[TBP]

Pitchers don’t go more than five or six innings because we’re training them that way.

The sabermetricians discovered that there is a sharp decline in pitchers’ performance the third time through the order, so now managers won’t let them get through the order more than twice.

And they really believe that pitch limits preserve arms. But wouldn’t throwing strengthen the arm?

They’re trying to maximize effectiveness and prevent injuries. i don’t know that they’re approaching it right, but EVERY team sees it that way. Unfortunately.

[Vigilanteman]

I was mostly a pitcher when I was a pup, though sometimes played every position except first base and catcher. Those required bigger kids and I was a skinny runt.

In those days, you had to throw accurately. If you were accurate, then you learned how to throw hard. Now, it is just the opposite; learn to throw hard first.

We spent 14 years in Japan when my family was young and they STILL teach the kids to throw accurately. They even have a training device the size of a typical strike zone with 9 spots. You get a dozen pitches (sometimes only 10) to knock out all nine spots.

They had one set up in a shopping mall one day and my daughters begged me to try. Other than the occasional company game for fun, I hadn't pitched in years. But I took my turn to entertain our girls. Got eight of the nine. No prize for that. You had to get all nine.