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In baseball, there are two legal pitching positions: the windup, and the set. Colloquially, the set is often referred to as "the stretch", although this term actually only refers to one part of the pitching motion when pitching from the set.^[1]

Each type of pitching position has its strengths and weaknesses. Compared to the set, the windup takes a relatively slower execution, so therefore is better suited for situations in which there are no baserunners, or when the lead runner is on third base, since it is difficult to steal home plate. Conversely, a pitch from the set, having a relatively faster execution, is preferred when there are baserunners. Faster execution is important to prevent stolen bases. A pitcher may also use other techniques to prevent stealing; these are ways of holding the runner on and include the pickoff, the pitchout and the slide step.

However, some pitchers, particularly relief pitchers, are more comfortable pitching from the set position, and thus use it regardless of the situation.

Mariano Rivera, closer for the New York Yankees, having come set

A pitcher is in the windup when, with the ball, the pitcher stands on or directly in front of the pitching rubber, located at the top of the mound, with his feet pointing toward home plate. Prior to throwing a pitch, the pitcher has the option of taking one step back toward second base or to either side, using his free leg (left leg for a right-handed pitcher). During the delivery of the pitch, the pitcher must take one step forward, in the direction of home plate. Alternatively, the pitcher may step off the rubber with his pivot foot (the right foot, for right-handed pitchers) or step toward and throw or feign a throw to a base, subject to the balk rules. In the windup, the time of pitch is the instant when one of the following occurs: the pitcher commits to taking a step backward, or he takes a step to the side, or brings his hands together.

Jimmy Haynes of the Cincinnati Reds, pitching from the set, just before the time of pitch

A pitcher is in the set when, with the ball, he stands on, or directly in front of—and touching—the pitching rubber, with his toes pointing toward the side (toward third base for a right-handed pitcher) and his arms apart at his sides. This initial part of the set is called the stretch, because the pitcher usually stretches toward home plate to take signs from the catcher. At this point, the pitcher may make any number of preparatory movements necessary for delivering the pitch. Delivery begins when the pitcher brings his arms together in front of his body (a movement punctuated with a discernible pause). This is called coming set. After coming set, the pitcher takes a step toward home and delivers the pitch. Typically, pitchers from the set use a high leg kick, thus lunging toward home in pitching; a pitcher may instead release the ball more quickly by using the slide step, quickly stepping directly and immediately toward home and pitching. In the set position, the time of pitch is that instant when the pitcher makes a move toward home plate after coming set.

As with the windup, prior to the time of pitch, the pitcher may step toward and throw or feign a throw to a base, subject to the balk rules, or disengage the rubber by stepping back (toward second base) with his pivot foot.

Impact[link]

It has been generally accepted that pitching from the stretch reduces a pitcher's velocity by "2-3 MPH".^[2] However, the data shows no such difference.^[3]

Similarly, the common wisdom is that the set is less damaging to the connective tissue of a pitcher's arm, but research in this area has been unable to support this hypothesis.^[4]

References[link]

Jason "Mayhem" Miller
Born	Jason Nicholas Miller (1980-12-24) December 24, 1980 (age 31) Fayetteville, North Carolina, United States
Other names	Mayhem
Residence	Mission Viejo, California
Nationality	American
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight	185.5 lb (84.1 kg; 13.25 st)
Division	Welterweight, Middleweight (current), Light Heavyweight, Heavyweight
Reach	77 inches
Style	Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Kickboxing
Stance	Orthodox
Fighting out of	Huntington Beach, California
Team	Kings MMA Reign Training Center
Rank	Black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Years active	1999–2012
Mixed martial arts record
Total	33
Wins	23
By knockout	5
By submission	14
By decision	4
Losses	9
By knockout	2
By submission	1
By decision	6
No contests	1
Other information
Website	http://www.mayhemmiller.com/
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
last updated on: September 30, 2011 (2011-09-30)

Jason Nicholas Miller (born December 24, 1980) is a retired American mixed martial arts middleweight fighter known for his flashy entrances and fighting style who has fought for numerous promotions including the UFC, Strikeforce, WFA, WEC, and DREAM. He holds notable wins over competition such as Falaniko Vitale, Ronald Jhun, Hiromitsu Miura, Egan Inoue, Denis Kang, Kala Hose, Toby Imada, Lodune Sincaid, Robbie Lawler, and Tim Kennedy. Nicknamed "Mayhem," he primarily utilizes Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, and trains at Reign Training Center in Lake Forest, California. Also, he trains at Kings MMA in Huntington Beach, California. He regularly co-hosts "Mayhem Mondays" on The Jason Ellis Show on Sirius satellite radio.^[1] Miller also hosts a reality show called Bully Beatdown, which airs on MTV and MTV2.^[2] He also announces for King of the Cage alongside Michael Schiavello.

