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So Michael Ward is now the Tuesday(100+ pitches)/Friday(100+ pitches)/Monday pitcher ("not many pitches)?

I know this is an old subject, but an important one. I sure wish coaches would take better care of young talent. Sorry, but I don't buy the "HE asked for the ball" or "HE said his arm felt fine" responses. I've met very few pitchers with arm problems who indicated that they had problems "leading up" to the injury. Their arms all feel fine UNTIL that LAST pitch!


Just my opinion!
So, let me get this straight, this Ward kid threw around 100 pitches, last Tuesday, last Friday and Monday???

Even if his pitch count was 60-80 on those days, it is not that it is too much work, but there is not near enough recovery time. A kid may not feel the effects this season, or next. But down the road, chances are, it will get you(see Kerry Wood).

I will qualify that statement by saying that every kid is different. However, 100+ pitches(plus pregame bullpen, plus warm-ups in between innings, plus pick offs, plus fielding plays) three times in 7 days would be real bad for anyone.
He didn't throw that many in his two innings, probably in the neighborhood of 15 pitches.

The other two starts, I believe he only approached 100 pitches in one of them, and I don't think he broke 80 pitches, but that is purely a guess. The other was a rain shortened game, and I believe he only threw around 40 pitches.

So, everybody take a step back. Coach Stramp would not do anything to harm Michael or his arm.

Micheal is also not a true power pitcher, nor is he a strikeout pitcher. He puts the ball in play and is very efficient.

And TT53, get your facts straight before you start accusing a coach of overusing a pitcher, a high crime in today's world. And Keller did kick butt, but not at the expense of a kid's arm!!!
Last edited by KellerDad
kellerdad,

Thanks for the details, not that anything Coach Stramp does should be questioned. I have lefty that has a real "loose" arm. He could comeback with 1 days rest and close a game if needed. His recovery is extraordinary. Coach Stramp knows his kids better than any of us. Besides, if those were his approximate pitch counts then, in my opinion, that is not even close to over work.
quote:
Originally posted by KellerDad:
He didn't throw that many in his two innings, probably in the neighborhood of 15 pitches.

The other two starts, I believe he only approached 100 pitches in one of them, and I don't think he broke 80 pitches, but that is purely a guess. The other was a rain shortened game, and I believe he only threw around 40 pitches.

So, everybody take a step back. Coach Stramp would not do anything to harm Michael or his arm.

Micheal is also not a true power pitcher, nor is he a strikeout pitcher. He puts the ball in play and is very efficient.

And TT53, get your facts straight before you start accusing a coach of overusing a pitcher, a high crime in today's world. And Keller did kick butt, but not at the expense of a kid's arm!!!


Keller Dad,
First of all I think Coach Stramp is a very good coach but is using some questionable judgement here; and I know he wouldn't do anything to knowingly injure a player. I would rather see coaches err on the side of caution where pitchers arms are concerned. If you've been reading the papers, and somehow I think you have been, almost every write up regarding Keller over the last 2 weeks mentioned Michael Ward's pitch count.

As far as the facts are concerned, here ya go.....just spoke to a friend who has the book from one of the games and Michael Ward threw 103 pitches (61 strikes/42 balls) in one of the two games (Tue/Fri). Not bad, your "guess" was off by only 25% or so.... I guess YOUR facts aren't straight but I'm sure they "kick butt".

By the way, can you name the major league pitchers who threw 100 pitches in games with 2 days rest? Just wondering.
IMHO, I think you guys need to cut Kellerdad some slack in regard to his "kick butt" comment. He has been a long time contributor here and I think it's ok to continue to jab him a bit here and there as long as it's good-natured and in jest. The nature of the site encourages disagreement -- and it makes for good drama...but I'm in favor of discussing the topic at hand, rather than something that was said in the past.....in another topic at that.

As I see it, KD didn't condone an unusually high pitch count.

We saw Brad Furnish battle Eric Ridener last year (in 50-degree April weather) and the pitch count was 275 between them -- you do the math.

Oh...and I agree that 3 straight games does not provide appropriate recovery time. Seems someone is counting on coin flips?

-PD
Last edited by Panther Dad
But, you stated that he pitched 3 games in one week, which is FALSE. He pitched 2 games back to back, and then had a week's rest before pitching last night for 2 innings. Not 3 games in a week.


I have watched Stramp coach for a few years, and I have never thought he was over using a pitcher. He just recently had a kid drafted in a very high round, and the scouts I talked to all complemented Coach on his use of the player in question.
Panther Dad,

In looking back at the beginning of this thread it was you who resurrected the "kick butt" comment!

Anyway, I just have an overriding concern for pitchers arms and has been addressed in another thread, catchers legs. Part of me would like to see a 3-game week to "force" coaches to develop deeper staffs, but we would probably see some pitchers starting 3 times a week!

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