This is the time of year when baseball fans do what they always do once the offseason fog starts to lift: argue about who’s the best. Rankings get shared, dissected, and often stripped of context, which is exactly why Brian Snitker’s top-10 starting pitcher list immediately set off alarms across social media.
A Ranking’s List Built on Experience, Not Spreadsheets
When Snitker’s list was revealed, the immediate reaction focused on what appeared to be glaring omissions and questionable ordering. Chris Sale, Max Fried, and Jacob deGrom sat at the top, while widely acknowledged aces like Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes were placed further down. On paper, it looks backward. In practice, it reflects how Snitker approached the exercise. This wasn’t a deep dive into advanced metrics or recent award voting. It was a ranking rooted in familiarity and firsthand observation.
Snitker has spent years watching certain pitchers prepare, compete, and respond under pressure. That matters to a manager, even in retirement. He openly admitted that Skubal and Skenes could easily be at the very top of the list, noting that Skenes, in particular, has everything needed to be No. 1. His reluctance wasn’t about denying talent; it was about the impossibility of ranking pitchers who are all elite in different ways.
Why Chris Sale Sits at the Top
The biggest talking point was Chris Sale at No. 1, a choice that instantly drew accusations of bias. Snitker didn’t shy away from that. He leaned into it. After watching Sale pitch at an exceptional level over the last two seasons, Snitker described him as the ultimate professional and the pitcher he would want on the mound above all others. That endorsement wasn’t about velocity or strikeout rates. It was about trust, preparation, and consistency.
Max Fried received similar praise, labeled as a 1A to Sale’s 1B. These are pitchers Snitker knows intimately, and that relationship naturally shapes his perspective.
Context Lost in the Reaction
Snitker was clear that the list wasn’t meant to be definitive. He even joked that shuffling the names and pulling them out of a hat wouldn’t make it wrong. That sentiment was largely ignored as the list circulated on social media, where rankings are often treated as absolute declarations rather than conversation starters.
His comments on deGrom further emphasized the tone. Snitker acknowledged that deGrom may no longer be a top-three pitcher, but he still sees a star and someone worth paying to watch. That says more about respect than ranking.
Ultimately, this wasn’t a list designed to settle debates. It was a reflection of a long-time manager’s experiences, preferences, and appreciation for pitchers he’s seen up close. Taken in that light, it makes far more sense than the outrage would suggest.
