It drives me up a wall to see a starting pitcher get pulled from a game solely because he exceeded 100 pitches. This is especially maddening when you are a Phillies fan and you know how inconsistent (at least) the middle relievers are.
Has it been demonstrated statistically that firm use of the 100 pitch count really helps a pitcher's career or improves a team's chance to win?
2007-08-31T14:15:46Z
I probably didn't express my question very well. I know WHY managers use pitch counts. That much is obvious - no manager would want to shorten his pitchers' careers by overusing them. But many of them seem to use no judgment at all - 100 pitches and you are out.
What I don't know is if there is any kind of analytical support for doing this, or was it just someone's hunch that turned into the Common Wisdom? Did someone, somewhere, do some sort of statistical analysis that shows that this keeps pitchers healthier and gets more wins for a team, all other things being equal?
2007-09-01T05:15:02Z
I'm going to let the voters decide this one - no one has hit it right on the mark, really.
Scooter_loves_his_dad2007-08-30T14:40:10Z
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I think it's so stupid. John Sterling was driving me crazy with the pitch count crap. All he kept talking about was Wang's pitch count & that Torre would prefer for him to pitch 7 innings so that Chamberlin can pitch 1 inning & Mariano can pitch the 9th. It was as if in his own way he didn't want Wang to get the no hitter.
In some cases yes, in some cases no. I am a firm believer that the delivery of a pitcher should determine how long he should stay in a game. Soft tossing pitchers can stay in as long as they want, so long as they have control. Problem is, all pitchers try to achieve max velocity on their fastballs, so arms are going to get tired regardless. Also, pitchers who throw sidearm typically do not subject themselves to the same abuse that a flame-throwing 3/4 pitcher does. For safety's sake though, 100 pitches is usually where many pitchers start to hit the wall, and it's risky to both their health and the game to keep them in. Unreliable or not, that's why you have relievers.
Not a bit. If there were a drop in ERA or an increase in strike outs per innings pitched or a decrease in hits per inning it could be said that it helps. All that it does is make the mediocre pitchers have longer careers, the great pitchers have less impressive lifetime stats, and BORE THE FREAKING HECK OUT OF THE FAN when a team wins 7-2 and still uses 5 pitchers.
The purpose of the pitch count is to ATTEMPT to keep pitchers off the DL. Pitch count is only one part of that though. A lot of it has to do with types of pitches thrown, arm angles and arm action and rest. its the same reason why there is a big argument about what age you should learn certain pitches. A kid who starts throwing curves when he's in Little League has a higher chance of having elbow and shoulder issues sooner. Unfortunately they dont build pitchers like Cy Young anymore. If a pitcher is doing well I see no reason to pull him in the 7th or 8th due pitch count but dont EXPECT a guy to go out and throw 135-150 pitches every time out. Bullpen help may be really hard to come by but its not worth injuring someone to throw their arms out
Not statistics, but it does hurt them. Lots of pitchers who pitch too often or throw too many pitches go on the DL. Sore shoulders, dislocated shoulders it all happens because of overwork.
I'm not saying that a pitcher cant have an outing where they can go 130 135 but thats it. It depends on the guy too. Usually the athletes or the big guys like Sabathia Harang they can go a long distance.