Pitch count strategy in Little League

[ozzy6900]

LL can't properly manage the MPR rule as proved by many of the Regional games (and the complaints on these boards). What makes you all think that a Pitch Count rule will be managed correctly?

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by PWL

I don't know if you remember a pitcher named Jimmy Jones from Thomas Jefferson High School in Dallas in the mid 80's. He was coached by one of the most obnoxious high school coaches, Gerald Turner. Jones once pitched every inning in a seventeen inning loss to Texas (Texarkanana) High School. that he eventually lost. He eventually was drafted in the first round and signed by the Padres (not sure of the team).

He threw 286 pitches that game. The next day against the same team, he went out to warm up and make throws from short stop and he couldn't even throw the ball half way across the infield no matter how hard he tried. He just sat out that day. He had a serviceable career, but nothing like quite possibly could have been. He still plays in the mens leagues, but you would be hard pressed to tell he was a one time number draft pick.

You are right, it was the Padres. He was expected to do great things, but never did really amount to much. I never figured out why. Now I'm beginning to understand. 286 pitches is definitely sadistic, bordering on criminal.

[aceholleran]

Originally Posted by Dave Hensley

I guess I just don't get. Little League already has inning limits in place, and I don't see any persuasive reason why gaining the precision of pitch limits instead of inning limits will save Timmy's arm from being abused.

I predict the new pitch count rule will cause some pretty serious regular season problems in leagues that are run mostly by, if you'll excuse the expression, people who don't cypher all that good. I tink they should offer it as an optional rule, not mandate it from on high after the fairly limited testing they've done.

DH has it right. This is going to be an administrative nightmare.

I work games with official scorers who can't decipher a pinch hitter, much less count pitches.

Ace

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by aceholleran

DH has it right. This is going to be an administrative nightmare.

I work games with official scorers who can't decipher a pinch hitter, much less count pitches.

Ace

In the league I've seen pitch counts used in, the the manager or a bench coach has the pitch count clicker. I wouldn't dream of burdening the official scorer, who has enough responsibility to start with. This is up to the coaching staff to handle.