After Orioles manager Brandon Hyde pulled starter David Hess 6.1 innings into a potential no-hitter against the Toronto Blue Jays April 1, a divide among the baseball community was on full display just four days into the season.
Hess threw just 82 pitches, though he had thrown another 42 in a relief appearance four days earlier on Opening Day. Hess seemed incredulous when Hyde walked to the mound and asked for the ball; the scene of Hess smiling, more in bewilderment than anything, is sure to be an indelible image of the Orioles' 2019 season.
The move stirred emotional reactions from fans and analysts alike, highlighting the "old school vs. new school" debate that has existed within the game for decades. As FanGraphs' Jay Jaffe noted, there were 11 instances of a pitcher being removed during a no-hitter last season; the previous season high since 1998 had been five. Major league coaches and front offices are seemingly growing increasingly wary of pushing a starter too far and risking an injury.
