quote:Originally posted by PGStaff:
I think we need to understand that each and every case is somewhat different. I'm not sure there is any proven formula that fits every individual. There's always risk and reward issues.
I think that is what we have been saying here, that each and every pitcher is different and there may not be any proven formula but only can go by what the experts suggest and even then there is controvesy. I go with the theory what makes sense, for each age appropriate in the development of a pitcher. Actually things haven't changed much since our guy was 14, we just used common sense, which is the best advice of all.
Can we not agree that in many cases as in everything else, it can become accumulative?
I am sure that 20dad has gone over in his mind what was done right and what may have done wrong, but I have never heard him come here to suggest what a pitcher should or should not to do because he knows that every pitcher is different and every circumstance is different.
Because you are a hard thrower does not mean injury will or will not happen, the danger in young hard throwers is that they are used often because they are successful, which is true at every level. We can monitor and protect them for so long, that's why I feel it is important to limit what they do when they are are under our control and very young. As I stated here from what a doctor told son, the less time spent pitching is less wear and tear overall, that's why he beleives that son began pitching too soon, at 8. That's an opinion, doesn't mean it's the right one. But it's from a qualified individual who is probably seeing more youth injuries than we do everyday.
The whole object is to get through your youth years, high school years injury free, until your son has been through that situation, you don't realize how that can affect your career, whether it be college or beyond. The bottom line is that Ryan and Johnson are exceptions, IMO, in some place or time all pitchers get injured, you want to be at a certain place where a year off doesn't mean that you will be discarded because of injury. Yes that's the chance you take pitching, but most people don't realize that injuries before college, injuries before pro baseball can place a stigma on you, damaged goods. Shoulder surgry being the biggest for pitchers. That prevents larger scholarhips and larger signing bonus (if that's your goal). For those that think that if you make it to pro ball and get injured then they will provide the BEST care, that is not always true, minor leaguers are subject to the care of the team doctor for all expenses paid, although allowed a second opinion, any care not within the team doctor might be strictly at your expense. Most milb players with major issues, especially shoulders, get fixed up, rehabbed and released. Seriously, you don't want to sustain a major injury in milb. Let's alos not compare proven ML pitchers that have come back from injury to college or pro players that haven't.
GBM,
I also noticed that you change your stories, first it's throwing from the mound as hard as he can to develop his velo, now it's lightly throwing, which is it really? We have no way of knowing what you are doing will prevent any injury, so yes I am obsessive about parents with 14 year olds giving advice as to how he is breeding his pitcher. It may be good, it may be bad, come back in a few years and then let us know, don't you get that? Anyone of us whose sons are a bit older can give you a list of things that you should or shouldn't do, but that wouldn't be realistic would it, as every pitcher is different, so why give it looking forward?
And yes I can ask PG anything I want, even though I haven't ever received a reply, he knows me and our player for a long time. I give him the right to reserve his opinion of me , not you.
CADad,
Good post. Since son has been feeling better, and a FB pitcher, he has to throw in game situations and BP his hardest frequently (to learn to accuratley hit spots with his highest velocity), those are things that you have to do because you are being paid to do so, so I understand what you are saying.
But he is 24 close to 25.