Originally Posted by AGDAD19:
All for pitch counts but unfortunately they are very narrow mind and leave to much to interpretation. I think the most critical and often left out interpretation of pitch counts is how they are reached. I feel those, including Andrews, who produce these pitch counts are missing that critical issue and often imply a "one size fits all" mentality. Yes I know they are just guidelines, but then you are leaving the interpretation up to those we've already established are often to dumb to follow them be it parents or coaches. Simply saying 70 or 80 or 90 pitches is grossly inadequate. How the pitcher reaches that total is far more critical. I'll simply say this, a pitcher who throws 85 or 90 pitches over 6 innings, never had an inning over 20 and team's had multiple innings scoring runs and having quality at bats is at less of a risk than a pitcher who throws 75 pitches in 3 innings and team's failed to produce a base runner. But by their matrix, 75 is better than 90. I really think someone needs to come up with a guideline of pluses and minuses based on number of pitches per inning and rest time between innings.
My dream would be for high school coaches to follow this rule of thumb:
1) 85 PC reached in inning is the last inning for the pitcher but pitcher can complete inning unless 105 PC is exceeded. .
2) 20-30 PC in two consecutive innings before reaching 85 PC constitutes removal of pitcher.
3) More than 30 PC in any one inning constitutes removal of pitcher.
I would like to see more stringent guidelines adopted by UIL for pitchers that would be mandated.
There is no reason for parents or kids to have to be the "bad guy".