This rookie pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates(Paul Skenes) really is starting to look like one of those special “Generational Talents” and he reminds me of what we were seeing from the Detroit Tigers’ Mark “The Bird” Fidrych back in 1976…Fidrych started the MLB All-Star Game that year for the American League, and Fidrych went on to finish the season at (19-9) overall, and he was named the AL Rookie of the Year…Paul Skenes does not carry with him the antics we saw from Mark “The Bird” Fidrych, but Skenes is sure ‘bringing the beans’, here in 2024, and he does give us many impressions that might just be that next “Generational Talent”, to come along and leave his lasting mark…
Paul Skenes breaks Pirates record, already among franchise’s greatest pitchers
from Mike J. Asti, with YardBarker.com/www.yardbarker.com
There’s never a guarantee any rookie will live up the hype. But not only has Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes lived up to the immense hype that preceded his MLB debut, he’s exceeding it. And the proof of that is in his latest record.
On Thursday, Skenes threw one of his best performances of the season. The 22-year-old All-Star tossed a seven-inning no-hitter while striking out 11 batters. Obviously, recording a no-hitter, even if not through an official complete game, is the first thing that jumps out. However, only allowing one baserunner via one walk is somehow not the primary headline from Skenes’ final start before his first of what should be many All-Star Games.
Skenes leading the Pirates to a 1-0 road victory over the Brewers will go down as a historic day for a franchise with a long history that dates back to 1882. He has now recorded seven or more strikeouts in eight consecutive starts, setting a new franchise record.
So Skenes, who recently achieved the new standard for the most strikeouts within a rookie pitcher’s first 10 starts, now owns a record that goes well beyond the greatest rookie seasons.
To put this latest Skenes record into perspective, the Pirates franchise has been home to some sensational pitchers throughout its history. Names like Jack Chesbro, who still remains the last MLB pitcher to win 40 games in a season, former Cy Younger winner Vern Law, Dock Ellis, who captained the Pirates’ 1971 World Series winning staff and threw one of the most famous no-hitters ever, Bob Friend and more recently Gerrit Cole enjoyed success while representing the Pirates.
But again, it’s Skenes who has been the most dominant from a strikeout perspective in eight straight starts. The fact that Skenes’ name is being brought among legends of the past only 11 appearances into his career shows the sky is truly the limit for MLB’s 2023 No. 1 overall pick.
Skenes’ 2024 totals tell the story of his dominance. In 66.1 innings pitched, Skenes is now 6-0 with 89 strikeouts and a 1.90 ERA. He has only given up 48 hits, 13 walks and seven home runs.
Only time will tell where Skenes will rank among the Pirates’ best pitchers all-time, but he’s making a case that he belongs as a rookie and he’s already in the franchise’s record book no matter what.
It’s safe to say Skenes has provided Pirates fans with something they have been searching for: hope for the future and a belief the glory the franchise can eventually experience a return to glory.
**********Pirates manager explains why he pulled Paul Skenes from no-hitter**********
from Larry Brown Sports with Larry Brown, and from YardBarker.com/www.yardbarker.com
Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton explained Thursday why he removed pitcher Paul Skenes from a no-hit bid after seven innings.
Skenes threw seven scoreless innings in the Pirates’ 1-0 win over the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The 2023 No. 1 overall pick did not allow a hit over his seven innings of work, but Shelton did not send Skenes out to pitch the eighth inning. The rookie pitcher had thrown 99 pitches at that point.
Asked after the game about the decision to remove Skenes, Shelton said he felt the pitcher looked tired.
“He was tired. It really didn’t have anything to do with the pitch count … It was about where he was at,” Shelton said.
Shelton said that even after the sixth inning, Pittsburgh’s coaching staff could tell Skenes was tired.
Andrew Fillipponi
@ThePoniExpress
Shelton says Paul Skenes was “tired.” That’s why he didn’t start 8th. Says his stuff didn’t look the same. Huh?
Skenes hit a batter and walked one while striking out 11.
Thursday marked the second outing this season where Skenes was removed despite not allowing a hit. He pitched six scoreless innings against the Cubs in his second start and was removed after throwing 100 pitches.
Skenes’ ERA has dropped to 1.90 for the season.
A couple more interesting Paul Skenes stats for you…
Never left a game trailing
While the Pirates have not won all 11 of Skenes’ starts (they are 8-3) he has left them in a great position every time out. Specifically, he has never exited a game with the Pirates trailing on the scoreboard. In all 11 starts the Pirates were either tied or leading at the time of his exit. That is the literal definition of always giving your team a chance.
Eight straight starts with seven strikeouts
Skenes is one of the best strikeout pitchers in baseball and has fanned at least seven batters in eight consecutive starts. This one is actually a franchise record for the Pirates, and not just among rookies. That is a franchise record for any starter, regardless of experience level.
Might make it a little more interesting too, with MORE on Mark “The Bird” Fidrych…..
In addition to his pitching, Fidrych attracted attention in his debut for talking to the ball while on the pitcher’s mound, strutting in a circle around the mound after every out, patting down the mound, and refusing to allow groundskeepers to fix the mound in the sixth inning. After the game, sports writer Jim Hawkins wrote in the Detroit Free Press: “He really is something to behold.” Rico Carty of the Indians said he thought Fidrych “was trying to hypnotize them.”