Absence of a Face-to-Face Encounter Between Skubal and Skenes Leaves Ex-MLB Catcher A.J. Pierzynski Disappointed
Rebuilding the Thrill:
Disappointment swept through baseball enthusiasts when a potential dream matchup between aces - Detroit's Tarik Skubal and Pittsburgh's Paul Skenes - was nixed, thanks to scheduling snafus for Thursday's doubleheader. On a recent episode of our website's Don't @ Me with Dan Dakich, former catcher and broadcaster, A.J. Pierzynski, shared his thoughts on the situation.
Skubal was slated to start the opener, while the Pirates planned to unleash Skene in the second game. This arrangement left many wondering how decisions like these were made.
"I hope not," Pierzynski remarked, when asked if one pitcher might decline a face-off, "Dude. Tarik Skubal – lemme tell ya, man – Tarik Skubal, ain't backing down from nobody. That dude's a beast. He's a first-class talent."
Recalling his playing days, Pierzynski expounded on his approach to doubleheaders.
"I wanted my best going in game one," he shared, "So I knew where I was at in game two of a doubleheader, because these are nine-inning doubleheaders. You've got to cover 18 innings as a team. I had my preferences, you know?"
Although there's always a chance that a top pitcher could falter in the first game and get the premature hook, that's hardly Skubal's style.
"I'd want him going first game, and then whoever," Pierzynski said, alluding to how he, as a manager, would handle the situation.
Pierzynski, who harbored a personal attachment to playing in the first game, recognized that it was too late for Detroit's AJ Hinch and Pittsburgh's Don Kelly to switch things up and cater to the fans' wishes. However, he acknowledged that both managers have their reasons for making the decisions they did.
"I mean, you'd think that'd be can't-miss TV, but both teams are looking out for their best," Pierzynski mused.
When it comes to doubleheaders and starting pitchers, teams consider several factors, such as roster rules, pitching rotation management, workload, and rest. Rather than pitting both pitching aces against each other, teams often strategize to have each start one game, ensuring optimal performance without overworking them.
In other words, the pitching decisions in a doubleheader are a delicate balance between MLB roster rules, starting rotation strategy, pitcher workload management, and strategic matchups. The primary goal is to maximize wins while preserving the health and effectiveness of the pitchers[3][4][5].
- Tarik Skubal, with his impressive pitching skills, would likely be keen for a face-off against other aces in sports, such as a baseball match in the MLB.
- In a strategic move, rather than pitting two pitching aces against each other in a doubleheader, teams often balance the decision based on roster rules, pitching rotation, workload management, and strategic matchups, aiming to maximize wins while preserving the health and effectiveness of their pitchers.
