South, I think you are totally correct. We have a kid on our 16 year old team who probably hits 72 with his fastball. Almost everyone I talk to asks why he is on our team. However, he hits his spots, has movement and a couple of off speed pitches. He gets outs. Very effective.
I think what some here realize is that when moving to the next level, the upper end of the next level anyway, is that scouts and recruiters generally look at velocity. Good or bad, that is a reality. I would say these same people, if somehow they wound up with a slower thrower on their staff who got outs, would use him. But unfortunately, it may be very hard to get a look if you are not in the "fast" category.
Now, going back to my above example. When that kid is not spot on, he will get shellacked. If his fastball is not moving, or he is leaving it up in the zone, he can get teed off on. The harder throwers will have more room for error on a bad day. A kid throwing 86 can make a mistake up and still get it by a kid, where the 72 just won't do it. Not saying the 86 can't get hit, but the chances of it getting past the hitter are much better.
I think that is part of the advantage of being a harder thrower. On an off day, in terms of location, your chances are better for missing bats the harder you throw. Maybe that is why the decision makers are looking for the guys who throw harder.
Totally with you BB. This thread started with a question about "pitching to contact". I'm a big fan of P2C whether you throw 90, 80, or less ... because you can get outs, while holding down pitch counts (wear).
The NPA and others will tell you that a Pitcher's max pitch totals for a year should be no more than his Age x 100 (16 yr old = max of 1,600 pitches per year). Now, before we get crazy, there is obviously some practical limit to this formula. I am not saying that Jamie Moyer should be allowed to throw 8,000 pitches per year
.
If you subscribe to this idea (and the 4" scar on my left shoulder makes me a believer), then why would you not want to train every Pitcher to P2C?
Get 3 outs with the least amount of effort possible. If that is 3 pitches -- Great! If that is 9 pitches and 3 K's -- Great! If that is 12 Pitches, with a K, a ground ball, and a pop-up -- Great!
The fewer pitches a kid has to throw to get 3 outs, the fewer bad things can happen in the game; the faster he can rehab to come back strong; the less long-term wear & tear on the body; and generally speaking good things tend to happen.
That's my perception of Pitching to Contact, and why I'm a fan of the idea.
The NPA and others will tell you that a Pitcher's max pitch totals for a year should be no more than his Age x 100 (16 yr old = max of 1,600 pitches per year). Now, before we get crazy, there is obviously some practical limit to this formula. I am not saying that Jamie Moyer should be allowed to throw 8,000 pitches per year
.If you subscribe to this idea (and the 4" scar on my left shoulder makes me a believer), then why would you not want to train every Pitcher to P2C?
Get 3 outs with the least amount of effort possible. If that is 3 pitches -- Great! If that is 9 pitches and 3 K's -- Great! If that is 12 Pitches, with a K, a ground ball, and a pop-up -- Great!
The fewer pitches a kid has to throw to get 3 outs, the fewer bad things can happen in the game; the faster he can rehab to come back strong; the less long-term wear & tear on the body; and generally speaking good things tend to happen.
That's my perception of Pitching to Contact, and why I'm a fan of the idea.
Anyone notice that CC Sabathia started pitching to contact last night around the fifth? I am assuming that was to keep his pitch count as low as possible to stay in the game as long as possible. That IMO is the whole idea behind PTC. All pitchers do it, even the overpowering 90+ guys.
