Over under on Tommy Johns this year

It is not normal everywhere. We have some telling issues in that area... it is the ONLY complaint I've ever had with PC. Coached against him at the HS level, sent kids to him at GF and OSU, and he personally did a fine job with pitchers. Since being at OSU... last 12-15 specifically I have not been enamored with Spencer and Yeskie. There have been multiple occasions (one this year was mentioned but can not remember who it was, Tweedt maybe??) where a kid had arm issues and/or surgery and during rehab it was stated we need to adjust his arm angle/delivery/release now. Maybe should have been proactive instead of reactive?!

It is hard to argue with the "outcomes" of our pitching staffs, but I've questioned the "process" at times. I worked camps with Spencer and very little at camps with Yeskie, but have wondered about several guys and how much better they could have been. With others, why weren't they as good as advertised and fell off the deep end and rarely saw the mound or left the program. We've had some "aces" that basically only had two pitches,and I always wondered how that has happened by the time they are a D1 hurler.

The other factor is the "familiarity" we have to our programs. We do not see all the ins and outs of other programs so we naturally think something like this happens more often than not here. Pitching is truly a "meat market"... it's why so many pitching limit rules have popped up. Coaches from the earliest of ages don't teach proper throwing and arm strength techniques, overuse arms, and kids do not take care of themselves very well. As talented pitchers progress they are used more and more, and in more pressurized situations. It becomes a real strain and if they are effectively winning no one cares about their motion... if isn't broke don't fix it. As kids move onto college levels and higher it basically continues... hundreds of pitchers are drafted each year to fill out rosters and innings needed at farm levels so the one guy out of 20 can become the "golden boy". The rest are filling spots until they are not effective or not needed because of a new crop of fresh arms.

It is actually quite amazing to me that with all the poor "coaching" of techniques in the younger levels their are not more surgeries. And equally amazing the recoveries some of these guys make coming back from surgery. It took me years and years to trust my knee after a major MCL, can't imagine even throwing BP sessions after a TJ.

You coached against PC in HS? When he was playing?

No, Bailey coached at West Linn. Casey went right to GFC after his pro career.

Yep - Pat Casey has never coached high school ball.  Pat Bailey coached at West Linn and that's where Pat Casey first met him when his was recruiting Bailey's players.