I just read that Milwaukee Brewers’ pitcher Devin Williams will likely miss the post-season after breaking his pitching hand punching a wall. That is the classic ballplayer’s injury if ever there was one.
Some teams try to teach their young pitchers to punch things with their non-pitching hand if they need to blow off steam, but it is against human nature not to punch with your dominant hand when you lash out in frustration or anger.
I’m over 50 now and have been following major league baseball closely since 1978. One thing I’ve noticed is that I may get older but the major league players remain young men who never stop making the same mistakes as each new generation succeeds the last one. Young, cock-strong pitchers will always break their hands against walls, at least once in a while. Some young players will always make mistakes that major leaguers really shouldn’t make, even when they are under 25. Others will make really bad life-style choices and will piss away their talents and their opportunities for wealth, fame and glory.
That new generations will make the same old mistakes is one of the few things you can rely on in an ever changing world.
Burly's Baseball Musings 