What Ever Happened to Pitching? The Evolution of the Game and the Case of Paul Skenes

"How Spin Rates and 100 MPH Fastballs Are Torching Pitchers Arms"

My memo-

Paul Skenes, the great Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher, captivated baseball fans when he was at LSU. His electric arm, consistently hitting 100 mph, put him on the radar as a future star. So, when the Pirates came to Yankee Stadium, expectations were high. But what happened? Skenes pitched to just six batters before being pulled from the game. Why would a team remove a pitcher of his caliber so early?

This situation leaves many baseball purists scratching their heads, especially when comparing modern-day pitching with the past. In the days of legends like Whitey Ford, Sandy Koufax, Denny McLain, and Bob Gibson, it wasn’t uncommon for pitchers to throw complete games, going all nine innings every fifth day without hesitation. Tommy John surgery? Unheard of. Injuries seemed rare, and pitch counts weren’t a daily conversation. So, what’s changed in the game?

The Shift in Pitching Philosophy

Over the last few decades, pitching in Major League Baseball has undergone a massive transformation. Pitching used to be about endurance, control, and stamina, but today’s game is dominated by velocity, mechanics, and analytics. This shift has led to a drastic change in how pitchers are managed, with modern pitchers rarely being allowed to finish games. The case of Paul Skenes is a perfect example of this.

In the past, throwing hard wasn’t necessarily the goal. Whitey Ford, for instance, was known for his pinpoint control and guile, not for overpowering hitters. Sandy Koufax, though capable of throwing hard, was revered for his ability to mix pitches and keep hitters off balance. But today’s game seems obsessed with velocity and spin rates. Skenes, like many young pitchers, has been trained to push the limits of his arm, regularly throwing triple digits.

However, with that velocity comes a new challenge: the fragility of pitchers’ arms. Throwing 100 mph creates incredible torque and stress on the elbow and shoulder. The human body wasn’t designed to repeatedly handle that kind of strain, and as a result, injuries have become more common. This is why we see early exits like Skenes' in the Pirates' visit to Yankee Stadium.

The Rise of Injuries and the Era of Caution

The rise in injuries has led to the explosion of Tommy John surgery, a once-rare procedure that has now become almost routine among young pitchers. But it wasn’t always this way. The legends of the past rarely, if ever, suffered these types of injuries. Whitey Ford, Sandy Koufax, Denny McLain, and Bob Gibson were known for their durability. They pitched complete games regularly, with pitch counts often exceeding 120 or 130 in a single outing. No one thought twice about it.

Today’s managers, front offices, and medical teams have become obsessed with protecting arms. This cautious approach has led to strict pitch counts and inning limits. Gone are the days when a pitcher was expected to throw 250 or 300 innings in a season. Now, many starters are pulled after reaching 100 pitches, and a complete game is a rarity.

Take Bob Gibson’s 1968 season as an example. He pitched 304.2 innings with a 1.12 ERA, throwing 28 complete games in 34 starts. Today, those numbers are unimaginable. In the current era, teams are more concerned with preserving arms for the long haul, often at the expense of in-game performance. The thinking is that if you limit a pitcher’s workload, you can extend their career and avoid injury. But is this really working?

Are Analytics to Blame?

One of the biggest factors driving this change is the rise of analytics in baseball. In the past, managers would rely on gut instinct and experience to decide when to pull a pitcher. Today, decisions are often made based on data. Spin rates, exit velocities, and pitch efficiency are meticulously tracked, and managers now have more information than ever at their fingertips.

However, this data-driven approach can sometimes lead to questionable decisions. For example, Skenes might have been removed from the game in Yankee Stadium because the analytics suggested that he was nearing his physical limits, even though he’d only faced six batters. Pitchers today are evaluated not just on performance but on how efficiently they can deliver each pitch.

The obsession with velocity has also led to new training techniques, like the use of weighted balls and an emphasis on spin rates. While these methods can improve performance in the short term, they may also be contributing to the increased rate of injuries. The focus on maximum effort with each pitch puts incredible strain on the arm, particularly on the elbow and shoulder. This torque, combined with the repetitive motion of pitching, creates the perfect storm for injury.

The Mushhead Mentality: What's Gone Wrong?

It’s hard for baseball purists not to feel frustrated by the current state of pitching. The days of seeing pitchers dominate games from start to finish seem long gone, replaced by short outings and early hooks. The term “mushhead” might be appropriate for those who believe that this obsession with velocity and analytics is the way forward for baseball. Many fans argue that the game is losing its soul by prioritizing data over instinct.

In the era of Whitey Ford and Sandy Koufax, there was an understanding that pitching wasn’t just about how hard you could throw but about how well you could outthink and outmaneuver hitters. Control, finesse, and endurance were prized attributes. Today, these qualities seem to be secondary to velocity and spin rates.

The result? More injuries, shorter careers, and a game that looks very different from the one we grew up with. Pitchers like Paul Skenes have the potential to be great, but the system they are developing in seems designed to limit their exposure and prevent them from realizing their full potential on the mound.

What Needs to Change?

The question is, where do we go from here? Should baseball return to the old-school philosophy of letting pitchers work through jams and complete games? Or is the current approach of protecting arms and relying on bullpens the new reality of the game?

One potential solution is to find a balance between the two extremes. While it’s important to protect young arms, there’s something to be said for allowing pitchers to develop endurance and pitch deeper into games. The game has always evolved, and perhaps the next evolution will be one where pitchers are given the freedom to do more while still receiving proper care and attention.

Fans long for the return of the complete-game workhorses who defined baseball for generations. The Paul Skenes of the world deserve the chance to show their full potential, not just for six batters but for an entire game. Baseball must find a way to honor the traditions of the past while embracing the advancements of the present without sacrificing the core essence of the game.

My Bottom Line-

The handling of pitchers like Paul Skenes reflects a broader shift in baseball—one that prioritizes data, velocity, and injury prevention over the endurance and grit that once defined the game. While the game has undeniably advanced in many areas, the rise of frequent pitching changes and injuries leaves many wondering if we've lost something special along the way.

Pitching isn't what it used to be. The legends of the past like Whitey Ford, Sandy Koufax, and Bob Gibson pitched every five days, completed games, and played through the grind. Today, modern pitchers are meticulously managed, rarely finishing what they start. The pendulum has swung too far, and it’s time to find a balance that allows young stars like Paul Skenes to thrive—without torching their arms in the process.