Roy Oswalt, former pitcher for the Houston Astros and a three-time All-Star, has become the unexpected voice of a fascinating baseball debate. Recently, he’s taken to social media, advocating passionately for Alex Bregman to remain in Houston while expressing concern over a broader issue: the declining importance of starting pitchers in Major League Baseball. Oswalt’s perspective on baseball's changes is not only nostalgic but also eye-opening, especially as we see games shift in ways that some fans and players may find hard to accept.
Oswalt's career stats are impressive—a 3.36 ERA over 365 starts from 2001 to 2013—yet what stands out even more is his role as a true starting pitcher. He represents an era when starting pitchers were a crucial component of the game, counted on to make it to the sixth inning (and beyond) more often than not. Complete games weren’t a rarity but an expectation, and pitchers commanded the field in a way that’s fading fast. Fast forward to 2024, and we’re in a new world entirely. Steve Sparks, a former Detroit Tigers pitcher and now a radio analyst for the Astros, highlighted this shift with a startling statistic: Sparks led the league in complete games in Oswalt's rookie year with eight, while no pitcher has pitched more than three complete games in a season since 2017. Today, starting pitchers barely last 5.1 innings on average, a significant drop from the 6.0 innings average back in 2005. It’s no wonder Oswalt finds himself concerned about baseball’s direction.
Even more alarming is how quickly this trend is accelerating in the playoffs. In the 2024 postseason, starting pitchers are averaging less than 4.5 innings per game—a dramatic reduction that underscores how different the role has become. For Oswalt, who built his career on resilience and longevity, these shifts aren’t easy to watch. “The declining importance of starting pitching in MLB is very disappointing,” Oswalt tweeted recently. “Unlike what we’ve seen in the playoffs so far, I hope at least one starter shoves in the World Series.” His plea is a nod to the hope that one standout pitcher might step up and deliver a performance that’ll remind fans of the days when pitchers had a longer leash and a bigger role in a team’s success.
The upcoming World Series between the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers might offer that chance—or it might be another example of the evolving pitching landscape. Jack Flaherty, the Dodgers’ Game 1 starter, could go six innings, which feels like a long outing by today’s standards. His manager, Dave Roberts, doesn’t have many other options for extended innings. The Game 2 starter, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, has shown potential but isn’t fully back to form after a shoulder injury kept him sidelined for much of the season. This unpredictability leaves fans, and Oswalt, holding their breath, hoping to see a pitching showdown worthy of the World Series stage.
On the Yankees side, Gerrit Cole, the Game 1 starter, is the team’s best shot at that elusive complete game or deep outing. He’s had an outstanding season and has a chance to solidify his Yankees legacy with a clutch performance in the Fall Classic. But behind him, the situation is murkier. Carlos Rodon might not even see Shohei Ohtani for a third at-bat, and Clarke Schmidt, another Yankees starter, has become known for his “five-and-dive” approach—meaning he rarely makes it past the fifth inning. For Yankees fans hoping for an old-school performance, the options are limited.
The Yankees vs. Dodgers showdown brings even more tension for Houston Astros fans. For them, watching this matchup is bittersweet—seeing these two storied franchises in the World Series without the Astros in the picture can be tough to swallow. Yet, the allure of October baseball keeps fans coming back. Astros fans might take a page out of Oswalt’s book and embrace the unpredictability of it all. Sit back, take it all in, and hope for a performance that’ll make history.
While Oswalt’s call for a return to traditional pitching might seem unlikely, it has struck a chord with many who miss the thrill of watching a starting pitcher go the distance. His advocacy isn’t just about nostalgia—it’s a reminder that baseball, at its core, is a game of endurance, resilience, and moments that define careers. With Cole, Flaherty, and potentially a few others on the mound, there’s a chance that this World Series could see one of those defining performances. And even if it doesn’t, Oswalt’s message serves as a rallying cry for fans who still believe in the art of pitching.
So, will Oswalt’s wish come true? That remains to be seen. But as baseball fans settle in to watch the Yankees and Dodgers face off, there’s hope that one pitcher, even just one, can “shove” like Oswalt did in his day. As the anticipation builds for that moment, we’re reminded that baseball is a game of unpredictability, of surprises, and of legends forged under the bright lights of October. Let’s hope this World Series gives us one of those moments—a true pitcher’s duel that echoes Oswalt’s vision and makes every inning count.
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