Why we need some kind of pitch/inning count in softball!

[Vertigo]

Let's ask this question.

How many pitchers families want to be on a team where there are 4 pitchers?

Worked very well for DD’s 18U team the 3 years she was on that team. Each pitcher would throw at most 2-3 innings in a game. Since we only did showcases, we knew exactly how many games would be played per event (barring bad weather or if a college coach asked to see a pitcher more than once) so the coach would set the lineups where each pitcher saw fairly equal circle time. The only time a pitcher might get pulled sooner was if it was a walk-fest or she was getting crushed, or she might stay in longer if a college coach was there and specifically asked to see that player.

It worked out extremely well and I honestly had no complaints with the amount of time my kid got with 3-4 other pitchers on the team. Each pitcher would also get innings in their secondary position.

It takes a lot of planning ahead to do the above but it typically makes for less headaches (and injuries) down the road.

 

[RADcatcher]

Long thread I have not read all of it.

For those that would like a pitch count limitation~
What is that # of pitches per game?
Is that per day?
Weekend limitation?

 

[FP26]

Let's ask this question.

How many pitchers families want to be on a team where there are 4 pitchers?

During our load 18u season we had 4 pitchers on the team, including DD. Two of them were already playing in college and the other two were committed. It was more about staying sharp for them.

Instead of playing our 2nd year of 18u we decided to play 23u. 6 players on our team were recent high school grads that were preparing for college ball. The rest of the team was active college players. We had 6 pitchers on the team that summer but most were not available for every tournament. The most we had for any given tournament was 4 and we balanced the innings as much as we could. Again, it was more about staying sharp than anything else.

 

[CoachCeetar]

of course parents should be informed, but how often are parents also told "stop butting in" and "coach knows best"?

without guidelines/limits, what if a pitcher/parent's pitch count/risk tolerance is 300pitches a week and the coach's is 500? Who's right? when should the parent step in?

But if you had limits, or even guidelines, there's a starting point. Even if it's just "we recommend no more than X pitches in a week/day/game" then there is a starting point to work with in dicussions/concerns. The best way to combat ignorance is with information. If you're expecting to play 4-5 games in a weekend, you can load management with a number in mind and have a sense of how many pitchers you need.

Even sans that, if a parent has a concern and the coach has a reasoned response to indicate he's thought of it. "She's not had any big pitch count innings, it's a warm day, she's only going to throw 2, or not throw tomorrow" vs "she seems fine, it's a natural motion, etc etc"

 

[daywalkerdad]

Yes hopefully there is someone capable of making good decisions!

imo believe a lot of these situations the root comes from bad planning.
A lot of things fall under that category.

Yes, including playing in a tournament that will have too many games, also playing above your skill level. Many teams will have 3-4 pitchers but only 1-2 that can get outs against top teams so they pitch them too much.

DD has thrown more than I would like a couple of times. Once a pitcher got injured. The other was a championship game she was slated to go 2 innings in relief if needed. The game just missed time and went extras leading to 5 innings.

I was ok with both because it was only a small amount and the coaches plan was good just unforeseen circumstances.

 

[Vertigo]

I also will admit that at 14U, DD’s team that year had somewhat of an implosion where several players left including 2 pitchers, leaving us with only 2 (dd and another girl). At that point we actually still had a decent team due to the players who stayed and a few players we were able to pick up before the spring season but unfortunately none were pitchers. We would typically go pretty deep into tournaments. Each girl pitched equal amount of games, if possible. It was still too much - I wound up moving dd the following year to an 18U team - #1 due to wanting to play in college - but #2 to also get on a team with more pitchers.

 

[_MIA_]

DD's coach does a decent job of spreading out the innings, in particular since it would be easy to ride the #1 who is better by a decent amount over the other 2 pitchers. Here is the pitch breakdown for Sparkler
Day 1 (6/27; 2 games)
P1: 107
P2: 44
P3: 27

Day 2 (6/28; 2 games)
P1: 47
P2: 70
P3: 70

Day 3 (6/29 P1 had futures game; no other games)
P1: about 40 pitches

Day 4 (6/30; no games, rained out)

Day 5 (7/1; 3 games)
P1: 173
P2: 38
P3: 66

Day 6(7/2: 3 games)
P1: 127
P2: 68
P3: 45

I think P1's Mom was actually not too happy after Day 5..Of course Sparkler is spread out over a number of days so it isn't the same as your usual 2/3 day tournament.

 

[lostcreek1]

Long thread I have not read all of it.

For those that would like a pitch count limitation~
What is that # of pitches per game?
Is that per day?
Weekend limitation?

Anything would be better than we have now.

 

[_MIA_]

I honestly think more than 150-175 in a day is too much and spreading that over multiple games is probably worse than all of those coming in one game (for a few reasons) if a kid is in good physical shape otherwise.

 

[Vertigo]

I honestly think more than 150-175 in a day is too much and spreading that over multiple games is probably worse than all of those coming in one game (for a few reasons) if a kid is in good physical shape otherwise.

What I dislike most is when pitchers get pulled for a couple of innings, then go back in to the same game to pitch again - especially when it’s early in the season and it’s cold out.