Pitching aid creators get Clemens' support

The technique created by Jack Kucek of Canfield and Greg Smith of Columbiana teaches the mechanics.
By MARK W. MILLER
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
CANFIELD -- Canfield resident Jack Kucek, who pitched in the major leagues from 1971-81, along with his partner Greg Smith of Columbiana, have formed a business called Strike Out Strippz.
Roger Clemens, who is ninth on the majors' all-time list for pitching wins (341), is a seven-time Cy Young award winner and American League MVP in 1986, signed a contract with Kucek in New York last week to endorse Strike Out Strippz.
A DVD and video were produced and will be available with an instruction book some time in August on the Internet.
Fans can log on at www.Learn2-Pitch.com to order the DVD for $39. Anyone who pre-orders it will be eligible for an autographed Clemens baseball.
Observation
"The product was designed from watching and pitching against some of the greatest pitchers ever such as Nolan Ryan, Catfish Hunter, Clemens and others," said Kucek.
"Clemens wants to teach kids how to pitch and they have been working on making the DVD and video a reality since last Oct. 17," said Kucek.
A national television commercial introducing Strike Out Strippz will be out in about a month.
"Clemens wants to teach the mechanics of baseball pitching to kids 5 years and older and adults up to 55-years-old," said Kucek.
"You don't need a baseball. I used my son Jake as a guinea pig to work through the process of Strike Out Strippz," said Kucek, who pitched for the Chicago White Sox, Philadelphia Phillies and Toronto Blue Jays during his career.
"Jake, in a game two years ago, using this technique, struck out 18-of-18 batters in his last Little League game," said Kucek.
"Greg Smith's son, Brad, using the Clemens technique, went from 52 miles an hour to 65.
Claim
"Everyone who has gone through the Strike Out Strippz program has improved," said Kucek, who moved to Canfield in 1997.
He said, "If I had had the Strike Out Strippz program, I would probably still be pitching today."
"Clemens' mechanics are being put into simple terms so that mothers and fathers can teach their sons," said Kucek.
Kucek's other son Justin, will be a sophomore and do the punting for the University of Minnesota this fall.
Clemens pitched for the Houston Astros last year.