Bruce Levine, Jim Deshaies and Ryan Sweeney joined host Cole Wright on Cubs 360 Daily, presented by Miller Lite, to discuss whether managers are considering limiting pitch counts rather than a player achieve a milestone. 

JD believes that it depends on where the player is in their career and where the team is during the season.

“If you push a guy and he ends up throwing 130 pitches to make a little history, let’s do it and let’s give him a couple of days off before his next start and monitor him as he goes forward,” Deshaies said. 

Deshaies added a story from playing baseball in the minor leagues. 

“My first year in pro ball, I threw 183 pitches in a game in the New York-Penn League in 11 innings. I don’t know how much that affected me after that or not, but that would never happen today,” Deshaies added.

Sweeney agreed with JD on being dependent on the player pitching in games. He also talked about how managers have more people to answer to. 

“These teams are making an investment in these pitchers and they want them to have long careers,” Sweeney added. “Now whether or not they throw 120-130 pitches, will that affect them down the road? Who knows….If you’re going to be able to throw a no-hitter, how many chances do you get to do that?  As a competitor and as a player, you’re definitely going to want to be out there on that mound.”

Levine mentioned a list of players who threw over 130 pitches in games and their careers have not turned out to be the same. Levine mentioned when Johan Santana threw 134 pitches in a game and Edwin Jackson threw 141 and both pitchers were never the same. 

Catch Cubs 360 Daily, presented by Miller Lite weeknights at 6 p.m. on Marquee Sports Network.