This is the second in a 3 part series to appear over the next few weeks. In part 1 Ron looked at why conventional pitch-count thinking is flawed. Here in part 2, he covers a new way to think about pitch limits. Part 3 wraps up with a structured training program to improve pitching intensity.

by Ron Wolforth, Pitching Central & the Texas Baseball Ranch

Check #1 
A drop in average radar velocity of 3-5%

If the young man averages 80mph in the first inning and is now in the 5th inning is averaging 76-77mph …would be an indication to make a change. In this case you really need to know what each individual pitcher typically averages. We find this a very valuable tool. This is primary reason why we radar all of our pitchers in a game. It’s not because we are obsessed with velocity. If the drop of average velocity exceeds 3 mph, he’s had enough. Go get him.

Check # 2 
Consistently elevated fastball

While his velocity may have not dipped 3-5%, if his fastball becomes consistently elevated 4-6 inches above where it is when he is fresh…in other words…if 3-5 fastballs in a row begin to be significantly elevated, we watch him very closely. Certainly this maybe a focus problem but our experience would indicate it’s usually a fatigue issue. Furthermore I personally reject the ‘he’s lost his release point’ philosophy. To me personally, it is either a fatigue issue, a preparation- mechanical-conditioning issue or a focus-concentration issue and to be on the safe side, if I don’t know this pitcher extremely well, I’m going to assume first that it is a sign of fatigue. As a general rule if a young pitcher unintentionally elevates his fastball significantly for two consecutive hitters, I’ll go talk with him…if he doesn’t make an adjustment on hitter #3, he’s had enough. I’ll go get him. A veteran pitcher may be given even greater leniency earlier in the game to right his ship and make an adjustment…then the plug would be pulled on him as well.

Check # 3  
Missing locations high or low

If our pitcher begins to miss his locations very high to his arm side and very low and in the dirt to his glove side, we will monitor him very carefully. Of course this also may be a preparation-mechanical-conditioning issue or a focus-concentration issue. However, we assume this is a fatigue issue. The scatter pattern of wild high and in to arm side and wild low and out to the glove side is almost always a sign of significant fatigue and mechanical inefficiency. If this pattern is not corrected quickly- certainly within two hitters…the pitcher- veteran or rookie is finished for the day.

Now many of you may be saying, Coach Wolforth these last two checks describes one of my pitchers in the first inning when he is fresh. My response to that is that you have much work to do before he is ready to go into a game. If a young man throws like #2 & #3 when he is fresh…he will have real trouble getting 3 outs in 15 pitches. Pitch counts therefore really aren’t your problem. ‘Pitching’ is. Become a more effective and efficient thrower and your pitch count will automatically come down.


12-15 pitches per inning- Green light (Ideal)
The pitcher will remain in the game unless his average velocity drops or another obvious tell of fatigue indicates concern.

18-22 pitches per inning - Yellow light
Our observation of this pitcher increases. He is on alert and monitored closely

23-30 pitches per inning - Orange light
Under normal circumstances this pitcher is done for the evening as soon as he exceeds the 30 pitch per inning limit or has a second inning exceeding 23 pitches. Usually we allow him to finish the inning or get to a maximum of 35 before he is replaced. However, if his average velocity drops or one of the location tales shows up…he is done for the night at that point. Also, if the athlete has already recorded a 22-25 pitch inning earlier in the outing…he is finished at 25. The only exception to this rule is 1) this is a veteran pitcher, 2) it is later in the season and therefore his has a foundation built and 3) his average velocity numbers and his location remains solid.

30+ pitches per inning - Red light
It just wasn’t your night…It’s time to be finished and hand the ball to someone else. We would possibly allow a veteran pitcher later in the season to finish the inning but a young arm is simply done for the night.

Another concept that I completely believe in which goes against the conventional wisdom...


Many coaches like to use their stud on day one…then pull him out early and use him again the next day or the day after that. If you are a big pitch count guy…50 is simply twice as safe as 100. It is my experience that letting a young man throw 100 pitches in a 7 inning game on Friday- as long as he adheres to our pitch per inning criteria and 3 observational fatigue tells…. is much safer than splitting him up and throwing 40-60 pitches on Friday & 40-60 pitches on Saturday or Sunday. Obviously many people don’t believe this. That is what I refer to as wanting to save your cake and eating it too.

I completely disagree with the process of throwing back to back days in youth travel leagues and believe it to be very dangerous. It’s another reason I think total pitch count is often misapplied and misused. The coach can claim that his pitcher has smaller work loads and he deserves kudos for the management of his staff. But to me he is speaking with forked tongue. Because recovery is such a huge variable in health and durability, I suggest it is far better to throw one complete outing ( again as long as he is 12-15 and all other fatigue observations in the green) and then have 3-6 days to fully recover than it is to break up the pitch count into smaller segments and throw back to back days.

In my opinion, throwing back to back days is far more dangerous to young arms than is having an elevated pitch count on any particular single day.

I realize that this is not a perfect world and we need relievers. With that said here is my guidelines for relief, recovery and return to the mound. These guidelines are even more crucial for youth pitchers 9-14 years of age.


0-18 pitches
…you could throw the next day or later the same day

24-47 pitches
…you need 24 hours before you can throw again. This pitcher would be available in 2 days.

48-71 pitches
…you need 48 hours before you can throw again. This pitcher would be available in 3 days

72+ pitches
…you need 72 hours before you can throw again. This pitcher would be available in 4 days



Wait, there's more!
In the third part of the series, Ron talks about adjusting the pitch count to the pitching cycle.