A current, but not popular debate centers on the value of managers in today’s game and whether their role has changed over the years. While most teams probably rely on their wonks to construct day to day lineups, managers still have to figure out which pitcher will start the game on any given day. For a number of reasons, managers control the rotation even if it includes two bullpen days.

Yesterday (Monday, July 7) was one of those flash backs to my youth when aces faced one another naturally. I don’t recall Gibson, Jenkins, Seaver or Carlton facing the opposing team’s #4 starter, although I’m sure it happened on occasion. Managers pitched their best against the other team’s best. Some teams might have had 1A and 1B starters and there might have been thinner lines between pitchers, but I don’t think managers set their studs up to pitch against a stiff. Nobody wanted to concede a win. In two cases All-Stars faced off against one another. Peralta and Yamamoto for the Brewers and Dodgers respectively. American League teammates, Kikuchi (Sea) and deGrom (Tex) took the mound in a later night tilt. While Bisbee isn’t on the AL squad, he is their presumptive ace, but Hunter Brown (Hou) is both on the team and a top of the rotation starter.

One of the popular current terms is providing a soft landing, for a younger player. It seems player development has less faith in the players or the process these days because teams or managers worry about placing younger players in optimal situations to begin a ML career. Yet, some teams throw their players to the wolves. Case in point, the Brewers have allowed rookie sensation, Jacob Misiorowski to start against Paul Skenes and Clayton Kershaw despite the likelihood that he’ll merely wash against such stellar competition. Of course, the Brewers will sell more tickets than if he were facing the #5 starters.

In principle that’s one of the highlights of the ML ASG, the two best starting pitchers (at the moment) usually start the game, and fans get to see the best facing the best-even if only for one or two innings.