Todd Redmond: Former RHP Blue Jays/Reds

 

https://youtu.be/TEwiLx8stJ8

https://youtu.be/ntgtLi1k1XQ

 

 

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

 Guess in High School I started doing it. I knew I could do it, was more athletic than the average pitcher for my age. I was more repeatable also even from the sidearm slot. In pro ball though I didn’t really drop down until after a couple years but was a way for me to add something different. 

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

I was already low 3/4s to begin with so I wasn’t really dropping my arm angle too much. When I did drop down felt I was dropping my body more than my arm. It’s a different look for hitters and changes their eye level. Hitters just get used to seeing pitchers from over the top, batting practice etc..so that’s sidearm pitchers can be very effective. 

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

Yes I believe I would have had the same success. I was already pitching pretty well when wasn’t dropping down, it was just something I was adding to my arsenal by dropping down. 

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

I would say it depends on where they are at in their careers. Am I going to drop down a kid in little league, definitely not. But in playing catch with a kid you can see what their natural arm motion is and everyone is different. It is a more natural motion than over the top, you look at softball pitchers they can throw forever. It has to be the right person too, if not succeeding than why not have nothing to lose. Can always go back to regular motion if it’s not working. 

 

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

Overall they are the same concepts. For me like I mentioned I felt I was dropping my body down, not my arm. It’s the bending at the waist that creates the lower arm angle. Body still has to stay over the knees, stay back and not drifting forward too much. Release point still needs to be out in front. 

6. What pitches did you throw?

I was fastball, slider, split…fastball, slider from the side and actually started to throw a spilt sidearm too. It was actually a good pitch just didn’t have time to work on it much. 

 7. How did you pitch to lefties/righties?

One thing I was really good at was being able to locate my slider. I would be able to back door to it lefties when I needed to. Also was able to locate my fastball pretty well too. Lefties I would use the split to them. For me it was changing the hitters eye level and changing arm angles. By dropping down I was able to keep the hitter second guessing and then not sure what was coming. Especially when you aren’t a pitcher that’s throwing 95+

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

For me it was something different. Go 3-4 fastballs over the top then drop down sidearm. I’ll never forget an at-bat to David Ortiz and I did that exact same thing and he was frozen. Walking back to the dugout basically saying "what was that"