Power Pros Forum

I'm playing a season with the Cardinals and one thing that I've noticed
is that pitchers seem to get their elbows injured a LOT. And as far as I know,
I'm not abusing them or making unreasonable pitching demands. I've got a standard pitcher
rotation and I'm not overworking them They're always well rested yet they go out with elbow pain quite often.
And I'm not talking about the 8th or 9th inning, this happens in the 5th or 6th innings with
a low pitch count. The same thing happens to my relievers after about 2 innings too...
Has anyone else noticed this? Am I doing something horribly wrong here? It's gotten annoying
enough to where it's tempting to just turn injuries off for the next season I play. Any tips would
be appreciated.

I was about to make a thread of a similar nature. It feels like I'm putting starting pitchers on the 15-day DL on a bi-weekly basis due to "Elbow Pains" late in the game when they're not even tired. It does get irritating in the middle of a pennant race.

an update to my own post:
I had a pitcher that was getting tired (had a bit of sweat dripping)
then I threw 3 fastballs in a row and that did in his elbow. I'm thinking that a high
# of fastballs might wear them out more.

That could be possible. I had Carlos Zambrano going, and he was pitching fantastic. I went into the 7th inning, Cubs leading 1-7 over the 'Stros and after getting the first out of the inning, maybe two pitches into the second at-bat of the inning, he gets elbow pain and has to be taken out. WHY?! So ANNOYING!

EDIT: I don't overwork my pitchers with too many fastballs I don't think. I do make my pitchers throw maybe one or two fastballs in an at-bat (two if the batter keeps hanging in), but I never throw consecutive fastballs, so I don't know what it is.

Maybe it's all the breaking balls.

I know physically at least for me it's a lot less strain to just throw a ball quickly than trying to twist my hand and fingers to give it break. Maybe it's fine when you're used to it though.

Well your not supposed to throw curveballs and such until you're 15. Because you can fracture a growth plate somewhere because it hasn't fully developed yet.

I had the same problem so what i do now is, when my pitcher shows signs of fatigue, sighing and sweat, i throw mostly

changeups and an occasional FB ... stay away from CB's and too many FB's as that will def get u on the DL. ive avoided

the DL so far in my season.

i just want to say i like your name Abe Frohman HAHAHA

I don't seem to get injured like that.... Wonder what factors in.....

The sausage king of Chicago?

I just saw my first pitching injury. Jamie Moyer went down to elbow pain in the 5th or 6th inning. He wasn't too deep in terms of pitch count either so it kind of surprised me.

He's 45. I would imagine that that plays a role in it as well. Also, If he threw a lot of pitches his last start, he probably was tired