Pitchers Days Lost to Elbow Injuries

[Dick B Back]

Halo Insider:  The Tommy John Club

 

http://angelsphotos.mlblogs.com/2015/05/01/halo-insider-the-tommy-john-club/?adbid=z130jhfjsunlclred22nzdkyoma4flthf04&adbpl=gp&adbpr=115766367479070101466&partnerId=as_laa_20150501_45063726&short_code=2wyhz

[LAAMike]

Dick, Thanks for the article.

[Blarg]

there's only one Nolan ryan, people need to quit making that comparison

sandy Koufax threw over 300 innings almost every year he pitched. there's a reason why he only had a 5 year career

Congratulations you went from one extreme to the other in one post. Both sides of the argument leaves out every pitcher in between.

Do some research on pitchers from Koufax ERA through the conversion to a five man rotation, that Ryan was opposed to. You will find many extremely talented pitchers in that ERA that logged 40 starts a year without suffering career ending injury.

The difference is the pitch selection of that time period and today. Primary was a three pitch arsenal of fastball, curve and offspeed. Less wear on the arm when each is used in moderation and pitchers of that time period were expected to finish what they started which ment pacing oneself rather than start at maximum velocity and being pulled after 100 pitches due to tiring. Marathons vs sprints.

The game has changed, evolved and between the proffesionalising of kids baseball and making them play year round while also stressing maximum output and promoting pitches that cause more undo stress (the worst was Roger Craig promoting a split finger fastball) pitchers wear out sooner that are not the current day freaks.

Edited May 3, 2015 by notti

[Second Base]

I think it's the increased reliance on sliders, curves, cutters and splitters. Hitters can hit a fastball pretty well, no matter how hard it's thrown.

Today pitchers are getting by on changing speeds, eye levels and putting as much movement on the ball as possible. That sort of approach can destroy ligaments if you're throwing off-speed pitches in the mid to upper 80's.

I think the majority of pitchers never had those issues because fastballs were more predominantly thrown and off speed pitches just weren't as violent. Plus the cutter and sinking fastball were never a thing until maybe 20 years ago.

[Dick B Back]

Alex Cobb... come on down!

[Hollyw00d]

he throws a splitter

[Dick B Back]

Jarrod Parker at rehab from TJ has additional problems in minor league start.

 

http://www.milb.com/r/video?content_id=107767183&topic_id=&sid=milb&tcid=vpp_copy_107767183&v=3

[Dick B Back]

Someone has to keep track...

Chase Whitley.