Dusty Baker promises to limit Cueto, Volquez, Bailey to 150 pitches per start

CINCINNATI, OH — Dusty Baker has been criticized in the past for overusing young arms on his pitching staff. Not this time, he says.

The Reds have some very good young arms, in the form of 22-year-old Johnny Cueto, 24-year-old Edinson Volquez, and 21-year-old Homer Bailey, who is expected to be called up some time during this year’s campaign. After high pitch counts during Baker’s time in Chicago corresponded with injury trouble for Kerry Wood and Mark Prior, some Cincinnati fans were worried what effect the Cubs former manager might have on their youngsters.

According to Baker, though, fans should fear not.

“We’re going to watch these guys very, very carefully,” he said. “I learned from Prior and Wood not to put too much on these young pitchers, because they may not be able to handle it.”

Baker went on to say that he would have his hurlers on a strict pitch count. “I’m going to go ahead and make a solemn promise to Cincinnati Reds fans: at no point in time will these guys throw more than 150 pitches. That’s a guarantee.”

In Chicago, Baker would often push his pitchers to their limit, fearing that taking them out would not be in the best interest of the ball club. But he insists he has changed his tune.

“At that time, I didn’t look to the future, I just stuck with the present. But now I understand that there is a limit to these kids’ arms,” a surprisingly contrite Baker explained. “Anything beyond 250 innings in a season or 150 pitches in a game is a no-no for me.

“Although maybe I shouldn’t say things like ‘promise,’ or ‘guarantee,’ because it’s not like I can’t see a scenario where Cueto gets to 150 and we just need ten or 30 more pitches from him. But that won’t likely happen more than three or four times over the course of the season.”

It’s going to be tough for this sport to sweep any nations, but it’s still pretty frickin’ cool!