2025 MLB Season

[tower912]

Skubal averaged 92 pitches per start.  He exceeded 100 pitches 3 times all season.  99 was in.  He knew it, Hinch knew it.   Math.

[GB Warrior]

https://x.com/notthebobbyorr/status/1976854168188207128?s=46

[tower912]

It worked. 

[MU82]

I don't think Sandy Koufax was pulled because he threw 100 pitches. 

This is the perfect comparison. Koufax was forced to end his career at least 5 years before he wanted to because his arm had exploded due to over-use.

Skubal puts every ounce of energy into every pitch. He is a max-effort guy. When his night was over in Game 2, he was physically and emotionally spent, and the same was true yesterday. Hinch is one of the best managers in MLB, and perhaps his best trait is knowing how to get the maximum from each player. I'm going to trust him for knowing Skubal a little better than you do.

I thought the Mariners' manager, Dan Wilson, pushed all the right buttons. Really had a great game IMHO. And yet his team still could have lost any number of times because, like the Tigers, the Mariners couldn't come up with a big hit.

[MU82]

Really concerned Cubs momentum is unstoppable now.

I don't know about that.

The Yankees had momentum going into the ALDS, but the Blue Jays scored 742 runs on them the first two games. Then the Blue Jays had momentum, but the Yankees won Game 3.

The Cubs had momentum going into the NLDS, but the Brewers scored 742 runs on them the first two games. If momentum were a thing, they would have easily won Game 3.

The Mariners not only had momentum going into Game 4 but seemed to be in total control of the series. Then the Tigers beat the crap out of what had been one of baseball's best bullpens to win Game 4. Which gave the Tigers all the momentum in the world - a dramatic win, and then Game 5 with baseball's best pitcher on the mound. Hell, Game 5 itself featured wild momentum swings throughout. It certainly wasn't momentum that let the Mariners win that game.

This postseason has shown, once again, that there is little to no momentum in baseball. If the Cubs win today, it probably will be because they pitch better than the Brewers.

[MU82]

Detroit had to choose between Kahnle, Rafael Montero, Hurter, or Hanifee. There was no good choice.   

In extra innings, the Mariners are sending out really good starting pitchers - Gilbert and Castillo - as well as Bazardo, who has had an awesome season. And the Tigers keep sending out guys with 4.5 ERAs. And I'm thinking that my guys HAVE to get a run across eventually, don't they? What a thrill ride that game was.

[HutchwasClutch]

Pomeranz to open for the Cubs tonight.  No word yet on the Brewers. 

[cheebs09]

He's been tough, but I'm hoping Chourio and Contreras can get us off to a good start.

I trust Counsell in game more than Murphy, but I really thought he'd start with area or Imanaga.

[GB Warrior]

Megill gets the ball

[cheebs09]

Megill gets the ball

Was expecting a lefty, but let's go get one shutout inning and hopefully jump off from there.

[CreightonWarrior]

Megill gets the ball

I hope Murphy reads scoop and saw muggsy's in depth analysis that the brewers need to win tonight.

[MU82]

Mariners to start Bryce Miller on 3 days rest in Game 1. First time in his career to go on short rest. They don't really have many options.

Roster not set yet, but the GM said he expects Bryan Woo to be available to pitch during the series.

[wadesworld]

The over managing begins before the game even starts.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6698271/2025/10/08/milwaukee-brewers-mlb-postseason-height-analysis/?source=dailyemail&campaign=601983&userId=9696215&source=dailyemail

I now understand why Muggsy is cheering for the Brewers even though he's from Chicago

[Dish]

If Skubal is a 100 pitch limit guy, then that's on Hinch for not using an opener and going to Skubal in the 2nd or 3rd.

If Skubal can't be pushed, you have to manage accordingly.

I'll die on the hill that it's absurd Skubal can't get you 110 pitches in a win or go home game. Asking him one (maybe two) times in a year to throw ten to fifteen pitches should be worth the compensation he will be seeking next year.

[tower912]

If Skubal is a 100 pitch limit guy, then that's on Hinch for not using an opener and going to Skubal in the 2nd or 3rd.

If Skubal can't be pushed, you have to manage accordingly.

