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Pitch Count!
Posted by dippydooey on Aug 23, 2007 11:19:00 AM
Aug 24, 2007 1:26 PM
Chris Weinkauf
says:
Chris Weinkauf
says:
The pitch count is another hipocrasy mandated by INDOT. If you are going to mandate a pitch count, at least make it equivalent to an average complete game. It was a shame to watch the boy in the Little League World Series give up a LL record and having to be pulled after throwing 17 strike outs (out of 18 possible outs). If you struck out every batter faced in three pitches, you would total 54 pitches. So we arbitrarily give them 85?
I know you hear the crap like "there are only so bullets in the gun", etc. If LL was actually concerned about childrens arms, they would outlaw the curve-ball. This would be tough to enforce, but instead of having someone count pitches, they could study the arm motion. My sons have participated in "No breaking ball tourneys". If you see a pitch break (for whatever reason), its a called a ball. Most umpires and even brodcasters CAN tell the difference. Just listen to them describe a pitchers unbelievable curve ball, etc., etc. If the broadcasters (paid by LL) are touting a great curve ball at 12 years old, there obviously not that concerned about the child's arm (elbow).
Take out the hyporcritical rule and do something about the over zealous coach like I witnessed, that after HIS son threw a curve it sounded like a popscicle stick breaking. The kid was in obvious pain but continued to pitch (where was the umpire). After demonstrating that he could no longer throw, his dad put him at short stop. No throwing required there.....right?
BABE RUTH, Travel Tourney's, BPA don't have hypocritical pitching rules. As illustrated above, you can't regulate ignorance. I wonder why the other baseball leagues mentioned are growing so rapidly?? Give it ten more years and a few more rules, and I think you'll see.
Aug 24, 2007 1:35 PM
chris W
says
in response to Chris Weinkauf:
chris W
says
in response to Chris Weinkauf:
My bad. I accidentally wrote INDOT instead of Little League Baseball in the first sentence. of the last response. Please Keep reading, it truly do believe what I wrote. Thanks!
Aug 24, 2007 5:17 PM
Division III Umpire
says
in response to Chris Weinkauf:
Division III Umpire
says
in response to Chris Weinkauf:
I believe your information and thoughts might be a little flawed. If I can be so bold and say so. You stated "If the broadcasters (paid by LL) are touting a great curve ball at 12 years old, there obviously not that concerned about the child's arm (elbow)." The broadcasters are not paid by Little League Baseball." I as an experienced coach taught the proper way to throw a curve ball, and I then in turn called all pitches in a game I would call the curve 2-3 times a game, max. It is my experience, like any other want, kids are going to experiment, and subsequently get taught incorrectly, which then I agree would lead to injury.
Sep 2, 2007 9:31 AM
Michael_Taylor
says
in response to Trish18:
Michael_Taylor
says
in response to Trish18:
This is a little late but here goes.
Trish said she wasn't familar with L:LWS history. In the past LL has used an inning restriction in both regular season and allstars. In reg season it was no more than 6 innings in a week requiring a three days rest. In allstars it was 6 innings in a game with two days and no consecutive games. In alstars you could pitch one complete and pitch the next day.
The problem and the complaints were pitchers were getting used to death. You would see them throwing 100 to 170 pitches in an outing.
Two years ago LL did a pilot program with some selected leagues in the Eastern Region for pitch counts. It was implemented this year internationally. The regular season was 85 pitches and three days rest. In Allstars it was 85 and two days rest and no consecutive games. You could also throw 20 pitches and throw the next day.
Opinion is split on the need and usefulness of the pitch count rule. I don't see a problem with it nor any difficulty using it. Some have over complicated the counting of pitches and so dislike the rule. Others feel the number was too arbitrary. What it has done is caused managers to use more pitchers and will occansionally cause a change in the middle of an inning then wouldn't normally happen.
It was mentioned on one board that a manager would come out and ask about the count at 19, come back out at 20 and take his time changing pitchers. This to me is a game management problem with the umps. If this is a problem it is easily solved. You tell the manager to simply ask the plate ump from the dugout, PU comfirms and then realys back to the manager. Then when the next pitch happens go out and speed up the change. It isn't difficult.
Jul 16, 2009 3:02 AM
web site design
says
in response to Division III Umpire:
web site design
says
in response to Division III Umpire:
Yes if you see a pitch break for whatever reason its a called a ball. Most umpires and even brodcasters CAN tell the difference. Just listen to them describe a pitchers unbelievable curve ball, etc., etc. If the broadcasters (paid by LL) are touting a great curve ball at 12 years old, there obviously not that concerned about the child's arm (elbow).Theres a lot of work at home regarding this tournament on computers to learn all the tactics how to handle every situation during the match.
I just saw quite a few pitching changes in the Venezuela vs. Curacao game that just ended in order to preserve a pitcher for use on Saturday. The commentators mentioned that no other rule change has effected Little League baseball as much as the pitching regulations. I am not as familiar with LL history as I'd like to be--but it seems like that is a pretty fair statement.