Rethinking the Role of Starting Pitchers in MLB
In an era where baseball analytics continue to permeate every aspect of Major League Baseball, Commissioner Rob Manfred is weighing in on the evolving role of starting pitchers. This discussion comes as teams increasingly lean on their bullpens, while starting pitchers are logging fewer innings than ever before.
The data is telling: in 1984, starting pitchers averaged 6.3 innings per start. Fast forward to 2024, and that number has diminished to an average of 5.2 innings. The shift underscores a strategic pivot towards bullpen reliance, a move not without its own set of challenges and consequences.
Among the most pressing concerns is the escalating incidence of pitcher injuries. Manfred acknowledges that the aggressive focus on velocity and spin rate is largely to blame. "I do see both problems as pretty serious," Manfred commented. "I think the injury issue, our physicians have studied this carefully [and] they continue to believe that the focus on velocity and spin rate is a specific cause of the increase of injuries."
While the quick fixes seem apparent, such as imposing minimum inning requirements for starters, Manfred cautions against such blunt remedies. "Just too blunt an instrument to fix this problem," he noted, emphasizing the need for a more nuanced approach to remedy an increasingly complex issue.
Incentives Over Mandates
To rejuvenate the tradition of starters going deeper into games, Manfred advocates for systemic incentives that would encourage teams to foster the development of pitchers capable of lengthy appearances. "I think it has to be a series of rules that create incentive for the clubs to develop pitchers of a certain type," Manfred stated, suggesting that encouraging teams could be a more effective strategy than enforcing requirements.
The proposed alterations extend to potential changes in roster and transaction rules. "One of the things that happens today, guy pitches three days in a row, he gets outrighted, they bring somebody else in to give him some rest, as opposed to him staying on the roster the whole time," Manfred explained. Adjusting these rules could motivate teams to manage their staff differently, potentially nurturing starters' longevity.
Beyond mere performance metrics, starting pitchers hold a critical role in the marketing and broadcasting frameworks of the game. The "Double Hook" concept, which ties a team's designated hitter slot to the presence of their starting pitcher, is just one innovation aimed at enhancing the visibility and importance of starters.
The Road Ahead
As the league weighs these considerations, any significant changes will likely need to align with the existing Collective Bargaining Agreement with the MLB Players Association, which is not set to expire until 2026. Thus, any immediate adjustments will require careful negotiation and collaboration between the league and its players.
The league's future may depend heavily on finding the right balance—promoting the health and longevity of pitchers while maintaining the competitive, exciting nature of the game. As discussions progress, the baseball world will be watching closely to see how the MLB navigates these changes in a sport that is as much about tradition as it is about evolution.