Parents of Pitchers: I'm new at what you do (and have done). Acutely aware of my lack of insight, I sought wisdom from my elders here at HSBBW and, in my quest, I found the highlighted text below from The Official Sage, Swampboy.
And lo, I have taken solace in his wisdom. He knows whereof I feel. Perhaps, though, I should have also sought percipience from Tim the Enchanter (who knows much that is hidden) because last night, during my son's league championship semifinal, I found myself unmoored and adrift in a distressing and cloying sea of miasmic brine. How do I get out of the brine and stay out?
My son came in in relief with no outs in the bottom of the fifth. Men on first and second. His team had been ahead 6-0 but the opposing team (and tournament top seed) had just gone single, walk, wild pitch, single, single, to make it 6-2. Momentum had suddenly shifted, as they say.
Then this happened: sac bunt, but bunter reaches first on catcher's throwing error. Now bases loaded, no outs. Catcher's interference, run scores (6-3), bases still loaded, no outs. K, K, Passed Ball, run scores (6-4), other runners advance. HBP (so bases loaded again). Finally, K for third out.
The next two innings were equally discombobulating, though not as statistically dramatic. He ended up with the save, which I realize is one of the black columns of the ledger and should make me happy. Which it did. Sorta.
I have never felt the way I did while I was watching those three innings. I was possessed by an ungodly mix of dread, fear, hope, and satisfaction, all at the SAME time.
Any specific suggestions on how to manage this state?
Also, and more importantly, he threw 57 high stress pitches yesterday. Since he threw less than 60 pitches, league rules allow him to throw 50 pitches in the tournament final tomorrow. I don't want him to pitch at all because 57 is already awfully close to 60. I'm worried that his arm is tired and I've read that tired arms become injured arms.
How would you manage that concern?
God bless all of you who have survived the journey I've just recently embarked on.
EDIT: A quick look at pitch limits by state: about 10 states allow a pitcher who's thrown 60 pitches to pitch again on one day of rest.
18 states put the limit at 50. 15 states have the max at 45.
Most conservative states: Arizona, Florida, Maryland: 46-60 pitches require 2 days rest.
https://www.baseballamerica.co...ount-rules-by-state/
SWAMPBOY, HSBBWeb Administrator
Welcome to the club!
Hitters add to their stats when good things happen. Pitchers add to their stats when bad things happen, so their parents' stress doesn't end until the game is over and no more bad things can happen.
A position player can strike out four times and make two errors, but then get one seeing-eye hit in the last inning and go home the happy hero of the game.
A pitcher can throw a gem all day and then have it all fall apart with a walk, an error, and a bloop in the last inning.
Position players can make up for their mistakes with good plays later. But when pitchers make mistakes, they get yanked. No chance for redemption. Just sit in the dugout with the tally of their mistakes illuminated on the scoreboard.
And don't forget the weight of individual responsibility for the entire outcome of the game, even aspects the pitcher can't control. If the crucial run scores against him, regardless of how it happens, then he alone of the whole team gets fingered in the box score as the loser. None of the batters who didn't drive in or score runs are losers. None of the fielders who didn't make plays are losers. Only the pitcher.
Every pitch my son throws is like a guy trying to defuse a bomb by snipping wires. Red? No! Green! BOOM! Everything he worked for all day can be destroyed at any instant.
And position player parents wonder why pitcher parents tend to wander off away from everybody and mutter to themselves?
