Commissioner Manfred's Pitching Predicament: Balancing Game Strategy and Player Health
In the evolving landscape of Major League Baseball, Commissioner Rob Manfred finds himself addressing a growing concern that strikes at the very heart of the game: the decline in innings pitched by starting pitchers and the resulting strain on modern-day bullpens. This issue, intertwined with the rise in pitcher injuries, challenges the league to seek effective strategies for maintaining player health while preserving the sanctity of the sport.
In the past four decades, the average innings pitched per start has seen a substantial decline, from 6.3 innings in 1984 to just 5.2 innings in 2024. Teams have adapted to this trend by greater reliance on their bullpens, a strategy that, while effective in the short term, raises long-term concerns about player wear and injury. Commissioner Manfred highlights a noteworthy finding: "I do see both problems as pretty serious. 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."
Despite the fact that injuries appear to be a byproduct of modern pitching techniques, simply imposing minimum inning requirements for starters is not a straightforward solution. Manfred argues against such a mandate, describing it as "just too blunt an instrument to fix this problem." Instead, he advocates for a multifaceted approach—one that incentivizes clubs to cultivate pitchers who can endure longer outings.
At the heart of this proposed initiative is a series of potential rule changes, possibly including adjustments to roster and transaction regulations. Manfred suggests, "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."
The influence of starting pitchers transcends their technical performance; they are integral to team marketing and broadcasting narratives. This cultural significance adds another layer of complexity to any proposed changes. One intriguing concept is the "Double Hook," which ties a team's designated hitter slot to the presence of the starting pitcher. Such ideas not only affect gameplay strategies but also impact how the sport is marketed and consumed by fans.
As these discussions continue, the league is mindful that the current Collective Bargaining Agreement with the MLB Players Association will expire in 2026, potentially providing a framework within which these changes could be negotiated. This backdrop provides a limited but crucial window for establishing rules that balance competitive integrity, player health, and the commercial interests of the sport.
While many would argue that swift action is needed, Commissioner Manfred's approach suggests a preference for carefully considered measures rather than reactionary mandates. "I think it has to be a series of rules that create incentive for the clubs to develop pitchers of a certain type," says Manfred, pointing towards a strategic reformation aimed at nurturing a sustainable baseball ecosystem.
Major League Baseball stands at a pivotal juncture. With player safety and the sport’s long-term viability on the line, Manfred's proposals, and others like them, will be scrutinized by stakeholders across the board. Whether these potential rule tweaks will prove effective in prolonging starters' game presence and reducing injuries, time and negotiation will ultimately tell.