Decline of Starting Pitchers: What Happened to MLB’s Workhorses?

Baseball Classics

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In this episode, we dive into the fascinating evolution of Major League Baseball’s starting pitchers. Once celebrated as the iron men of the game, pitchers like Christy Mathewson and Nolan Ryan routinely pitched complete games, showing endurance and grit. Today, however, starting pitchers are often pulled after just four or five innings. What caused this dramatic shift?

Key Topics Covered:

• Historical Role of Starting Pitchers:

  • Early legends like Christy Mathewson and Nolan Ryan set records with incredible inning counts, often pitching complete games.
  • MLB managers once considered it a badge of honor for starters to pitch deep into games.

• Top 10 Reasons for the Decline:

  • From the rise of analytics and pitch limits to injury prevention and specialized bullpen roles, we break down the primary factors contributing to the shift.

• When Did It Begin?

  • The 1990s and early 2000s saw analytics-driven strategies emerge, highlighted by Billy Beane’s “Moneyball” revolution, emphasizing the bullpen's role and limiting pitchers’ third-time-through-lineup exposure.

• Injury Concerns:

  • Why do modern pitchers face more arm injuries despite throwing fewer innings? Is the emphasis on velocity and year-round training to blame?

• Data Trends:

  • The average innings per start has dropped significantly over the decades, with complete games becoming nearly extinct in today’s MLB.

• Impact on Strategy:

  • Modern managers like Kevin Cash prioritize matchups and bullpen usage, as seen in Blake Snell’s controversial early exit during the 2020 World Series.

• Economic and Cultural Shifts:

  • The decline of starting pitchers may affect salaries, with bullpen aces gaining more prominence.

• Future of Workhorse Pitchers:

  • Are we witnessing the permanent decline of baseball’s starting pitching icons, or could the pendulum swing back in the future?

Takeaway Message:
The game of baseball is always evolving, and the decline of the starting pitcher reflects changes driven by data, health concerns, and strategic thinking. While it’s bittersweet to see fewer workhorse performances, this shift highlights the sport’s ongoing balance between tradition and innovation.

Call to Action:
Tune in to explore the full history, data, and strategy behind this seismic shift in baseball, and let us know your thoughts on whether the decline of starting pitchers is a loss or a necessary evolution.

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