Paul Skenes Named Pirates Lone All-Star Representative
For the third time in as many big-league seasons, Paul Skenes will represent the Pirates at the All-Star Game. The 24-year-old was named the team’s lone All-Star.
Skenes, who started for the National League in each of the last two Midsummer Classics (the first pitcher to do that in each of his first two seasons), is 6-8 with a 3.62 ERA in 18 starts this year. The right-hander has struck out 119 batters and walked 22 in 97 innings while holding opponents to a .211 batting average and a .623 OPS. He ranks seventh in the league in strikeouts.
Despite an Opening Day start in which he was unable to escape the first inning, Skenes got off to a strong start this season. In nine starts through the middle of May, Skenes was 6-3 with a 1.98 ERA.
But he’s fallen on hard times of late. The Pirates have lost each of his last nine starts, a streak that dates back to May 17. Over that time, Skenes is 0-6 with a 5.36 ERA.
Still considered one of the best pitchers in MLB, Skenes will be at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia for the All-Star Game on July 14.
The Pirates could have other player(s) get added to the National League roster’s later. Right-hander Braxton Ashcraft, second baseman Brandon Lowe and outfielder Bryan Reynolds are among possible replacement options.
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Just how is he lone Representative, with lowe , Reynolds, Gonzalez
Ashcraft, horowitz having amazing years .
Talk about snubs.
Ashcraft and Lowe should have been picked at least.
Baseball is weird when it comes to the all star and awards voting. It seems like nobody pays much attention to who is actually playing best for their teams. Skenes is clearly a great player and deserving, but it seems clear that he has been the second best pitcher on the team this year. And how can people not see what Lowe and Reynolds are doing?
He would be better off to stay home
Skenes, find out what is going on. I still do not like the offseason baseball classic pitching eating into your innings available for the Pirates this season. You can run the risk of a dead arm and I believe you hit the wall. On another point, Rum Bunter, tried to suggest trading for slugging Rockies catcher, Goodwin. Endy Rodriguez is good enough, so far, with his bat and defense. To even suggest #1 prospect, Seth Hernandez, or our #2 prospect, Florentino, should be offered in a trade for Goodwin just does not work. Especially, since we do not know what is going on with Skenes and Barco has not proven himself yet. We do not need a slugging catcher, the team has shown they can score runs. Any trades should be for starting pitchers (surprising after last year’s really good rotation) or for relief pitchers, or both. This year’s team is better than in almost a decade. However, even if they make the playoffs, they likely will not survive the wild card series. Stack up for next year where I believe we can make a real run. Endy, Valdez, Griffin, Mangum, Lowe and if Hernandez can arrive are real sources of hope and can develop into stars.