Paul Skenes is barely getting into his second season with the Pittsburgh Pirates and he already appears determined for the staff to change into aggressive. He additionally threw down the gauntlet this weekend and set larger expectations and objectives for the staff than anyone throughout the group has voiced in years.
In response to a query from MLB.com author Alex Stumpf, Skenes gave a passionate reply in regards to the staff needing to win — and win now — as a result of the town of Pittsburgh deserves it.
There’s a lot to unwrap from that remark, starting from the “we owe it to the town,” to additionally expressing a frustration of nonetheless listening to in regards to the staff’s 2013 wild-card win in opposition to the Cincinnati Reds as if it was a significant accomplishment to win a single playoff recreation.
It’s such an eye-opening remark as a result of no person within the Pirates entrance workplace ever speaks definitively about what they count on from the staff or what they wish to see. It’s at all times obscure platitudes about “working towards a championship” or “attempting to get higher” and “doing it the suitable approach.” There’s by no means a agency expectation. There’s by no means a significant purpose. It’s at all times simply obscure vacancy, which is adopted by a staff that by no means has the roster to noticeably compete.
Outdoors of a short three-year window between 2013-15 (Andrew McCutchen’s peak), and a short three-year window between 1990-92 (Barry Bonds finest years with the Pirates), the group has been a very non-factor for the reason that 1979 season. They by no means compete, not often end with a profitable document and principally function as a farm staff and participant growth group for the remainder of the league.
Pretty much as good as Skenes is, and he already seems like he is without doubt one of the finest pitchers in baseball, if not the very best pitcher in baseball, there’s already an expectation that he’s going to cost his approach out of Pittsburgh throughout the subsequent 5 years. It already occurred as soon as with Gerrit Cole, and appears prone to occur once more right here.
Which means the Pirates solely have perhaps 4 or 5 years to construct a winner with him.
This offseason, coming off a second straight 76-win season and sixth consecutive dropping season, the Pirates did virtually nothing to meaningfully add to their roster. The beginning rotation on paper seems sturdy, however the lineup is brief on affect gamers with few on the horizon within the farm system. Barring some dramatic and sudden enhancements, it appears seemingly the Pirates will waste one other of the few seasons they may have with Skenes.
Followers don’t wish to see that occur. He doesn’t wish to see that occur. He additionally appears to care extra in regards to the state of affairs than anyone concerned within the entrance workplace.
