One of the problems is overuse of young pitchers before their arms fully develop. It used to be you started in the bullpen, and then you became a starter when you were around 25 years-old, when the shoulders finally are fully developed and better able to handle the strain of pitching. That’s why Nolan Ryan lasted as long as he did, because he started out in the Mets’ bullpen.
That’s why they’re going to pitch counts now, even for the veterans.......
One of the problems is overuse of young pitchers before their arms fully develop. It used to be you started in the bullpen, and then you became a starter when you were around 25 years-old, when the shoulders finally are fully developed and better able to handle the strain of pitching. That’s why Nolan Ryan lasted as long as he did, because he started out in the Mets’ bullpen.
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The problem starts earlier, with kids who are 10 years old being taught to throw curveballs. Long before they are developed enough to do so safely.
Most pitchers started out as relievers because the starters were set and they brought up pitchers earlier than they do now for relief stints. The Mets had Seaver, Koosman, etc. Ryan actually ca,e up briefly in 1966.
Pitchers in those days actually threw more than players do today. The starters pitched on three days rest (four man rotations) and relief and backup starters, no real mid reliefs then, threw batting practice every day.
The problems today are the pitchers are the delivery they teach and the scouts depend on speed rather than the ability to pitch. Greg Maddox probably would not even be signed today. His fastball is not fast enough for the metrics and his curveball is not snarp enough. Baseball has become boring because the pitchers are all the same and the the hitters mostly have the same stance etc.