Mixed martial arts career[link]

After his submission win over Ronald Jhun, a riot broke out and Miller was punched in the back of the head by a fellow fighter, Mark Moreno.^[3] This set the stage for a grudge match, and Miller dominated Moreno, finishing him with an armbar at the end of round one making the shaka sign before finishing him.

On September 2, 2006, Mayhem won the Icon Sport Middleweight title from Robbie Lawler by arm triangle in the third round. In December of the same year, Mayhem lost his first title defense to Frank Trigg via TKO in the second round, a fight many thought he was the favorite to win.

He was eliminated by Ronaldo Souza at Dream 4 in the quarterfinalis of the tournament. Miller lost by unanimous decision to Souza in a bout that saw him defend submissions for the majority of the time.

Miller and Souza fought again, but this time for the Dream Middleweight belt. (the title was vacant as Gegard Mousasi moved to the Light Heavyweight division). The fight ended in a no-contest when Miller unintentionally landed a soccer kick (an illegal strike in Dream) to Souza's forehead, which opened a large gash and prompted a doctor stoppage. Both fighters agreed to face each other in an event in September 2009. The future of this rematch became uncertain as Souza later signed with the Strikeforce promotion.^[4]

Miller fought Jake Shields on November 7, 2009 on CBS as a part of Strikeforce: Fedor vs Rogers. The fight was for Strikeforce's Middleweight title as Cung Le stepped down as champion to pursue his acting career. In what was mostly a grappling match that saw Shields hold Miller down for 5 rounds Miller lost via unanimous decision. The closest the match came to ending was in the third round when Miller secured a rear naked choke on Shields, but time ended before Shields tapped out. Miller also contracted staph infection from Shields after the fight.^[5]

Miller faced Tim Stout at Strikeforce: Nashville on April 17, 2010 and won the fight by TKO in the first round.

Miller was expected to face Robbie Lawler on June 16, 2010 at Strikeforce: Los Angeles, but was removed from the card after his actions at Strikeforce: Nashville where he confronted Jake Shields for a rematch after Shields' win over UFC veteran and former Pride FC Welterweight and Middlweight Champion Dan Henderson.^[6]

Although there was suspicion that Miller would fight Nick Diaz in October,^[7] the bout failed to come into fruition. Mayhem instead fought Kazushi Sakuraba on September 25, at Dream 16.^[8] In pre-fight interviews, Mayhem stated that he wished to be one of the only people to submit Sakuraba, "the Gracies couldn't do it, I want to". He would go on to do just that, and win the fight via arm triangle choke.

Miller was expected to face Tim Kennedy again on March 5, 2011 at Strikeforce 32.^[9] However, the bout was scrapped.^[10] On April 22, 2011, Miller announced via Twitter that he had signed a multi-fight deal with the UFC due to his Strikeforce contract expiring.^[11]

Strikeforce: Nashville brawl[link]

On April 17, 2010, following Jake Shields' victory over Dan Henderson, Miller entered the cage, without proper approval, during Shields' post-fight interview. During that interview, Mayhem interrupted Shields and asked "Where's my rematch, buddy?" Gilbert Melendez and Shields responded by pushing Miller away, and Nick Diaz then threw a punch at Miller which started a brawl. Members of the Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu camp, including Melendez, Nick and Nate Diaz, attacked Miller while he was held down on the canvas by other members of the Gracie camp. The fight was eventually broken up by referees, members of Dan Henderson's corner and the promoter's security personnel. Miller and five other participants in the brawl were each given three-month suspensions, and fines ranging between $5,000 and $7,500.^[12]

Following the events of the Nashville Brawl, Miller expressed an interest in fighting Nick Diaz. The 170 lb Diaz refused stating he was the Strikeforce Welterweight Champion and needed to continue to fight at that weight. He requested Miller move down to 170 lb to fight him. Miller continued to attempt to set up a fight, offering 183 lb as a catchweight. Diaz counter-offered a catchweight of 181 lb. It was rumored that Scott Coker, CEO of Strikeforce, was interested in setting up the fight.^{[citation needed]}

Return to the UFC[link]

On April 22, 2011, Miller signed a multi-fight agreement with the UFC.^[13]

Miller was expected to face Aaron Simpson on July 2, 2011 at UFC 132.^[14] However, on May 27, 2011, it was revealed that Miller would be one of the coaches of The Ultimate Fighter Season 14, opposite to Michael Bisping^[15] Miller was replaced by Brad Tavares on the UFC 132 card.^[16]

Miller was defeated by Bisping via TKO at 3:34 of the third round on December 3, 2011 at The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale. After the fight UFC President Dana White said of Miller's performance, "It was bad. It was the weirdest thing I've ever seen."^[17] Miller agreed that he had a bad performance on his blog.

