High school baseball has always had an issue regarding pitchers’ safety. Certain schools allow their players to throw upwards of 100 pitches every game without adequate rest. Overuse has resulted in different injuries for these young arms such as torn rotator cuffs and ligament tears in the elbow. Recently, the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) voted on a pitch count that would limit the amount of pitches thrown per day. While the rule is a step in the right direction, it has many flaws that need changing.
The new pitching rules allow for an athlete to throw 105 pitches in a game total. If a player throws between 96 and 105 pitches, they must rest for four days until they may pitch again. 66-95 pitches requires three days rest, 31-65 requires two days rest, and 30 pitches requires one night of rest. In the playoffs, the total number of pitches in a game rises to 125. At first glance, these numbers may seem fair and appear to keep young athletes safe. However, the NYSPHSAA views the day you pitch as one day of rest. Therefore, the required rest time for each pitch count level is actually one day less. This would allow a pitcher to throw 210 times in the span of five days, thus continuing the abuse the rule was made to eliminate.
In addition to the days of rest, the pitch count intervals are also flawed. For example, the range of 34 pitches for two days of rest is far too large. A player could throw 62 times in a game and rest the same amount of days as a player who threw 130 times. That is a 68 pitch difference! This flaw could allow coaches to overuse their kids, which would hurt them in the long run. An easy fix would be to adopt the pitch counts of other states like Pennsylvania. They have the same difference in pitch intervals for set days of rest at 24 pitches. Therefore, the gap between rest times is constant, resulting in a safer and more equal playing field.
The new rule also overlooks the intensity of certain pitches. Doctors like Dr. James Andrews, the leading arm specialist for professional baseball, argue that some pitches cause more damage to an arm than others. For instance, many pitchers throw a slider, known for its lateral movement due to the turning of the wrist. This pitch can cause severe injuries to an athlete when overused or thrown incorrectly, especially to young athletes. The new rule does not distinguish between pitch types. Therefore, a person could throw a fastball 25 times and a slider 25 times, and they would have equal value. Also, some players throw harder at different times in a game. A pitcher may throw only 20 pitches in a game but at max effort. Another pitcher could throw 50 pitches but pace himself and not completely exhaust his body. The increased velocity and stress of the first pitcher would cause more harm to his arm than the other pitcher’s arm, even though he threw less.
New York State’s new pitch count consists of many imperfections. While flawed, it marks a step in the right direction towards improving players’ safety on the field. Small adjustments to the rule would benefit young athletes and their teams.
by Justin L.