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SPORTS Tuesday 4 OcTOber 2022
Complete games disappearing in baseball’s Analytics Age

By RONALD BLUM game. The whole mentality
AP Baseball Writer is different.”
NEW YORK (AP) — Jim Palm- Shutouts are nearly extinct.
er thought back to 1971, There have been 15 this
when Baltimore Orioles year, and no pitcher has
pitching coach George tossed two. Bob Gibson
Bamberger kept scrawling alone pitched 13 in 1968.
marks on the underside of As recently as 2015 there
his cap’s brim. were 51 shutouts, and that
“George, what is that?” was down from 146 in 1992
the Hall of Fame pitcher and 295 in 1972.
recalled asking. “He said, “Decreased number of in-
‘I have a complete game nings pitched by starters
clause. If you guys get 50 has not been a positive for
or more complete games, I the game,” baseball Com-
get a $5,000 raise.’” missioner Rob Manfred
Palmer learned later that said. “Starting pitchers his-
Bamberger was fibbing torically have been some
and trying to push his pitch- of our biggest stars. I think
ers. Dave McNally, Mike that it’s important for the
Cuellar, Pat Dobson and game that they continue
Palmer combined for 70 to be some of our biggest
complete games that year, Miami Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara throws during the first inning of a baseball game stars. And I think the key to
and each reached 20 wins. against the Washington Nationals, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, in Miami. Associated Press continuing that tradition is
This year, the entire major they need to pitch more.”
leagues have logged just with six this season. OPS on-base plus slug- not what it used to be. I Palmer thinks starters never
35 complete games, down “The ninth inning is a tricky ging percentage is .688 in think it is intentional by or- have to reach down to find
from 50 last season, 104 in inning to get as a starter,” a starter’s first time through ganizations. The third time out what they are capable
2015 and 622 in 1988. said the Mets’ Max Scher- the batting order this sea- through I think is certainly of.“If you pitched in my era,
Bullpens reign supreme in zer, who has 12 complete son, .719 the second and real, if you look at OPS with you’d go to Fenway Park
the Analytics Age. Starters games in his career. “If .769 the third and later, ac- every starting pitcher.” with a one-run lead and
increasingly are blocked you’re winning the game, cording to the Elias Sports Innings per start fell from you tell Earl Weaver you’re
from facing the batting or- typically the closer’s bet- Bureau. 6.03 in 2011 to 4.78 before a little tired, he goes, `You
der for a third time. ter than you are in your Pitches per start dipped rising to 5.02 in 2021 and think I’m taking you out of a
Palmer had 25 complete ninth inning. As a starter to from 96.93 in 2011 to 80.33 5.22 this year. game and bringing in Dick
games in 1975, including 10 go back out there for the in the pandemic-shortened “Having Dwight Gooden Drago? You’re crazy!’ And
shutouts, and Catfish Hunt- ninth, you have to have the 2020 season before re- at 19 years old throw 270 now you got to get (Carl-
er had 30 for the Yankees mentality that you’re better bounding to 82.7 last year innings probably wasn’t ton) Fisk, Yaz (Carl Yastr-
that year. than the closer in that situa- and 85.12 this season, ac- a good idea, especially zemski) and (Jim) Rice out.
Just three active pitchers tion. So that’s a tough thing cording to Sports Info Solu- in a 9-1 game,” said ESPN Well, you learn about your-
have 25 career complete to be able to say. Second, tions. and YES broadcaster Da- self now. Now, it doesn’t
games: Clayton Kershaw the score’s got to be about “Guys aren’t trained they vid Cone, who pitched always work, but you learn
(25), Justin Verlander (26) right, too. If it’s a one-run don’t prepare for 120 any- 56 complete games in his about how smart you are
and Adam Wainwright (28). game, it’s tough to say you more,” Los Angeles Dodg- career. “Back then, you and can you get a guy out
Miami’s Sandy Alcantara got the ball when you’ve ers manager Dave Roberts would get made fun of if more than one way, your
leads the major leagues got the closer: It’s his job.” said, “The ramp up is just you didn’t complete that heart, your conditioning.”q

Alcaraz, Nadal put Spain at 1-2 in ATP rankings for 1st time

NEW YORK (AP) — No. 1 the rankings and owns a The only other changes in
Carlos Alcaraz and No. 2 men’s-record 22 major the ATP top 10 on Monday
Rafael Nadal are the first championships, including came with Jannik Sinner
countrymen to top the ATP at the Australian Open in sliding from No. 10 to No.
rankings in 22 years. January and the French 12.
And the two players from Open in June. He rose from That allowed Hubert Hur-
Spain are the first men from No. 3 to No. 2 on Monday, kacz to move up one spot
somewhere other than the swapping places with U.S. to No. 10, and Taylor Fritz
United States to sit at 1-2 Open runner-up Casper to shift one place up to a
since the tour introduced Ruud. career-best No. 11.
computerized rankings in The last time players from Iga Swiatek remained at
1973. the same country held Nos. No. 1 in the WTA rankings,
Alcaraz is a 19-year-old 1 and 2 in the ATP rankings where she’s been since re-
who rose to the top spot was in August 2000, when placing the retired Ash Bar-
by winning the U.S. Open Americans Andre Agassi ty there in April.
last month for his first Grand and Pete Sampras did it. Two-time major finalist Ons
Slam title, becoming the “Proud to share this historic Jabeur stayed at No. 2. She
youngest man ever to be moment with @Rafael- was followed by No. 3 Anett Rafael Nadal, of Spain, right, greets compatriot Carlos Alcaraz
No. 1. Nadal, the best player of Kontaveit and No. 4 Paula after defeating him in the men’s singles semifinals at the BNP
Nadal is a 36-year-old who all-time,” Alcaraz wrote in Badosa, who swapped Paribas Open tennis tournament Saturday, March 19, 2022, in
has spent 209 weeks atop Spanish on Twitter. spots on Monday.q Indian Wells, Calif.
Associated Press