Arm Strength, Pitch Counts, and Injury

Arm Strength, Pitch Counts, and Injury

Several posters have noted that they had no problems when playing pickup games as youngsters. Others noted, correctly, the clear overuse of young arms pitching in organized games. One suggests that the mound is the culprit, or at least a contributor. I am certainly no sports physician, but I did play (pitch) a good bit when I was younger, and through the first two years of college. It was then I injured my arm - for the first time. No rotator cuff surgery in 1956!

When I was very young (about 7 or 8), there was no established organizational leagues for us. We merely played in the closest open field - from the time school was out for the day until our parents insisted that we come in. I frequently visited my grandfather, who had been a semi-pro player around the turn of the century. We would turn on the St. Louis Cardinals (Dizzy, Daffy, etc.) and I would pitch a little rubber ball - with each pitch - for each side - for the entire game. That amounted to about 250-300 pitches in a three hour span! And yes, I threw them as hard as I could. The next day I would do it all over again. No one sat on the sidelines with a clicker and counted pitches. As you can imagine, by the time I was older, my arm strength development was very advanced for my age.

Reasonably recent conversations with Larry Dierker, the manager of the Astros, and Vern Rhule, the former pitching coach confirm what I have always thought: the main reasons for arm injuries is NOT overwork per se, but overwork because the arm is not sufficiently strong in the first place! My experiences in coaching youth baseball these last 30 years suggests that very few, if any, youngsters do nearly enough throwing - particularly long toss. There is nothing that will increase your arm strength like long toss! We didn't call it that when I was a kid, but we threw long distances on a regular basis. And in my day, when a pitcher didn't pitch, he played the outfield - and was expected to hit (as opposed to merely bunting occasionally).

Yes, it is true that frequently injuries can be caused by poor pitching mechanics. But I maintain that the BULK of "overuse" type injuries are caused by the lack of development of arm strength - something that is addressed by repeated long throws.

Do I believe in pitch limits? No, not exactly. I believe in knowing the number of pitches thrown (something that is easily overlooked), and I believe in general guidelines regarding the number of pitches thrown. And I do believe in adequate rest between pitching appearances.

My arm was injured NOT because I was overused, but because I was not allowed to properly warm up. [No one should play outdoor competitive baseball in Kansas in February when the temperature is in the 30's!]

I am sure that some will disagree with my assessment of arm strength, etc., and that is fine. I am merely offering my opinion based upon my experiences. I am sure that others differ significantly.

Cheers,

-b-