Community Input: Pitcher Rituals (2009 Season)

[Russell_SCEA]

What's up everyone its your friendly neighborhood CM again with another project on how you can help us make MLB10 just that much more authentic.

What Lorne is looking for is pitcher rituals. What does he do before a pitch, after a pitch, what he does after a save or blown save for that matter, etc.................

If you already posted in the previous rituals thread you don't need to re post it. If you missed out on those threads then here's your chance to contribute and we humbly thank you for it.

More specifically we are looking for rituals that pitchers have started doing this year. But if its something they have always done that isn't in MLB09 feel free to add it to the list.

Below is the template please please only post if you are using the template thx again guys have at it. Also this is a time sensitive project this thread will run for about three weeks.

Quote:

Post the template in bold and your reply in standard Team: (Self Explanatory) Players Name: (Self Explanatory) Signature/Personal Routine: (These can be anything and everything I.E. For example, Brian Wilson of the Giants throws his arms up in a cross after every save.) Also please use extreme detail when describing what the player(s) do. What game situation(s) and how often does the player(s) perform this routine? (Self Explanatory) Did the player start using this ritual this year: (Yes/No/NA This is so we know which ones players started doing this year)

[nemesis04]

Team: Rays

Player Name: Matt Garza

Signature/Personal Routine: When he is in the set motion he is constantly squeezing his glove open and closed before he pitches.

What game situation(s) and how often does the player(s) perform this routine?

Every time before he pitches.

Did the player start using this ritual this year:

Not sure when he started it.

[TheRock88]

Team: San Francisco Giants

Players Name: Sergio Romo

Signature/Personal Routine: With his right hand, he starts readjusting/tipping his hat about 2-3 times. With his left hand, he brings the glove really close to his face.

What game situation(s) and how often does the player(s) perform this routine? Just when he is about to throw a pitch and he does this everytime (not sure if he does this in the stretch)

Did the player start using this ritual this year: No, he started using it last year as a rookie.

[BravesBoy]

Team: Atlanta Braves

Players Name: Mike Gonzalez

Signature/Personal Routine: Before wind-up, he takes deep breaths and rocks back and forth around 3 times and deleivers and then jumps and dives toward the 3rd base side.

What game situation(s) and how often does the player(s) perform this routine? Just when he is about to throw a pitch and he does this everytime, but not in stretch. And does it in every situation.

Did the player start using this ritual this year: No, he started using it last year once off of rehab.

[Gagnon39]

Team: Chicago Cubs

Players Name: Carlos Zambrano

Signature/Personal Routine: While walking off the field he takes his glove off, then takes his hat off. He places his hat on top of his glove in his left hand and points up to the sky with his right hand while looking up.

What game situation(s) and how often does the player(s) perform this routine? This is done every time he leaves the field prior to going into the dugout.

Did the player start using this ritual this year: He's done this for quite a while. I don't really know when he started it.

[Mr. Franchise]

Team: Yankees

Player Name: Mariano Rivera

Signature/Personal Routine: He dips before some pitches ala Mike Mussina. Not sure if this is in.

What game situation(s) and how often does the player(s) perform this routine?

Every time before he pitches.

Did the player start using this ritual this year:

Forever.

[bodhiball]

Team: Rays

Players Name: Matt Garza

Signature/Personal Routine: This would be gross, but you guys DID do a snot-rocket so who knows. Garza spits CONSTANTLY, all game, all the time.

What game situation(s) and how often does the player(s) perform this routine? All game long, all the time. I am surprised he does not slip in it on the mound.

Did the player start using this ritual this year: No, its been a few.

[bodhiball]

Team: Red Sox
Players Name: Josh Beckett

Signature/Personal Routine: Chews gum on the mound. When the inning is over, if he was successful (particularly strike outs) he has this slow, deliberate walk off the mound. If he struggled he screams into his glove as he walks off.

What game situation(s) and how often does the player(s) perform this routine? All game with the gum. Walking off the mound successful for the slow walk off the mound. Walking off the mound after a rough inning for the screaming into the glove

Did the player start using this ritual this year: No, been for a while.