100 isn't some magic number it just typically coincides with the third/4th time through the lineup. Analytics says that pitchers really struggle the 3rd/4th time through the lineup so that is the biggest reason most pitchers get pulled around 100 pitches. It's then just an easy number for people to fixate on as to why that is a magic number. It's nothing more than times through the lineup in most instances.Why is the magic # 100?Apparently they were thinking about pulling him because he was indeed over 100.He didn’t throw more than 100 pitches did he?????Cease threw a no hitter.![]()
Most of these pitchers that get pulled during a no hitter are young pitchers that haven't pitched that much or they were at 100 pitches with 2 or 3 innings left. No one in their right mind is leaving someone out there for 130 or more pitches just for a no hitter, especially not a young pitcher.
Why not 120? Or 87? Or 92?
And if a pitcher is at 100 pitches in the 3rd inning then he likely isn't doing well anyway so taking him out is probably a good thing to do regardless of the number.
I have said this story before in this thread but there is an interesting interview with Schilling about pitch count. He essentially stated that pitch counts aren't created equal and there were games he through 150 pitches and was barely winded while there were others that he was completely gassed at 50 pitches. The key was the stress of the pitch and game situation. Do you have to muscle up for a big situation repeatedly early or are you cruising with nobody on base with a big lead where you can just go after batters without high stress. That is more the difference for when pitch count matters.