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craviduce wrote: ↑21 Jun 2025 09:35 am https://x.com/Sgf_Cardinals/status/1936236195215712619

vid of Tink's 8 K, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB performance

To my untrained eye… it looks like maybe they let him bring down his arm angle to be a little more athletic. I haven’t looked at video from last year to this outing, but that would be a good step to try to keep him healthier.

Am I making this up?

An Old Friend wrote: ↑21 Jun 2025 11:39 am

craviduce wrote: ↑21 Jun 2025 09:35 am https://x.com/Sgf_Cardinals/status/1936236195215712619

vid of Tink's 8 K, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB performance

To my untrained eye… it looks like maybe they let him bring down his arm angle to be a little more athletic. I haven’t looked at video from last year to this outing, but that would be a good step to try to keep him healthier.

Am I making this up?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IATZC2651Fg

Tink's 2024 highlights

my observation from a few weeks ago into last night...his velocity starts 91-93mph, which is way down from the 96-98 we'd see last season, then he ramps up to 94-96 as the game progressed.

That may be due to a game plan, or a slight change in arm angle as you pointed out. Either way, I think it may reduce the torque he puts on his entire body .

Good pull, AOF.

Yahoo had an article that verified this:
"The drop in pitch speed could potentially be due to a new mechanical approach that Hence is taking on the bump.
I was kind of getting a little stiff on the mound (before the injury), so (I've) just been working on getting more athletic again," Hence told reporters on Thursday. The work seems to have blossomed into a new stance - and possibly a higher arm slot - on the mound, one in which the righty is more upright and less bent over while throwing pitches."
"It was a really good reset for me to really learn (about) myself as a pitcher," Hence said of the lengthy IL stint. "I think it's paying off."
https://sports.yahoo.com/article/cardin ... 22320.html

On the other hand - in his outing on June 7th -- he averaged 95 mph.
2.2 IP, H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K

"Hence’s fastball was up 1.5 ticks from his previous rehab outings, averaging 95 MPH and registering 7 whiffs. He also mixed in a hard gyro-SL, a low-80s CB w/ minimal depth, and is still finding feel for his CH."

https://x.com/KareemSSN/status/1931493388265681027

As I've noted before, if he can improve upon this change-up, he'll be filthy (filthier).

https://x.com/Sgf_Cardinals/status/1826408664401613291

And he gets lefties out with his gyro-slider.
https://x.com/Sgf_Cardinals/status/1823902315721494957

I know he's had chronic IL stints in his MILB career, but I'd really like to see how this dude's stuff plays at the Major League level.

rockondlouie wrote: ↑21 Jun 2025 10:14 am Please just stay healthy

Still not convinced he can handle a starters load but OMGosh he could be a lights out closer!

You can’t baby your closer the way the Cardinals have Hence since he was drafted and signed. Despite limiting his innings, pitch counts, and frequency of appearances, he’s STILL spent more time on the IL than the active roster. Your closer, though maybe only pitching 70 innings, will be called on to pitch 60-65 times. Hence has given NO indication of being able to handle that kind of load.

If Hence can stay healthy he has the stuff to be an ace.

ScotchMIrish wrote: ↑21 Jun 2025 16:08 pm If Hence can stay healthy he has the stuff to be an ace.

He’s shown no propensity for doing so yet.

Red7 wrote: ↑21 Jun 2025 15:51 pm

rockondlouie wrote: ↑21 Jun 2025 10:14 am Please just stay healthy

Still not convinced he can handle a starters load but OMGosh he could be a lights out closer!

You can’t baby your closer the way the Cardinals have Hence since he was drafted and signed. Despite limiting his innings, pitch counts, and frequency of appearances, he’s STILL spent more time on the IL than the active roster. Your closer, though maybe only pitching 70 innings, will be called on to pitch 60-65 times. Hence has given NO indication of being able to handle that kind of load.

Disagree

Hence can most likely easily handle the 60-70 innings required of a closer.

One thing we do know, he hasn't shown the ability to come even close to the 150 innings needed from a ML starter.