BY MARK HALPERN
Mets fans love and remember their ace Jacob DeGrom through the good and bad. DeGrom was a bulldog, who can forget game five of the 2015 NLDS where he gave the Mets a chance to win. From that moment Degrom eventually became the best pitcher in baseball. But while DeGrom might have been the best pitcher in the sport, the results weren’t always there. Whether it be the Mets bullpen that let him down or the offense not coming through, you knew every five days Jake was going to give it his all and give the Mets a chance to win. Well, another pitcher is starting to feel like DeGrom and I can say in my own opinion it’s like saying I’m going through déjà vu.
Pual Skenes is arguably the best pitcher in baseball came on the scene last year, after being the first overall pick and took the league by storm. Skenes has a seven pitch mix including an upper 90s Fastball and a Splinker (combo of a Splitter and Sinker). Skenes blew through the minors to make his major league debut. The Pirates have one of the best Pitchers in baseball but, with no lineup to strike fear into any opponent and are usually playing from behind. The Pirates are last in the league in runs per game, averaging just over three per game.
Last night Skenes had the Mets frustrated through six innings. He left the game not because of injury or anything but his pitch count was getting too high and with they way the Mets looked Pittsburgh turned it over to the bullpen only for the Mets to take the lead. Baseball considers a quality start at least six innings giving up three runs or less. Well, by that definition Paul Skenes has made nine starts, he has seven quality starts, and it’d be eight if they let him go deeper in the game on opening day.
Obviously, you don’t want to take chance in leaving your Star pitcher risking injury but, he should have finished the sixth at 92 pitches. The Pirates have been in the news too much as of late, with the latest story dropping last week was the letting go of their manager only 2 months into the season. There is so much controversy between ownership, players, coaching staff and anyone who has a say there is no wonder no one wants to play there. Funny enough this is exactly what Jacob DeGrom went through with the Mets and the Wilpons. If the Pirates want to win then get a true bat and stop waiting for Oneil Cruz and Ke’Brayn Hayes to become type of supermen and give them some protection. Go out and get 3 Bullpen pitchers who can actually pitch even if that means moving Hayes or Cruz. Build now prove you want to win and Skenes will stay and be loyal. If you don’t it’s just as good as cutting your own nose off to despite your face. Just look at what happened when you had Gerrit Cole on your team.
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