Mike Leake and innings pitched

[double21d]

Leake has pitched over 20 innings in 3 starts. Should we be as worried about his innings piling up over the year as much as we are with Homer Bailey? If he stays on this pace and has only 30 starts, he'll pitch over 200 innings. Without any minor league seasoning to build up his innings, isn't this a recipe for disaster?
I'm sure he didn't pitch this much in college.

[Caveman Techie]

Except you aren't taking in to account that last year between college and AFL he pitched, I think 170 innings. So on pace for 200 really isn't that big of a jump for him. I am more concerned with the number of pitches he throws than the innings.

[Southpaw]

Originally Posted by double21d

Leake has pitched over 20 innings in 3 starts. Should we be as worried about his innings piling up over the year as much as we are with Homer Bailey? If he stays on this pace and has only 30 starts, he'll pitch over 200 innings. Without any minor league seasoning to build up his innings, isn't this a recipe for disaster?
I'm sure he didn't pitch this much in college.

Here's his stats from ASU:

Year	ERA	G	GS	CG	W	L	SV	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	Opp/Avg
2007	3.69	25	13	2	13	2	1	127.0	126	59	52	29	94	.258
2008	3.49	19	16	2	11	3	1	121.1	118	61	47	20	104	.254
2009	1.71	19	18	7	16	1	0	142.0	95	31	27	24	162	.193
TOTAL	2.91	63	47	11	40	6	2	390.1	339	151	126	73	360	.235

Also, a little nugget from Bryan Price about managing his innings:

If you want to manage innings, you have to keep kids from pitching after September 1," says Price. "That's where the innings go from 160, 175, where everyone's comfortable, to closer to 200. When we get to September, we'll evaluate where his innings are and make the big decisions then."

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vau...42/2/index.htm

[GIDP]

He shouldnt throw more than 170 in my mind.

[Cant Touch This]

I think number of pitches is a more important indicator than innings pitched. Leake has improved his pitch efficiency in each start. In his first game, with 7 walks, he threw 107 pitches in 6 1/3 innings. (17 pitches per inning.) In his second start, he threw 99 pitches in 7 innings (14 pitches per inning.) Last night, he threw only 93 pitches in 7 complete which calculates to just over 13 pitches per inning. He walked only one batter, which really helps.

Leake got eaten up by a couple of HRs last night, but I'm encouraged by the way his pitch efficiency is trending. If he keeps his walk count down and stays below 15 pitches per inning, he can go 7 strong every time he takes the mound and it would take him 25 starts to exceed 170 innings.

[Orodle]

I wouldnt worry too much about it. The major leagues outings are much more spread out than college innings as a starting pitcher.