D-Backs coach Dave McKay's "seed of an idea has turned into the Throwing Partner, a professionally manufactured and packaged throwing tool that McKay hopes to turn into a marketable product," according to Zach Buchanan of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. The device is a "wristband attached to an adjustable rope, which in turn is attached to a baseball." As a user throws, the force "wraps the rope around the body so the ball plops into the user's glove." All that is left to do is "unwrap the rope and uncork another throw." McKay and Cardinals manager Mike Matheny "became partners in Throwing Partner LLC, along with McKay's son Cody." Matheny "called in some favors from sports-manufacturing giant Rawlings, based in St. Louis, to help guide the Throwing Partner from conception to production." The final product was "ready about two years ago, but most of the 30,000 Throwing Partners the two ordered have just sat in a St. Louis warehouse." Matheny "has been too busy managing the Cardinals to promote the product, and McKay has delved into his duties" with the D-Backs. So far, the only marketing "consists of McKay's semi-regular pitches to other baseball players, along with a website, ThrowingPartner.com, where the product can be ordered." The website is "highlighted by endorsements" from Angels 1B Albert Pujols, Cardinals C Yadier Molina and former MLBer Chris Carpenter. McKay sells Throwing Partner on the website for $34.99 with free shipping, but "still has most of his initial order in storage" (
ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 7/11).
