Paul Skenes article

[bucs607179]

Agreed. I see no realistic chance that Skenes remains a Pirate when he could choose to go elsewhere. But understanding that, Cherington has to maximize the team's potential during the years they have Skenes. Since they drifted mostly HS kids, the system is not going to be providing the hitting help they need in time. Cherington has to acquire hitters and Nutting has to pay them. I know that's an unlikely scenario but that's the only way they can become serious contenders during Skenes' tenure with the club. I hope I'm wrong but I don't see that happening. Nutting may be happy just to have Skenes as a drawing card and keep the team in the WC hunt each year.

The safest thing to do is keep the team contending for a Wildcard spot. Few can complain if the team is competitive in that way and, at the same time, it means he’s not spending excessively. Connie Mack figured that out a long time ago: build the club so that it could finish in the upper half of the standings to keep the fans interested, but not so good that he’d have to reward the players with decent raises. Mack wrote the book. Nutting keeps rereading it.

Knowing how MLB works I'd be very happy if we could just stay in the competitive range. Heck, now I hope and root for 81 wins.

[Bobster]

Agreed. I see no realistic chance that Skenes remains a Pirate when he could choose to go elsewhere. But understanding that, Cherington has to maximize the team's potential during the years they have Skenes. Since they drifted mostly HS kids, the system is not going to be providing the hitting help they need in time. Cherington has to acquire hitters and Nutting has to pay them. I know that's an unlikely scenario but that's the only way they can become serious contenders during Skenes' tenure with the club. I hope I'm wrong but I don't see that happening. Nutting may be happy just to have Skenes as a drawing card and keep the team in the WC hunt each year.

The safest thing to do is keep the team contending for a Wildcard spot. Few can complain if the team is competitive in that way and, at the same time, it means he’s not spending excessively. Connie Mack figured that out a long time ago: build the club so that it could finish in the upper half of the standings to keep the fans interested, but not so good that he’d have to reward the players with decent raises. Mack wrote the book. Nutting keeps rereading it.

Knowing how MLB works I'd be very happy if we could just stay in the competitive range. Heck, now I hope and root for 81 wins.

It's going to be very sad (nothing new for the Pirates) if at the end of Skenes' tenure here we look back on how the highlight was that we almost got the 3rd WC spot a few times.

[Doc]

Agreed. I see no realistic chance that Skenes remains a Pirate when he could choose to go elsewhere. But understanding that, Cherington has to maximize the team's potential during the years they have Skenes. Since they drifted mostly HS kids, the system is not going to be providing the hitting help they need in time. Cherington has to acquire hitters and Nutting has to pay them. I know that's an unlikely scenario but that's the only way they can become serious contenders during Skenes' tenure with the club. I hope I'm wrong but I don't see that happening. Nutting may be happy just to have Skenes as a drawing card and keep the team in the WC hunt each year.

The safest thing to do is keep the team contending for a Wildcard spot. Few can complain if the team is competitive in that way and, at the same time, it means he’s not spending excessively. Connie Mack figured that out a long time ago: build the club so that it could finish in the upper half of the standings to keep the fans interested, but not so good that he’d have to reward the players with decent raises. Mack wrote the book. Nutting keeps rereading it.

Knowing how MLB works I'd be very happy if we could just stay in the competitive range. Heck, now I hope and root for 81 wins.

I can't do that. I can't root for, or be happy with, average. The objective is to be a winner first, then compete for a championship. I understand it can't happen every year, but it has to happen more times than we've seen since 1993.

[bucs607179]

Have zero idea where poster on another message board got this info but he seems to think Mr. Skenes will not pitch until Tuesday against Cards. I checked the MLB site and they only list Nola pitching game 1. The rest are TBD.

[3pirates3]

The rest are TBD.

https://x.com/_NoahHiles/status/1814022805027004431

[bucs607179]

The rest are TBD.

https://x.com/_NoahHiles/status/1814022805027004431

Thanks guy!

[bucs607179]

I'm 100% sure I'm wrong about this. Paul Skenes isn't pitching against the Phillies because PNC will be sold out. Save him for a mid week game so PNC can have another sell out.

IMO Pirates should use our best against the best teams if available. Maybe their is a reason I don't know about??

[Surgnbuck]

I'm 100% sure I'm wrong about this. Paul Skenes isn't pitching against the Phillies because PNC will be sold out. Save him for a mid week game so PNC can have another sell out.

IMO Pirates should use our best against the best teams if available. Maybe their is a reason I don't know about??

That's the conspiracy theory around here, but the Friday and Saturday games were almost sold out a couple months ago before Skenes was even on the roster.

No matter what or how the Pirates do it, they'll be criticized. They could find the cure for Steve Blass disease and people would complain.

[Bobster]

I'm 100% sure I'm wrong about this. Paul Skenes isn't pitching against the Phillies because PNC will be sold out. Save him for a mid week game so PNC can have another sell out.

IMO Pirates should use our best against the best teams if available. Maybe their is a reason I don't know about??

Cherington may be punting (wouldn't be the first time) on the Phillies series. Skenes and Keller are being held back for the St.L. series with the Cards a little ahead of the Bucs in the WC race.

[bucs607179]

I'm 100% sure I'm wrong about this. Paul Skenes isn't pitching against the Phillies because PNC will be sold out. Save him for a mid week game so PNC can have another sell out.

IMO Pirates should use our best against the best teams if available. Maybe their is a reason I don't know about??

Cherington may be punting (wouldn't be the first time) on the Phillies series. Skenes and Keller are being held back for the St.L. series with the Cards a little ahead of the Bucs in the WC race.

Didn't think that way but a very good point. Now I'm not so PO'd.