As I type, I'm watching Game One of the MLB playoff series between my Toronto Blue Jays and the Tampa Bay Rays. The Jays (somewhat) surprising starter, Matt Shoemaker, was cruising through three shutout innings. He threw 35 pitches, 27 for strikes, only allowing a couple of soft singles.
Naturally, Shoemaker was removed from the game in favour of Robbie Ray. This was Charlie Montoyo executing orders from above. A decision purely determined by analytics without wiggle room for a human to override the algorithm. From where I sit, taking out a playoff starter who is pitching a shutout through three innings is asinine?
Right on cue, Ray surrendered a leadoff triple who scored on a wild pitch, and the Jays trail 1-0 in the 5th inning.
Baseball has changed, and I'm not sure I want to come along for the ride.
I'm old enough to remember when your playoff starter wasn't pulled after three strong shutout innings.
— Toronto Mike (@torontomike) September 29, 2020
