limit pitches & curve balls ??

Harsh indeed. I withdraw that remark. But Legion coaches seem to be oblivious to caring for pitcher's arms. Winning seems to supercede common sense & decency.

One of Pitt Co's pitchers did not accompany them to Alabama for the Southeast regional. Reason: he wanted to give his arm a rest before college at Wake Forest. That sounded so strange to me, especially considering the unique once-in-a-lifetime experience on which this kid was passing. After watching one of Pitt's pitchers approach 150 pitches against us in the championship game (working on 3 days rest), I suspect this kid has a reason to need a break.

Again, I'm no expert...but 150 pitches is simply too much. I used to pitch (back when catchers didn't wear masks). I remember the numb feeling & dull aching bicep & the stiff shoulder the next day. I also remember that we didn't have ice & pitching counts & stretching routines & so on. Somebody should have coached that part of the game then & now.

 

wswball,

You forgot to add that all you pitcher-types are weenies by nature. If you guys donned "the gear" for about 10 days straight in 90+ degree weather, you'd be begging to toe the rubber and throw 125 pitches.:imagestor

 

I agree 100%. My experience with all teams be it Little League, High School, AAU or Legion is that proper warm-ups are lacking, especially when it comes to pitchers. All athletes need daily conditioning whether it be leading up to an event or coming off of one.

 

Spoken like a true catcher's dad....

 

LL homers & fence distance

Would like more comments from coaches in the 11-12 age groups & getting back to this subject as it relates to the LL ages;
I hesitate to say this, but honestly if they were to limit LL-age pitchers from throwing curve balls , I really think they would need to move the fences back about 15-25' because the higher-skilled batters would really be setting back ready to smack the fastball.
Tonight in the LLWS , the team from Pa.? (vs. Iowa) hit 6 out-of-the- park homers.

 

The kids from Hawaii are freaking killing the ball. I think they should push the fences back anyways. Leave it 205 in the corners but push it back to 215-220 in center.

 

I think its a bad idea.. whos going to control or police a kid throwing a curve ball?
Whats the penalty ?
If you learn or teach the proper ways to throw a baseball there should not be any arm problems.
In my opinion a kid throwing all fastballs and change ups does more harm once the kid is getting tired than throwing off speed, but some coaches just let the kid keep right on throwing.

The reason i say fastballs and change up is they both are actually fastballs .
The pitcher gets tired , keeps throwing fastballs and change ups , develops poor mechanics and next thing you know its the arm , and then blamed on throwing curves ...

 

Not yet, but maybe someday...................but a former catcher - yes.

 

EastofRaleigh

Keep in mind that Little League, or any other league for that matter must have a pitching rule that can be easily enforced. Hence that is why they use the Innings pitched rule. Total pitches, well you can invision the arguements that would insue over that one. And I think the no-curve ball rule would lead to the same arguments. Was it a sinking change-up or a curve, just more fodder for parents to argue about.

A better angle to pursue in my opinion would be how to increase the baseball knowledge of all the youth coaches out there. What could be done to insure better skills teaching? One of the things our league required years ago was that every coach had to attend a 6 hour seminar taught by Gary Robinson at Extra Innings ( fielding, hitting, pitching and catching was discussed and demonstrated). How effective that was I can't say, but it was our leagues effort to address this problem.

Would better instruction lead to less injuries? Would a better understanding of the correct pitching mechanics help coaches recognize when I particular player is tired and needs to come out?

 

I favor the old rec. rules for LL. Three inning/ pitcher/ game.. It also makes for a much better game.. Forces some of the coach to think a little bit. Some games get a little boring when a team has one great pither.