Paul Skenes

As a former position player, he's accustomed to being in the lineup every day and rarely being removed during a game. The goal is to go out there and pitch nine innings every time, he says now. That's not going to happen, but I try to get outs as quickly and efficiently as possible and hopefully have the bullpen throw as little as possible.

As a former position player, he's accustomed to being in the lineup every day and rarely being removed during a game. The goal is to go out there and pitch nine innings every time, he says now. That's not going to happen, but I try to get outs as quickly and efficiently as possible and hopefully have the bullpen throw as little as possible.

Such efficiency was crucial when starters expected to get through games. These days, it clashes with another dictum of baseball analytics that the only controllable outcome of an at-bat for a pitcher, at least in a positive sense, is the strikeout.

Such efficiency was crucial when starters expected to get through games. These days, it clashes with another dictum of baseball analytics that the only controllable outcome of an at-bat for a pitcher, at least in a positive sense, is the strikeout.

Once a ball is hit, what happens next will depend on an amalgamation of factors, including the ability of the fielders, how hard the wind is blowing, and pure luck. Those lazy outfield flies might just end up in the stands. To avoid that, when pitchers get ahead in the count, they usually throw a pitch or two nowhere near the plate.

Once a ball is hit, what happens next will depend on an amalgamation of factors, including the ability of the fielders, how hard the wind is blowing, and pure luck. Those lazy outfield flies might just end up in the stands. To avoid that, when pitchers get ahead in the count, they usually throw a pitch or two nowhere near the plate.

You're going out of the zone, in the dirt, just hoping they swing, says Logan Gilbert of the Seattle Mariners, whose 208 and two-thirds innings last season led the majors. Trying to induce swings can add a couple of pitches per batter, the difference between finishing the sixth inning at 75 pitches and an untenable 95. Strikeouts also get pitchers noticed.

You're going out of the zone, in the dirt, just hoping they swing, says Logan Gilbert of the Seattle Mariners, whose 208 and two-thirds innings last season led the majors. Trying to induce swings can add a couple of pitches per batter, the difference between finishing the sixth inning at 75 pitches and an untenable 95. Strikeouts also get pitchers noticed.

That's what gets you drafted high and moves you through the minors, says Daniel Bard, a former first-round pick who pitched parts of nine seasons in the majors. If you can do that while keeping your walks down, you can be really, really good. Skeens' frequency of striking out hitters is the highest of any pirate ever, but he knows that also compromises his ability to work deep into games.

That's what gets you drafted high and moves you through the minors, says Daniel Bard, a former first-round pick who pitched parts of nine seasons in the majors. If you can do that while keeping your walks down, you can be really, really good. Skeens' frequency of striking out hitters is the highest of any pirate ever, but he knows that also compromises his ability to work deep into games.

To Skeen's, every at-bat should end in three pitches, a three-pitch strikeout. But at some point, I'm like, okay, let's get this at-bat over with. And he'll throw a pitch designed to get a ground ball. At the end of the day, I want to put up as many zeros as possible, he says, referring to scoreless innings. But if it's just five innings and no runs, I'm not super happy about that either.

To Skeen's, every at-bat should end in three pitches, a three-pitch strikeout. But at some point, I'm like, okay, let's get this at-bat over with. And he'll throw a pitch designed to get a ground ball. At the end of the day, I want to put up as many zeros as possible, he says, referring to scoreless innings. But if it's just five innings and no runs, I'm not super happy about that either.

Neither is Manfred. Lately, Major League Baseball has shown a willingness to tinker with its rules, counteracting some of the stultifying effects of analytics-driven baseball. Among other adjustments, it outlawed the shifting of fielders from one side of second base to the other and enlarged the bases.

Neither is Manfred. Lately, Major League Baseball has shown a willingness to tinker with its rules, counteracting some of the stultifying effects of analytics-driven baseball. Among other adjustments, it outlawed the shifting of fielders from one side of second base to the other and enlarged the bases.

After last season, when Skeens' 11-3 record and ERA under 2.0 focused attention on how the role of even the top starters has changed, many of the sport's stakeholders expected Manfred to issue some kind of edict about pitching, possibly a rule change that might be provisionally implemented in a minor league so that the ramifications could be studied.

After last season, when Skeens' 11-3 record and ERA under 2.0 focused attention on how the role of even the top starters has changed, many of the sport's stakeholders expected Manfred to issue some kind of edict about pitching, possibly a rule change that might be provisionally implemented in a minor league so that the ramifications could be studied.

Instead, MLB released a report on pitching injuries that revealed little that wasn't already known. I haven't even read it, Skeen says. Manfred describes himself as uncomfortable restricting how teams deploy their pitchers during games. I don't see how you can in the context of competition, he says.

Instead, MLB released a report on pitching injuries that revealed little that wasn't already known. I haven't even read it, Skeen says. Manfred describes himself as uncomfortable restricting how teams deploy their pitchers during games. I don't see how you can in the context of competition, he says.

Instead, he suggests limiting how often pitchers can be recalled from the minors, or how many can be on a roster. Not surprisingly, pitchers favor financial rewards, such as a bonus for anyone who throws 180 innings in a season.

Instead, he suggests limiting how often pitchers can be recalled from the minors, or how many can be on a roster. Not surprisingly, pitchers favor financial rewards, such as a bonus for anyone who throws 180 innings in a season.