Easy on Those Arms
I just saw a story that involved a former Centralia player, Jay Hultberg.
Hultberg has been the longtime coach at North Mason High School and he was the coach in 2001 when a pitcher, Jason Koenig, played for him. After pitching in five consecutive April games, throwing about 425 pitches over a 16-day period (April 11-27), Koenig developed a torn rotator cuff and labrum in his shoulder, and a torn capsule in his elbow, ending his baseball career.
As a result, Koenig field suit against the North Mason School District, claiming Hultberg was negligent in letting him throw so many pitches in such a short period. (Actually, it comes to 85 pitches per outing on the average, which isn’t bad). But he reportedly threw 140 pitches on April 27.
Anyway, the suit was thrown out basically because the jury said Hultberg didn’t have enough information about the risk of high pitch counts at the time.
The topic, however, is an excellent one.
Pitch counts, especially early in the season when weather is shaky, like now, are crucial. Fortunately, in our area, our coaches are all protective of their young arms and it hasn’t been an issue.
But it likely will become one. Right now, the WIAA mandates that pitchers rest for two days if they pitch more than three innings in a game. There is no restriction on pitch counts ... yet. I’m sure WIAA Executive Director Mike Colbrese will look into this further, on the heels of this suit.
I believe pitch counts are necessary for stupid coaches, but I haven’t seen that in our area. And, from what one source indicated, Colbrese hasn’t heard of any complaints regarding the current pitching standards.
Little League baseball adopted pitch counts in 2006 based on research from the American Sports Medicine Institute that indicated 17- and 18-year-old pitchers should not throw more than 105 pitches in a day or 130 in a week.
Should high school pitchers be restricted in their pitch counts? Have you seen any coaches abuse a pitcher in that regard?
I think too many things are over-regulated as it is, but this is definitely something to think about.
Hultberg has been the longtime coach at North Mason High School and he was the coach in 2001 when a pitcher, Jason Koenig, played for him. After pitching in five consecutive April games, throwing about 425 pitches over a 16-day period (April 11-27), Koenig developed a torn rotator cuff and labrum in his shoulder, and a torn capsule in his elbow, ending his baseball career.
As a result, Koenig field suit against the North Mason School District, claiming Hultberg was negligent in letting him throw so many pitches in such a short period. (Actually, it comes to 85 pitches per outing on the average, which isn’t bad). But he reportedly threw 140 pitches on April 27.
Anyway, the suit was thrown out basically because the jury said Hultberg didn’t have enough information about the risk of high pitch counts at the time.
The topic, however, is an excellent one.
Pitch counts, especially early in the season when weather is shaky, like now, are crucial. Fortunately, in our area, our coaches are all protective of their young arms and it hasn’t been an issue.
But it likely will become one. Right now, the WIAA mandates that pitchers rest for two days if they pitch more than three innings in a game. There is no restriction on pitch counts ... yet. I’m sure WIAA Executive Director Mike Colbrese will look into this further, on the heels of this suit.
I believe pitch counts are necessary for stupid coaches, but I haven’t seen that in our area. And, from what one source indicated, Colbrese hasn’t heard of any complaints regarding the current pitching standards.
Little League baseball adopted pitch counts in 2006 based on research from the American Sports Medicine Institute that indicated 17- and 18-year-old pitchers should not throw more than 105 pitches in a day or 130 in a week.
Should high school pitchers be restricted in their pitch counts? Have you seen any coaches abuse a pitcher in that regard?
I think too many things are over-regulated as it is, but this is definitely something to think about.
posted by sam bakotich at
10:15 AM
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