I wouldn't worry too much about it. The idea behind pitch counts isn't necessarily to completely protect the entire class of pitchers from any overuse at all. It's mainly to get rid of the gross, over-the-top incidents. They set the numbers at a level where coaches still have some control and flexibility, yet at a level where they will never have to face those viral stories about the kid that threw 195 pitches. We're on our second year of pitch counts here in Colorado. Except that the number is 110, the rest is about the same. We also are required to post stats (especially pc #'s) on MaxPreps within 24 hours of a game, so we have a pretty good data base. I poured over it extensively. I only found one case that came close to a situation where a coach rode a player right up to the limits at every possible opportunity. The vast majority of schedules don't allow it anyway. Even though it's statistically possible, you have to have some faith in the coaching community.
Good point....I do have "some faith" in the coaching community lol, but I also have seen enough to know that "some" is probably being nice. I can't count how many times I've seen kids in our area (and friends of my son) throw entirely too many pitches....on entirely too little rest....especially at the end of the season where a team may be trying to win a league title then rolls right into the sectional tourney. When kids pitch so much that they can't throw in the summer when college coaches can see them, it's a problem....or they can't stay in shape the summer before they head to college because their arm is sore from throwing too much in April and May, it's a problem. How about showing up as a college freshman in the fall throwing 6-7 mph less than you threw when you were recruited because you were shut down all summer because your threw way too much in the spring or worse yet...can't throw at all and sit around watching their college team practice. All 3 of these scenarios are kids I know just from last year's graduating class. The 3-day rest thing is more of an issue to me than the 125 pitch max, but I guess we'll have to let the coaches conscience deal with it since the rule doesn't.
That was my first reaction to the rest time when Colorado implemented their rules - why the three instead of four day rest period? I also think most states followed Colorado's lead on that one. I believe the reason they did so was so coaches could protect their ability to have some flexibility on this when the playoffs roll around. In Colorado that hardly matters because we play each round over a weekend schedule, so there is, at minimum five days between allowed pitching appearances during the post-season.
I also have come to realize that if indeed a kid is brought back on three days rest after a 100+ pitch start a couple of times a year, while it isn't ideal, it's probably not anything to get too worked up about. Such damage comes from consistent overuse rather than any one time stress event. Most schedules wouldn't make it an issue even if a coach wanted to do this. What this has eliminated, though, is what was happening especially at small schools (or most schools back when I played). Some of those schools would ride one pitcher relentlessly. I have a pitcher I coach during the summer that attends a 1A school here in Colorado (enrollment of less than 50 for this school). At 1A, he's really dominant.
The year before the pitch counts went into effect, he started EVERY SINGLE game - every one. Often he's throw 130 pitches on a Monday and be back out on the mound on Wednesday. It was insane. After the rules went into effect, the coach had no choice but to use more pitching - those one and two day rest periods became a thing of the past. Two years ago, I saw another example in the state championships at 3A. We play a double elim state tournament. A particular team made it out of the losers bracket into the finals, but had to win two games. They put their ace on the hill and he won, throwing 131 pitches. After a half-hour break, he took the mound and threw the first two innings of the second game - another 44 pitches. Now, a part of me was furious, but I have to admit another part understood the thinking of both the coach and the pitcher. This kid was a senior who was not playing beyond high school. He hadn't really been overused during the regular season (this was a pretty reasonable coach). Now, the debate I had with other coaches was one where the other side would argue that this was a special occasion and that the risk outweighed the reward. I can see that argument and I don't blame that coach. What the rules in effect now do, though they may not be as restrictive as many would like, is take that kind of decision completely out of the picture. In a way, it takes a lot of pressure off the coach while still allowing him some freedom to individually make decisions about what is best for his players.
