PAUL SKENES PITTSBURGH PIRATES PITCHER

The 22-year-old rookie righthander is a throwback to a time when starters went deep into the game—and fans turned out to watch them do so.

By Tom Verducci

There was a time when appearances by starting pitchers were appointment viewing. Back in 1981, Dodgers rookie Fernando Valenzuela got off to a ridiculously hot start. After starting the season 6–0 with four shutouts (and allowing one run in each of the other two starts, both of which were complete games), Fernandomania came to New York. The Mets, who had drawn fewer than 6,100 fans in each of their three previous games, welcomed a crowd of 39,848. Fernando did not disappoint: He threw his fifth shutout of the year. Now, though, like doubleheaders, sacrifice bunts and scorecards with pencils, the marquee starting pitcher in Major League Baseball is endangered. Thanks to the game’s analytically-driven environment, teams turn over more of the game to a brigade of hard-throwing relievers, who, while often effective,…

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Sports Illustrated Kids (Digital) - 1 Issue, September/October 2024

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