In the middle of Pittsburgh, where baseball runs through the veins of its people, a storm builds not in the heavens but in the PNC Park stands. The Pirates’ slow start to the season has sparked many complaints among their supporters, many of which target the team’s ownership. Amid calls to “Sell the team,” rookie star Paul Skenes discovers he is at the center of this tempest.

In 2024, Paul Skenes finished 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA and 170 strikeouts in 133 innings for the Pittsburgh Pirates in his rookie season. National League Rookie of the Year and third-place Cy Young votes followed his stellar campaign. Skenes has a 1-0 record, 1.46 ERA, and 13 strikeouts in 12.1 innings in two starts as of April 6, 2025. He threw seven innings, allowing one unearned run and striking out six, to help the Pirates beat the Rays 4-2 on April 2, 2025. His performances already cement him as a rising ace in the Pirates’ rotation—and in all of MLB.

But the story changed from hope to despair as the Pirates staggered out of the gate this season. Fans have expressed anger during Friday’s 9-4 loss to the Yankees, directly blaming manager Derek Shelton and owner Bob Nutting. Reacting to the growing criticism, Skenes answered the media honestly, “Mr. Nutting and Shelty aren’t the ones playing.” “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.”

His comments capture wisdom beyond his years, shifting the focus from the boardroom to the locker room. Paul Skenes stresses player responsibility, even if it’s simple to blame management. Still, the fans’ frustrations have validity. A long-standing problem has been the Pirates’ unwillingness to commit to top-notch players.

Skenes keeps lighting the mound, but the front desk is on the hot seat now. The Pirates have a generational arm, a guy who may define an era for the entire league instead of alone for the team. The issue is not whether Paul Skenes can deliver anymore. Whether the company surrounding him will rise to the challenge or allow history to label this as another wasted ability in a small-market circle of what-could-have-been.

Does Paul Skenes deserve better?

Despite Paul Skenes’ strong pitching, the Pirates’ struggles reveal more profound difficulties. Skenes struck out six batters in seven innings against the New York Yankees, surrendering one unearned run. The pirates’ offense failed to capitalize on his effort.

Pirates are used to this routine. Their uneven offense and bullpen regularly lead to defeats, even when their ace starts well. On July 22, 2024, Skenes pitched 8 1/3 innings against the St. Louis Cardinals, allowing two runs and four hits with eight strikeouts and no walks. Despite his outstanding play, the Pirates lost 2-1, highlighting their attacking weakness.

Paul Skenes’ efforts look like they are being wasted as the Pirates’ inability to back runs and retain leads raises doubts about their competitiveness. The bullpen must also be strengthened. Relief pitching inconsistency has cost the Pirates leads and costly defeats. By adding solid relievers and cultivating potential, starting pitchers like Skenes may avoid wasting their best innings. This strategy would improve the team’s competitiveness by turning quality starts into wins. ​

If the Pirates maximize Paul Skenes’s peak, they must improve their lineup and bullpen all through the season. If not, they risk transforming a generational talent into another cautionary story of lost possibilities in a small-market spiral. The real question is whether Paul Skenes merits better and whether Pirates supporters do. Will the company ascend with its ace or leave both player and city caught in a cycle of mediocrity?