Pitch Count

For those lucky enough to still be involved in the state baseball tournament, two games are left to win in order to earn the state title. That could also mean two more games for one pitcher to start. The way the NJSIAA pitching rules are set up, a pitcher could pitch in Tuesday's public school state semifinals or non-public sectional final and then also throw in Saturday's state championship game. At this time of year, when others are looking at the strengths and weaknesses of state title contenders, it might be a better idea to examine the NJSIAA pitching rules.

For those lucky enough to still be involved in the state baseball tournament, there are two games left to win in order to earn that always coveted state title. That could also mean two more games for one pitcher to start. The way the NJSIAA pitching rules are set up, a pitcher could pitch in Tuesday's public school state semifinals or Non-Public sectional final and then also throw in Saturday's state championship game. At this time of year when others are looking at the strengths and weakness of state title contenders, it might be a better idea to examine the NJSIAA pitching rules.

At some point in Roy Halladay's career, all the pitches he has thrown and all the innings he has logged are going to sap the life from his high-powered right arm. And for all of you worried about this issue, remember this: That doesn't make the Phillies' $60 million ace different from any other man who throws a baseball for a living. All of this brings us to the subject of the week - pitch counts. When Halladay threw 132 pitches during his complete-game loss to Pittsburgh on Tuesday, the alarms sounded at Citizens Bank Park.

I SPENT A LOT of time yesterday sifting through the detritus of 62 years to uncover one shining moment that put a high luster on the fabulous baseball career and exemplary life of Robin Roberts. The last Sunday of the 1950 season is the obvious choice. The Phillies' great righthander was making his third start in the final 5 days of a campaign where the Dodgers relentlessly reeled in Eddie Sawyer's young and depleted ballclub like a fisherman about to land a minnow with a pole rigged for marlin.

A hard-hit liner back to the mound in the bottom of the seventh inning knocked Eric Ruth to the ground. But the pitching ace quickly popped up, gathered his fallen cap, and continued, more determined than ever, to go about finishing what he had started. Down by 3-0, with one out and runners on first and second, Parkland would score a run and briefly threaten North Penn's once-comfortable advantage. But Ruth, as he had done throughout the season, doused the flame in never-a-doubt fashion.

MILWAUKEE - Charlie Manuel wanted no part of any discussions yesterday afternoon about a Game 4 Sunday at Miller Park. It was as if Sunday did not exist. "Right now we're concentrating on winning this game," he said before Game 3 of the National League division series tonight against the Milwaukee Brewers. "We came to the ballpark to win tonight. It might be getting boring, but I want to stick to that way. " But the Brewers beat the Phillies in Game 3, 4-1, to cut their lead in the best-of-five series to two games to one and force Manuel to finally talk about Sunday.

Little League Baseball will implement a new pitch-count rule next season, a change that organizers hope will reduce wear-and-tear on youngsters' arms. Starting in 2007, the number of pitches thrown in a game will determine how long that player must rest before returning to the mound. The current system is based on innings pitched. The change, unanimously approved by Little League's board of directors yesterday, expands on a test conducted over the last 2 years. Pitch-count rules were voluntarily tested in about 500 of the 6,400 leagues in the United States this past regular season, and the regulations were expected to become mandatory.

Micah Winterstein is a pragmatist. "I know I'm not the best pitcher in the state or the best pitcher in the league or even the best pitcher in my neighborhood," said the Central righthander, who forgot to mention that he's not even the best pitcher on his team. "But I know what I can do. " What he can do - and did do yesterday - is pitch like the best pitcher in the state. Winterstein proved so good yesterday that Central blanked District 3's Central Dauphin, 1-0, in the PIAA Class AAAA baseball quarterfinals at Spring-Ford High.

Just another day yesterday at Fenway Park? Save it. "Baseball is a long season," said the Phillies' Jim Thome, who was the designated hitter in yesterday's 9-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox. "But there also is a sense of urgency as you go out and play every day. I think that's what we had [yesterday]. " The Phillies had their reasons. They lost twice last week to the moribund Montreal Expos at Olympic Stadium. Red Sox pitcher Pedro Martinez whipped them Friday in a 12-1 loss that dropped them to a mediocre 10-12 in June.