Examining the influence of physical size among major league pitchers

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Bibliographische Detailangaben
Deutscher übersetzter Titel:Untersuchung des Einflusses der Körpergröße auf die Pitcher der Baseball Major League
Autor:Forsythe, Charles M.; Crotin, Ryan L.; Greenwood, Mike; Bhan, Shivam; Karakolis, Thomas
Erschienen in:The Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness
Veröffentlicht:57 (2017), 5, S. 572-579, Lit.
Format: Literatur (SPOLIT)
Publikationstyp: Zeitschriftenartikel
Medienart: Elektronische Ressource (online) Gedruckte Ressource
Sprache:Englisch
ISSN:0022-4707, 1827-1928
DOI:10.23736/S0022-4707.16.06355-6
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Erfassungsnummer:PU201708006174
Quelle:BISp

Abstract des Autors

BACKGROUND: Among professional pitchers, anthropometric changes and their effect on statistics are relatively unknown. Bivariate analyses and repeated one-way ANOVA evaluated the impact of physical size on baseball pitching statistics and attributes within an elite talent sample of Major League pitching leaders. METHODS: Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated from publicly available players’ heights and weights to form a statistical database of 1028 pitching leaders from 1950-2010. Repeated measures ANOVAs examined differences in anthropometrics and baseball statistics between decades 1950-2010. Bivariate correlation evaluated BMI as an independent variable of influence on statistics, where all tests applied an a-priori significance level (P<0.05). RESULTS: BMI increased throughout the sixty year period with weight growth greater than height (P<0.001). Increased BMI reported earlier signing age, and age of debut (P<0.05), where larger pitchers showed small positive correlation seen among saves (P<0.001) concurrent to negative correlation with innings pitched and complete games (P≤0.001), as well as shutouts (P<0.05). A contrast between saves and complete games pitched was found where saves increased over time (P<0.001) while complete games pitched declined (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Over time, throwing workloads showed better management for larger starting pitchers with less innings pitched and complete games thrown added to an extra rest day in the pitching rotation. In contrast, paralleled increases in physical size with recorded saves at present requires greater medical and training attention to protecting the throwing arm of the larger relief pitchers, as increased body size can increase force properties and ball velocity owing to greater injury risks.