I don't think Billy Martin had anything to do with current pitch count restrictions. It didn't work out terribly for the A's. Most of those pitchers stayed in the majors for 8-10 years--a nice career. The A's used them up for sure, getting only a few really productive seasons from each of them. However, the A's payroll was about 12 cents and they were not going to sign any of these pitchers to big contracts. They used them up and didn't have to worry about the Yankees poaching them.