txags92 said:

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I agree with you that all of that stuff is a big factor, but the combination of the pitch clock and the expectation that starters with go 5-7 innings instead of 9 means that are not trying to save their arm during the game. They are throwing every pitch as hard as they can with as much spin as possible and not getting much rest between pitches. It isn't any one thing; it is the combination of all of them putting more stress on arms and throwing more, harder, more taxing pitches in a shorter period of time than ever before. No idea how they fix it at the big league level, but I think max pitch counts per outing and per week at lower levels need to be a part of it.

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They have pitch count limits in league ball and select ball but lots of folks abuse them.

I've personally witnessed a team have a kid switch jerseys so he could claim to be a different kid and throw 200+ pitches in a weekend. Parents and coaches have to care enough to enforce it. I've seen way too many parents and coaches push a kid to throw way too many pitches even at a really young age.

As I said, my older son is a freshman in HS, his school has a sophomore team, JV, and varsity. The sophomore team is actually all freshmen but whatever. They've played 8 games plus 5 scrimmages so far (missed out on 3 games from a tournament being cancelled a couple weekends ago when we had that freeze). On only 2 occasions has a kid thrown more than 60 pitches in an outing and in both cases the kid hadn't pitched for almost a week prior and didn't/won't pitch again for probably a week afterwards.

Now, we might be unique because we have a lot of arms. In those 13 games/scrimmages we have thrown 12 different kids and not given up more than 4 runs in a 7-inning game.

I don't have the stats from the scrimmages because we didn't keep a book but nobody threw more than 2 innings in those scrimmages and my son in the 8 games (he missed 2 with the flu) has thrown 4.2 innings and has 8 Ks, 2 H (one was a bunt single), while giving up 0 runs, and 1 BB. He's thrown a total of 61 pitches in those 4.2 innings.

Yeah, part of it is on the parents and coaches, but there are also kids playing for multiple teams that may pitch in 3 tournament games over the weekend, then go pitch in 2-3 more games with their other team in the same week. Doesn't matter if he stays in his max pitch count for each game if he is throwing in 5 games in 7 days.

The outfield is going to be subpar. Meyers and McCormick. Woof.

txags92 said:

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Yeah, part of it is on the parents and coaches, but there are also kids playing for multiple teams that may pitch in 3 tournament games over the weekend, then go pitch in 2-3 more games with their other team in the same week. Doesn't matter if he stays in his max pitch count for each game if he is throwing in 5 games in 7 days.

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That's on the parents.

Farmer1906 said:

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Thank you for everything, José! Best of luck in Detroit. pic.twitter.com/oMTotz4Ccg

— Houston Astros (@astros) March 11, 2025

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I totally forgot that he went with FA

Alex Bregman bought suits for many Red Sox top prospects, just as former Astros vets Carlos Beltran, Brian McCann, and Josh Reddick did for him (via @bradfo).

Mayer: "It's the sickest thing ever. It was my first suit … It was truly incredible and something I will never forget.” pic.twitter.com/qetayIhwu6

— Boston Sports Gordo (@BOSSportsGordo) March 10, 2025

Plus, a lot of guys don't get crazy signing money. Their ML contracts are peanuts.

Slide Away said:

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The outfield is going to be subpar. Meyers and McCormick. Woof.

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Chas is one of the most important players on the team for 2025

he's produced at a high level in the past (.842 OPS in 2023)

and a good season from him will limit Jake's and Dubon's at-bats

yes indeed -- tactical move

txags92 said:

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Yeah, part of it is on the parents and coaches, but there are also kids playing for multiple teams that may pitch in 3 tournament games over the weekend, then go pitch in 2-3 more games with their other team in the same week. Doesn't matter if he stays in his max pitch count for each game if he is throwing in 5 games in 7 days.

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I could say so much more about this, but you both are correct.

Their arm damage is done long before they get to mlb. More and more TJ happening even in high school.

Emphasis has gone to a closer mentality. Empty the tank every inning, and do it for 6 innings. How many of us knew how hard we threw before high school? Now a days every dad and travel coach has a pocket radar putting a number on a kid and evaluating them with such. Not every kid develops physically at the same rate, and like in my son's case, he is 8 playing 9u with and against kids that are nearly 10 due to their birthday. That puts a lot of pressure on the younger smaller kids to tryand keep with the top level group.

Everyone saying that's on the parents. Not every parent has a sports background, and they pay lots of money and put trust into these coaches/organizations. They win, their kids are more productive (even though not better, just better than the game at their age), so it's hard for them to take a stand or discern.