Miller was then defeated by C.B. Dollaway on May 26, 2012 at UFC 146, via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-26, 29-28). After the loss, Dana White announced the next day that Miller's UFC career was over.^[18]

It was announced on the MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani on Monday May 28th that he is officially retired.^[19]

Championships and Accomplishments[link]

Mixed Martial Arts[link]

• Icon Sport
  • Middleweight Championship (One time)
• Superbrawl
  • Welterweight Championship (One time)
• World MMA Awards
  • Most Memorable Ring Entrance 2010 & 2012

Mixed martial arts record[link]

Media[link]

Miller appears regularly on The Jason Ellis Show on Sirius XM Radio Faction (Sirius XM) XM 52 Sirius 41 on "Mayhem Mondays!!" as both a mixed martial arts expert and comedian, sharing amusing anecdotes and opinions.

Miller also appears briefly in several music videos of Jason Ellis' band "TaintStick"

Miller also authors a monthly article for Fight! Magazine with humorous articles on serious subjects.

He is the host of the MTV reality series Bully Beatdown in which he challenges bullies to a fight with other professional fighters, and if they accept, they have the opportunity to win $10,000. If the bully loses, the person he picked on wins the $10,000.^[20] In the first episode of the show's third season, Miller went on to take on the bully himself, making him lose all $10,000. Also, in episodes 4, 7 and 11, the professional mixed martial artist was Jake Shields, a past opponent of Miller's who he lost to via unanimous decision for the vacant Strikeforce Middleweight title. Miller affectionately calls his fans Mayhem Monkeys and himself the leader of the "monkey cult" and has a fan club of numbered monkeys.^[21]

Jason Miller appeared on G4's American Ninja Warrior he made it through the qualifying round with a time of 2:55.0. He was later eliminated in the second qualifying round.

He also appears in video games - Electronic Arts' EA Sports MMA and THQ's UFC Undisputed 3.

On September 28, 2011, Jason Miller appeared on the podcast "The Joe Rogan Experience".

"Mayhem" is currently filming "Here Comes the Boom" in Everett, MA (May 2011). He is playing the role of "Lucky", an MMA fighter who goes in the ring against Kevin James' character in the film.

See also[link]

• List of male mixed martial artists
• Mixed martial arts

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• Official UFC Profile
• Professional MMA record for Jason Miller from Sherdog

Janelle Monáe
Performing at Austin Music Hall in 2009
Background information
Birth name	Janelle Monáe Robinson
Born	(1985-12-01) December 1, 1985 (age 26)
Origin	Kansas City, Kansas US
Genres	Neo-soul, funk, art rock, dance-punk, experimental alternative rock
Occupations	musician
Years active	2003-present
Labels	Bad Boy Records,[1] Atlantic Records[2]
Website	http://www.jmonae.com/

Janelle Monáe (born Janelle Monáe Robinson; December 1, 1985) is an American R&B/soul musician signed to Bad Boy Records and Atlantic Records.

Monáe debuted with a conceptual EP, Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase). The EP failed to make much of a commercial impact, peaking at No. 115 on the Billboard charts in the United States.^[3]

In 2010, Janelle Monáe released her debut studio album, The ArchAndroid (Suites II and III), a concept album sequel to her first EP; it was released by Bad Boy Records. This album received acclaim from critics and gained a Grammy Nomination for Best Contemporary R&B Album. The song "Tightrope" was also nominated for "Best Urban/Alternative Performance"; this album was also more successful commercially officially reaching the No. 17 spot on the Billboard Charts.^[4][5]

In March 2012, "We Are Young", the song by the band Fun on which Monáe makes a guest appearance, reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, her first appearance in the US Top 10.

Biography[link]

Early life and career[link]

Monáe was born Janelle Monáe Robinson in Kansas City, Kansas, where she spent her early life; Monáe has stated that the fictional character of Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz has been one of her musical influences. She has told reporters that she has dreamed of being a singer and a performer since she was very young.^[6] Monáe moved from Kansas City, Kansas to New York to study drama at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy.

