Baseball's new pitch count rule keeping everyone on their toes

If you're a baseball fan, you've likely heard of many players, mostly pitchers, who have undergone Tommy John surgery - basically a reconstruction of the ulnar collateral ligament in their throwing arms.

According to the American Journal of Sports Medicine, a recent study found that athletes between the ages of 15-19 currently account for nearly 57 percent of all UCL reconstruction procedures.

While baseball is a sport filled with statistics, that number is an alarming one.

For the first time this season, the Illinois High School Association adopted pitch count guidelines for its member schools. That includes all levels, varsity through freshman.

"The National Federation (of State High School Associations) passed it down to the IHSA," said Aurora Central Catholic baseball coach Sean Bieterman. "I served on the committee's advisory board. Some form of pitch count guideline rule was inevitable."

During the regular season, each team is responsible for counting its own team's pitches and the opposing team's pitches. The head coach or a designee compares pitch counts with the opposing team every even-numbered inning and at the end of the game.

After each game, schools report their own pitch counts to the IHSA.

The IHSA's intent appears obvious - to try to protect young pitchers from the pitch count abuses that seemingly have run rampant the past several years.

Nearly a month into the regular season, area teams are fully aware of the new setup.

"I'm not sure that was the IHSA's objective but if it was it's definitely happening," said St. Charles East coach Len Asquini. "Everybody is really watching and looking ahead - thinking who can I throw and when.

"If we're protecting the kids' arms that way - great. If that's what the IHSA had to do to help protect the kids' arms because obviously there was some abuse out there, then the goal is being met."

Geneva coach Brad Wendell admits the thought process has changed some.

"We're managing counts so we can bring kids back hopefully and keep them fresh," said Wendell. "I think I have a lot of arms - kids who can throw strikes and I want to get them pitching in game situations so they feel comfortable."

The added emphasis on pitch counts is real.

"You've got to know when you can come back with kids and how much rest you need," said Wendell. "I think coaches have always thought about that but now you've got to be really specific about it."

On the varsity level, a pitcher can come back on a daily basis as long as his pitch count is between 1-30. Once it reaches 31-45, he isn't eligible to take the mound the next day.

If the pitch count hits between 76-105 in a game, a pitcher must have four full days of rest before returning to the mound (90 pitches maximum).

After five days rest, a pitcher can return and throw a maximum of 105 pitches.

"I think you see teams trying to develop a little deeper pitching staff and getting the juniors into the fold a little more," said St. Charles North coach Todd Genke.

"It's not that we didn't have a plan before but now you need to come into a game with a Plan B and Plan C in place. I believe the key to the whole thing is having pitching depth, especially for the smaller schools."

Bieterman agrees.

"It's a little challenging but we've been able to go shorter stints with some guys," said Bieterman, whose team entered the week with a 11-3 record. "It has added a different wrinkle to the game but it had to be done."

Bieterman admits there are a few holes in the system.

"Only time will tell its long-term effectiveness and it may be counterproductive because I believe a lot of the injuries occur in the summer when guys are playing travel ball," he said.

"My biggest concern is the lack of summer regulations for travel ball," added Genke. "We protect our kids all spring which is a great thing but it's the summer and fall that worries me."

•On the topic of baseball, my thoughts and prayers go out to the McInerney family after the death of Steve McInerney last Friday.

Affectionately known as "Mac," Steve served as an athletic trainer at both St. Charles high schools before becoming an athletic director at Oswego. The SIU grad began his career as a minor league baseball trainer with stops in Bristol, Glens Falls, Toledo and Syracuse.

In 1993, he received a World Series ring following the Toronto Blue Jays' championship season.

I will always cherish my conversations with "Mac," who was known for his warm smile, hearty laugh and great storytelling abilities.

He will be sorely missed.

Craig Brueske can be reached at csb4k@hotmail.com.