David Price has been an All-Star, pitched in a World Series and with 15 wins is a leading candidate for the American League Cy Young Award. But the Tampa Bay Rays say their left-hander will be rested during the final six weeks of the season, even as they fight for a playoff spot.
Pitching has been the dominant theme of this season, with youngsters such as Mat Latos of the San Diego Padres, Mike Leake of the Cincinnati Reds, Jaime Garcia of the St. Louis Cardinals and Price, 24, enjoying breakthrough seasons. Yet as summer turns to fall, those teams could face a dilemma: making the playoffs vs. preserving young arms.
"There's a balance between keeping (Price) fresh and getting to the playoffs," says Rays manager Joe Maddon, whose team leads the AL wild card. "If you abuse him, you pay for it later. Better to be careful that get burned."
Price has pitched 151⅔ innings this season after reaching a career-high 162⅔ innings combined in the minors and majors in 2009. The Rays, along with many other teams, try to limit their young pitchers to an innings increase of 20% over their previous high season. That puts Price at 195 innings, including the postseason, which the Rays may not reach without him pitching every fifth day.
"I am not wearing down," Price says. "I don't need any breaks. I'm strong."
James Andrews, a leading sports orthopedic surgeon, says injuries in most young pitchers can be attributed to fatigue.
"The younger the pitcher, the more protection he needs," Andrews says. "And nobody knows for sure what the right answer is."
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SOURCE: USA Today
Mel Antonen
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