She attended a Performing Arts School called Freedom Theatre, which is the oldest African-American theatre in Philadelphia. After moving to Atlanta, Georgia, where she met OutKast's Big Boi, Monáe founded the Wondaland Arts Society with like-minded young artists and made appearances on Idlewild, where she is featured on the songs "Call the Law" and "In Your Dreams". Big Boi told his friend Sean Combs about Monáe, whom he had not heard of before. Combs promptly visited her MySpace page, and according to Bad Boy Records' A&R Daniel 'Skid' Mitchell in an interview with HitQuarters, the label boss loved it straight away, "[He] loved her look, loved that you couldn’t see her body, loved the way she was dancing, and just loved the vibe. He felt like she has something that was different - something new and fresh."^[7] Monáe signed to Bad Boy in 2006. The label's chief role was in facilitating her exposure on a much broader scale rather than developing the artist and her music, because in the words of Mitchell, "She was already moving, she already had her records - she had a self-contained movement." Combs and Big Boi wanted to take their time and build her profile organically and allow the music to grow rather than put out "A hot single which everyone jumps on, and then they fade because it's just something of the moment."^[7]

[edit] 2007-10: Metropolis - The Chase Suite and The ArchAndroid (Suites II and III)

Monáe and her band performing at Sudoeste Festival 2011.

In 2007, Monáe released her first solo work, titled Metropolis. It was originally conceived as a concept album in four parts, or "suites", which were to be released through her website and mp3 download sites. After the release of the first part of the series, Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase) in mid-2007, these plans were altered following her signing with Sean "Diddy" Combs's label, Bad Boy Records, later in the year. The label gave an official and physical release to the first "suite" in August 2008, which was retitled Metropolis: The Chase Suite (Special Edition) and included two new tracks. The EP was generally well-received by critics, garnering Monáe a 2009 Grammy nomination in the Best Urban/Alternative Performance for her single "Many Moons",^[8] festival appearances and opening slots for the indie pop band Of Montreal. Monáe also toured as the opening act for band No Doubt on their summer 2009 tour.^[9] Her single "Open Happiness" was featured in the 2009 season finale of American Idol.^[10] Monáe told MTV about her concept for her new album and also discussed her alter-ego named Cindi Mayweather, she said:

"Cindi is an android and I love speaking about the android because they are the new “other�. People are afraid of the other and I believe we’re going to live in a world with androids because of technology and the way it advances. The first album she was running because she had fallen in love with a human and she was being disassembled for that."^[11]

In a November 2009 interview, Monáe revealed the title and concept behind her album, The ArchAndroid. The album was released on May 18, 2010. The second and third suites of Metropolis are combined into this full-length release, in which Monáe's alter-ego, Cindi Mayweather—also the protagonist of Metropolis: The Chase Suite— becomes a messianic figure to the android community of Metropolis.^[12] Monáe noted that she plans to shoot a video for each song on The ArchAndroid and create both a movie and graphic novel based on the album.^[13] The Metropolis concept series draws inspiration from a wide range of musical, cinematic and other sources, ranging from Alfred Hitchcock to Debussy to Philip K. Dick. However, the series puts Fritz Lang's 1927 silent film Metropolis, which Monáe referred to as "the godfather of science-fiction movies," in special regard.^[14][15] Aside from sharing a name, they also share visual styles (the cover for The ArchAndroid is inspired by the iconic poster for Metropolis), conceptual themes and political goals, using expressionistic future scenarios to examine and explode contemporary ideas of prejudice and class. Both also include a performing female android, though to very different effect. Where Metropolis android Maria is the evil, havoc-sowing double of the messianic figure to the city's strictly segregated working class, Monáe's messianic android muse Cindi Mayweather represents an interpretation of androids as that segregated minority, which Monáe describes as "... the Other. And I feel like all of us, whether in the majority or the minority, felt like the Other at some point."^[14][16]

Monáe received the Vanguard Award from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers at the Rhythm & Soul Music Awards in 2010.^[17] Monáe covered Charlie Chaplin's Smile on Billboard.com in June 2010. In an NPR interview in September 2010, Monae stated that she is a believer in, and a proponent of time travel. Monáe performed "Tightrope" during the second elimination episode of the 11th Season of Dancing with the Stars on September 28, 2010.^[18] Monáe performed at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards in 2011 alongside artists Bruno Mars and B.o.B; Monáe performed the synth section of B.o.B's song "Nothin' On You" and she then performed her track "Cold War" with B.o.B on the guitar and Mars on the drums. Her performance received a standing ovation.^[19]

Her single "Tightrope" was featured on the American Idols LIVE! Tour 2011, performed by Pia Toscano, Haley Reinhart, Naima Adedapo, and Thia Megia.

