Don’t count longtime baseball writer and statistician Bill James among the people who were excited to see Paul Skenes make his MLB debut.
Skenes, who the Pittsburgh Pirates selected first overall in the 2023 MLB Draft, debuted on Saturday against the Chicago Cubs. The Pirates led 6-1 when Skenes was pulled in the fifth inning, though two of his runners would end up scoring. He went four-plus innings, allowed three earned runs on six hits and two walks with seven strikeouts.
It was a heavily anticipated debut and while Skenes wasn’t perfect, he showed why fans are so excited to see him pitch. Only, James couldn’t be bothered to care, something he made clear on Twitter/X on Saturday evening.
“Let me know if Skenes turns out to be anything special,” James tweeted. “I don’t have enough brain cells left to worry about prospects who are supposed to be really good.”
Let me know if Skenes turns out to be anything special. I don’t have enough brain cells left to worry about prospects who are supposed to be really good.
— Bill James Online (@billjamesonline) May 11, 2024
On its own, James not being enthused about Skenes — or wanting to take a wait-and-see approach with him — isn’t at all problematic. But the wet blanket attitude on social media earned James a good deal of criticism.
If I ever become this miserable in life please take me out back https://t.co/dxei6QAXEe
— Scott Coleman (@scottcoleman55) May 12, 2024
When I asked Bob Feller about a rookie Stephen Strasburg, he said, “Call me when he wins his 100th game.”
When Strasburg won his 100th game, Feller was dead.
Just appreciate fun/interesting things as they happen, I think is the point. https://t.co/Ze4DF6bZRE
— Anthony Castrovince (@castrovince) May 11, 2024
“fun at parties” https://t.co/FdIOK25jFA
— Eric Nathanson (@2outhits) May 12, 2024
well ur right about the brain cells https://t.co/Omp2qJwu0s
— weird little bullpen guy (@BoyslnBIue) May 12, 2024
Man who paved the way to make baseball unwatchable has thoughts about the future. https://t.co/5X2llVicSz
— Charu T. Khopkar (@ckhopkar) May 12, 2024
Lol, whatever dude https://t.co/7iH74TgWeM
— Jason A. Churchill (@ProspectInsider) May 12, 2024
https://t.co/vVo7Y5wgQb pic.twitter.com/cm4nCgEYPi
— Will (@willgchase) May 12, 2024
[Bill James on Twitter/X]
