MONROE - For the first time in the history of the state, high school pitchers will be limited by a mandatory pitch count policy that calls on them to only throw 100 pitches in a game this spring.
The pitching count policy was approved by the National Federation of State High School Associations Baseball Board of Directors. Each state association was given authority to implement its own pitch count policy. The WIAA Board of Control last June approved a 100-pitch count rule based on a Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association proposal and recommendations from medical advisory committee that was established by the Pitch Smart program for middle school players.
Last year and in previous seasons, high school pitchers were limited to pitching seven innings every two days with no pitch-count limit. Pitchers will now be limited to 100 pitches in a game and then three days of rest is required before they can pitch again. However, when they reach the 100th pitch they will be allowed to finish facing that batter before a new pitcher will be required to take the mound.
Argyle baseball coach Jeff Solberg is not a fan of the new pitch count policy, and he's not convinced a safeguard for pitchers is needed or in the best interest of the prep game.
"I don't like it one bit," Solberg said. "I think it takes away from the competitiveness of the game. I don't think in high school baseball there are many arm issues with pitchers throwing too many pitches. I think a lot of the arm issues come when an 8-year-old is throwing curveballs. I don't have all of the research."
Pecatonica coach Jim Strommen, a Wisconsin Baseball Coach Hall of Famer who has racked up 525 career wins, said the driving force behind implementing a pitch-count policy is to protect young high school players from devastating arm and elbow injuries.
The WIAA cites a study by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons that said 57 percent of Tommy John elbow surgeries were performed on high school pitchers age 15 to 19.
Monroe coach Dustin Huffman and his coaching staff plan to use four pitchers this year, but they have always had an assistant coach count pitches and they look for warning signs in their pitchers to see if they are laboring.
"We rarely stretch kids out to 100 pitches anyway," Huffman said. "We know their keys from them throwing bullpens. We know from their tells when they are getting tired and fatigued. I really feel for the small school teams because they don't have the numbers."
Huffman sees the rule as a way to police a small percentage of coaches who ride one teenage pitcher to success and the state tournament without regard to health and safety.
"They are trying to stop the coaches who put their kids out there for 160 pitches," Huffman said.
Strommen was aware a pitch count change was coming, and he had more players work as pitchers. After more than three decades as a coach, Strommen understands players can still put stress on their arms even if they are not pitching by playing other positions.
"The starting No. 1 pitchers can throw 100 pitches and then they will have to be taken out and will have to play shortstop where they can also put a lot of stress on their arm," Strommen said. "It is what it is. We have been working to try to develop more pitchers because of the pitch count rule. I knew it was in the works for over a year."
High school baseball coaches are concerned because each home team will be required to provide a person to serve as the official pitch counter. They will be required to meet with the opposing team's pitch counter before every half inning to check the number of pitches thrown.
"Each school has to hire or get a volunteer to keep the pitch count," Solberg said. "That guy is not in the dugout. He is in the stands somewhere. I just think all of the games will be high scoring, and the games will last forever."
Huffman said there may be higher scoring games in the Badger South Conference this season with teams not allowed to use their ace pitchers as often.
There is one other rule change that may have a bigger effect on Monroe. The plan requires different days of rest based on the pitch count. If a pitcher throws 31 to 49 pitches, one day of rest will be required before they can pitch again. If 50 to 75 pitches are thrown, two days of rest will be required.
"There were times in the past where we would have a kid start and pitch a game and throw five or six innings and then come back the next day and face one batter to get out of a tough situation," Huffman said. "We will have to be a little more strategic in how we do it if we get games backed up due to rainouts."
The pitching count policy was approved by the National Federation of State High School Associations Baseball Board of Directors. Each state association was given authority to implement its own pitch count policy. The WIAA Board of Control last June approved a 100-pitch count rule based on a Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association proposal and recommendations from medical advisory committee that was established by the Pitch Smart program for middle school players.
Last year and in previous seasons, high school pitchers were limited to pitching seven innings every two days with no pitch-count limit. Pitchers will now be limited to 100 pitches in a game and then three days of rest is required before they can pitch again. However, when they reach the 100th pitch they will be allowed to finish facing that batter before a new pitcher will be required to take the mound.
Argyle baseball coach Jeff Solberg is not a fan of the new pitch count policy, and he's not convinced a safeguard for pitchers is needed or in the best interest of the prep game.
"I don't like it one bit," Solberg said. "I think it takes away from the competitiveness of the game. I don't think in high school baseball there are many arm issues with pitchers throwing too many pitches. I think a lot of the arm issues come when an 8-year-old is throwing curveballs. I don't have all of the research."
Pecatonica coach Jim Strommen, a Wisconsin Baseball Coach Hall of Famer who has racked up 525 career wins, said the driving force behind implementing a pitch-count policy is to protect young high school players from devastating arm and elbow injuries.
The WIAA cites a study by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons that said 57 percent of Tommy John elbow surgeries were performed on high school pitchers age 15 to 19.
Monroe coach Dustin Huffman and his coaching staff plan to use four pitchers this year, but they have always had an assistant coach count pitches and they look for warning signs in their pitchers to see if they are laboring.
"We rarely stretch kids out to 100 pitches anyway," Huffman said. "We know their keys from them throwing bullpens. We know from their tells when they are getting tired and fatigued. I really feel for the small school teams because they don't have the numbers."
Huffman sees the rule as a way to police a small percentage of coaches who ride one teenage pitcher to success and the state tournament without regard to health and safety.
"They are trying to stop the coaches who put their kids out there for 160 pitches," Huffman said.
Strommen was aware a pitch count change was coming, and he had more players work as pitchers. After more than three decades as a coach, Strommen understands players can still put stress on their arms even if they are not pitching by playing other positions.
"The starting No. 1 pitchers can throw 100 pitches and then they will have to be taken out and will have to play shortstop where they can also put a lot of stress on their arm," Strommen said. "It is what it is. We have been working to try to develop more pitchers because of the pitch count rule. I knew it was in the works for over a year."
High school baseball coaches are concerned because each home team will be required to provide a person to serve as the official pitch counter. They will be required to meet with the opposing team's pitch counter before every half inning to check the number of pitches thrown.
"Each school has to hire or get a volunteer to keep the pitch count," Solberg said. "That guy is not in the dugout. He is in the stands somewhere. I just think all of the games will be high scoring, and the games will last forever."
Huffman said there may be higher scoring games in the Badger South Conference this season with teams not allowed to use their ace pitchers as often.
There is one other rule change that may have a bigger effect on Monroe. The plan requires different days of rest based on the pitch count. If a pitcher throws 31 to 49 pitches, one day of rest will be required before they can pitch again. If 50 to 75 pitches are thrown, two days of rest will be required.
"There were times in the past where we would have a kid start and pitch a game and throw five or six innings and then come back the next day and face one batter to get out of a tough situation," Huffman said. "We will have to be a little more strategic in how we do it if we get games backed up due to rainouts."
