Most pitchers started out as relievers because the starters were set and they brought up pitchers earlier than they do now for relief stints. The Mets had Seaver, Koosman, etc. Ryan actually ca,e up briefly in 1966.
Pitchers in those days actually threw more than players do today. The starters pitched on three days rest (four man rotations) and relief and backup starters, no real mid reliefs then, threw batting practice every day.
The problems today are the pitchers are the delivery they teach and the scouts depend on speed rather than the ability to pitch. Greg Maddox probably would not even be signed today. His fastball is not fast enough for the metrics and his curveball is not snarp enough. Baseball has become boring because the pitchers are all the same and the the hitters mostly have the same stance etc.
Madison Bumgarner tops out at 91mph, and has a crappy curve.
And there's not a team in MLB that would not sign him to a 5+ year deal at $20+ mil per year.
That’s why there’s only two knuckleball pitchers and much fewer junkball guys left. If you can’t throw 90mph they don’t want to even see you. Like you said, boring. With all the free swinging hitters that never choke up with two strikes it would be the perfect era for some variety.
Freegards