Pitch count

In baseball statistics, pitch count is the number of pitches thrown by a pitcher in a game.

Pitch counts are a concern for young pitchers, pitchers recovering from injury, or pitchers who have a history of injuries. Often a starting pitcher will be removed from the game after 100 pitches, regardless of the actual number of innings pitched, as it is reckoned to be the maximum optimal pitch count for a starting pitcher. [Rany Jazayerli, "Baseball Prospectus Basics: How We Measure Pitcher Usage," "BaseballProspectus.com" (March 3, 2004) [http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=2633] .] [A statistic labeled PAP (Pitcher Abuse Points) developed by Rany Jazayerli of Baseball Prospectus in 1998 set such an absolute cut-point of 100 pitches, below which there was no pitcher abuse (overuse) but above which one abuse point was added for each 10 additional pitches. Later, however, Jazayerli conceded PAP to a more sensitive measure, called PAP³ developed by Keith Woolner and first published in the "Baseball Prospectus 2001" annual volume. In an article in that same volume, Jazayerli declared: "PAP is dead. Long live PAP³." PAP³ was more highly predictive of declines in pitcher endurance and the risk of breakdowns than the original PAP measure. PAP³ still takes 100 pitches as a reference point but penalizes use above that point as a cubic function of the number of pitches above that level.] Pitch counts are sometimes less of a concern for veteran pitchers, who after years of conditioning are often able to pitch deeper into games. A pitcher's size, stature, athleticism, and pitches style (and/or type of pitch thrown) can also play a role in how many pitches a pitcher can throw in a single game while maintaining effectiveness and without risking injury.

Pitch count can also be used to gauge the effectiveness of a pitcher. It is better under most circumstances for a pitcher to use the fewest number of pitches possible to get three outs.

Opposing teams also pay attention to pitch counts, and may try to foul off as many pitches as possible (or at least any difficult-to-hit pitches) either to tire the pitcher out, or to inflate the pitch count and drive a pitcher from the game in favor of a possibly less effective relief pitcher.

Criticism

Opponents of the focus on pitch count have argued that the inclusion of the pitch count has hurt pitchers more than it has protected them. Critics of the pitch count contend that pitchers are "babied" and that many of the injuries that pitchers have suffered since the inclusion of the pitch count are from such treatment. One noted advocate of this "old-school" style of thinking is former Florida Marlins manager Jack McKeon, who openly told his pitchers (and the media) that he did not keep a pitch count, and that he expected his pitchers to get into the mindset of completing what they started (i.e., for his starters to pitch a complete game).

ee also

*Basic Pitch Count Estimator

Notes

References

*Jazayerli, Rany. 1998. "Pitcher Abuse Points: A New Way to Measure Pitcher Abuse," "BaseballProspectus.com" (June 19). [http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=148]
*Jazayerli, Rany. 1999. "Pitcher Abuse Points - One Year Later: A Look Back...and Ahead," "BaseballProspectus.com" (May 28). [http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=316]
*Jazayerli, Rany. 2001. "Rethinking Pitcher Abuse," "Baseball Prospectus 2001" (Dulles, VA: Brassey's): 491-504.
*Woolner, Keith, and Rany Jazayerli. 2001. "Analyzing PAP," "Baseball Prospectus 2001" (Dulles, VA: Brassey's): 505-516.
*Woolner, Keith. 2002. "PAP³ FAQ," "BaseballProspectus.com" (June 5). [http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=1499]