The new coaching dynamics of pool play
As Little League District 54 all-star tournament play commenced over the weekend, I was anticipating the drama as coaches adjusted to the district’s new pool play format.
I like the idea of pool play, as it’s guarantee of additional games for even the least strong of all-star teams, but I am intrigued with some of the strategic areas that have changed with the new system. Add Little League’s pitch count regulations to the mix and you have an interesting dynamic.
The first thing I have noticed is the expansion of game times as coaches change pitchers with great regularity in order to save arms for another day. The rule that seems most in effect is the one that allows a pitcher who throws 20 pitches or fewer on a given day to come back in the next game, even if that game is the next day. Exceed 20 tosses and you are done for the next game.
I have lost count of the number of game stoppages as coaches ask for an official pitch count to make sure they save pitchers. The 11-year-olds of Maidu and Roseville West had to play on three consecutive days – talk about your pitching nightmares.
With pitching being of such great importance in Little League, you can imagine the difficulty of these decisions, and as a game gets out of hand, instead of having someone take one for the team and stay out there, coaches end up changing the guy on the bump every 20 pitches.
In the past, with double-elimination, you always looked for the Woodcreeks and Lakesides in your path, knowing you had to save your top pitching for them, but now the key to pool play is finishing first or second in your group, so it almost seems advantageous to use your ace against the other teams while putting a secondary guy on the hill to face the big boys.
The matchup against those teams that matters most is the one in the double-elimination finals, so the key to the pool play round is to survive and advance. Every coach approaches things so differently, and that is why this is so fun to watch.
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Nice job highlighting the impossible and unrealistic pitch counts mandated by LL. First, I am all for pitch counts and youth arm protection in baseball. However, the problem starts with coaching and parenting. Kids desirous of playing baseball must be taught the proper throwing mechanics at a very early age(6-8). These mechanics must be reinforced and practiced with regularity. Baseball is muscle memory and if your child is not practicing correct throwing mechanics, they are creating irreparable damage to themselves. Youth baseball coaches that have never played the game at a high level or learned the proper throwing mechanics have no business coaching today's baseball youth. In lieu of unrealistic pitch counts, I would suggest that LL mandate that all coaches and players be certified with proper throwing mechanics before being allowed to compete at the 9U level and above. Further, the pitch count rules need to be revisited by LL. It is unrealistic that a coach or team should have to place their team in jeopardy of losing a game because they are prohibited from bringing an ace pitcher into a game the following day to pitch an inning or close out a batter because they pitched 21 pitches the day before. This would never occur in tournament play at any level. In light of the throwing innaccuracies of todays youth coupled with the inconsistent officiating, most of these kids can not throw more than one inning with 20 pitches.