The culprit is definitely the mentality though. As others above said, 90 is the new 80-82 in varsity baseball. I coach HS in metro atlanta, which is a hot bed for baseball right now. Last year we has 5 pitchers on varsity sitting 90-92, and that is not uncommon at this level. The younger ones will be 93-94 as seniors. Thats crazy stupid to me. 5 on, not 1. 90 out of high school used to be 1st round draft level.

Young kids also are starting to play too much baseball, and over developing and under developing certain muscles. The good athletes play multiple sports, but the ones who aren't necessarily athletes are becoming POs younger and younger. This is causing them to pitch way too much and not develop any other counterbalancing muscles. You know how many throws shortstops and catchers make a day? 10x more than any pitcher. Shortstops have a lot of force behind their throws too, but rarely ever max force. When is the last time you saw a SS have TJ? Those same kids also likely played multiple sports growing up because they were good athletes, so they have reduced injury risk with regards to wear and tear type things.

Yep....it's interesting how much more kids get hurt these days. There's a reason.

my buddy who is a pitching coach, said they feel directly tied to too much strength training - too heavy of weights being pumped leads to damages in connective tissue that shows up when they hit the field.

Velo is part of the problem, but TJ s have increased even with lower pitch counts. They feel it's the weight training.

Here is what I know about the new City Connect jerseys, and this is from someone who was shown a photo of the jersey.

It says “Stros” on front of the jersey. Also, the jerseys will be white.

That's what I know so far.

— Michael Schwab (@michaelschwab13) March 11, 2025

pic.twitter.com/2elKW1oBxd

— Matthew Cheer (@mcheerwx) March 11, 2025

Not mad about it….Has potential. 90s star with some tequila sunrise somewhere? Sign me up.

So it looks like that hat will be the astro dome shooting star but rainbow color. My guess at least

There’s no perfect way to quantify Grapefruit League production, but Baseball-Reference is trying - https://t.co/ocgy8gGQ4e pic.twitter.com/qvtrmdNl6G

— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) March 11, 2025

MAROON said:

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my buddy who is a pitching coach, said they feel directly tied to too much strength training - too heavy of weights being pumped leads to damages in connective tissue that shows up when they hit the field.

Velo is part of the problem, but TJ s have increased even with lower pitch counts. They feel it's the weight training.

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That's funny because I know a number of pitching coaches and they're adamant that too many kids who pitch don't do enough strength training which leads to injuries.

TarponChaser said:

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MAROON said:

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my buddy who is a pitching coach, said they feel directly tied to too much strength training - too heavy of weights being pumped leads to damages in connective tissue that shows up when they hit the field.

Velo is part of the problem, but TJ s have increased even with lower pitch counts. They feel it's the weight training.

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That's funny because I know a number of pitching coaches and they're adamant that too many kids who pitch don't do enough strength training which leads to injuries.

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I'm not sure there's a focus on the stretching and flexibility. It's hard to nail down. In some cases (not necessarily baseball), it's all bulk, bulk, bulk, more, more, more on these kids, and without the right kind of balance (i.e., flexibility and building the right kind of muscles to compensate), it's all going to collapse on them.

Here is a list of players who the Astros should always consider.

RHH sorted by pulling the ball when hit in the air.

Hitters who hit where home runs die (CF).

I bet that necklace is actually a good indicator. In one of the hype videos the batting glove looked like that same shade of orange and blue

BohunkAg said:

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TarponChaser said:

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MAROON said:

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my buddy who is a pitching coach, said they feel directly tied to too much strength training - too heavy of weights being pumped leads to damages in connective tissue that shows up when they hit the field.

Velo is part of the problem, but TJ s have increased even with lower pitch counts. They feel it's the weight training.

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That's funny because I know a number of pitching coaches and they're adamant that too many kids who pitch don't do enough strength training which leads to injuries.

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I'm not sure there's a focus on the stretching and flexibility. It's hard to nail down. In some cases (not necessarily baseball), it's all bulk, bulk, bulk, more, more, more on these kids, and without the right kind of balance (i.e., flexibility and building the right kind of muscles to compensate), it's all going to collapse on them.

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It matters who is doing your coaching. I tried to edit my post about pitching coaches & strength training that it's funny how there are different perspectives.

But, as an ex-jock who is acutely aware of how important flexibility is to athleticism I made it a point in my life and in who my boys work with to ensure that flexibility is every bit as important as the strength. Bulk isn't what's important, it's functional/athletic strength and mobility/flexibility and speed/quickness/explosiveness. Size just comes along with that to an extent.

Too many easy outs - lefties who pull ground balls. It could be worse, at least the shift is gone.

Edit: didn't see somebody posted it earlier … I like this new city connect leak. White is kind of boring though… off white or even very light gray like the color/texture look of that chain box would be cool.

As Bohunk said. Issue is bulk strength training vs pitcher (functional) specific strength training ……at least according to my friend