(13-10-2015, 11:16)Owlkev71 Wrote:

(13-10-2015, 09:20)consilio Wrote: Why do the pitchers need so much rest?

Teams generally have 5 starting pitchers who do the bulk of the work, the teams play a 162 game schedule with about 15-20 off days, teams generally play at least 6 times a week, that's why they have the rest.

A starting pitcher will throw roughly 225 innings these days which equates to 30 games per starting pitcher.

It was different when Baseball began in the late 1800's, some pitchers threw 600 innings and played 60-70 games.

(14-10-2015, 00:48)consilio Wrote: I was just thinking about the comparisons with fast bowlers in cricket.  They can bowl for three days in a row with the huge strain upon there bodies and they seem to withstand the pressure/strain most of the time.

(14-10-2015, 00:56)St Charles Owl Wrote:

(14-10-2015, 00:48)consilio Wrote: I was just thinking about the comparisons with fast bowlers in cricket.  They can bowl for three days in a row with the huge strain upon there bodies and they seem to withstand the pressure/strain most of the time.

Yes, but the bowling motion of a cricketer is much less damaging on the arm than a pitcher in baseball.  Cricketers do not throw the ball, their motion is like a windmill with the arm more or less straight.  A pitcher in baseball throws the ball and the torque put on the shoulder and particularly the elbow is a lot greater.  I think most pitchers would tell you that their muscles could cope with throwing far more often than they do but their joints would be destroyed.