October is all about the starting pitchers shining bright—imagine that!
If you've felt frustrated lately by the rise of the 'opener' strategy in baseball—where a fresh pitcher starts the game just to get through the first inning or two before handing off to relievers—and how strict pitch counts now control how long starters pitch, then this playoff season has been like a refreshing breeze. For beginners, think of the opener as a short-term spark plug in a relay race, designed to keep starters fresh by limiting their early workload, often due to modern concerns about arm strain and injury prevention. It's a far cry from the glory days, but hey, it's brought some excitement back to seeing aces take the mound deeper into games.
But here's where it gets controversial: we're not reverting to the era of true workhorses like Bob Gibson, Tom Seaver, or Sandy Koufax, or even legends from baseball's rich history such as Cy Young, Christy Mathewson, and Walter Johnson. And this is the part most people miss—these icons routinely pitched complete games, often throwing 9 innings or more to finish what they started, embodying the grit and endurance that defined pitching in their times. Those golden days of starters dominating from start to finish are firmly in the rearview mirror now, as teams prioritize roster management and long-term health over individual heroics.
In fact, looking at today's active leaders in career complete games, Justin Verlander sits at 26 and Clayton Kershaw at 25—impressive numbers, sure, but just consider this: each of those Hall of Fame greats I mentioned notched more complete games in a single season than that, except for Seaver, who still racked up 21 with the Mets in 1971 and a whopping 231 over his entire career. It's a stark reminder of how pitching roles have evolved, sparking debates on whether we're sacrificing tradition for sustainability. Do you think modern baseball is better off with these changes, or should we fight to bring back the workhorse starters? Agree or disagree in the comments—let's discuss if this 'breath of fresh air' in October is just a temporary trend or a sign of smarter strategies winning out!
