How many pitches

quote:

Originally posted by mrtarheel:
What do you guys think is the max # of pitches a high school Sr should throw?

I love the question, but why ask the umpires, and not everyone in general? That was the 1st thing that came to my mind, but your question is important and shouldn’t be ignored.

Its good that you wonder, but the way you phrased the question, just about any answer would be ok. Now if you’d like to give a bit more information, like are you talking about a game, a week, or even a season, that would help. Also, are you talking about a “generic” HS Sr, or one who’s whose taken good care of himself both mentally and physically and is well conditioned, or one whose been a spot player off and on and never really conditioned himself well?

Now if you’re asking what the NC pitching limits are, that’s pretty interesting. I haven’t checked since 2010, but here’s what they were then.

No player may pitch more than 12 innings during any consecutive three-day period, nor may
a player make more than four appearances as a pitcher during any consecutive three-day
period.

Here’s an entire list that was current as of 2010. As you can see, no state uses pitch counts.
http://www.infosports.com/scor...images/pitlimits.pdf

quote:

Originally posted by Stats4Gnats:
I haven’t checked since 2010, but here’s what they were then.

It's the same for 2012.

quote:

Originally posted by yawetag:
It's the same for 2012.

I’m not at all surprised. I contacted a few of the states, and as far as they knew, their limits hadn’t changed since NFHS put it in the book that they had to have them.

NFHS - 6-1-6. . . Each state association shall have a pitching restriction policy to afford pitchers a reasonable rest period between pitching appearances.

Notice, it doesn’t say squat about restrictions for any appearance, but rather only for rest between appearances. So as far as NFHS or any state assn knows or cares, a coach could have a pitcher literally throw 200 pitches every game and still be well within the rules. And that’s what’s wrong with using innings as a restriction.

I hate to say it, but as far as mrtarheel or any other concerned parent goes, they’ll just have to hope their child doesn’t play for an idiot who would overuse or abuse them, or they’ll have to take parental responsibility and put their own limits on their child.

Luckily though, the number of coaches who feel its necessary to have kids throw hundreds of pitches, is rapidly diminishing.

The most I've ever seen was 176. It was in a playoff situation where one team had to beat the other twice. The pitcher entered to start the fourth of game one and pitched the rest of that one. After an hour break between games he threw seven more.

He was very good and won both, with no runs against, but...

quote:

Originally posted by mrtarheel:
What do you guys think is the max # of pitches a high school Sr should throw?

Probably no more than 3,500 in a season or 200 in a day. No more than 300 in consecutive days to protect the kids arm.

quote:

What do you guys think is the max # of pitches a high school Sr should throw?

on a hot day and I am the home plate umpire If they were all strikes keep him in there and pitch him tomorrow

I am not qualified to answer it but LL has limits for same age kids. I believe their's is 105 per day. Most pros don't allow anymore than that, and is usually less. Some guys are able to pitch more but they are rare. Last year a saw an adult pitcher pitch seven innings on Thursday, seven on Friday, nine on Saturday and nine on Sunday. He allowed two runs and lost the final game.
I suggest in the neighborhood of 100 and then decent rest. Some schools have gone to pitching by committee so you don't burn a pitcher completely.

Each gets 8 to warm up in the first inning... after that each gets 5 every inning... ... new pitcher gets 8... from there I have no clue!

In practice, it varies by player. Some adults can do the Michael Taylor thing, most HS players can't.

IMHO the biggest danger in HS is that there are virtually no limits and kids are afraid to say when they're done.

My advice, when you think you're getting tired, tell the coach and don't be bashful. If you're out there getting hammered and injured, it does neither of you any good.

This could happen at 25, 55, 95, 115 or 135 whatever. Pitching tired leads to injury. Don't do it. In general, if you need 135 pitches to get through a seven inning game something is wrong...

Right now we have a local team that is stacked with talent. They have 5 or 6 pitchers that could be starters anywhere. Of the 6 they have 2 or 3 that have sore arms and can't pitch. This simply overwork. A couple are so concerned with throwing hard and forget to pitch.

A HS team with 5 or 6 pitchers and 2-3 sore arms is a pitching management tradegedy.

It's a crime is what it is.