Young Pitcher Advice

[BlockRocker]

I was reading on another thread about a pitcher's stamina dropping dramatically at 23 years old. Someone suggested he had over pitched the young starter, and by playing too many inning (130 i think) toasted the arm. Several others agreed and suggested putting your young pitchers on pitch counts. So here are my questions:

1. Do you have to worry about watching prospects pitch counts in the minors?

2. What is the best way to know if your pitcher needs a pitch count?

3. At what age/inning played is it safe to take a pitcher off the pitch count?

4. Do I need to worry about putting players on pitch counts who are coming off an injury or does a rehab stint in the minors do this for me?

The depth of this game blows my mind, and has essentially shamed me into realizing that I don't know HALF of what I thought I knew about baseball. I love the challenge but I am in need of some advice. Thanks in advance!

[Déjà Bru]

1. There is a concept in this game called "pitcher abuse" and it is linked in some vague way to injuries. It might also manifest itself in reduced stamina but I cannot say for sure. Sounds logical, though.

2. Well, if he start out with medium to low stamina, you need to pay attention to his pitch count. This depends also on the setting for overall pitching stamina in league strategy. If you play historically, and you automatically update these settings to reflect historical reality, you will see pitching stamina come down over the "years." I would say the lower this setting goes, the more likely you might abuse pitchers who have low or medium stamina ratings if you leave them in the game too long.

3. Innings don't matter; the pitch count matters no matter what inning it is. Now, the second part of that question, and maybe your overall question, is whether this is more of an issue with young/old pitchers. I don't think so, but then again the developer might have snuck something like that into the game; a reflection of today's "Joba Rules." Can't say for sure about this, either.

4. Again, it sounds logical that the developer would have worked this into the game as well. There is the concept of "rust" which needs to be "worked off" after a long layoff. During this period of "rust," the sensitivity to pitching abuse may be heightened and may lead to increased chance of injury or stamina decline.

Sorry I cannot be more definite than this. I'm speaking from a good knowledge of the game but some details remain "trade secrets" unless the developer cares to comment directly on the nuts and bolts of his game, which is rare.

EDIT: I swear I had typed all of that when I thought of taking a quick look in the online manual and sure enough I found some information in there that refutes the idea that I don't know what I am talking about!

Out of the Park Baseball Manual

[BlockRocker]

Thanks for the link and advice!! I thought I had searched/read the manual well, but I stand corrected. That is exactly what I was looking for. Cheers!

[Blue J Gruber]

So the pitcher abuse points is determined soley off of pitch counts and IP have no effect on pitcher abuse?


Also on the subject of developing pitching, does the frequency of using the Pitch Around strategy in your minor leagues have any effect on pitcher development. I know the strategy is more likely to lead to walks but because you are telling you pitcher to be more careful will that make his control develop slower but maye movement develop faster? Or does manager strategy really have no real effect on pitcher development?

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by Blue J Gruber

So the pitcher abuse points is determined soley off of pitch counts and IP have no effect on pitcher abuse?


Also on the subject of developing pitching, does the frequency of using the Pitch Around strategy in your minor leagues have any effect on pitcher development. I know the strategy is more likely to lead to walks but because you are telling you pitcher to be more careful will that make his control develop slower but maye movement develop faster? Or does manager strategy really have no real effect on pitcher development?

Again, I speculate, but I believe pitching abuse would be based on pitch counts. After all, a 1-2-3 inning is hardly a strain on any pitcher.

Similarly, I speculate that pitch around or any management strategy in using a pitcher, aside from how often he is used (and gaining experience) does not affect his development. Nor does his arsenal and frequency of pitch types (fastball, splitter, etc.), anticipating that question. I have not read anything here that would support that idea.