Paul Skenes

But with pitching injuries increasingly common and the benefits of bringing in a reliever after going twice through the batting order statistically unassailable, the circumstances under which starters are allowed to continue have dwindled. Astonishingly, even a no-hitter is no longer reason enough. In the heat of the moment, it feels short-term.

But with pitching injuries increasingly common and the benefits of bringing in a reliever after going twice through the batting order statistically unassailable, the circumstances under which starters are allowed to continue have dwindled. Astonishingly, even a no-hitter is no longer reason enough. In the heat of the moment, it feels short-term.

Let's have something cool happen, says Craig Council, the Cubs manager. But at the risk of someone's health, I don't think it's that cool. Skeens was a rookie last season, gratified to have made it to the majors. If Shelton wanted to protect his arm, who was he to argue? By mid-season, though, Skeens was a phenomenon. When he started a game at PNC Park where the Pirates play, attendance jumped.

Let's have something cool happen, says Craig Council, the Cubs manager. But at the risk of someone's health, I don't think it's that cool. Skeens was a rookie last season, gratified to have made it to the majors. If Shelton wanted to protect his arm, who was he to argue? By mid-season, though, Skeens was a phenomenon. When he started a game at PNC Park where the Pirates play, attendance jumped.

That matters for a club that hasn't won even half its games in any season since 2018. The closest thing we've had to an event here in Pittsburgh since I arrived are the days that he pitches, says Ben Charrington, who has been the general manager of the Pirates since 2019. After the season, Skeens, 22, won the National League's Rookie of the Year Award.

That matters for a club that hasn't won even half its games in any season since 2018. The closest thing we've had to an event here in Pittsburgh since I arrived are the days that he pitches, says Ben Charrington, who has been the general manager of the Pirates since 2019. After the season, Skeens, 22, won the National League's Rookie of the Year Award.

At spring training in Florida this year, his image decorated a pirate's banner at Sarasota Airport and a flag that flapped from a lamppost in downtown Bradenton. That success confers some bargaining power. Skeens told me that if he has a no-hitter going late in a game this season, and he feels strong enough, he'll ask to complete it.

At spring training in Florida this year, his image decorated a pirate's banner at Sarasota Airport and a flag that flapped from a lamppost in downtown Bradenton. That success confers some bargaining power. Skeens told me that if he has a no-hitter going late in a game this season, and he feels strong enough, he'll ask to complete it.

Still, Shelton is tasked with winning, not producing memorable moments. I understand that fans wanna see guys come out for the eighth and ninth, he says. But he cautions that several variables need to line up for that to occur. He lists a few of them. Is the game close? Have the innings been stressful? Is the bullpen rested? Over the last few years, baseball has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity.

Still, Shelton is tasked with winning, not producing memorable moments. I understand that fans wanna see guys come out for the eighth and ninth, he says. But he cautions that several variables need to line up for that to occur. He lists a few of them. Is the game close? Have the innings been stressful? Is the bullpen rested? Over the last few years, baseball has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity.

Rule changes have accelerated the game's pace, and a new generation of dynamic and enormously talented young players has arrived in the majors. Still, the sport's decades-long trend toward cultural irrelevance remains worrisome.

Rule changes have accelerated the game's pace, and a new generation of dynamic and enormously talented young players has arrived in the majors. Still, the sport's decades-long trend toward cultural irrelevance remains worrisome.

In that sense, MLB can hardly afford to marginalize some of its biggest names by putting them on the field, as Skeens was last season, only about 5% of the time, and almost never when a game's outcome was in doubt.

In that sense, MLB can hardly afford to marginalize some of its biggest names by putting them on the field, as Skeens was last season, only about 5% of the time, and almost never when a game's outcome was in doubt.

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.