Pitch Count - State Championship

Many college coaches I have spoken with consider HS tournament time the most dangerous period for #1 pitchers due to overuse. Talk about inheriting a potential injury!

The kid pitches friday night wins.I suspect a complete game. Forget about number of pitches. The next day you have this thought as a coach. He is unavailable? he might be able to get 1 or 2 batters out? And that is stretching it.

It is a dangerous time of the year for HS pitchers. Lots of rationalizing going on. He may be fine or show up at school with his arm in a sling, but 10 or 11 innings over two days is asking for trouble, imo. Hopefully he can comb his hair in a week or two.

The pitcher who throws 110 pitches on Friday would be taking the mound with an injured arm on Saturday.

Rest is what helps the arm heal! Throwing with an injured arm is the major cause of serious injury!

Number of pitches is important but recovery time is even more important in safe guarding the arm. IMO

Personally I have seen many more arm injuries from insufficient recovery than high pitch counts.

Many college coaches watch their signees closely during this time of year and I can tell you one that told me that it's just unbelievable what goes on. They rely on these players (all players) to come to school healthy and it is often times not happening. They have invested time and money on these recruits and they inherit problems.
Parents should also know that many schools that inherit problems are now taking a tougher stance on solutions, if your son is hurt BEFORE he gets to school, make sure your insurance in in order.

Winning a state championship is awesome, but not at anyone's expense. IMO, how sad.
What was that coach thinking!

Teams I've helped coach have been in this situation 3 times. Not once has the topic of throwing the Friday night pitcher again come up. He's done his job getting you to Saturday. Coaches have to now step up to the responsiblity of having a pitching staff prepared. JMHO!

Just saw an article where a team played 5 games in 5 days and coach was lauding his 5th day pitcher for giving him the 2nd complete game in 5 days

OUCH !!!

The innings rules still apply even in the state championships in Kentucky. A pitcher who pitched a complete game on Wednesday would be allowed to pitch again on Saturday. However, if you are unlucky enough to draw the Thursday game, if your pitcher throws more than 4 innings on Thursday, he can't throw on Saturday.

We are just about to start our state tournament, and this issue is very relevant. The structure of our tournament just BEGS a coach to abuse his stud pitcher.

The tournament is single elimination, five rounds, played over 15 days. Games are Friday/Tuesday/Friday/Tuesday/Saturday.

A team with a stud pitcher will pitch four of those five games - every game but the second round.

I've argued for years that not only is this structure potentially harmful to the stud pitcher, but it is a stupid way to decide a state champ, because it tends to identify the team with the best pitcher more than the best team.

All they would have to do is squeeze the games together more, say play the five games in 9 days, in which case (hopefully) the stud would only pitch two of the games.

Of course, our geniuses at the athletics association have no clue.

quote:

Originally posted by louisiana09:
Scenario: State Championship Weekend played on a single elimination format. Team wins on Friday night, pitcher threw 110 pitches. Same pitcher comes back on Saturday and pitches four innings and threw 80 more pitches. Team won the State Championship, but would any of you have done the same as a coach or allowed this to happen if it was your son? Kid has signed with a D1 school.

This is insane.

I believe it's scenarios like these, and tournaments in general, that are a much bigger problem than things like curveballs.

No big league pitcher does it, so why is it OK for a kid in HS to do it?

quote:

Originally posted by Rob Kremer:
Of course, our geniuses at the athletics association have no clue.

Well then this should make a lovely parting gift for each of them...




Of course their desires most likely lean towards this one...

How many pro teams cringe when they see how much their draftees are used in the CWS? It isn't limited to HS.

quote:

Originally posted by CADad:
How many pro teams cringe when they see how much their draftees are used in the CWS? It isn't limited to HS.

This is one reason why I like guys who converted to P in college.

You know that in HS they didn't endure this kind of abuse, and their arms are probably still in one piece.

I'm getting tired of getting those two games every Xmas and birthday. I wonder if somebody is trying to tell me something? Nah...

That's pretty much exactly what my sons HS coach told me. If he ever pitches varsity than I will throw him as often and as much as I want. No coach you'll never get the chance.

quote:

Originally posted by bb1:
That's pretty much exactly what my sons HS coach told me. If he ever pitches varsity than I will throw him as often and as much as I want. No coach you'll never get the chance.

Run away...