tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1155970624693977484.post2224594863349487705..comments2023-09-22T05:09:08.918-04:00Comments on Baseball Concepts: Why Players Can't Throw AnymoreClick On Profilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12477364345427620077noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1155970624693977484.post-84203337402070973392009-05-29T00:02:41.393-04:002009-05-29T00:02:41.393-04:00The average speed of high school, college, and pro...The average speed of high school, college, and professional hurlers has increased in the past 37 years. There are more surgical options and treatments for injuries, as well as a better availablity for simpler cures such as ice and heat. The quality of throwing surely is better now than it used to be. <br /><br />However, I would say it is important that players are taught at an early age to throw properly and to throw often. This means incorporating long toss into daily throwing routines, and teaching footwork and mechanics. <br /><br />I find it hard to buy into the 'more pitching machines=less throwing development' simply because a batting practice pitch does not simulate very many game throws. It is normally 25-40 ft, much shorter than any throw required in a game, and is casually tossed. The benefits of hitting machines far outweight the negatives, in my eyes, because kids can get in as much practice as they want without having to be accompanied by anyone else. It also allows coaches to have extra hitting stations, giving room for extra development. <br /><br />I understand that some kids these days struggle throwing. But I believe they are in the minority, and that the rise of the pitching machine has little to do with it.Jack Staffordnoreply@blogger.com