was a negative if a pitcher was “max effort”. Those were called staff killers. People are enamoured by the number, which sells. They chose to attract the gullible. Lots of guys that played in every era could throw harder than they did but command suffered. Those guys didn’t advance. So the player valued command over velo. The industry has changed the way players go about it. It’s not the players fault. They are giving them what they want. The issue is the constant influx of non baseball people.

[Craig Stem @CraigStem]

@GoGoGolson @BaseballDudes48 I think as both pitchers and hitters get better feel for the ABS zone, walks and strikeouts will both level out a little. Forcing pitchers to live in-zone will eventually lead to more contact and less 3 true outcomes

[Craig Stem @CraigStem]

@sdkgboe https://t.co/1Z3IQPabBB

[Craig Stem @CraigStem]

@Ltdsoltd Hitters are always gonna do what they gotta do to score runs. If they aren’t scoring runs, they’ll change something. This is where we’re at today

[Craig Stem @CraigStem]

What’s up Michael! I remember coaching up your boys in the FB group back in ‘21! How are they doing?

I don’t coach the youth population as much any more, but my approach to them has always been about building an athletic/mechanical foundation rather than selling out for velo before they even have their grown man body

[Craig Stem @CraigStem]

@thee_mooks @grok If it was easy, I do think hitters would do it more often

[Craig Stem @CraigStem]

@PhilDuncan23 @Ltdsoltd I really appreciate that. I pride myself on being as objective as possible

[Craig Stem @CraigStem]

I remember that run well! They were fun to watch. I enjoy great defense. So if I remember them as fun to watch, that probably means their pitching/defense was sick. What I remember most is they had one of the most elite bullpens in recent memory. Wade Davis to Greg Holland as setup/closer was untouchable. Their offense was arguably their biggest weakness

[Craig Stem @CraigStem]

@Ltdsoltd @grok @IbelWetz Yea the mental game is often the biggest separator. The nerds can’t help much with that. They’ve never been there

[Craig Stem @CraigStem]

@thee_mooks I don’t know, but probably. Are batters swinging harder than ever @grok ?

[Craig Stem @CraigStem]

@Rjb5150 It’s so much harder to foul pitches off now at the highest level. Might as well swing hard in case you hit it

[Craig Stem @CraigStem]

@Ltdsoltd Hitters are always gonna do what they gotta do to score runs. If they aren’t scoring runs, they’ll change something. This is where we’re at today

[Craig Stem @CraigStem]

@Ltdsoltd @grok @IbelWetz Especially in ‘08. My god

[Craig Stem @CraigStem]

@Ltdsoltd @grok @IbelWetz Yes averaging 93 mph on a cutter at 38 years old is actually insane

[Craig Stem @CraigStem]

@Cerk26 @GoGoGolson And then? The pitchers will adjust. And then? The hitters will adjust. Endless feedback loop. It’s incredible

[Craig Stem @CraigStem]

“Rivera retired Sept 2013 (age 43). Statcast launched 2015—he pitched 0 innings in the Statcast era.

PITCHf/x data (2007+) shows his cutter averaged ~93 mph in 2008, then 91-92 mph later. It touched the mid-90s (reports of 96-97). Earlier career data is limited but he was known for a mid-90s cutter.

Your velocity guess when younger is directionally right; slight decline fits normal aging. The “Statcast era” part is incorrect.”

[Craig Stem @CraigStem]

@CoachFloyd7 Which do you think is more valuable?

[Craig Stem @CraigStem]

@grok @Ltdsoltd @IbelWetz Still crazy impressive

[Craig Stem @CraigStem]

@grok @Ltdsoltd @IbelWetz What are you talking about @grok ?

Fact check this statement: “Also, Rivera pitched in the statcast era from age 39-43. His cutter averaged 93 and hit 97. I'm guessing that when he was younger it was faster”

[Craig Stem @CraigStem]

@Ltdsoltd @IbelWetz That seems insane, gonna have to fact check that one.

@grok is this^ true?

[Craig Stem @CraigStem]

@GoGoGolson @TheIrishAmeric2 Always does. 3 years ago, I was teaching everyone who could throw a sweeper a sweeper because hitters struggled with them. Now, they’re starting to get hit, so I’m teaching something different. It will never end. It’s amazing