U mad, bro?: Pirates fans fume over criticism of Paul Skenes' pitch count, Steelers fans say, 'Pay T.J. Watt!'

There are very few reasons to watch the Pittsburgh Pirates these days. One of them is Paul Skenes. So, when he is pitching great and gets pulled early, I get mad.

As I wrote on Tuesday, in the wake of that occurrence happening in Seattle over the weekend, I was also mad that more of you weren’t mad enough about it.

So that’s how we spend most of our time this week in “U mad, bro?”

But we’ve got some other matters to be ticked off about as well, such as T.J. Watt’s contract situation, the lack of an NBA team in Pittsburgh and the Pirates’ lineup.

Wayne emailed about the Pirates getting shut out three games in a row against the Mariners over the weekend.

”Starring in the remake of ‘Sleepless in Seattle 2’: Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan and the Pirates batters.”

I don’t know about that, Wayne. Those bats looked flat-out comatose to me.

More sports

• First Call: Rooney family member pans Steelers roster and rips idea of paying T.J. Watt big money; Reds honor Dave Parker
• Theories why the Steelers and T.J. Watt are so 'far apart' in contract talks
• Tim Benz: Pirates have no one to blame but themselves for newest chapter of ESPN Paul Skenes trade chatter

Someone calling themselves “Rooney III” emailed me about T.J. Watt’s contract debate.

”TJ Watt is unique, a defender who makes game-winning plays on a regular basis. Not many of them around that I’ve seen, and is a category that doesn’t include Micah Parsons or Myles Garrett. The Steelers should be glad that only the stats matter these days because Watt is more valuable than either of them.”

Well, that’s Watt’s argument exactly. Value.

Hence, he is asking for more money than Garrett just got — and maybe more than Parsons might get.

Unfortunately, though, the stats aren’t all that matters. What those guys make matters to Watt. That’s why they are where they are in this contract stalemate.

“Bucco Burner” actually agreed with Don Kelly pulling Paul Skenes after just five innings in a 0-0 game against Seattle on Sunday.

Protecting the arm of the best pitcher in baseball is actually a good thing

— Bucco Burner (@buccoburners) July 6, 2025

He had only thrown 78 pitches. He was cruising. There’s “protecting his arm,” and there’s “not even bothering to try to win.” This was the second category.

Dado Alex has a different take.

5 innings.
Whether 78 pitches or 15, 5 inning is the target.

Relievers gave up 1 run in 4 innings.

You're pointing to the wrong issue.

— DadoAlex (@SonOfDado) July 7, 2025

Not really. Actually, I’m pointing out one of their many issues. For whatever reason, you’re just choosing to quibble with the one they can control most easily.

Dave thinks Ben Cherington and Don Kelly were manipulating Skenes’ arm so he could be ready to pitch in the All-Star game.

The plan is obvious if not stated so clearly:
Pitching light(er) today and will pitch him light in next start so their lone All-Star can start and be showcased in the All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 15th.

Not stating it's the correct or wrong approach. But that’s clearly the plan https://t.co/qTJ08fYBnf

— Dave Pierce (@pittsburghers) July 6, 2025

Throwing six innings instead of five on July 6 wasn’t going to impact his ability to throw one inning in the All-Star Game on July 15, especially when he has another start in between against Minnesota.

If you want to jerk around with his innings count in advance of the All-Star game, do it during his start over the weekend versus the Twins, or just skip that start entirely.

Don’t pull him after 78 pitches in a 0-0 game. Period. Let’s please stop overthinking this.

Someone called “Saurosaur” sent this message even before Carmen Mlodzinski gave up the game-winning homer in the sixth inning, right after Skenes was removed.

Are they saving him for some other future game?

— ✨Saurosaur✨ (@Nud3ants) July 6, 2025

No. They are saving him for some future team.

pic.twitter.com/lroQD063dW

— Tim Murphy (@twmurph1958) July 7, 2025

Yeah. That guy knows what I’m talkin’ about.

Finally, Steve responded to the mention I made in Wednesday’s “First Call” that the gambling odds of Pittsburgh getting an NBA expansion team were 25:1. That’s behind 10 other North American markets.

“25:1 is still better odds than the Pirates making the postseason anytime soon, and not much worse than the Steelers winning a playoff game this season or the next, or the Penguins landing Gavin McKenna in the next draft. All Pittsburgh sports fans have is hope anymore. What’s one more pie in the sky item to add to the bucket list?”

That’s a good point. I hadn’t considered that. Maybe we can get the Pittsburgh Pisces back to town.

Or perhaps the Flint Tropics will relocate instead.

MegaBowl > Super Bowl. Give me Jackie Moon over Santonio Holmes any day.