Paul Skenes

One day at Wrigley Field last May, Paul Skeens was pitching for the Pittsburgh Pirates, carving out a small piece of baseball history in his second big league game. Just two years before, he was a sophomore at the Air Force Academy, learning to fly C-17 transport planes in preparation for a career in the military. Now he was dominating the Chicago Cubs.

One day at Wrigley Field last May, Paul Skeens was pitching for the Pittsburgh Pirates, carving out a small piece of baseball history in his second big league game. Just two years before, he was a sophomore at the Air Force Academy, learning to fly C-17 transport planes in preparation for a career in the military. Now he was dominating the Chicago Cubs.

He struck out the first seven batters he faced. By the end of the fifth inning, he had increased his strikeout total to ten. More impressive, he hadn't allowed a hit. To end the sixth, Skeens unleashed a fastball that was foul-tipped into the catcher's glove for an eleventh strikeout. The Cubs remained hitless. At that point, Skeens had thrown exactly 100 pitches. He wouldn't throw another.

He struck out the first seven batters he faced. By the end of the fifth inning, he had increased his strikeout total to ten. More impressive, he hadn't allowed a hit. To end the sixth, Skeens unleashed a fastball that was foul-tipped into the catcher's glove for an eleventh strikeout. The Cubs remained hitless. At that point, Skeens had thrown exactly 100 pitches. He wouldn't throw another.

When the Pirates took the field in the bottom of the seventh, Pittsburgh's manager, Derek Shelton, replaced him with Carmen Majinski. No hitters are not wildly uncommon. Since 1901, when the American League was formed and rules were standardized, each season has averaged around two of them.

When the Pirates took the field in the bottom of the seventh, Pittsburgh's manager, Derek Shelton, replaced him with Carmen Majinski. No hitters are not wildly uncommon. Since 1901, when the American League was formed and rules were standardized, each season has averaged around two of them.

But for most of the sports history, they represented a peak expression of individual achievement on the mound. They weren't quite sacrosanct, but pulling a starter when he hadn't allowed a hit was sure to produce headlines and no small amount of animosity in the clubhouse.

But for most of the sports history, they represented a peak expression of individual achievement on the mound. They weren't quite sacrosanct, but pulling a starter when he hadn't allowed a hit was sure to produce headlines and no small amount of animosity in the clubhouse.

Now, here was Skeens, the most heralded young pitcher in years, three innings away from throwing a no-hitter in his second start. It felt like an opening salvo by a future Hall of Famer. Instead, he watched from the dugout as Majinsky allowed a single to the third batter he faced, a short fly to left field, and all the drama of the day was gone.

Now, here was Skeens, the most heralded young pitcher in years, three innings away from throwing a no-hitter in his second start. It felt like an opening salvo by a future Hall of Famer. Instead, he watched from the dugout as Majinsky allowed a single to the third batter he faced, a short fly to left field, and all the drama of the day was gone.

When I asked Skeens about that, he noted that in his first start the week before, he had been removed after 84 pitches. The fact that they let me go 100 in Chicago, he told me recently at the Pirates' spring training base in Bradenton, Florida, was even more than they were planning on. And no hitter or not, 100 pitches is pretty much the most anyone gets to throw these days.

When I asked Skeens about that, he noted that in his first start the week before, he had been removed after 84 pitches. The fact that they let me go 100 in Chicago, he told me recently at the Pirates' spring training base in Bradenton, Florida, was even more than they were planning on. And no hitter or not, 100 pitches is pretty much the most anyone gets to throw these days.

Over the past two decades, analysts have identified a treasure trove of competitive advantages for teams willing to question baseball's established practices. Eventually, that meant every team. Sacrifice bunts, for example, squander the game's signature currency, outs.

Over the past two decades, analysts have identified a treasure trove of competitive advantages for teams willing to question baseball's established practices. Eventually, that meant every team. Sacrifice bunts, for example, squander the game's signature currency, outs.

Though spending an out increases the chance of scoring a run, it makes the kind of big inning on which games often turn far less likely. But perhaps the most significant of competitive advantages was hidden in plain sight at the center of the diamond. Starting pitchers were traditionally taught to conserve strength so they could last deep into games.

Though spending an out increases the chance of scoring a run, it makes the kind of big inning on which games often turn far less likely. But perhaps the most significant of competitive advantages was hidden in plain sight at the center of the diamond. Starting pitchers were traditionally taught to conserve strength so they could last deep into games.

Throwing 300 innings in a season was once commonplace. In 1969 alone, nine pitchers did it. But at some definable point in each game, the data came to reveal, a relief pitcher becomes a more effective option than the starter, even if that starter is Sandy Koufax or Tom Seaver or Paul Skeens.

Throwing 300 innings in a season was once commonplace. In 1969 alone, nine pitchers did it. But at some definable point in each game, the data came to reveal, a relief pitcher becomes a more effective option than the starter, even if that starter is Sandy Koufax or Tom Seaver or Paul Skeens.

That moment usually comes in the sixth or seventh inning, once hitters have had several opportunities to size up the pitches that the starter is throwing. Waiting in the bullpen these days are a cadre of specialists with fresh, powerful arms. They all throw 100 with a wipeout slider, the Texas Rangers second baseman Marcus Simeon told me. With a laugh, he added, I'll take the starter.

That moment usually comes in the sixth or seventh inning, once hitters have had several opportunities to size up the pitches that the starter is throwing. Waiting in the bullpen these days are a cadre of specialists with fresh, powerful arms. They all throw 100 with a wipeout slider, the Texas Rangers second baseman Marcus Simeon told me. With a laugh, he added, I'll take the starter.