would raising the mound help with pitcher injuries?

Answer 1

I am so glad you asked this question. It would alleviate a lot of the injuries we see today.

When they lowered it from 15 to 10 inches, after the '68 season, within a couple of years came a new injury phenomenon, the rotator cuff injury. The first major victim was Wayne Garland. He won 20 for the Orioles, went free agent, signed with the Indians, had a 13-18 season, and then developed the injury that ended his career.

The lower mound forced pitchers to change the slot and angle of their pitches. For example, because of the lower mound, the stress of throwing a curve ball from the different angle has caused a continuing rash of elbow injuries. The pitcher is trying to get the same movement, with 5 less inches of clearance.

This has been recommended by many former pitchers, umpires and Dr. Mike Marshall, former bullpen ace of several teams, including the L.A. Dodgers, Montreal Expos & Minnesota Twins.

Answer 2

Yes, it would help; it is simple physics. The higher the mound, the less stress is placed on the arm to get it to the plate. If the mound is higher, the pitcher has a downward plane of trajectory. Which is easier to throw a baseball 60 feet: from a flat spot on the ground or from a 50 foot building?

Of course, that is silly, but it is the same principle.

I do feel that something more important than raising the mound is just calling the higher strike zone---the same one shown in the rule book. When a pitcher is getting the high strike called, they will throw more fastballs instead of breaking balls in their attempt to get pitches called in the lower strike zone. The more fastballs that are thrown, the stronger the arm gets and the less strain that is placed on the shoulder and elbow.

Look back in time, only 30 years ago. It was not uncommon to have 20 complete games-by one starter, not the entire staff. It was not uncommon to have 3 or 4 pitchers get 200+ innings pitched in a season, even on bad teams. What happened then that was different? The higher strike was called. The strike zone was still high even after the mound was lowered for the 1969 season.

Calling the higher strike will improve the game by saving pitcher's arms which will lead to the better pitchers actually pitching more and will allow a pitching staff to go back to the 10-man staff, sending the 11th and 12th pitchers back to AAA baseball where they belong.

Answer 3

This is an interesting question and i think you may be on to something.
I think one reason for so many blown arms in the last 3 decades, a frighteningly increasing number is the style of pitching. You rarely see a pitcher with a high leg kick these days. I have long believed that pitchers in the past 20-30 years are all arm and no body. You may have a point about the height of the mound, though. Unfortunately, MLB is to in love with the long ball and unconcerned about players health to consider it.

Answer 4

I doubt it. I believe pitchers are being injured by the
way they're throwing the baseball, and quite possibly
by how the hitters have taken away the inside strike
away from them. Many hitters are sitting on top of the
plate these days, and the pitchers have been using
more breaking pitches and such to get them out.
I'm not sure if this time frame is correct, but about 30-35
or so years ago, the pitchers owned the inside of the
plate, and brushed back hitters who tried to stand on
top of It. Pitchers like Bob Gibson, and Don Drysdale
would never let you dig in. Have you noticed how hyper
some hitters get when the pitcher tries to pitch them
tight?
Also, Mike Marshall, a former relief pitcher who made
100 or relief appearances in one season for the Dodgers
has stated how pitches are throwing incorrectly, and I
believe he has made a video of how to pitch without
getting hurt.
Also, you have to realize the skills of major league
baseball players has diminished somewhat in all aspects
of the game. There are players today, who would not be
in the"bigs" today. How many times have we seen an
outfielder try to throw out a runner at a particular base or
home plate while catching the ball flat footed?
Many of today's players are being rushed up to the
major leagues with out being taught enough skills.........

Answer 5

I truthfully have questioned approximately this one too. I truthfully have daughters in softball and a son in baseball and could no longer verify why they could no longer use an analogous fields. apparently, with the aid of way the ball is pitched for baseball (pitcher lunges forward and throws the ball overhand), the mound provides velocity to the pitch. In softball the pitch is underhand (quickly and sluggish pitch). A downhill slope may well be awkward and decrease than no circumstances might help velocity or objective.

Answer 6

If you raise the mound it will actually make the pitcher more likely to get injured. Through personal experience I tend to get more sore on the higher mounds. If your suggesting to raise a younger kids age mound I would say don't they will get hurt. If your talking about raising a high school/ college mound go right ahead the older the more they can take.

Zach

Answer 7

I hope they raise it. The games are too high scoring.