Pitch Counts....Why Has It Changed???

Nowadays when a pitcher gets his pitch count up into the area of 100 pitches, it's generally considered that he's at or near his limit. This has been the major cause of preventing pitchers from hurling complete games.

Last season, the Toronto Blue Jays led the ML's with 11 complete games. In 1936, Hall of Famer Bob Feller tossed 36 complete games.

Nolan Ryan threw 259 pitches in a game in 1974 that lasted 12 innings.

Retired players generally scoff at the idea that a major leaguer should throw only 100 pitches. "I used to have that many by the second inning," joked Sam McDowell, who pitched for the Indians from 1961 to 1971, winning 122 games and leading the league in strikeouts five times.

McDowell and another fireballer, Sonny Siebert, who threw a no-hitter for Cleveland in 1966, both said they had games in which they threw more than 200 pitches.

"I don't believe in taking a pitcher out unless he's in trouble," said Siebert. "If a guy is young and in shape, the number of pitches shouldn't be a problem."

Said McDowell: "The more you use a muscle, the stronger it gets."

So why have things changed so drastically in the last number of years? If azything, one would think that with todays workout regimen and exercises the pitchers should be able to throw even more pitches per game than the pitchers of years ago. Todays players generally are much stronger and fitter so what has made the philosophy of baseball change?

Sandy Koufax, the great Hall of Fame pitcher, is among the former players who object.

"To me, a quality start," Koufax insists, "is when the starting pitcher is still on the mound when the game is over and his teammates rush out of the dugout to congratulate him on the victory."

Interesting how times have changed......

Steve,

The answer is simple, money.  They spend way too much on these guys today and that is the ballclubs way of protecting their investment.  When an owner has 60 or 70 million wrapped up in a guy than they want to make sure they get their money's worth. 

I do find it annoying to be watching a guy throw a perfectly good game and get lifted so the 8th inning specialist can come in and then the closer to finish it off.  But the game has changed since then.  Actually there is another reason for ya.  Bullpens have become a necessity.

It isn't that they can't throw that many pitches.  It is that management doesn't want them too.

First and foremost, and in my humble opinion, you are one of the rising stars around this joint Steve.  I very much enjoy your contributions, and I am sure many others do as well.  I just wanted you to know, as I have been meaning to send you somehting like this for awhile now.

As for your question, I myself have posed it many times.  I have yet to get an answer that satisfies me though ( including anything I can think of ).

I just can't quite imagine it would be both as broad and as easy as that people in general are less willing and able to endure pain and discomfort.  The record books tell us what guys did, but they can't and never will be able to fully address what guys went through physically to pitch those 200 pitch games, or 300 innings per year.

Good luck to you in this thread, as I hope you do get an answer that satisfies.