| CollegeHighway.com Login |
| Don't have an account yet? You can create one. As registered user you have some advantages like theme manager, comments configuration and post comments with your name. |
| Trippin? |
 |
| Check Yourself |
 |
| Ephemerids |
One Day like Today...
|
| Welcome |
| You are Anonymous user. You can register for free by clicking here. |
 |
|
| Home / College Guide / Jason Mackey: Its gonna be electric, as the Pirates do the right thing with Paul |
| Posted on Thursday, May 09 @ 00:00:07 PDT |
May 8—The only thing super here turned out to be the Pirates decision making, shocking as it may be. As much as everyone mightve been sitting around scared, biting fingernails and wondering when general manager Ben Cherington and others would promote Paul Skenes to the major leagues, well, were here. The Pirates did the right thing. Skenes, Pittsburghs fire-balling pitching prospect, will start on Saturday against the Cubs at PNC Park. Hell meet with the media on Friday. When Skenes joins the big club, hell form a deadly 1-2 punch atop the rotation with another top prospect in Jared Jones, undoubtedly shifting attention throughout MLB to Pittsburgh on what should be a wild Saturday night. Were good friends, Jones told me Monday. We go back and forth all the time, texting each other after starts. Being in the same rotation is gonna be electric. Its absolutely the right move and one that felt inevitable since Skenes doffed his cap in his last start for Triple-A Indianapolis. But there was still that little voice, that whisper of caution that the Pirates could drag this out into mid-June. There was plenty that went into the Pirates decision, obviously. The Pirates slow-played Skenes build, worrying about pitch count and innings and taking a conservative approach to protect one of the sports most electric arms.
Skenes went three innings twice, then two more outings that lasted 3 1/3 . He was mostly at five days rest before making his most recent start at four. In those seven starts, Skenes pitched to a 0.99 ERA across 27 1/3 innings, with eight walks and 45 strikeouts. The numbers for Skenes were gaudy. They always are. If nothing else, the mustache and towering frame are only parts of his visual appeal. The zip on his fastball and movement on his breaking staff cant help but make the most hardened baseball fan smile. Which is what wouldve made the Pirates kicking the can here ridiculous. Theyd be waiting ... for what? Skenes to tie his shoes better or do a more consistent job making his bed? Yeah, right. The beautiful thing about Skenes and how he operates: He knew from the second the Pirates drafted him No. 1 overall last summer that he couldnt leave the door cracked whatsoever. He was going to do everything possible to prove he belonged. And did. In lightning-quick fashion, too. Skenes ascent to the major leagues is essentially unprecedented among major college pitchers. Stephen Strasburg was the former speed racer of the group, making it up after 11 starts and 55 1/3 innings (plus a short stint in the Arizona Fall League).
Any link to Gerrit Cole, Max Scherzer or Justin Verlander will have to be ability or production only at this point, as Skenes zoomed past them. He did so with a deep mix of pitches and off-the-charts velocity. Not only that, Skenes comes to Pittsburgh with an uncommon maturity, a no-bleeps-given type of mentality that should be warmly welcomed. The idea of that actually takes me back to spring training and Skenes talking in front of the Pirates bullpen at LECOM Park. It was the Spring Breakout Game, and Skenes warned that he and others were coming. Everyone will be better than expected, too, Skenes promised. Jones has certainly been. I cant wait to find out whats next. Hes been doing it pretty well down there, Jones said. Itll be exciting to see him throw. But the whole decision should be seen as encouraging from more than just the micro here. It should energize the Pirates and their fans during whats expected to be a competitive season. No, Skenes doesnt hit. However, the Pirates after losing two of three wont turn down the pick-me-up. Its also encouraging to see the Pirates resist the Super 2 urge. Sure, they could have saved some money down the road by waiting until mid-June and denying Skenes the chance to finish in the top 22% of service-time earners of his respective class.
But why? It feels like cutting the grass for the houses next owner. This actually traces back to the early days of Skenes Pirates tenure, when he and his agent were overt about their plans and desires to reach the big leagues. They didnt want the wait to drag out. They also didnt think it should be long, provided he pitched the way he can. The Pirates agreed. Its good to see both parties kept their promises. When you think about it, the starts Skenes will make up here instead of Triple-A could cost the Pirates down the road with a fourth trip through arbitration, but its about damn time they stop concerning themselves with the future. Worry about the present — perhaps in more ways than Skenes, although this is a fantastic start. Saturday night along the North Shore now becomes a moment weve all been waiting to see. It wouldnt shock me if it trumped last seasons home opener with Andrew McCutchens return, A.J. Burnett throwing a first pitch to Russell Martin and the 10-year reunion of 2013. In a large way because it represents hope. Finally, the Pirates did the right thing and embraced that idea instead of stamping it out. Jason Mackey: jmackey@post-gazette.com and @JMackeyPG on X (c)2024 the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Visit the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette at www.
post-gazette.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
|
|
| |
|
|
