Pitch count

From Free net encyclopedia

A pitch count is a baseball statistic, most commonly applied to starting pitchers, and is simply a count of how many pitches the pitcher has thrown in a given game.

Except under unusual circumstances, a minimum of three pitches are needed to get three outs. It is very common for a pitcher to need 20 pitches to get through an inning.

Pitch counts are a concern for young pitchers, pitchers recovering from injury, or pitchers who have a history of injuries. Often a starting pitcher will be removed from the game after 100 pitches, regardless of the actual number of innings pitched. Pitch counts are generally less of a concern for veteran pitchers, who after years of conditioning are often able to pitch deeper into games, but this is not universal. Pedro Martinez is a famous exception, and is often lifted after throwing 100 pitches. A pitcher's size, stature, and athleticism can also play a role in how many pitches a pitcher can throw in a single game while maintaining effectiveness and without risk of injury.

Pitch count can also be used to gauge the effectiveness of a pitcher. It is better under most circumstances for a pitcher to use the smallest number of pitches possible to get three outs.

Opposing teams also pay attention to pitch counts, and may try to foul off as many pitches as possible (or at least any difficult-to-hit pitches) either on the theory that a tired pitcher is less effective, or to inflate the pitch count and drive a pitcher from the game in favor of a more rested, but possibly less effective relief pitcher. This tactic, however, is less effective against teams with a particularly strong bullpen, and can lead to a greater number of strikeouts against particularly talented pitchers, such as Johan Santana.

The concept of a pitch count originated with Steve Busby, a promising young pitcher for the Kansas City Royals who won 56 games in his first three full seasons but suffered from a rotator cuff tear at age 27 due to overwork. His doctor suggested counting the number of pitches Busby threw as a means of gauging his recovery. Prior to his injury, Busby is known to have thrown 200 or more pitches in a game--double the number of pitches recommended today.

The optimal pitch count for a starter is reckoned to be about 100. The near-obsession with pitch counts has resulted in a significant decline in complete games since the 1980s. Former major league pitcher and now Minnesota Twins broadcaster Bert Blyleven, who pitched many complete games in his time, has raised the sarcastic question, "What happens to you if you go over 100 pitches? Do you explode?" Statistically speaking, the answer is often Yes. Arguably the greatest pitching achievement in history was Don Larsen's perfect game in the 1956 World Series. In that game, he threw 97 pitches, an average of 3.5 per batter. In these days of more aggressive hitting, pitchers often hit the 100 mark by the middle innings.

There has been some thought that the inclusion of the pitch count has hurt pitchers more than it has protected them. There is thought that pitchers are "babied" and that many of the injuries that have been suffered have been resulted from such treatment. One such advocate of this "Old School" style of thinking is former Florida Marlins manager Jack McKeon who 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 mind set of completing what they started (i.e. for his starters to pitch the complete game).