Pitch count
Inbaseball statistics,pitch countis the number ofpitchesthrown by apitcherin a game.
Pitch counts are especially a concern for young pitchers, pitchers recovering from injury, or pitchers who have a history of injuries. The pitcher wants to keep the pitch count low to maintain their stamina. Often a starting pitcher will be removed from the game after 100 pitches, regardless of the actual number ofinnings pitched,as it is reckoned to be the maximum optimal pitch count for astarting pitcher.[1]It is unclear if the specialization and reliance onrelief pitchersled to pitch counts, or if pitch counts led to greater use of relievers.[2]Pitch counts are sometimes less of a concern for veteran pitchers, who after years of conditioning are often able to pitch deeper into games. A pitcher's size, stature, athleticism, and pitching style (and/or type of pitch thrown) can also play a role in how many pitches a pitcher can throw in a single game while maintaining effectiveness and without risking injury.
Pitch count can also be used to gauge the effectiveness and efficiency of a pitcher. It is better under most circumstances for a pitcher to use the fewest pitches possible to get three outs. Pitching efficiency is typically measured bypitches per inningorpitches perplate appearance.
Opposing teams also pay attention to pitch counts, and may try tofoul offas many pitches as possible (or at least any difficult-to-hit pitches) either to tire the pitcher out, or to inflate the pitch count and drive a pitcher from the game early in favor of a possibly less effective relief pitcher.
Youth limits[edit]
Little League has imposed a strict pitch count limit on pitchers. A pitcher must be removed immediately upon the current at-bat or the current half-inning ends, whichever comes first, upon reaching the pitch count per day.[citation needed]
| Age | Pitch limit |
|---|---|
| 7–8 | 50 |
| 9–10 | 75 |
| 11–12 | 85 |
| 13–16 | 95 |
| 17–18 | 105 |
Once a pitcher throws 21 pitches (under 14) or 31 pitches (15–18) in a game, the pitcher must rest and not participate in pitching. Furthermore, pitchers may not be catchers if more than 40 pitches were thrown by the player.[citation needed]
| Under 14 | 15–18 | Days off |
|---|---|---|
| 21–35 | 31–45 | 1 |
| 36–50 | 46–60 | 2 |
| 51–65 | 61–75 | 3 |
| 66+ | 76+ | 4 |
Criticism[edit]
"Of all the poisonous trends to seep into the game over the past three decades few have done more damage to pitchers than the obsession over pitch counts."
— Les Carpenter,Yahoo! Sports,2010[3]
Before pitch counts became prominent in the 1980s, a pitcher primarily "pitched until he could no longer get anyone out or the game was over."[3]As pitch counts have become more prominent, pitchers are often removed from games independent of whether or not they are tired or still pitching effectively.[4]The use of pitch counts has been influenced by agents wanting to protect their clients, and organizations wanting to protect investments in their pitchers.[5]This change has shifted the expectations ofstarting pitchersfrom pitchingcomplete gamestoquality startsof six innings instead.[6]
Opponents of the pitch count have argued that the inclusion of the pitch count has hurt pitchers more than it has protected them. Critics of the pitch count argue that pitchers are "babied" and that many of the injuries that pitchers have suffered since the inclusion of the pitch count are from such treatment. Advocates who are against using the pitch count as a metric to measure pitcher performance includeMinnesota Twinsbroadcaster/Hall of FamerBert Blyleven;Hall of Famer, formerTexas RangersCEO/President, and currentHouston Astrosexecutive adviserNolan Ryan;the lateNew York MetsHall of FamerTom Seaver;and formerFlorida MarlinsmanagerJack McKeon.[7]McKeon openly told his pitchers (and the media) that he did not keep a pitch count, and that he expected his pitchers to get into the mindset of completing what they started (i.e., for his starters to pitch a complete game). Ryan's sentiments are similar to McKeon's, declaring that pitch counts are largely frivolous.[7]San Francisco Chroniclesports writer Bruce Jenkins has suggested that a "relief" (i.e. lesser) pitcher should start the game, so that the "starting" (i.e. stronger) pitcher would play the more crucial later innings.[8]This idea would eventually become known as theopener,and began seeing significant usage in 2018.[9]
Rany Jazayerliestimates that two thirds of young starting pitchers from 1999 on are still playing five years later, compared to one of two between 1984 and 1998, and attributes the improvement to greater emphasis on the pitch count.[10]Some argue that pitch counts do not account for easy outings for pitchers with big leads but higher pitch counts or pitchers in constant trouble in a game with lower pitch counts.[11]Others feel the count is a self-fulfilling prophecy, where a pitcher can feel great until learning of his pitch count.[12]However, authorPeter Morrisnoted that "a lot more guys hit 10 homers a season these days", and pitchers need to throw their best stuff more often.[13]"Guys who throw 100 pitches now are working harder than guys who threw 120 pitches a generation ago."[13]Baseball Hall of FamepitcherDennis Eckersleysaid hitters are "bigger, stronger, better, and they hit better. And parks are smaller now, let alone thesteroid era."[14]Hitters have also become more selective (making pitchers throw morestrikes) to increase their pitch count to get them out of the game earlier.[13]Former pitcherGene Garbersaysumpiresare calling a smaller strike zone, making it more difficult for pitchers to throw strikes.[15]
Television networks and stations only displayed pitch counts occasionally, with theBoston Red Sox'sNESNandNew York Yankees'sYESbeing the first to do so within their full on-screen graphics at all times in 2010.[16]ESPN soon followed suit, and as of Opening Day 2014, theFox Sports regionalnetworks, along withFox's national packagealso adopted full-time pitch count displays.
