Injuries and fatigue

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Apr 1, 2011
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Perhaps my research skills are lacking, but everything i find online says that pitchers should be limited in the number of pitches thrown. I have always been told by my DD's PC that she is safe to throw multiple games. Her coaches want to have a 3 pitcher rotation. They are baseball guys who don't necessarily understand the intricacies of softball. Last season, we lost our third pitcher mid season. Our remaining 2 pitchers did great the rest of the season, but the coaches still want a 3 pitcher rotation. We played 12A/B this season and will move to 14B in the fall. So my question is, do most teams at this age and level rotate through starting pitchers?
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
Last 5 years or so colleges have gone to more of a pitching rotation. It used to be they rode their ace until their arm fell off. IMO some pitchers still pitch way too much but it better now.

12 – 14 range you should have 3 or 4 pitchers. You just need to figure it out were your best pitchers pitch in the bigger games.

(Also learn the SB pitching rules, there is a lot more flexibility with SB then in BB.)
 
Last edited:

JJsqueeze

Dad, Husband....legend
Jul 5, 2013
5,436
38
safe in an undisclosed location
Most teams rotate through starters in friendlies and pool games and then heavily use #1 and #2 in brackets. Most teams want three pitchers, it is kind of the magic number, 2 pitchers leaves you vulnerable to an injury and 4 ensures one very pissed off parent.
 
Dec 5, 2012
4,143
63
Mid West
This is where new teams pop up every fall. The #3 or 4 pitchers parents feel like Suzie was better than Sally etc.... and whalla! New team centered around Suzie and all the others who had to sit regularly.
 
Feb 7, 2013
3,188
48
So I'm currently following a local 14u team playing up at ASA 16u Gold Nationals. They are a very good team but lost a one run game early in bracket play and are now in the losers bracket. Yesterday they played (and won 4 straight games). Their #1 pitcher threw 385 pitches. With warm-ups and in between pitches thrown I'm sure the number is closer to 500+. To win the championship, they need to win 5 more games today and her pitch totals over 2 days will be staggering.

Is this commonplace? Is this right?

I will never forget what DD's old pitching coach told her. She played at a mid-level D1 but had two shoulder surgeries her sophomore year in college and her career was over. She attributed the injury to her travel ball playing days where her head coach had her pitch in as many as 5 games in a day.
 
Jun 17, 2009
15,105
0
Portland, OR
Perhaps my research skills are lacking, but everything i find online says that pitchers should be limited in the number of pitches thrown.

Let's see a summary of what your research came up with. Curious what your research revealed regards to limiting "the number of pitches thrown" and the recommended rest/recovery period prior to taking the circle again.
 

JJsqueeze

Dad, Husband....legend
Jul 5, 2013
5,436
38
safe in an undisclosed location
So I'm currently following a local 14u team playing up at ASA 16u Gold Nationals. They are a very good team but lost a one run game early in bracket play and are now in the losers bracket. Yesterday they played (and won 4 straight games). Their #1 pitcher threw 385 pitches. With warm-ups and in between pitches thrown I'm sure the number is closer to 500+. To win the championship, they need to win 5 more games today and her pitch totals over 2 days will be staggering.

Is this commonplace? Is this right?

I will never forget what DD's old pitching coach told her. She played at a mid-level D1 but had two shoulder surgeries her sophomore year in college and her career was over. She attributed the injury to her travel ball playing days where her head coach had her pitch in as many as 5 games in a day.

It's child abuse.
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
Let's see a summary of what your research came up with. Curious what your research revealed regards to limiting "the number of pitches thrown" and the recommended rest/recovery period prior to taking the circle again.

I thought we decided you were not allowed to comment about pitching. :)
 
Dec 5, 2012
4,143
63
Mid West
Assuming she's got excellent mechanics, and the weather isn't a scorcher, most pitchers could easily throw as much as 3 games in a day. I personally don't like going over 2. It's the ones with crap mechanics that feel as if her shoulder is on fire after a game and a half...
 

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