# The Starting Pitcher · Baseball Level 7: Upper-Advanced

Baseball · Level 7: Upper-Advanced · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/baseball/level-7/the-starting-pitcher/)

The rotation, between starts, pitch counts and innings limits, going deep, the ace, no-hitters and perfect games, Tommy John surgery, game day, the Cy Young Award and great starters.

## Test 1: The rotation

- Most clubs use a five-man rotation. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Pitching every fifth day leaves four days in between. (Source: General baseball reference)
- More rest between starts was meant to cut injuries. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Some clubs add a sixth starter to give extra rest. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Off-days let the top starters stay on schedule. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Spot starters fill gaps when the rotation needs a game. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Teams want their top starters ready for the first games. (Source: General baseball reference)
- More starters means more days between turns. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Start, recover, bullpen, prepare. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The starters take turns in a fixed order. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 2: Between starts

- Light exercise and treatment help the arm recover. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The mid-week session works on pitches without tiring the arm. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Long toss builds arm strength and loosens the shoulder. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Strength work helps them hold up over a long season. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Video and scouting reports guide the plan. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Small aches can signal a bigger injury. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Band work, stretching and rest keep the arm healthy. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Recover, throw a bullpen, ease off, start again. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Catch is light; a bullpen session is near game effort. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Starters throw a bullpen between starts. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 3: Pitch counts and innings limits

- Around 100 pitches is a common limit. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Big jumps in innings raise injury risk. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The club ended his season after about 160 innings. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Fewer pitches per inning let him go deeper. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Many pitches with runners on tire the arm more. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Low stress and good velocity can justify more pitches. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Youth programmes set maximum pitches and rest days by age. (Source: General baseball reference)
- More pitches, more fatigue. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Long innings with runners on are the hardest. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Coaches track pitches thrown to manage fatigue. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 4: Going deep into games

- The starter finishes the game himself. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Cy Young completed 749 games. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Clubs prefer fresh relievers late in games. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Carlton threw 304 innings for the Phillies. (Source: General baseball reference)
- It is named after Greg Maddux, master of efficient games. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The pitcher finishes without giving up a run. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Quick outs keep the pitch count low. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Nine innings is the full game. (Source: General baseball reference)
- 304 innings, about 200, then fewer. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A shutout under 100 pitches is a 'Maddux'. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 5: The ace

- The ace is the top starter in the rotation. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Clubs honour their best starter with the first game. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A great starter can swing a season and the playoffs. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Clubs rely on him to stop a losing streak. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Starting Game 1 lines him up for a later game too. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Aces pitch well and stay healthy year after year. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A number five starter usually has the least proven record. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The ace is number one. (Source: General baseball reference)
- He opens the series, returns on normal rest, and can relieve in a deciding game. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Opening day usually goes to the top starter. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 6: No-hitters and perfect games

- The pitchers allow no hits for the whole game. (Source: General baseball reference)
- 27 up, 27 down: no hits, walks, errors or hit batters. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Larsen did it for the Yankees in 1956. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Ryan threw seven no-hitters. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Baseball tradition says mentioning it can jinx it. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Runs can score without hits. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Halladay no-hit the Reds in the NLDS. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Perfect games are rarest; shutouts most common. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Seven, four, then one. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Superstition keeps team-mates away during a no-hitter. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 7: Tommy John surgery

- The ulnar collateral ligament is rebuilt with a tendon graft. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Jobe operated on pitcher Tommy John. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Pitchers rebuild slowly before returning. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Repeated hard throwing can tear the ligament. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Too much throwing without rest raises UCL injury risk. (Source: General baseball reference)
- UCL repair with an internal brace can return players sooner. (Source: General baseball reference)
- His return proved the surgery could save careers. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Surgery, rehab, throwing, return. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Full replacement takes longest. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Elbow rehab follows UCL surgery. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 8: Game day for a starter

- He starts his routine about half an hour before the first pitch. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Enough to get loose without tiring. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The warm-up tells him and the catcher which pitches are sharp. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Starter and catcher get on the same page. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Many starters guard their routine and concentration. (Source: General baseball reference)
- They wear a jacket and talk with the catcher and coach. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Early adjustments can save the start. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Plan, loosen, bullpen, game. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Build from easy to full effort. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Starters warm up in the bullpen before the game. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 9: The Cy Young Award

- It honours the top pitcher in each league. (Source: General baseball reference)
- It began the year after Cy Young died. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Before 1967 there was one award for all of MLB. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Clemens won seven. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America vote. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Relievers such as Éric Gagné and Dennis Eckersley have won it. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Randy Johnson also won four in a row, 1999 to 2002. (Source: General baseball reference)
- 1956, 1967, 2004. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Seven, five, three. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The Cy Young honours each league's best pitcher. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 10: Great starters

- Arthritis in his elbow ended his career early. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Maddux painted the corners rather than overpowering hitters. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Johnson stood about 6 feet 10. (Source: General baseball reference)
- His 1999 and 2000 seasons are among the best ever. (Source: General baseball reference)
- 'The Dominican Dandy' used a kick that reached over his head. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Kershaw dominated the 2010s. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Young pitched from 1890 to 1911. (Source: General baseball reference)
- 1890, 1955, 2008. (Source: General baseball reference)
- 511, 355, 165. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Marichal's high kick was his trademark. (Source: General baseball reference)

Sources: General baseball references, WBSC and league material, coaching manuals; original questions authored, nothing reproduced. Numbered rules belong to the Rules category.

Take the tests: https://insporta.app/try?utm_source=book&utm_medium=referral