Originally posted by TPM:
quote:
Originally posted by nolan ryan:
I thought I'd get a couple "shame on you's". I know it doesn't sound great but like I said, every kid is different and there is no mathematical formula you can apply to all kids. Body types and deliveries are much different. My son has long arms, big hands, and broad shoulders. His delivery is long, smooth, and effortless. We've all seen the kids, we have some on our team, that stress, strain, and grind to throw every pitch as hard as they can - looks like their arm may fly off at any minute - or they just may p**p their pants! Logic tells me that my son should be able to throw many more pitches than the kid putting way more stress on their elbow and shoulder.
He took July off other than some catch here and there. He'll play some fall ball, maybe 3-4 tournaments and a few practices.
Once he gets into HS and showcase ball next year, the coaches will likely be far more limited on pitch counts/innings.
You asked us for thoughts, I gave mine, you can justify all you want, but with the innings and pitch counts you have given us, that is overuse. If you think that your son will avoid issues because of his delivery, or his statue you are kidding yourself. You think as he gets older they will cut back, no that is the time when the innings and pitch counts increase, that is the IMPORTANT time.
I have given my stance on the frequent use of the curveball at a young age, my opinion is no one here would like to admit their sons injury was caused by anything other than it "just happened". Pitching is risk vs reward, you all as parents can control it when your kids are young after that it's out of your hands. What are you gonna do, call up the college coach and tell him your son pitched too much the day before? Your time is now, use it wisely.
What you dads tend to not realize is that your sons can sail through middle school and high school, maybe college, maybe drafted. Just ask a minor league first rounder how he feels that he has major shoulder issues and removed from the 40 man and not placed back on because everyone knows that shoulders rarely heel. Ask all of those guys who are released even after TJS because the organization can't wait another year while you find your control. Just ask the college starter who is supposed to be a first round pick (actually first of 5) and blows out his UCL (HS overload and multo sport), and is not drafted, the following year later because he can't find his control. He is playing in ML but he lost out of LOTS of money due to overuse before he got to college. Just ask the HS starter who has every major D1 after him and suddenly he develops shoulder issues (lose of velo). Most of those programs suddenly disappear.
Because you are not seeing it now, doesn't mean it's not possible. Again, you all sound like a dad that bragged how great his son's performance was all through growing up and HS and got to college and couldn't pitch more than an inning at a time. Shoulder issues.
You do what you want, it's only you guys who have to get up in the morning and look at yourself in the mirror everyday, enjoy as much as you can now.
Talking to a trainer from a big program the other day, can't beleive what issues pitchers come with. You guys have no clue, really you don't. You want to argue, fine, but I can't see hoe parents of 14,15 year olds can see the future, unless you have a crystal ball.
I don't have a dog in this fight anymore, luckily my player has escaped major issues, but non the less he has had issues that have set him back, maybe even prevented him from someday reaching the top, even WITH minor stuff. Has he gone further than many, yes, but that was not the original intention. You see for every pitcher that goes down, there is another one right behind you, HS, college and pro.
