June 04, 2008
On Pitch Counts
Kevin Kernan makes an interesting point about the Yankees pitchers:
Joba acted like Ian Kennedy and Phil Hughes in that situation. For some reason that has been a nagging problem for the Yankees young pitchers and I think part of the reason is that this generation is too carried away with pitch counts.
This is the Pitch Count Generation because that's what everybody is talking about.
If enough people tell you, "Hey, start thinking about elephants,'' you're going to start thinking about elephants.
Yankees pitchers need to start thinking: Let me get this guy out. And leave it at that.
While I understand limiting pitchers so they don't get hurt, why does everyone have to know about it? Wouldn't it be better from a strategic point of view to never talk about how many pitches get thrown beforehand? Let others study the stats and figure out what a manager is doing. Don't give away the plot and give the other team an advantage.
Posted by David Pinto at
01:38 PM
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Pitch counts have just put a number on a pitchers limit. Someone realized that when a pitcher throws more than 100 pitches, they tend to either get hurt or suck. Pitch count is way better than innings pitched in counting workload because innings pitched only counts outs and forgets about hits and walks etc. Generally, a pitcher faces 20-30 batters per game but the innings pitched could vary greatly.
In the end, every single pitcher in the game is on a pitch count. Generally, they go 90-110 pitches and then you get to feast on the bullpen. It doesn't change the fact that patient batters can make the pitcher throw more pitches and have a shorter outing.
I think giving away the plot would be saying that after I throw a fastball I usually throw a curve ball and I hardly ever double up inside soft stuff.
I disagree, when has Roy Halladay ever had a pitch count?
This season Doc's max is 117 pitches in a complete game. He's usually pulled around 110-120 if it's in the 6th or 7th. They don't hump him out there 'till his arm flys off every time out.
In 2003, he had 10 starts of 110+ pitches. He's gone 120+ pitches 8 times in his career; 5 of which came last year. He may look like he throws a boatload of pitches but he just eats innings efficiently.
I agree that the length of the leash you're giving a young starter like joba shouldn't be publicized. You could tell the Blue Jays were being very selective at the plate last night given the fact that after 70 joba pitches came the sub-par middle relief of the yankees. Knowing that is their weakness so far this season, it would be foolish not to be selective in the early innings to drive up the pitch count and get to the bullpen. Maybe if the Blue Jays weren't aware of the 70 pitches, they may have been hacking at a few of those close balls that were right off the plate... could've been a whole different debut if that were the case.
I don't know if their season numbers reflect it, but when the Jays played Cleveland last month they were very selective at the plate. I doubt they changed their entire offense just because the Hutt was on the mound!
Hughes and Kennedy on the DL and Joba the Hut can't get out of the 3rd inning. Whatever NYY is doing it isn't working. 100 pitches out of the windup isn't 50 from the windup and 50 from the stretch. NYY is trying to win now and develop young guys at the same time - very tough to do.