Paul Skenes

Only twice since he left El Toro High School in Lake Forest, California, has Skeens thrown complete games for LSU against Mississippi State and Tulane in 2023. But complete games aren't even the biggest issue.

Only twice since he left El Toro High School in Lake Forest, California, has Skeens thrown complete games for LSU against Mississippi State and Tulane in 2023. But complete games aren't even the biggest issue.

If starters routinely worked through the seventh or eighth inning and then gave way to closers, as tended to happen over the 20 or 30 years that preceded the rise of analytics, it's very likely that few fans would be disappointed.

If starters routinely worked through the seventh or eighth inning and then gave way to closers, as tended to happen over the 20 or 30 years that preceded the rise of analytics, it's very likely that few fans would be disappointed.

Closers like the flamboyantly mustachioed Raleigh Fingers and the imposing Goose Gossage and the seemingly imperturbable Mariano Rivera are often oversized characters whose personalities enhance their roles.

Closers like the flamboyantly mustachioed Raleigh Fingers and the imposing Goose Gossage and the seemingly imperturbable Mariano Rivera are often oversized characters whose personalities enhance their roles.

Perhaps the most exciting thing that happened at Citi Field last summer was when Edwin Diaz left the bullpen to the player of Blaster Jacks and Timmy Trumpet's Narco to get those final three outs and save a Mets game. More frustrating are the innings before that, the eighth, the seventh, and increasingly the sixth.

Perhaps the most exciting thing that happened at Citi Field last summer was when Edwin Diaz left the bullpen to the player of Blaster Jacks and Timmy Trumpet's Narco to get those final three outs and save a Mets game. More frustrating are the innings before that, the eighth, the seventh, and increasingly the sixth.

Instead of pitchers whom fans might buy tickets to see, they get a parade of anonymous relievers tasked with briefly throwing as hard as they can. Not so long ago, those mid-game relievers were starters whose effectiveness had faltered. On balance, they were no better, and usually worse, than a starter who had been through the batting order two or three times.

Instead of pitchers whom fans might buy tickets to see, they get a parade of anonymous relievers tasked with briefly throwing as hard as they can. Not so long ago, those mid-game relievers were starters whose effectiveness had faltered. On balance, they were no better, and usually worse, than a starter who had been through the batting order two or three times.

But in recent years, that one inning of relief from a stronger pitcher in the middle of a game has become a specialty unto itself. That's the shame right there, Scherzer says, that a starter can no longer go 105 pitches, which is seven innings at 15 pitches per inning, that we have to pull him out before that.

But in recent years, that one inning of relief from a stronger pitcher in the middle of a game has become a specialty unto itself. That's the shame right there, Scherzer says, that a starter can no longer go 105 pitches, which is seven innings at 15 pitches per inning, that we have to pull him out before that.

Many pitchers have strong feelings on the subject, but perhaps none express them quite as stridently as Scherzer. We've got to develop starters again able to throw 100 plus pitches, he told me toward the end of last season. He was in a dugout at Globe Life Field in Texas, so agitated about the issue that he couldn't keep still. That's what I keep telling them, he said.

Many pitchers have strong feelings on the subject, but perhaps none express them quite as stridently as Scherzer. We've got to develop starters again able to throw 100 plus pitches, he told me toward the end of last season. He was in a dugout at Globe Life Field in Texas, so agitated about the issue that he couldn't keep still. That's what I keep telling them, he said.

I don't care how we do it, but we have to do it. He offered his solution, a combination of sticks and carrots. If a starter doesn't throw 100 pitches, go six innings, or allow four runs, his team loses the designated hitter for the rest of the game.

I don't care how we do it, but we have to do it. He offered his solution, a combination of sticks and carrots. If a starter doesn't throw 100 pitches, go six innings, or allow four runs, his team loses the designated hitter for the rest of the game.

For recalcitrant teams, Scherzer would also remove the runner who automatically starts each inning after the ninth in scoring position on second base, creating a significant handicap. Once the starter qualifies, his team gets a free substitution, such as the ability to pinch run for a catcher who still gets to stay in the lineup. Such changes would bring considerable upheaval to the game.

For recalcitrant teams, Scherzer would also remove the runner who automatically starts each inning after the ninth in scoring position on second base, creating a significant handicap. Once the starter qualifies, his team gets a free substitution, such as the ability to pinch run for a catcher who still gets to stay in the lineup. Such changes would bring considerable upheaval to the game.

But to Scherzer, who has no power to do anything beyond advocacy, the issue is existential. Baseball's rise in popularity began after batters lost the right to specify whether each pitch would be delivered high or low. That rule was changed in 1887, and almost immediately pitchers became the most important players on the field.

But to Scherzer, who has no power to do anything beyond advocacy, the issue is existential. Baseball's rise in popularity began after batters lost the right to specify whether each pitch would be delivered high or low. That rule was changed in 1887, and almost immediately pitchers became the most important players on the field.