Thursday, March 1, 2012

Being 'Flat-Footed' Good For Felix Doubront

Logically, we had chalked up Felix Doubront's injury-plagued 2011 to the ineptitude of the crack Boston medical staff. Elbow, groin and hamstring problems forced the 23-year-old lefty starter to write off the year as a total loss. Now, it turns out, Doubront's injuries may be more due to faulty footwork on the mound.

According to an article by NESN's Didier Morais, the new Sox pitching coach has fixed the problem by making Doubrnont land flat on his foot—instead of his previous practice of landing heel-first. Bob McClure believes this is what leads to serious elbow problems for young pitchers. Now that Doubront has a new "flat-footed" approach, he may regain the form and velocity that made him a prized prospect in the Red Sox organization. It may even get him the coveted fifth spot in the 2012 rotation.

(AP Photo/Charles Krupa)