What's up with that? Pitchers with braces and compression sleaves?

I noted a couple of the star pitchers at the creek were wearing 'appliances' on their pitching arms. Why? If it's preventive, don't bother. Little if any data to support any benefit. If there's already been overuse issues then reconsider pitching every inning of the HS season. Are there no other pitchers on these teams or in these counties capable of pitching innings? Maybe in 1A & 2A I could understand but surely in the larger schools there are other kids capable of pitching. Given this likelihood what's the advantage of these girls throwing every inning. I know these teams can win against many on their schedule without drop dead pitching. Pitching against most of teams is not really making a kid already committed to D1 school any better. Seems it would be far better to 'spread the wealth', involve other pitchers and save innings on the stud pitchers. 3A MVP Sara Christian from DH Conley had only thrown five 7-inning games before this weekend. Didn't seem to hinder her performance any. There's plenty of opportunity to get work against quality opposition in travel ball. If it's about records or rankings that's pretty short-sighted.

 

You hit it on the head in your last sentance. Record and rankings. It can come back to bite you if your pitcher has an injury during a game or late in the year

 

More importantly

it can come back to haunt the player when she's under the knife at 18 to have her shoulder 'tightened up' or have Tommy John. Anybody who doesn't understand that every inning takes a toll is fooling themselves. This is especially true for smaller pitchers (those under 5'10") who necessarily have to work harder to generate velocity because of shorter 'levers'.

 

Some just like them

There may not being any data to support that but some see a benefit. That is coming from pitchers that aren't overused. Kat Osterman and Sarah Pauly are two that come to mind. Not saying I agree or disagree with wearing them. My daughter doesn't but has asked about trying one.

 

Simple. There is a strikeout record that may be attainable in 4A. And yes there is another pitcher in the county that gets the same results in showcase ball, which by the way has verbally committed to a Big South DI school.! need I say more?

 

Which county?

I think I saw three pitchers with something on their pitching arms. As was pointed out in the looooong post above there's nothing inherently wrong with these sleaves. It just caused me to wonder if these kids were the only pitchers in the programs. High school innings are the LEAST important innings a potential college pitcher will ever throw. Unfortunately, some coaches and parents don't understand this. IMHO HS softball pitchers should be treated almost like baseball pitchers; limiting innings. I've seen a number of HS stars who were either mentally of physically finished before they ever got to campus including a couple from some pretty well-known HS programs in this state.

 

rule?

a rule to limit innings pitched will likely be the only way to accomplish such a result.

 

The answer to the which county question is Alexander

 

My DD is the pitcher from E.Rowan,she wears one of those sleeves.She also pitched most of the games for her school.It is a Phiten sleeve if you held it you would know it's not made out of much.It has liquid titanium in it,supposed to help with recovery.I don't know if thats true.Fact is a couple years ago she was having trouble with her mechanics,she would bang her elbow into her hip.We put the sleeve on as a result.Chief fixed the mechanics but she did not want to quit wearing her "security blanket",so its been part of her uniform ever since.No injury,worn out arm or anything like that,she just feels more comfortable with it on.

 

Makes sense to me . . .

Even is it has no physiological impact, the "placebo' effect is not to be sold short. She likes it, it can't hurt her, it's all good. Of course the best part of this post is the Chief getting her fixed . . . don't know of a better 'doctor'. Best of luck to her at Elon. She'll be playing for real fine person.