Paul Skenes is popular—as popular as he can be. He dominates the headlines and is dating Livvy Dunne. He has millions of followers on social media, and together the couple often goes viral. But you’d think a player like that could bring in plenty of Pittsburgh Pirates fans to watch the game, right? Wrong!
Because just 8,291 people showed up at PNC Park to watch the Pirates’ prized rookie, and the night before, it was even worse. It was so cold, the team had to literally hand out free tickets to everyone who showed up. Still, the stadium felt empty. And this fact didn’t go unnoticed, not by David Samson.
The ex-Marlins president flat-out put Skenes under the bus in his podcast!
“Paul Skenes doesn’t draw attendance,” said Samson on the Nothing Personal podcast. Then he twisted the knife further: “You know who does? Caitlin Clark.” Ouch! That one had to sting. Baseball’s next big thing was being compared to hoops royalty. But Samson broke it all down. The fact is, Pittsburgh doesn’t even have 4,000 full-season ticket holders. They piece together attendance with 10-game packs and one-off buyers. They are the ones who hope to see Skenes start.
It’s math, and it’s sad, but Samson highlighted, “I have to find eight of you buying ten-game packages just to count it as one full-season equivalent.” And to make matters worse is the fact that Skenes was not in his element either. He gave up more runs than he has ever allowed in college or even the pros. Of course, the fact that he struck out seven does cover the tracks a little. But still, as an ace of his caliber, fans expect more.
In the end, though, Samson made a point that the seats being empty are not the Pirates’ fault. They have Skenes, and he did deliver. But fans are to blame, too, for not holding up their end of the bargain. If they are skipping games to protest their ownership, it’s not the smartest decision, according to Samson. “At some point, as a fanbase in Pittsburgh, you’ve got to say to yourself, ‘Man, I can’t stand all the outside issues. I’m furious.’ That said—why would I waste one of 15 opportunities in a year, at most, to watch this pitcher play? I wouldn’t do it.” So right now, it seems the problem is not Bob Nutting’s checkbook only. But maybe even the city’s own disconnect with its star. But the fans really have much to look forward to.
Pirates fans should be excited about these off-season pickups
Heading into the season, the Pirates fans were already disappointed. The team didn’t spend an arm and a leg, and nothing screamed “blockbuster.” But wait, just a few weeks into the season, two of their offseason moves are looking golden. Starting with Andrew Heaney, who the Pirates didn’t even want.
Yes, the Pirates wanted Jose Quintana back. But since he found another home, they moved to Heaney, and what a blessing! The lefty has put together two strong starts. And his game against the Yankees—let them in the dust. He has thrown 12 innings, allowed just two earned runs, and struck out 12. Chase rate of 34.9%—hot, right?
Then there is also Ryan Borucki. When David Bednar and Colin Holderman hit the injured list, things looked shaky. But Borucki, despite his messy outing against the New York Yankees, has been unstoppable. His whiff rate is 36.1%, and his groundball rate is over 90.9%. So it’s not like a one-off fluke. After an injury-plagued 2024 season, he sure is aging like a fine wine here.
But of course, there are signings that have not been so great. Like Tommy Pham. His stat line looks subpar, and this isn’t what fans had in mind when they got him. A 4-for-33 start with an OPS below .400 and a strikeout rate north of 30%. But having said that, there is still time for sure for things to turn around.
What do you think about the two players who seem to be on fire? Let us know!
The post “Doesn’t Draw Attendance” – Paul Skenes’ Stardom Under Fire as Ex-Marlins Prez Rips Apar Pirates for Less Crowd appeared first on EssentiallySports.
