Ed Ponte: Former RHP AA Astros

 

 

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

I probably learned to throw sidearm from playing infield and having to turn two with a runner coming at you . I was able to try different arm angles from playing shortstop. I also would use that angle when I pitched because I felt like it had a lot of movement and I had immediate success with it.

 

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

there were many advantages to throwing sidearm the first thing that comes to mind is the deception.   Hitters were not used to it.  I felt like i was able to hide my pitches and nearly turned my back to the hitter from the wind up .  

 

 

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

I had great success from the sidearm position however I was a starter through high school and college and when I signed with the Houston Astros in 1988 they immediately put me in the bullpen and never really gave me a shot at starting. i threw overhand when i wanted too sometimes to lefties but I felt as if i got stronger after a 3 innings .

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

throwing sidearm for me was about getting out in front and if you don t know how to release the ball out in front i don t suggest throwing sidearm or even being a pitcher

 

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

Mechanical tips for throwing sidearm is a tough question one thing I would suggest is staying on top of the ball. If i didn t stay on top i would leave pitches up in the zone so staying on top was huge.  I could talk all night about mechanics but that's my best answer.

6. What pitches did you throw?

  I had a fastball curve and a slider, curveball was from up top and my slider was from the side usually.  I later developed a change up and ended up playing 11 years of professional baseball with no arm injuries!

7. How did you pitch to lefties/righties?

 when it comes to righties and lefties i did feel more confident when a righty stepped up to the plate but I loved the challenge of facing lefties too. my strikeout pitch was a slider to righties so  i didn't like throwing that same slider in on lefties and backdoor sliders i used to start them off with

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

I enjoyed throwing sidearm because of my competitive nature i felt like I had a unique weapon that i could use and it provided a lot of movement so I always knew not to get beat with my second best pitch.  My favorite part about throwing sidearm was the look on the hitters faces after i struck them out from the side!!