BBD: The Balance Points of Tim Lincecum and Brett Sinkbeil

Alex Eisenberg looks at Stiv Lincecum and the “balance point”.

San Francisco Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum and Florida Marlins pitching prospect Brett Sinkbeil aren’t exactly on the same level in terms of talent, but the only thing we are comparing today is what they do at their “balance point”.

When a pitcher hits their balance point, they basically stop mid-way through their wind-up to establish balance and then start again as they head toward home plate.  This is called a “tall-and-fall” pitcher.

When a pitcher “drifts through the balance point”, there is no stoppage in the wind-up. As the pitcher lifts his knee during his wind-up, you see him start to drift toward home plate before ever reaching his balance point.  Momentum carries the pitcher toward home plate as he leads with his hips.