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BravesFan
533 Posts |
 Posted - 08/19/2011 : 20:42:27
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| Is it me or are these 12U kids throwing an awfully large number of curveballs? I see very few change ups and about 50% or more hooks, many more then you see at 12/13U travel around here. |
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T13
257 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2011 : 17:46:11
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| If you read the Little league media guide it talks about all the recent studies saying its not the curveball but volume of pitches...this is why little league has the strict pitch count.... |
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bb4life
20 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2011 : 19:46:01
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| WHAT-EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!! We all know the hook will cause issues with these young arms. Orel even said so today.... |
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T13
257 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2011 : 21:09:31
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| All the new data shows its volume vs. type of pitch (read the new report James Andrews just put out)...he states that the issue is that curveball pitchers tend to be more effective at this age so they pitch more......Orel is still old school.... |
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Cardsfan17
24 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2011 : 23:21:29
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| The closer they get to the finals the more hooks you will see. The ship will look like a curveball hitting contest. It has been that way for years and with all the evidence coming out that T13 is referring to it will only get worse. I personally think we see just as many hooks in travel ball. In little league you can almost count on seeing a curve with 2 strikes and less than a full count. Since the batter can't run on a dropped 3rd strike most coaches are going to call for it. If little league would change that rule you wouldn't see nearly as many. |
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Spartan4
913 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2011 : 09:41:28
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| I think many would agree that when it comes to the health of an arm Dr. James Andrews is going to get a couple more calls then a former pitcher.....Many are quick to say that curveballs are evil but why don't we ever mention the kids who throw curveballs from 8-18 and never have an arm injury?? Some of the best pitchers around 10 years ago are still pitchers who have never had true arm injuries other than soreness...IMO LL rules are a joke, CardsFan pointed out something most don't realize there is no penalty for throwing the nastiest pitch you have with 2 strike count. Not too impressive to see some of these giant kids hitting wall scrapers on fields we were playing on at 9U, some of the pitching is absolutely impressive but against a team of studs from 50ft I just can't see them being anywhere close to the Bandits staff or Team Fla's #1. |
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mdschert
47 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2011 : 19:35:44
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| The 10 year study showed that a curveball took just as much force on an arm as a regular fastball. |
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Cardsfan17
24 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2011 : 22:27:29
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| From USA Today when the report was released. "The American Sports Medicine Institute, founded by orthopedic surgeon James Andrews, conducted a similar 10-year study last year and reached the same conclusion. While curveballs are potentially harmful if they limit the youth's ability to master fastball mechanics, statistics do not suggest they lead to injury. In fact, a separate study by the institute in 2007 found that the amount of force required to throw a curveball is equal to or less than that required for a fastball.". Looks to me like we will all be seeing more curves in the near future! |
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sportsman
37 Posts |
Posted - 08/22/2011 : 11:19:49
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| It depends on what type of arm injury you are talking about. Curves lead to elbow issues and over use leads to shoulder and other arm issues. Kids won't hurt their elbow from thowing fastballs but they can hurt their shoulder. |
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ryerye
21 Posts |
Posted - 08/22/2011 : 22:15:41
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| It all depends on the mechanics of either pitch. I see a lot of kids "slinging" their curves trying to make them bend instead of trusting the mechanics of a proper 12-6 curve at this age. Keep the elbow up. Drop it below the shoulder and slinging it just puts too much pressure on the elbow when they're still growing. |
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bb4life
20 Posts |
Posted - 08/28/2011 : 16:47:38
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Scientific study makes for a wonderful arguement. I will not argue with Dr. Andrews.
I agree with all that has been said on this topic... The most important thing I've seen during my 55 years being around baseball is a pitcher has to learn to command both sides of the plate. What is funny to watch is kids throwing 80% curve balls in a game, and they can not throw a fast ball for a strike. If you do not teach the kids to command the plate and pitch off their fastball they will not pitch in highschool. You can be successful getting 11 tear olds out, but you may not record an out in highschool with that philosophy. The problem is Dear Old Dad with his "Win Now Philosophy".... |
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Strike 2
61 Posts |
Posted - 08/29/2011 : 19:12:48
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| My son is 15 and LHP that plays for his school, jr legion, and travel. To date has not thrown a curve ball. 2 seam 4 seam and nasty change. Gonna introduce the wrinkle next year when he gets his license if doc says growth plates are good to go. Just the way I handled it. |
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bstand
56 Posts |
Posted - 09/01/2011 : 13:41:19
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| Like many have said, it isn't as much the pitch as it is having sound fundamental mechanics to begin with. Many coaches don't want to adjust motions if they are working. The problem is that some of these bad habits are hurting arms, curveball or not. Couple that with overuse of many pitchers being catchers or position players, and you have a recipe for arm injuries. At the younger ages, there isn't as much force as there is when the players get a little older/stronger, and they begin putting much more torque/force on their arm when they pitch or throw. I applaud coaches who will correct deficient mechanics when it has the potential to lead to injury. I am sure parents do too. Roger McDowell once said about 90% of the players that come to the Braves organization don't know how to play catch. Interesting..... |
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