_
_
Hall of Fame football coach Vince Lombardi was once quoted as saying "Fatigue makes cowards of us all," while legendary pitching coach Dr. Tom House says that "Fatigue is a pitcher's worst enemy." When looking at fatigue as it applies to pitching, especially in Arizona, the following observations might be helpful:
* While cumulative total of pitches per game is important, pitches per inning is more important.
* Any time a pitcher throws 30 pitches in an inning, the pitcher is likely fatigued and should be removed from the game immediately.
* The physiological effects of pitching while fatigued are significant and can lead to serious injury, regardless of how mechanically sound a pitcher might be. Because of this, each pitch thrown after one enters into fatigue counts as 3.
* Extreme heat and mental stress can contribute to fatigue and need to be taken into consideration when monitoring a pitcher's pitch totals.
* Common indicators of a pitcher becoming fatigued can include loss of velocity and/or movement, consistently high pitches, the glove "dropping" at release and the more obvious indicators including facial expressions, labored breathing and an increase in perspiration.
Most pitchers will claim to feel great even though they don't. It is also important to remember that just because they can go another batter, or inning, it doesn't mean they should.
