Paul Skenes, the standout rookie for the Pittsburgh Pirates, has become the center of a storm of criticism following the team’s poor start to the 2025 MLB season.
Fans, frustrated by the Pirates’ struggles, have directed their anger toward ownership, particularly Bob Nutting, and the management of the team.
Amid chants calling for the team to be sold, Skenes has faced growing concern over whether his talent will be wasted in Pittsburgh’s ongoing cycle of underperformance.
Skenes’ strong performance and the Pirates’ struggles
Despite the team’s challenges, Skenes, who was one of the brightest stars of the 2024 season, continues to shine on the mound. With a 1-0 record and a 1.46 ERA as of early April 2025, Skenes’ individual performance has been stellar. In his most recent outing against the Tampa Bay Rays, he threw seven innings, allowing just one unearned run and striking out six.
However, despite his efforts, the Pirates’ offensive and bullpen struggles have cost them wins, leading to frustration among fans who feel that the team’s inability to provide support for their ace could waste his potential.
Skenes, however, has a mature perspective on the situation. In response to the criticism directed at ownership and the management, he expressed that the players are the ones on the field and that it’s ultimately their responsibility to perform.
“Mr. Nutting and Shelty aren’t the ones playing,” Skenes said, emphasizing that if the team were winning, the fans wouldn’t be so critical.
“We’re the ones playing. If we were 8-0 through however many games we’ve played right now, the fans aren’t booing. We’ve got to play better.”
This level-headed response highlights his focus on the team’s performance rather than shifting blame elsewhere.
Despite his optimism, the larger issue facing the Pirates is the team’s longstanding failure to build a competitive roster around players like Skenes. With a talented young star on their hands, the question remains: will the Pirates capitalize on his potential, or will Skenes join the long list of great talents to be squandered by Pittsburgh’s small-market struggles?
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