[Amazin69]

I would have understood if Snell had cited a physical issue ("I was feeling tired" or "my arm was starting to tighten up") even though pitchers used to endure those regularly. ("Here, have a cortisone shot. Don't forget to use the diathermy machine to loosen up before you go home. Remember, you're starting Monday*, so put some ice on there to prevent swelling.")

(*-Yes, Monday. Snell has five days of rest before his next start, with the Pads still theoretically alive, for now.)

Even an indirect physical complaint ("my velocity was starting to drop") would count for something.

But no, Snell was terrified for his health because of nothing but the number of pitches he had thrown. He was afraid of a number.

Snell is of course a pending free agent, so I as well am scared of a number…the $30,000,000 or so in annual salary that some fool (such as the Mets' own Uncle Stevie) is likely to throw at him.

I wish I could say I was disgusted by this, but as baseball gets dumber and dumber, I find myself getting number and number.