Pitch counts…
Do they matter?
Absolutely.
And as a general rule, I’d say following the PitchSmart guidelines are a good start.
But they’re just that. A start.
Because (like anything) you have to factor in the big picture.
Here’s what most “pitch counts” don’t tell you…
They don’t tell you how STRESS-ful those pitches were.
How tough were the conditions? Did the pitcher have to battle and grind through it, or did he cruise?
I probably don’t have to tell you this, but 30 pitches in ONE inning is a LOT tougher on your arm than 30 pitches spread over 3 easy innings (with rest in between).
Plus, a “pitch count” doesn’t tell you anything about whether the pitcher’s putting added stress on his arm due to mechanical inefficiencies?
They don’t tell you anything about real FATIGUE…
(studies have shown pitching with fatigue increases the risk of injury 36x!)
But what if there was a way to measure all of these things in REAL time?
That would be cool…
And guess what, it’s getting closer to reality every day.
In fact, there’s a new motion sensor technology out there, maybe you’ve seen it.
Will Carroll called it “The Sleeve That Could Save Baseball”.
It’s the Motus mThrow sleeve (and motion sensor system).
And it’s not just about the sleeve. The iOS app allows you to easily track and analyze all of this data…
Things like force on the UCL (that’s the Tommy John ligament), workload, arm slot, shoulder rotation.
Very cool stuff.
If you’re a parent or coach, imagine having a whole new level of insight into the state of your pitcher’s arm.
Or, if you’re an instructor… Well, the possibilities are endless.
Imagine being able to verify in real time whether a mechanical adjustment was leading to increased velocity while ALSO reducing stress on the arm…
So why am I going on about this?
As much as I wish I’d invented this device, I didn’t (you could lock me and 100 monkeys in a room for a year and we wouldn’t come anywhere close to figuring out how this stuff works).
So I’ve teamed up with the folks at Motus for an exclusive One-Time Offer.
Enter To Win Your Own mThrow Sleeve Complete Package
This package normally retails for $169… Here’s your chance to get the mThrow sleeve (along with the Magic Blue Doohickey) completely free.
A winner will be drawn (at random) next Wednesday, June 3rd.
Take 2 seconds to Enter Now before you get sidetracked
Until next time…
Committed to Your Pitching Success,
Coach Phil