Pete Sikaras: 2004 Greek Olympic team, former AAA RHP Diamondbacks

 

1. Could you tell us your story on dropping down?

I have always been a sort of sidearm guy.  I was a catcher 3rd baseman till junior year of high school and have always thrown kind of hard.  i had the side arm sling thing all my life and people always told me i would hurt myself never happened.  i dropped a little bit more after i got drafted because i became a reliever in pro ball.

 

2. What are some of the advantages you had from your arm angle?

I just throw harder from there, the ball moves a lot, and it is something different then all the rest of the guys

 

3. If you didn't drop down, do you think you would have had the same success?

Yes I do.  because i have always been a sort of 3 quarters side arm guy

 

4. What would you tell someone debating on changing their arm angle?

Do what you do naturally with the way you throw.  I was taught a certain way but i did what felt good to me.  some guys are side arm some over the top.  follow what you think feels good.  A lot of it is god given talent and hard work with that talent

 

5. Are there any mechanical tips that you'd give to someone throwing sidearm/submarine?

make sure that you are going at the target with the front half.  don't spin off to much and throw long toss from down there

 

6. What pitches did you throw?

2 and  4 seam fastball, slider and a change up not very often 

7. How did you pitch to lefties/righties?

I pitch in a lot to both.  I use my movement and try to command the ball.  I took me a long time to get in on lefties.  So really work on that early and often

 

8. Lastly what was your favorite part about pitching from down there?

People were like damn you throw hard and from down there.  my arm wasn't as sore as most pitchers.  Also when i started to learn to throw to lefties in then i could bring it back to the inside part of the plate. Lefties hate that.