The-Kids Flashbacks......May 7th, 2023......
1988: Major League Baseball begins tracking pitch counts as an official statistic.
The pitch clock and what it means for pitchers health in 2023. You won't find this on MLB/ESPN and it's only found here in The Kids MLB/Baseball Thread.
There aren't official records of injuries from the 70s and 80s so we can't really go back and get that stuff unfortunately but we can probably make a good guess as to the reason they started using pitch count not just for stats but yeah because notable pitchers were getting injured.
Going back to the pitch count it was actually famously instituted before the 88 season but not by the MLB but by teams.....and most notably one team for one particular player.
Why?
As the 1986 season came to an end, the pain continued to throb in Nolan Ryan's right elbow. Finally, he relented. Ryan visited Dr. Frank Jobe and was told there was a ligament tear in the elbow.......
In 1987 The Houston Astros implemented the pitch count when Nolan Ryan was on the mound as a result of his injury after 100 pitches it didn't matter if he was pitching good or bad he was out and the bullpen came in. Later the MLB instituted the pitch count and also would give guidelines as to what an acceptable pitch count was.
These efforts were meant to reduce the amount of injuries resulting from those eras in the 70s and 80s and a very similar pace of play they had then to the pace of play we have now in 2023 thanks to the pitch clock. This and we have to keep in mind the average pitcher now in 2023 does pitch less innings but relative to their times and eras, your average pitcher now in 2023 performs at a much higher level than the average pitcher in the 70s and 80s in terms of higher velo on average and higher spin rate on average than the average pitcher of the 70s/80s......
And this is where the problem is. We brought pitchers who are performing at this higher level in today's time back to the 70s and 80s in terms of pace of play and we expect pitchers to bring the same higher level of performance in today's game in a much shorter period of time without even considering these things and considering them as factors.
This places a tremendous amount of stress on our pitchers arms in today's game because as said they are performing at a much higher athletic level on average in terms of average velo and spin rate compared to the 70s and 80s. Its a factor no one has considered or really taken into consideration.
This isnt definitive but the best I can come up with as to why there have been record pitchers landing in the IL faster than most can recall in such a short period of time for the month of April.
The following are preventative measures pitchers and players should consider here regarding the pitch clock and asking players to perform at the same level as last year in a much shorter amount of time. Asking pitchers to perform at the same level in a shorter period of time could potentially increase the stress on their arms and increase the risk of injury and the record amount of pitchers landing on the IL may not be a coincidence as the pitch clock has essentially forced pitchers to do just that.
1. Adjust pitcher workload: Teams could focus on reducing the overall workload for their pitchers, including limiting the number of pitches thrown in a game and giving pitchers more time off between starts. This could help reduce the physical strain on pitchers and lower the risk of injury.
2. Improve pitcher conditioning and training: Teams could focus on improving pitcher conditioning and training regimens to help strengthen and protect their arms. This could include exercises to improve flexibility, strengthen the rotator cuff and other key muscle groups, and improve overall conditioning.
3. Improve rest and recovery: Teams could work to improve the quality and length of rest and recovery time for their pitchers, including providing more time off during the season and focusing on recovery strategies such as massage, stretching, and other forms of therapy.
4. Monitor pitcher health: Teams could use advanced technology to monitor pitcher health and detect potential injury risks before they occur. This could include tracking the number of pitches thrown by individual pitchers, monitoring their velocity and mechanics, and using tools such as MRI scans to detect signs of injury before they become serious.
By implementing these and other strategies, teams may be able to reduce the risk of arm injuries among pitchers and keep their players healthy and competitive over the long term in the age of the pitch clock.
The main thing that kept nagging at me was Nolan Ryan and how he hated the pitch count but following that and going back to the 70s and 80s for reference of pace of play comparing them and now I think this makes sense and it's not definitive but probably the best reason I can come up with or think of or have heard as to why this is happening to our pitchers at a record pace with then landing in the IL at a record pace.
So many dudes now, Jose Quijada, deGrom, Luis Garcia..........and countless others. Please let's save our pitchers and please keep them safe because this is a very dangerous game we are playing not just with their team and for fans but for those guys out there putting themselves at risk pitching everyday.
