I don't know if this was posted or not, but interesting nontheless

http://games.espn.go.com/content/flb/2005/story?id=1970672

 

With our luck something would happen like this..But I think Mark is a far less risk case since he's not a power pitcher and has good mechanics..Don't see this happening.

 

OFF THE LIST, BUT NONETHELESS RISKY

 

The following four pitchers were too old to meet my criteria, but they still strike me as risks for 2005 based on their likely draft prices:

 

# Mark Buehrle: He has averaged 234 innings pitched the past four seasons, the most in the majors, and he's not even 26. For all the talk that he's an efficient pitcher, averaging 3.65 pitches per plate appearances for his career, that's still an awful lot of throws for such a young arm. It has to catch up with him sooner or later.

and with someone named Cockcroft, he knows what he's talkin about

Ok, Buehrle has piled up some innings. So, what is more risky? A guy who has broken down like Kerry Wood or one that has proven he eat up some innings like Buehrle? There can be a case made both ways, but when it comes down to the nitty gritty .... We don't know what's going to happen. It's all part of the game.

Don't make me bump that thread again, you know the one I'm talking about.

I think we really need to stop coddling our pitchers in the league. It seems like pitchers used to make a ton more starts, throw more innings and still give up less runs than now. Imagine the difference in the league if we pulled back the fences and started using more durable pitching staffs. Teams like the White Sox would do much better and staffs with glass arms, like the Cubs, would have more problems.

Ok, Buehrle has piled up some innings.  So, what is more risky?  A guy who has broken down like Kerry Wood or one that has proven he eat up some innings like Buehrle?  There can be a case made both ways, but when it comes down to the nitty gritty .... We don't know what's going to happen.  It's all part of the game.

 

Mark doesn't scare me nearly as much as an El Duque or Contreras. Mark has no "bad" pitches for his arm. He doesn't throw a heavy slider or screwball or heavy curveball that torques wrist shoulder and/or elbows.

Mark doesn't scare me nearly as much as an El Duque or Contreras.  Mark has no "bad" pitches for his arm.  He doesn't throw a heavy slider or screwball or heavy curveball that torques wrist shoulder and/or elbows.

 

Exactly. We've recently argued (not you and I, but Soxtalk) whether or not Schoenewiecz could handle the 5th starters role if someone broke down and he was not durable enough or too frail or whatever. Now Buehrle's a risk because he has pitched a lot of innings.

Why are today's pitchers like fine china? Why were some starting pitchers of a generation or so ago often able to pitch 300 or so innings year after year? In any case, pitching is always a risky business. Buehrle has a nice easy motion, and in general does not try to overpower the hitters. To me, guys like Kerry Wood and Bartolo Colon look like rotator cuffs waiting to happen. I'm much more worried about Contreras and El Duque. I'm more concerned about Garland finally getting his head screwed on straight.

You gotta remember that kids throw less all through life now. Coddling just doesn't start in te bigs. Instead of pitching in a sandlot all day, they can throw 5-7 innings a weeek max in little league. It's a lifetime style change.

You know how you can tell that article is BS.

Mark Buherle is mentioned and has never had any arm problem as far as I can tell yet Mark Prior is barely mentioned (doesn't make the list) and Kerry Wood isn't anywhere on the site. Anyone who thinks Buherle is more of a risk then these two don't know anything about baseball.

Why are today's pitchers like fine china? Why were some starting  pitchers of a generation or so ago often able to pitch 300 or so innings year after year?

 

I've heard a couple of interesting theories on arm trouble. One is that players just don't throw as much when they're younger. The thought being that just plain throwing builds arm strength. I rarely, if at all see kids playing pick up games of baseball anymore. Seems like we played several days a week when I was a youngster. The other theory is that pitchers are learning breaking balls at too early an age, putting to much stress on arms that aren't ready to take it. I recently saw a Sports Center report on how common Tommy John surgery is becoming for high school kids. The players interviewed thought having TJ surgery was no big deal. That if they threw their arm out, so what? They'll just get it repaired.

Mark doesn't scare me nearly as much as an El Duque or Contreras.  Mark has no "bad" pitches for his arm.  He doesn't throw a heavy slider or screwball or heavy curveball that torques wrist shoulder and/or elbows.

I was gonna say the same thing. Mark throws the "standard" pitches, he doesn't have a screwball, or slurve, or any of these gimmick pitches that strain the arm. Yeah, he's thrown a bunch of innings, but that by itself doesn't necessarily mean he's at any more risk for injury than anyone else.

Thsi sounds like a guy picking a name out of a hat so he can seem like a "baseball expert" if MB does happen to suffer an injury.

QUOTE(Yossarian @ Jan 21, 2005 -> 08:20 AM)

Why are today's pitchers like fine china? Why were some starting pitchers of a generation or so ago often able to pitch 300 or so innings year after year?

