Interesting......

[Rick2583]

Some of you may find these pitching stats interesting,

20 OR MORE COMPLETE GAMES ACCOMPLISHED,

1940s = 76
1950s = 43
1960s = 29
1970s = 58
1980s = 7
1990s = O
2000s = O
21010 to current = O

Last pitcher to throw 20 + complete games was Fernando Valenzuela (20) in 1986
Last pitcher to throw 25 + complete games was Rick Langford (28) in 1980

275 OR MORE INNINGS PITCHED

1940s = 49
1950s = 35
1960s = 62
1970s = 103
1980s = 21
1990s = O
2000s = O
2010 to current = O

Last pitcher to throw 275+ innings was Dave Stewart (275.2) in 1988
Last pitcher to throw 300+ innings was Steve Carlton (304) in 1980

Last pitcher to have 40+ games started was Charlie Hough (41) in 1987. Today's tops =34

 

[Hammerojustice]

To confirm, this is the number of pitchers in the entire league who had 20 CGs?

 

[Rick2583]

To confirm, this is the number of pitchers in the entire league who had 20 CGs?

Yes Steve I may have worded it incorrectly. Example: during the 40s 76 pitchers threw 20 or more complete games. And yes the entire league.

 

[Messiah717]

Well now we have so many multi million dollar bullpen guys that have to be kept in business.

 

[Rick2583]

Well now we have so many multi million dollar bullpen guys that have to be kept in business.

I could be mistaken but I really don't remember a team carrying 12-13 pitchers. Honestly I'd rather see a team knock off a pitcher or two & use the extra spots to strengthen the bench.

 

[totus44]

I could be mistaken but I really don't remember a team carrying 12-13 pitchers. Honestly I'd rather see a team knock off a pitcher or two & use the extra spots to strengthen the bench.

DH (in the AL) addresses that Rick.


Not all that surprising, ball players have become much better athletes. How many guys from the 70s could do that pitching today?

 

[Rick2583]

DH (in the AL) addresses that Rick.


Not all that surprising, ball players have become much better athletes. How many guys from the 70s could do that pitching today?

If they're better athletes why can't they go longer than 6-7 innings or barely pitch 220 innings?

 

[totus44]

I've leave that physics proof to Rob. Basically the arm mechanics, coupled to the physiques today aren't conducive that that amount of sustained load. Of course this is a generalization and over simplification, but on the main its correct IMO. Stronger batters, lighter bats....pitchers needed to adjust, etc.

It would make a great read for someone to statistically chart the evolution of the baseball player.

 

[yankeesince59]

I don't think it's necessarily a case of pitchers being wussies these days, instead I think it has evolved into what it is by a few factors. For one, I don't recall pitchers asking to come out of a game or complaining that they're being overworked. It's management that has put them on pitch counts, inning limits, etc. and it is the coach who removes them from the game at his discretion alone.
...The game and pitching strategy has simply become more specialized with "lefty specialists" and mid-relief guys and setup guys and closers...and owners/management have become more and more protective of their starter because of the long term investments they have often made.
...and pitchers are simply throwing harder today than they were just a few years ago and their arms are blowing out at historic rates.
...there's no need to risk your multi-million dollar a year pitcher by extending him longer in a game than really necessary when you have fresher arms in the BP.

 

[blgridesagain]

Some of you may find these pitching stats interesting,

20 OR MORE COMPLETE GAMES ACCOMPLISHED,

1940s = 76
1950s = 43
1960s = 29
1970s = 58
1980s = 7
1990s = O
2000s = O
21010 to current = O

Last pitcher to throw 20 + complete games was Fernando Valenzuela (20) in 1986
Last pitcher to throw 25 + complete games was Rick Langford (28) in 1980

275 OR MORE INNINGS PITCHED

1940s = 49
1950s = 35
1960s = 62
1970s = 103
1980s = 21
1990s = O
2000s = O
2010 to current = O

Last pitcher to throw 275+ innings was Dave Stewart (275.2) in 1988
Last pitcher to throw 300+ innings was Steve Carlton (304) in 1980

Last pitcher to have 40+ games started was Charlie Hough (41) in 1987. Today's tops =34

Kinda quirky how the pitcher's era of the 1960s has the lowest amount of complete games accomplished (20) than the four decades of the 1940-70s, by a considerable margin.

 

[Hammerojustice]

Kinda quirky how the pitcher's era of the 1960s has the lowest amount of complete games accomplished (20) than the four decades of the 1940-70s, by a considerable margin.

Yet had the second most number of pitchers to throw 275 innings in that span...

 

[Rick2583]

Yet had the second most number of pitchers to throw 275 innings in that span...

Which tells me the starters went deep during that decade but just didn't finish. Sounds a lot like me during these older years.

 

[yankeesince59]

...the 60's and 70's were likely skewed by going from a 154 games season to 162, as well as expanding to include several more franchises. (about 14 more teams I think)

 

[Rick2583]

...the 60's and 70's were likely skewed by going from a 154 games season to 162, as well as expanding to include several more franchises. (about 14 more teams I think)

MLB entered the 60s with 16 teams & 154 game season. And finished the 60s with 24 teams & a 162 game season.

 

[yankeesince59]

...and more teams were added in the 70's....and even more after that.

1977—Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays join AL; 1993—Colorado Rockies and Florida Marlins join NL; 1998—Arizona Diamondbacks join NL and Tampa Bay Devil Rays join AL.


I seem to recall that when they went to 162 game seasons (1961) Maris and Mantle figured since pitching would surely be watered down because of the expansion, it would be the perfect time to go after Ruth's record...and ultimately they were right.

 

[Messiah717]

The issue also is all the arm problems. These guys are being abused on the high school level and many times even on the little league level.

 

[Rick2583]

Honestly I'll never understand why or how the arm problems of today was basically non existent 40-50 years ago.

 

[Hammerojustice]

...the 60's and 70's were likely skewed by going from a 154 games season to 162, as well as expanding to include several more franchises. (about 14 more teams I think)

How is it skewed? If were just talking total number of players... So if one said considering there were x many more teams/games in a year/decade there were only y pitchers achieving these stats.... Nothing is skewed... The pre-60's decades could be viewed or anything after it is skewed, but...???

 

[Hammerojustice]

Honestly I'll never understand why or how the arm problems of today was basically non existent 40-50 years ago.

Agreed

 

[Messiah717]

Honestly I'll never understand why or how the arm problems of today was basically non existent 40-50 years ago.

Because of what I said. These kids are ruining their arms at a young age. Look at the pitches being thrown at the LLWS.

 

[yankeesince59]

The issue also is all the arm problems. These guys are being abused on the high school level and many times even on the little league level.

...mess, another problem is that many of the young guys are also playing winter ball instead of allowing their arms to recuperate over the off season...and as has been pointed out, the pitchers of today as a whole, are throwing harder than ever before.

 

[Rick2583]

Because of what I said. These kids are ruining their arms at a young age. Look at the pitches being thrown at the LLWS.

Not disputing that Vic but you'd think that someone would over see what's happening & try to prevent it.

 

[Messiah717]

The coaches at those levels don't give a shit.

 

[Rick2583]

I'm also with Ryan when he basically says that this un-written 100 pitch rule is a joke.

 

[Rick2583]

Just to extend on my above post, Warren Spahn between 1946 & 1963 (18 seasons) had 12 years where he completed 20 or more games. (3 of which came after the age of 40) 9 times in those 18 seasons he pitched 275 or more innings. 16 times he pitched 250 or more innings (7 of which came after the age of 35).

And today they look at going 200 innings as a big deal. Wow! how times have changed.