Brittle pitchers??

[lasitter]

Aside from Ed Reulbach pitching two complete games back-to-back in 1908 (winning both), or Spahn going 16(ish) at the age of 42, I think it's pretty well accepted that starting pitchers going long into an outing has pretty much evaporated.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complete_game

 

In the '60s (decade of pitching) it was not uncommon for starters to pitch three times a week, and of course now we have the five-man rotation as a standard. Even so, starters are coming out after six or seven innings more and more frequently.

 

I would think that with all the above and the super-advanced modern sports medicine we have, the latest in equipment, all the player development programs, coaching specialists, trainers, etc., etc., that pitchers would be staying healthy like nobody's business.

 

For some reason it doesn't seem that way.

 

And I don't buy the argument that today's hurlers are just blowing away the great fireballers of yesteryear.

 

I need help sorting this out. With all the advantages they have today, why do players / pitchers SEEM so brittle?