There is a sister discussion going on with respect to youth health
and the curveball -. I really can’t comment
on this “should they or shouldn’t they”, because in order to do
so would mean presenting myself as a knowledgeable “youth
preventive injury” type – I am not.
I have however, asked a lot of youth pitchers, catchers, coaches
and even parents and other supporters this question:
When the curveball was called for from the bench, decided by
the pitcher’s battery mate, or self-elected by the pitcher
himself/herself, why? Was it to mix of the deliveries, deliver
to a batter who is known to go down to that pitch, or just toss
it because it was a pitch?
I found that in just about all cases, even high school varsity, AAU,
CYO, Legion, and there was no real game plan – just use it because
it was a pitch the pitcher had.
I will say this, the answers were answers – but, when I put the question
in a game plan scenario, the answer was less of an answer and more of
of response to witnessing the pitch itself.
So, if the discussion is about safe and health for youth baseball – I’m
out of that league. But, consider the education process for electing
the curveball (or any other pitch for that matter) being delivered in
the first place.
Coach B.