I'll die on the hill that it's absurd Skubal can't get you 110 pitches in a win or go home game. Asking him one (maybe two) times in a year to throw ten to fifteen pitches should be worth the compensation he will be seeking next year.

Don't pay him.   

I will agree with you if you provide examples of Skubal throwing  110 pitches in a game at the major league level.    Until then, we are destined to disagree.

[wadesworld]

If Skubal is a 100 pitch limit guy, then that's on Hinch for not using an opener and going to Skubal in the 2nd or 3rd.

If Skubal can't be pushed, you have to manage accordingly.

I'll die on the hill that it's absurd Skubal can't get you 110 pitches in a win or go home game. Asking him one (maybe two) times in a year to throw ten to fifteen pitches should be worth the compensation he will be seeking next year.

Right. Win and advance, lose and move on situation. You ride your horse for another inning. Nobody is saying throw him out for 140 pitches. Let him start the 7th, facing the middle of the Mariner's order. If someone gets on, he comes out.

Both things can be true. If the Tigers hit better, they probably win. If the Tigers don't give up a run immediately after pulling the best pitcher in baseball when he had retired 13 straight Mariners, they probably win.

If he left Skubal in to start the seventh and Skubal blew the game, only idiots would question the manager. You went with the best pitcher in baseball. It didn't work. Onto next year. Instead, you pulled the best pitcher in baseball who had been absolutely dealing, and immediately gave up the tying run. Onto next year, indeed.

[MuggsyB]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6698271/2025/10/08/milwaukee-brewers-mlb-postseason-height-analysis/?source=dailyemail&campaign=601983&userId=9696215&source=dailyemail

I now understand why Muggsy is cheering for the Brewers even though he's from Chicago

That certainly doesn't hurt my appreciation for the Brewers. 

[MuggsyB]

I phrased my response poorly.  I will defend myself TAMU, which at times can technically be a counter punch, but you will never read posts of mine where I personally attack people. I can handle the arrows because I'm thick skinned and have very solid knowledge of the psychological complexities when it comes to certain political views.  I will even admit that occasionally I get a bit of pleasure that my pestiferousnes cuts through some Scoopers like a knife through butter.  But make no mistake, no one here is a thorn in my side.  I never wish ill-will towards Marquette hoops fans. 

[MuggsyB]

I hope Murphy reads scoop and saw muggsy's in depth analysis that the brewers need to win tonight.

It's imperative.  Hopefully you are correct with regards to Murphy. 

[MuggsyB]

Right. Win and advance, lose and move on situation. You ride your horse for another inning. Nobody is saying throw him out for 140 pitches. Let him start the 7th, facing the middle of the Mariner's order. If someone gets on, he comes out.

Both things can be true. If the Tigers hit better, they probably win. If the Tigers don't give up a run immediately after pulling the best pitcher in baseball when he had retired 13 straight Mariners, they probably win.

If he left Skubal in to start the seventh and Skubal blew the game, only idiots would question the manager. You went with the best pitcher in baseball. It didn't work. Onto next year. Instead, you pulled the best pitcher in baseball who had been absolutely dealing, and immediately gave up the tying run. Onto next year, indeed.

I agree.  Well stated.  Hopefully you're not attacked. 

[tower912]

Hinch:  Easy decision. After the 5th, I checked in on him how he was doing physically and emotionally, and that we both knew he had one left. You know, he emptied his tank and obviously was emotional coming off the mound, and I think that signals exactly where we were in the game.  He gave us everything he could.


My mound to die on is that he averaged 6 innings and 92 pitches per start for the season.   They got what they wanted from him.   Hit the ball.

[The Sultan]

It's pretty hard to get on a manager for yanking a starting pitcher after six when the game goes 15 innings.

[Uncle Rico]

It's pretty hard to get on a manager for yanking a starting pitcher after six when the game goes 15 innings.

Fact: if they kept Skubal in, the Mariners wouldn't have tied it.

[wadesworld]

It's pretty hard to get on a manager for yanking a starting pitcher after six when the game goes 15 innings.

Yes because it's certain to go exactly the same if Skubal stays in for the 7th.