Some stats on how pitchers have fewer IP than about 10 years ago

I used Stathead to search this.

From 2011-13, 53 pitchers had 486+ IP & 22 had 600+ (2 had 700+). Verlander led with 707. 

From 2021-23, only 25 pitchers had 486+ IP and only one had 600+ (Alcantara, 619). About a 52.8% drop in guys with 486+ IP.

12 pitchers from 2011-13 were above 619. Cole was 2nd from 2021-23 with 591. That would have been 28th from 2011-13.

I used 486 IP since that is 3 times 162, what it takes to qualify for the ERA title for just one season. So I am using 486 as a qualifier for a 3 year period.

For position players I used 3*502 = 1,516 PAs since 502 is usually the number of PAs it takes to qualify for the batting title for just one year.

From 2011-13, there were 104 guys with 1,516+ PAs. From 2021-23, it was 94. That is a 9.6% drop, far less than what happened for pitchers.

At the 2,000 PA level, it fell from 15 to 10. That is a much smaller drop than it was for pitchers with 600+ IP.

The highest anyone had from 2011-13 was 2,111 (both Alex Gordon and Starlin Castro). Two players from 2021-2023 actually exceeded that: Marcus Semien (2,201) & Freddie Freeman (2,133).

At the 1,600 PA level, there were exactly 82 guys in each time period. So it sure looks like something different has happened with the pitchers.

Update April 14:

Some data on pitcher games started. Number of guys with 90+ & 75+ starts.

2011-13:

90+) 41
75+) 64

2021-23:

90+) 19
75+) 46