Paul Skenes

For the importance of marquee starters to be revived, baseball's executives must somehow persuade managers to act in a way that the data tell them is contrary to their team's best interests. Skeens' arrival in Pittsburgh last summer as an instant standout brought that conflict between entertainment and strategic thinking into sharp focus.

For the importance of marquee starters to be revived, baseball's executives must somehow persuade managers to act in a way that the data tell them is contrary to their team's best interests. Skeens' arrival in Pittsburgh last summer as an instant standout brought that conflict between entertainment and strategic thinking into sharp focus.

Here was a pitcher who might have the ability to rank among the best of those who have preceded him, except that the sport itself won't let him. Rob Manfred, MLB's commissioner, remembers traveling to Yankee Stadium from upstate New York on an August weekend in 1968 to attend his first big league games. On Saturday, Mickey Mantle hit two home runs, but that was only the prelude.

Here was a pitcher who might have the ability to rank among the best of those who have preceded him, except that the sport itself won't let him. Rob Manfred, MLB's commissioner, remembers traveling to Yankee Stadium from upstate New York on an August weekend in 1968 to attend his first big league games. On Saturday, Mickey Mantle hit two home runs, but that was only the prelude.

I was more excited about Sunday, Manfred says, because Mel Stottlemyre, his favorite pitcher, was starting for the Yankees. Stottlemyre, who had just thrown a shutout against the Oakland Athletics, had 15 wins and a sterling 2.27 ERA. The game turned out to be a bust. Stottlemyre allowed seven runs and was removed in the second inning.

I was more excited about Sunday, Manfred says, because Mel Stottlemyre, his favorite pitcher, was starting for the Yankees. Stottlemyre, who had just thrown a shutout against the Oakland Athletics, had 15 wins and a sterling 2.27 ERA. The game turned out to be a bust. Stottlemyre allowed seven runs and was removed in the second inning.

But Manfred, who was nine at the time, hasn't forgotten the anticipation he felt. To the extent that there's an erosion in the significance of that starter position, you lose that, he said. The average length of a pitching start these days is around five innings. It's hard to base a decision to attend a game on a player who is going to participate in only half of it.

But Manfred, who was nine at the time, hasn't forgotten the anticipation he felt. To the extent that there's an erosion in the significance of that starter position, you lose that, he said. The average length of a pitching start these days is around five innings. It's hard to base a decision to attend a game on a player who is going to participate in only half of it.

This doesn't happen in other sports. If you're at an NFL game and the score is close as it nears the end, you'll see the star quarterback leading his team down the field. If you're watching the Golden State Warriors in the NBA playoffs, you won't see Stephen Curry benched after three quarters and held out for the rest of the game.

This doesn't happen in other sports. If you're at an NFL game and the score is close as it nears the end, you'll see the star quarterback leading his team down the field. If you're watching the Golden State Warriors in the NBA playoffs, you won't see Stephen Curry benched after three quarters and held out for the rest of the game.

To be sure, neither football nor basketball has a position so demanding that it requires players to skip games as part of a scheduled routine. There's already some inherent acceptance in our game that a starting pitcher is physically incapable of handling beyond a certain workload, says Mike Fitzgerald, who oversees data analysis for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

To be sure, neither football nor basketball has a position so demanding that it requires players to skip games as part of a scheduled routine. There's already some inherent acceptance in our game that a starting pitcher is physically incapable of handling beyond a certain workload, says Mike Fitzgerald, who oversees data analysis for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

But it's debatable exactly what that workload is. What's not debatable is that the workload used to be far higher. They're trying to get you out of the game as quick as they can. Lance Lynn, who pitched for St. Louis last season, says of the data analysts, it doesn't matter what kind of effort you put in. They already have it planned.

But it's debatable exactly what that workload is. What's not debatable is that the workload used to be far higher. They're trying to get you out of the game as quick as they can. Lance Lynn, who pitched for St. Louis last season, says of the data analysts, it doesn't matter what kind of effort you put in. They already have it planned.

The diminished status of the modern starter has put the traditional markers of excellence out of reach. 24 pitchers in baseball history have won 300 games, for example, but nobody else will. The outcomes of too many games are decided from the sixth inning onward, when the starters are already out.

The diminished status of the modern starter has put the traditional markers of excellence out of reach. 24 pitchers in baseball history have won 300 games, for example, but nobody else will. The outcomes of too many games are decided from the sixth inning onward, when the starters are already out.

I can't stand the direction of the game, with all the analytics legislating that you can't go three times through the lineup, says Max Scherzer, who pitches for the Toronto Blue Jays, and at 40 is nearing the end of a glorious career. In 2018, Scherzer struck out 300 batters, one of only 19 pitchers since 1901 to achieve that feat in a season. There is not likely to be another.

I can't stand the direction of the game, with all the analytics legislating that you can't go three times through the lineup, says Max Scherzer, who pitches for the Toronto Blue Jays, and at 40 is nearing the end of a glorious career. In 2018, Scherzer struck out 300 batters, one of only 19 pitchers since 1901 to achieve that feat in a season. There is not likely to be another.

The loss to baseball transcends the statistical. Starting pitchers are now rarely involved in situations of high drama. I'm saddened by it, says Jack Morris, a Hall of Famer whose epic 10-inning shutout won the World Series for the Minnesota Twins in 1991. Really saddened in my soul. Will we ever see greatness again? I don't think we will, because pitchers are not allowed to be great.

The loss to baseball transcends the statistical. Starting pitchers are now rarely involved in situations of high drama. I'm saddened by it, says Jack Morris, a Hall of Famer whose epic 10-inning shutout won the World Series for the Minnesota Twins in 1991. Really saddened in my soul. Will we ever see greatness again? I don't think we will, because pitchers are not allowed to be great.