History[edit]
Since the 1960s, it has not been common for the starting pitcher to pitch acomplete game.According toBaseball Referencepitchers have completed less than 30 percent of their starts every year since 1959. Comparisons with thedead-ball erapre-1920 are misleading, since the pitcher's behavior was very different.[8]Some examples of high pitch count games include a26-inning gameon May 1, 1920 whereLeon CadoreofBrooklynandJoe OeschgerofBostonpitched anestimated345 and 319 pitches;[8]also,Nolan Ryanthrew 164 in a 1989game,aged 42.[17]Stats LLCbegan tracking pitch counts in1988,and MLB keeps official data since 1999. The highest pitch count since 1990 is 172, byTim Wakefieldfor thePittsburgh Piratesagainst theAtlanta Braveson April 27, 1993; however, it should be known that Wakefield's primary pitch was theknuckleball,anoff-speed pitch.Off-speed pitches are less strenuous on a pitcher's arm compared to a fastball. Pitch counts above 125 are increasingly rare:[17]
| Season | PIT>125 |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 40 |
| 2010 | 24 |
| 2009 | 26 |
| 2008 | 19 |
| 2007 | 14 |
| 2006 | 26 |
| 2005 | 31 |
| 2004 | 46 |
| 2003 | 70 |
| 2002 | 69 |
| 2001 | 74 |
| 2000 | 160 |
| 1999 | 179 |
| 1998 | 212 |
| 1997 | 141 |
| 1996 | 195 |
On June 25, 2010,Arizona DiamondbackspitcherEdwin Jacksonthrew 149 pitches in ano-hitter.This was the highest pitch count in an MLB game since 2005.[18]
See also[edit]
- Basic pitch count estimator:used to try to estimate the number of pitches thrown by a pitcher where there is no pitch count data available
- Study: "The Impact of Pitch Counts and Days of Rest on Performance among Major-League Baseball Pitchers" by J.C. Bradbury and Sean Forman
Notes[edit]
- ^Jazayerli, Rany (2004-03-03)."Basics: How We Measure Pitcher Usage".Baseball Prospectus.Retrieved2017-03-06.
- ^Zimniuch 2010,p.78
- ^abCarpenter, Les."Moyer's Career Longevity Is One for the Ages".Yahoo! Sports.May 12, 2010.
- ^Zimniuch 2010,pp.61–62
- ^Zimniuch 2010,p.67
- ^Zimniuch, Fran (2010).Fireman: The Evolution of the Closer in Baseball.Chicago:Triumph Books.pp.58–59.ISBN978-1-60078-312-8.
- ^abBrown, Tim."No victor in Rays-Rangers culture clash".Yahoo! Sports.April 30, 2009.
- ^abcJenkins, Bruce (August 27, 2008)."Let them learn to pitch and learn to finish".San Francisco Chronicle.Retrieved2009-03-25.
- ^Horrobin, Jordan (September 20, 2018)."Explaining the 'opener,' baseball's new phenomenon and how the Tigers view it".The Athletic.Retrieved2020-12-14.
- ^Jazayerli, Rany (2012-09-12)."A National Mistake".Grantland.RetrievedSeptember 19,2012.
- ^Zimniuch 2010,pp.63–64
- ^Zimniuch 2010,p.66
- ^abcZimniuch 2010,p.71
- ^Zimniuch 2010,pp.164–5
- ^Zimniuch 2010,p.75
- ^"Pitch Count on Display".Baseball-fever.2016-11-03.Retrieved2017-03-06.
- ^ab Passan, Jeff(27 Apr 2008)."Count on it".Yahoo! Sports.Retrieved2009-03-25.
- ^"What Edwin Jackson's Pitch Count Hath Wrought".Sabernomics.2010-06-26.Retrieved2017-03-06.
References[edit]
- Jazayerli, Rany. 1998. "Pitcher Abuse Points: A New Way to Measure Pitcher Abuse",BaseballProspectus(June 19).[1]
- Jazayerli, Rany. 1999. "Pitcher Abuse Points – One Year Later: A Look Back...and Ahead",BaseballProspectus(May 28).[2]
- Jazayerli, Rany. 2001. "Rethinking Pitcher Abuse",Baseball Prospectus 2001(Dulles, Virginia: Brassey's): 491-504.
- Woolner, Keith, and Rany Jazayerli. 2001. "Analyzing PAP",Baseball Prospectus 2001(Dulles, Virginia: Brassey's): 505-516.
- Woolner, Keith. 2002. "PAP3FAQ ",BaseballProspectus(June 5).[3]
