In the Bleachers always makes me laugh. Most of the time it relates to baseball or duck hunters/fishermen. No shortage of any of the above in our home.

SOunds about right - example - local kid [18 yo]going to Missouri on a scholly, 2 weeks ago threw 173 pitches after throwing 145 his previous start. Coach was quoted as saying "I'm not one to abuse my pitchers, but we really needed him" Story goes n to day how the pitchign staff is well rested so they won't have to rely on the kid in the next round of Legion playoffs

quote:

local kid [18 yo]going to Missouri on a scholly, 2 weeks ago threw 173 pitches after throwing 145 his previous start.

I'll bet he walked a van load too.

1. If his staff was all that well rested, then the crime is compounded by the fact that he had other options and did not have to abuse this kid. And even if he didn't have anyone else ready, there was another option. He didn't have to put winning ahead of that young man's future.

2. Protests by a coach that he doesn't abuse pitchers are seemingly always followed by a rationalization for having done just that in this one, special case.

3. I generally observe the rule that a parent (me) should not interfere with a coach's decisions, but if I ever see someone trying to pull that number with my son, I'll pack his bag and we'll get up and leave on the spot BEFORE it gets out of hand. Thus, I would say that the coach is not the only guilty party. Someone should've put their foot down way before this got out of hand.

If this kid winds up with an arm injury that costs him his baseball scholarship, what will the coach say then? Something that doesn't involve taking responsibility, I'd wager.

145 pitches and 173 pitches is an issue best avoided with pro-active parent/coach private professional discussions, hopefully, way before the first game.

If the guy can't figure out before the season, how to play a game without throwing a kid 150 pitches, but around 100 pitches, you need to find another coach or team.
Its really that simple.

His further explanations ran to something like "I try to keep the pitch counts reasonable [his word]".

Kid was at 99 after 5 [that's reasonable]
113 after 6 [still reasonable]
126 after 7 [OK - enough's enough]
148 after 8 [Elvis has left the building]

There is nothign resembling 'reasonable' with this approach. This is a kid who was talked about being drafted, but is a good student going to a good baseball school - all the tools - RHP in the low 90s, excellent fielder, switch hitter for power and can run. And his bonehead coach is looking for an American Legion state title, at the expense of this kid's potential pro career.
Obviously, Coach forgot to stay at Holiday Inn Express the night before.

Last weekend - 17U - opposing pitcher threw 146 pitches for a tourney game - kid wasnt a pitcher more of a thrower - criminal in my opinion

Wow, 99 pitches after five innings is not reasonable.....that is hard labor for a pitcher; the bullpen should have been going after four innings.

grateful - you are right - I guess what I meant was that 99 was reasonable to stop at - 99 isn't a major imposition on a kid's arm. But as you point out, 99 after 5 is a lot of tosses.

What part of PA?
I witnessed 2 Legion coaches doing the same thing.