[edit] 2011-present: re-release of ArchAndroid, new album and other projects

Monáe tweeted that she is planning on releasing an instrumental version of The ArchAndroid.^[20] In an interview, Monáe stated that she plans to release two albums in 2012.^[21] In another interview with Forbes, Monáe also said that she plans to release an ArchAndroid inspired film.^[22] She will join the Red Hot Chili Peppers as a support act on part of their "I'm With You" tour.

Monàe was featured in Fun's hit single, "We Are Young", and also performed an acoustic version of the song with lead singer of Fun, Nate Ruess.

Artistry[link]

Musical styles and influences[link]

The Telegraph released their interview with Monáe talking about her first studio album where they said "I begin to worry for a moment that Monáe may not just be a humourless science-fiction nerd, but actually an android herself, created in a laboratory as a super-musical cross between James Brown, Judy Garland, Andre 3000 and Steve Jobs, invented to test the desperate incredulity of music journalists". They also compared Monáe to artists such as Annie Lennox and Lauryn Hill.^[23] Her musical styles have been described as "a soaring orchestral trip enlivened with blockbuster vocals, mysterious imagery and notes of Sixties pop and jazz".^[24] The Guardian have noted some of her influences as: Michael Jackson, Prince, OutKast, Erykah Badu, Beyonce, James Brown, Grace Jones, Stevie Wonder, David Bowie, Jimi Hendrix, Bernard Herrmann, Funkadelic and the Incredible String Band.^[25] Monáe has stated that she has an alter-ego named Cindi Mayweather who according to Monáe is from the year 2719.^[26] In her first EP she gave her alter-ego a back-story stating that she is on the run after breaking the law in her home town of Metropolis after falling in love with a human named Anthony Greendown. Monáe explained about Cindi, saying "The Archandroid, Cindi, is the mediator, between the mind and the hand. She's the mediator between the haves and the have-nots, the oppressed and the oppressor. She's like the Archangel in the Bible, and what Neo represents to the Matrix."^[27]

Public image[link]

Monáe has gained a signature clothing style of wearing a Tuxedo wardrobe and she said on the matter to Honey Magazine "I bathe in it, I swim in it, and I could be buried in it. A tux is such a standard uniform, it’s so classy and it’s a lifestyle I enjoy. The tux keeps me balanced. I look at myself as a canvas. I don’t want to cloud myself with too many colors or I’ll go crazy. It’s an experiment I’m doing. I think I want to be in the Guinness Book of World Records."^[28] In Monáe's concerts she has been noted to hand out her Ten Droid Commandments which encourages her fans to be individuals.^[27] The Telegraph also commented on her image as an artist saying "Sitting in a grey, airless record company office, this slight, stiff young woman delivers her speech in slow, deliberate tones, utterly expressionless. Dressed in her trademark starched shirt and tuxedo, hair immaculately coiffed, Monáe’s face is an opaque mask of perfection: all silken smooth skin, button nose and glassy brown eyes."^[23] She has described her Tuxedos as being a uniform for her career and she has stated that she wears them when she is working.^[27] She also featured in the "Style 100" of InStyle Magazine.^[29]

Discography[link]

Studio albums[link]

Extended plays[link]

Singles[link]

Featured singles[link]

Guest appearances[link]

• 2005: In "House" Sessions (My First Love)
• 2005: Broadcasting the Definition (Peachtree Blues)
• 2005: Purple Ribbon All-Stars - Got Purp? Vol 2 ("Time Will Reveal," "Lettin' Go")
• 2006: Outkast - Idlewild ("Call the Law," "In Your Dreams")
• 2008: "Big" Collaboration with Big Boi and the Atlanta Ballet^[41]
• 2009: Chester French- Jacques Jams, Vol. 1: Endurance (Mixtape) ("Nerd Girl")
• 2009: Open Happiness
• 2009: Stargate Universe - "Earth" Episode 7, Season 1
• 2010: B.o.B. - B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray ("The Kids")
• 2010: Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty ("Be Still")
• 2010: of Montreal - False Priest ("Our Riotous Defects," "Enemy Gene")
• 2010: Without a Fight - For Colored Girls: Music From and Inspired by the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
• 2011: fun. - Some Nights ("We Are Young")
• 2011: ("Tightrope") (featuring Big Boi) - performance on Later With Jools Holland - BBC Television

Awards and nominations[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Janelle Monáe

• Official website
• Janelle Monáe at Allmusic
• Janelle Monáe discography at Discogs
• Janelle Monáe discography at MusicBrainz
• Janelle Monae interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' June 2010
• Janelle Monáe Interview
• Janelle Monáe interview at URB
• Janelle Monáe interview with SPIN
• Review of Tightrope (feat. Big Boi)
• Q & A with Janelle Monae
• "Janelle Monáe on BackPocketMag.com