EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT PAUL SKENES, THE 21-YEAR-OLD PITCHING SENSATION. (PHOTOS BY BRIAN COOK SR.)
On Saturday, May 11, the Pittsburgh Pirates promoted Paul Skenes from the minor leagues to the big leagues. Paul Skenes was selected by the Pirates as the overall number one draft pick of the 2023 Major League Baseball Draft. For a rookie making his first MLB start on a dreary and unwelcoming day, the Pirates’ pitching phenom may have performed a bit above average.
Also, observing that the Pirates’ bullpen underperformed is a vast understatement. At the top of the 5th inning with the bases loaded, the Pirates’ “relievers,” or should we call them “deceivers,” forced in a six-run care package for Chicago, by issuing six bases-loaded walks to the Cubs, turning a Pirates lead into a deficit by the time that the 5th inning was completed. Is it unreasonable to expect the Pirates relievers not to give up six bases-loaded walks, anytime or anywhere?
Are the present Pirates relievers achievers, pretenders, or deceivers? Part of the problem may be how the relief pitchers are utilized. The micromanaging and underachieving of Pirates manager Derek Shelton has been widely documented and scrutinized by many and approved by few. There have been occasions when the scrutiny of his actions has been justifiably reviewed under a microscope. However, there were and continue to be other instances when he is unjustifiably questioned. Considering the pitch count of Paul Skenes when he was removed from the game which was 84 pitches, the precautionary move to relieve the young pitcher at that point in the game, in my opinion, was the right move to protect Skenes from possible injury. The E.R.A. of the Pirates’ pitching staff is still hovering around the 3.85 mark and when forced to depend on a sporadic offense for support, this may not be the time to signal the premature end of their season. But…the offense and defense must begin to perform in sync for the Bucs to have a fighting chance to remain competitive and have an opportunity to perform when “all the leaves are brown, and the skies are gray” as the “boys of summer” morph into the “boys of Autumn.” A starting pitcher performing on the “island of the pitcher’s mound’ is pressure enough. Now, add to that pressure, a group of relief pitchers that may sometimes be incapable of throwing water on an inferno that is not polluted with a bit of colorless, odorless gasoline.
Imagine being incarcerated for the short or long term with a cellmate who has terrible hygiene and won’t clean up the living quarters. Is it fair that you are forced to perform the majority of the “house cleaning duties,” while your cellmate kicks back, relaxes and chills? The Pirates’ starting pitching may turn out to be better than advertised, but the offense and the corps of relievers must mirror the consistency and the effort of the starting pitchers.
In the past, I have pointed out that the fan support for the Buccos has been sporadic at best. But if the attendance of the so-called “Pirates faithful” can be defined as hot and cold, the performance of the team must be cast in the same mold. I suggest that Pirates fans grab the “T” and mosey on over to catch a glimpse of Paul Skenes, Oneil Cruz, Connor Joe, KeBryan Hayes, Rowdy Tellez, and the remainder of the Pirates’ “young guns” before they are shipped off to destinations unknown.
Paul Skenes is only one man, and one man does not even remotely resemble a team. On the days that Paul Skenes is scheduled to pitch, the turnstiles may click more and a bit faster but will that same loyalty from the fans be exhibited when the next pitcher is up? Imagine that you are a growing “tween” and you come home famished daily, but your mother or father only prepares a meal for you once every five days. Do you think that your stomach might be “growling on the regular?” Currently, many of the young Pittsburgh Pirates players may be starving for attention from their “ravenous” fan base. However, there are many small- to mid-level cities and markets that would kill, dig up the body and kill it again to have an MLB team to call their own. Be ye careful “yinzers!” Ya might wanna stop pining for a new owner, because at this rate if the dough flows right, ya might be rooting for the New Orleans, L.A. or Charlotte Pirates from afar as “twice baked” couch potatoes.
About Post Author
