Ryan pitched in a time when the world was much more cruel to pitchers. If you didn't throw 300 innings ,you didn't make the big lagues as a star pitcher...so everyone threw a lot more. This did two things:
1) It made the pitchers who could take the punishment a lot more durable at a younger age
2) It broke everyone else.
Not everyone can throw the way Ryan did as a kid. He shouldn't expect it of them. But if you find a kid who seems tobe more resiliant after throwing or has naturally graceful mechanics...he should be encouraged to test his limits. ANd the way you do that is precisely how the Mariners did it with Pineda. You watch his stuff game to game and pitch to pitch...you throw him as long as he seems fresh...and back off when he isn't.
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