As I posted earlier, the NFHS is forcing the S.C. High School League to adopt a rule dealing with maximum pitch counts and required days of rest. As expected, the SCHSL is working with the S.C. Baseball Coaches Association to come up with a proposed rule. On Monday, the SCBCA voted to endorse a weak rule that would provide limited protection to players, while minimizing any inconvenience to coaches.
As you may know, USA Baseball and MLB have come out with recommended guidelines to cover this issue. See www.pitchsmart.org. The Pitch Smart Guidelines provide that 17 and 18 year olds may not throw more than 105 pitches in a game. They also provide that 15 and 16 year olds may not throw more than 95 pitches in a game.
Unfortunately, the SCBCA has chosen to ignore the advice of the best medical minds on the planet. If adopted by the SCHSL, the SCBCA proposal would allow ALL varsity pitchers to throw up to 120 pitches in a game, regardless of whether they were 15 or 18. Even worse, the 120 is not exactly a hard limit. My understanding is that if a pitcher hits 120 during an at bat, he could complete that at bat before being removed. So, you will still see counts in the low-mid 120’s.
The Pitch Smart Guidelines also require certain mandatory calendar days of rest, depending on the number of pitches thrown in a game. I have not seen the SCBCA proposal regarding mandatory rest. It is my understanding that they are okay with the Pitch Smart rules regarding rest. If true, that part is encouraging. But, as we saw in another thread, people have different ways of defining a “day of rest.”
I am not saying the Pitch Smart Guidelines are perfect. But, they represent the opinions of the best medical professionals we have. These are the guys who treat the injuries caused by overuse. It would seem to me that their recommendations should only be ignored if there is compelling evidence to the contrary.
Do the SCBCA and SCHSL have compelling evidence or reasons for ignoring the guidelines? Of course not. I challenge everyone within SCBCA and SCHSL to give me one good reason how these more liberal pitch count limits benefit players.
If you took a survey of HS coaches, most would probably tell you that 95% of the time (or more) their pitchers throw less than 105 pitches in a game. Some would be exaggerating, but that’s still what they would say. But, let’s assume they’re telling the truth. That means that setting the upper limit at 105 will have no impact on 95% (or more) of their games! So, why then, do we need an upper limit of 120+?
Higher pitch counts and fewer days of rest benefit coaches, not players. There are a lot of good HS coaches in SC. But, let’s face it, some of these guys just want to ride their stud pitchers as long as possible. I have seen it too many times. It’s all about winning games to them. Others are just plain lazy. Pitch counts and mandatory rest would require some coaches to spend a lot more time developing pitchers. The good coaches would quickly adapt to reasonable rules, like the Pitch Smart Guidelines, if they haven't already. Others would rather take the easy route of higher pitch counts.
Unfortunately, SCHSL and SCBCA insist on doing this all behind closed doors. I have encouraged SCHSL to open the process to parents and the media. Thus far, they have declined to do so. Wouldn’t you like to know how your son’s coach voted on this issue? I know I would. But, they’re going to do everything they can to avoid this information becoming public.
Despite the SCBCA’s vote, this issue is not over. The SCHSL must still come up with a final proposal, run it by their Medical Committee, and submit it to their executive committee for a final vote. Hopefully, somewhere along the way someone will take a stronger stand to protect young arms. These are still youth sports folks. We should value development more than winning.
As you may know, USA Baseball and MLB have come out with recommended guidelines to cover this issue. See www.pitchsmart.org. The Pitch Smart Guidelines provide that 17 and 18 year olds may not throw more than 105 pitches in a game. They also provide that 15 and 16 year olds may not throw more than 95 pitches in a game.
Unfortunately, the SCBCA has chosen to ignore the advice of the best medical minds on the planet. If adopted by the SCHSL, the SCBCA proposal would allow ALL varsity pitchers to throw up to 120 pitches in a game, regardless of whether they were 15 or 18. Even worse, the 120 is not exactly a hard limit. My understanding is that if a pitcher hits 120 during an at bat, he could complete that at bat before being removed. So, you will still see counts in the low-mid 120’s.
The Pitch Smart Guidelines also require certain mandatory calendar days of rest, depending on the number of pitches thrown in a game. I have not seen the SCBCA proposal regarding mandatory rest. It is my understanding that they are okay with the Pitch Smart rules regarding rest. If true, that part is encouraging. But, as we saw in another thread, people have different ways of defining a “day of rest.”
I am not saying the Pitch Smart Guidelines are perfect. But, they represent the opinions of the best medical professionals we have. These are the guys who treat the injuries caused by overuse. It would seem to me that their recommendations should only be ignored if there is compelling evidence to the contrary.
Do the SCBCA and SCHSL have compelling evidence or reasons for ignoring the guidelines? Of course not. I challenge everyone within SCBCA and SCHSL to give me one good reason how these more liberal pitch count limits benefit players.
If you took a survey of HS coaches, most would probably tell you that 95% of the time (or more) their pitchers throw less than 105 pitches in a game. Some would be exaggerating, but that’s still what they would say. But, let’s assume they’re telling the truth. That means that setting the upper limit at 105 will have no impact on 95% (or more) of their games! So, why then, do we need an upper limit of 120+?
Higher pitch counts and fewer days of rest benefit coaches, not players. There are a lot of good HS coaches in SC. But, let’s face it, some of these guys just want to ride their stud pitchers as long as possible. I have seen it too many times. It’s all about winning games to them. Others are just plain lazy. Pitch counts and mandatory rest would require some coaches to spend a lot more time developing pitchers. The good coaches would quickly adapt to reasonable rules, like the Pitch Smart Guidelines, if they haven't already. Others would rather take the easy route of higher pitch counts.
Unfortunately, SCHSL and SCBCA insist on doing this all behind closed doors. I have encouraged SCHSL to open the process to parents and the media. Thus far, they have declined to do so. Wouldn’t you like to know how your son’s coach voted on this issue? I know I would. But, they’re going to do everything they can to avoid this information becoming public.
Despite the SCBCA’s vote, this issue is not over. The SCHSL must still come up with a final proposal, run it by their Medical Committee, and submit it to their executive committee for a final vote. Hopefully, somewhere along the way someone will take a stronger stand to protect young arms. These are still youth sports folks. We should value development more than winning.