Kevin Burkhardt reacts strongly after another pitcher is removed during a perfect game: 'What are we doing'

Early Exits in Historic Moments Stir Debate

It’s getting frustrating to see promising moments cut short.

That’s the assertion made by Fox Sports’ Kevin Burkhardt after yet another MLB team pulled a pitcher during a perfect game attempt this week. It happened again on Wednesday when the Pirates removed Jared Jones after six innings, despite him maintaining a perfect game, only for the bullpen to falter. The Marlins faced a similar situation on Saturday, pulling Eury Perez after seven perfect innings.

“We are normalizing taking players out during perfect games now,” Burkhardt, a former Mets reporter, noted on social media. “What’s going on? Two in just a week.”

This raises an intriguing discussion about the proper approach to take when pitchers are on the brink of history. Many teams are understandably reluctant to let starters approach high pitch counts, especially after the Mets let Johan Santana throw 133 pitches for their first no-hitter back in June 2012.

Managers often juggle the need to protect players from themselves and the desire to let them chase historic accomplishments.

In Perez’s case, he was taken out after retiring all 21 batters with just 92 pitches, only for his replacement, Lake Bachar, to walk the first batter and subsequently give up a hit.

Manager Clayton McCullough opted for a long-term strategy over immediate gains. Perez’s third game back from injury also played into that decision.

Fans at the game expressed their displeasure, chanting “Shame” as he left. “Part of me wanted to let him keep going, but I have to consider Eury’s future and what’s best for our team,” McCullough explained afterwards. “Going into this game, we thought 90-plus pitches were the limit, but we’re aiming to continue beyond the regular season, and he’s vital to that.”

Jones, for his part, needed only 77 pitches to get through six innings against the Braves. The Pirates remain cautious, limiting his pitches since he just returned from UCL surgery last year.

“Keeping him healthy is the priority because we need him down the stretch,” Pirates manager Don Kelly commented. “Pushing him now, especially after just five starts, isn’t feasible.”

Jones himself said he understood the decision. “I came in thinking I’d go five innings, but my count was low enough to get a sixth. That turned out to be it for me tonight,” he shared.

In contrast, the Blue Jays took a different route with Dylan Cease on the same night. He lost his no-hitter in the ninth on a 118-pitch count in a dominant victory over the Giants. Toronto manager John Schneider had no reservations about letting Cease push his limits.

“I’m a fan of baseball. If a guy has a shot at a no-hitter, you let him go for it and adjust later,” Schneider remarked. “Dylan’s durable and has done it before. It’s a rare opportunity, and I want to give our players that chance every time.”

The decisions by the Marlins and Pirates highlight a key reason why perfect games have become increasingly rare, with only one occurring since 2012—Domingo German did it for the Yankees in 2023.