 

 

I've heard a couple of interesting theories on arm trouble. One is that players just don't throw as much when they're younger. The thought being that just plain throwing builds arm strength. I rarely, if at all see kids playing pick up games of baseball anymore. Seems like we played several days a week when I was a youngster. The other theory is that pitchers are learning breaking balls at too early an age, putting to much stress on arms that aren't ready to take it.  I recently saw a Sports Center report on how common Tommy John surgery is becoming for high school kids. The players interviewed thought having TJ surgery was no big deal. That if they threw their arm out, so what? They'll just get it repaired.

 

I think another factor is the average size of modern day pitchers. The collective number of elbow and shoulder joints are now being taxed by men over 6 feet tall supporting frames that weigh over 200 lbs.

This is just a writer that needed to create some column-inches of text. It's not worth the paper, or cyber space, it's printed on. Let's move on.

The author of the article diuspalys a great insight into the game of baseball. "It's got to catch up with him sometime." OK! When is sometime Mr Baseball Wizard? 25 years from now? The statement only deserves derision and then the author needs a good smack up alongside his heae.

The author of the article diuspalys a great insight into the game of baseball. "It's got to catch up with him sometime." OK! When is sometime Mr Baseball Wizard? 25 years from now? The statement only deserves derision and then the author needs a good smack up alongside his heae.

 

... with a 35 oz ball bat!

The writer is seems like he is basing his arguments on the current state of pitchers in the league. There aren't any throwback pitchers like MB is. So, you assumer 234 innings per year is a lot, and it is. but, as it's been stated previously, he doesn't throw any arm torqueing pitches. The other thing he doesn't do is try to do too much. He doesn't try to get the extra 3 mph on his fastball all the time like a lot of pitchers seem to try to do (Colon and Pedro come to mind).

 

Also, about Prior, wasn't the big thing about him when he came out of college that he had fantastic mechanics? That's all I remember about him...he won't have any major arm problems because of his mechanics...hmmm. Watcha gotta say for yourself Rothschild?

Mark doesn't scare me nearly as much as an El Duque or Contreras.  Mark has no "bad" pitches for his arm.  He doesn't throw a heavy slider or screwball or heavy curveball that torques wrist shoulder and/or elbows.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

have you seen his floating curve??? thats the one pitch that could hurt him, he torques his arm alot on that pitch

I think what a lot of people forget about Mark is that he rarely wastes pitches. Like that little blurb said, he averages 3.65 pitches per plate appearance. That is nothing. Who cares if he logs 230 IP per season. If his pitches are not up there, then there really isn't much of a difference. Mark's 230 IP is more like 190-200 IP for most other pitchers if their pitch counts were the same. Mark throwing 230 IP really doesn't scare me because he'll do it with minimal pitch counts.

I've wondered about MB's health for the last two seasons and he's been OK, so until something pops, I'm going to assume he's OK. There's certain pitchers who can go many years without serious arm problems, ie Clemens, Maddux, etc... not saying they haven't had injuries, but they have piled innings up over long careers.

 

Some people are just "freaks" and don't get hurt. Also, I've read that Mark's off day throwing sessions are not very intense like other pitchers...

I wouldn't read much into this fella's opinion.

 

Probably a little educated writer who knows little, if nothing, about Buehrle.

 

All of us here know his style and his capabilities.

 

We're also all smart enough to know that his pitch selection has low impact on his arm. He throws very few pitches that I would consider to be potentially problematic to a pitcher.

 

From what I've seen of Mark, he tends to keep in good shape and focusing on what he needs to accomplish.

 

As long as he does that, pencil him in for 16+ wins on a yearly basis.

Weren't the same questions circuling Buehrle last year?? The man is just a horse, imo if there is a sure thing in MLB Mark Buehrle is about as close to it as there is.

None of you listen to what Ozzie says. Do you? Ozzie has repeatedly stated NO SKIPPED STARTS! As long as all 5 starters remain healthy & effective they will all get a scheduled start every 5th day. This is going to considerably reduce the load on Mark & Freddy. They will have several 5 day rest periods between starts throughout the season.

 

Ozzie has a target of 200-210 ip for each starter & an avg of 33 starts.

Mark should be fine. Hernandez is the biggest risk. I hope Ozzie changes his mind.

None of you listen to what Ozzie says.  Do you? Ozzie has repeatedly stated NO SKIPPED STARTS! As long as all 5 starters remain healthy & effective they will all get a scheduled start every 5th day.  This is going to considerably reduce the load on Mark & Freddy.  They will have several 5 day rest periods between starts throughout the season.

 

Ozzie has a target of 200-210 ip for each starter & an avg of 33 starts.

Mark should be fine.  Hernandez is the biggest risk.  I hope Ozzie changes his mind.

 

People have said this several times. It just has not been mentioned in this thread.

doesnt Buehrle throw the cutter... isnt that a pitch that puts a lot of stress on a pitchers arm.