Apr 27, 2009

Can someone explain this to me?

Who invented the idea of every pitcher only being able to throw 100 pitches? Why is it that every pitcher born around the globe is supposedly only able to perform for exactly 100 pitches? Why is that number magical? I know there is data to support guys that fatigue after x pitches, etc. But why is this only applicable in pitching?? And how is it the SAME FOR EVERY PERSON?

What if in basketball, data showed that players can only play 38 minutes a night, or a running back in football could only have 20 carries a game. See how silly this sounds?? Yet, in baseball it is the understood, gospel truth that a human being can only be effective throwing a white round ball of cowhide precisely 100 times.

Anyway, I'm glad that Eric Wedge subscribes to said dogma and yanked Cliff Lee in a 0-0 game. Snarkiness aside, if anyone has good reasons for this mad adoption I'd love to hear it.


Totally unrelated link. You MUST watch this it is beyond freaky (and yes its safe for work - not freaky like THAT!!!).

And after you watch the above video, you have to watch this spoof of the video, its ridiculously funny.

What that thing is able to do is amazing. Clone wars!!!

3 comments:

demonizer said...

Check out the American Sport Medicine Institute. Scientific data abounds concerning the overuse issue. Good article in the NY Times this past Sunday, as well.

http://www.asmi.org/asmiweb/usabaseball.htm

Eric Z said...

What about the idea of only using your closer in the 9th inning of a game where you lead? Boston was tied the next night, and instead of using Papelbon for an inning or two, they used Lopez, and lost....

Schillzilla said...

agreed. With regards to the papelbon scenario they are being very cautious with him. His velocity has been down and his swing and miss ratio is about half what it is for his career. They are trying to rest him some, which factored more into the decision the other night (vs a dogmatic never bring your closer in a tie game).