PUTTING IT ALL INTO CONTEXT

/ totallytigersblog

by Holly Horning

Last week I promised that we would address all the injuries happening to pitchers.  Today, we’ll start off the discussion in a 2-part blog.

However, the original topic concerning the increasing number of Tommy John surgeries will wait for Thursday, so please save your comments about that for then.

We’re pivoting slightly because of a just-released study about what is going on this year with pitcher injuries.

Injuries are up across all of MLB, esp. among starting pitchers.  And it’s noticeable.

Noticeable enough that MLB is investigating.

Many fans have pointed out the injuries with the Tigers.  Going so far as to immediately pin the blame on Chris Fetter.

Chris, btw, is probably having nightmares about his decimated staff.

But it’s not Fetter.  It’s not even the training and conditioning staffs.  And it’s not the Tigers.

It’s………

….. the pitch clock. 

Or so the experts are currently saying based upon their review of years of data.

So far this year, each team in just 2 months of play has used just short of 9 different starting pitchers this year.  Out of 150 Opening Day roster SPs, MLB teams have had to add 104 more.  Everyone expects that number to rise – even to 400 different SPs by the end of the year.

The vast majority of players who have hit the IL this year are predominantly pitchers.  These numbers are up significantly since 3 years ago.  Sixty-one pitchers just in May have gone on the IL which averages out to 2 SPs per team in just 1 month.

Elbow, hand and shoulder injuries have exploded.  There are currently 75 pitchers on the IL for elbow injuries and 59 with shoulder problems.

But here’s where the data ends for the moment.  More of the year has to play out before any bona fide conclusions may be made.

However, the one thing that all baseball execs and trainers can agree on is that the climb in velocity is a significant factor.  The harder you throw, the harder you push yourself physically, the more susceptible you are to injury.

Enter the pitch clock. 

Pitchers now have a shorter time in which to recover from throwing a pitch.  Throwing all those fastballs now is doing damage.  Ironic because MLB assumed that pitchers would acclimate and change their strategy of throwing high velocity by saving their best for when it was most needed.

What it appears hurlers are doing is throwing every pitch with maximum intent.  Which is why a number of teams (not including the Tigers) have been absolutely decimated with injuries.  Some losing entire starting rotations like the Astros, Braves, Mets and Dodgers due solely to arm injuries.

Now, let’s compare what is going on with the Tigers.  If we look at those on the IL who have actually pitched in Detroit, there are 7 starting pitchers and 1 reliever.  But we need to look at when they were injured as well as the specific type of injury.

Both Casey Mize and Spencer Turnbull had Tommy John surgery back in 2021.  Mize had both arm and back problems while in college.  Turnbull now has an injured neck.

Alex Faedo has a fingernail injury while Eduardo Rodriguez injured a finger.

Matt Manning broke his foot from being hit by a batted ball.

Now it’s time to get into those pitchers who qualify for “suspicious” arm and elbow injuries.

There’s Trey Wingenter with a biceps injury.  He has just started throwing again.

Beau Brieske hurt his elbow and like Wingenter is doing rehab and has reached the throwing stage.

That leaves Tarik Skubal, another elbow injury that required surgery last year.  However, Skubal had Tommy John surgery in college (8 years ago).

So out of these 8 pitchers, here is the breakdown:

  • 3 pitchers with previous injuries/surgeries before they came to the Tigers
  • 2 with injuries unrelated to pitching
  • 1 pitcher with non-elbow/shoulder injury
  • 2 pitchers with elbow and bicep injuries

The summary?  That the Tigers are on average with the rest of MLB. Maybe even below average. 

There is no need to think that they have a higher than average rate of injuries given pre-existing issues and non-arm/shoulder related injuries.

However, this review of all those pitchers on the IL brings up another concern.  Out of 7 starting pitchers, the Tigers signed 3 of them with established injuries/concerns that required surgery.

They were injuries known to the team before they were acquired.   Turnbull was signed under Dave Dombrowski and both Mize and Skubal by Al Avila. 

How many of them will actually see their careers materialize with the Tigers?

I think that is the more important question.

On Thursday, we’ll continue the discussion about pitcher injuries with the focus on Tommy John surgeries and why they are increasing in frequency so please save those comments for then.  

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15 thoughts on “PUTTING IT ALL INTO CONTEXT”

  1. If they find it so necessary to have a pitch clock then they need to raise the mound again. Few teams needed Tommy John surgery in Mickey Lolich’s or Denny McLain’s day with the higher mound. Which shall it be more home runs orquicker games with fewer pitcher injuries.

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  2. I certainly hope they don’t do away with the pitch clock—that’s been the best change. I can see making adjustments to the pitch clock as in possibly extending the time. I think the real issue here is how do you change the mindset of those pitchers who believe they have to pitch with higher intensity because they have that short window.

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  4. It’s not just the pitch clock. For several years now starters have been throwing fewer innings with complete games becoming extremely rare. With the goal of only going six innings I fear too many pitchers are encouraged to go out there with no moderation and just let ‘er rip.

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  5. The real question becomes whether or not pitchers can effectively adjust their pitching to avoid injury under the current pitch clock time restraint. Also, if I am not mistaken didn’t the minor leagues institute the pitch clock rule last year? It would be very interesting to note if pitching injuries in the minor leagues increased significantly as a result.

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  6. The answer to combat rising pitcher injuries is fairly simple: deaden the ball. Pitchers are frightened to death of giving up homers and are throwing with maximum intent to induce swing and miss on every pitch, because all nine guys in the order can take them out. Deadening the ball will allow pitchers to rely on their fielders to get outs by letting most of the batting order put the ball in play.

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    • Good point. Then the hitters would emphasize contact instead of swinging for the fences and the fans would see more action. Adequate Samaritan for MLB Commisiioner!

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  7. When I heard games are now at their shortest duration in 40 years or so, I tried to remember what games were like back then that they could go quicker than today even without a pitch timer. Injury rates seemed to be lower back then too. I think the greater intensity for every pitch is the primary cause for today’s injury rates.

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  8. The game pace is the same as years ago, so that’s not the problem. The problem is constant maximum effort combined with spin rate emphasis all putting more pressure on the arm. Pitchers used to pace themselves.

    Liked by 9 people

  10. Change the pitch clock to 20 seconds and see if that results in a change. Just my two cents worth but Manfred is the worst commish in my life time.

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  11. Oh for the days of Greg Maddux. He could barely throw it through a pane of glass but with terrific location and change of speeds, he managed to win 4 Cy Youngs (also had a 2nd, 2 3rds, a 4th and 5th places). Pitched 23 years.

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  12. Even more than pitchers throwing with maximum effort on every pitch to gain velocity……I think alott of the arm injuries are the byproduct of the emphasis on spin (along with the elimination of sticky substances to improve grip). I’m of the opinion that MLB should look into standardizing an improved grip enhancing substance that pitchers could legally use.

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