PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – After calling in to surprise Paul Skenes on the Dan Patrick Show, National League All-Star manager Torey Lovullo called into the PM Team on 93.7 The Fan to explain his decision to make Skenes the starting pitcher Tuesday in Texas.
The first-time All-Star manager said he determined on Thursday that Skenes would start even though he wouldn’t need to announce it until Monday. Lovullo told The PM Team only five or six people knew and he couldn’t tell anyone even though he got advice from a number of people. Lovullo said he talked to a Major League Baseball executive, they told him about Skenes guest appearance on the national show, and he figured he would catch him in a vulnerable state. He believes he pulled it off.
Skenes told Pirates broadcaster Greg Brown he really didn’t know the announcement was coming, but had a pretty good feeling after hearing that Lovullo was on the line.
Lovullo told Chris Mueller on 93.7 The Fan he really appreciates not only the accomplishments of the Pirates rookie, but how humble he is doing it.
“He’s everything that baseball stands for,” Lovullo told The PM Team on 93.7 The Fan. “Given a great opportunity, he takes advantage of it. He’s on the rise. He’s a young player who does it right.”
“We are trying to let the world know that we have really good, young, talented players that are ready to take the next step. For me it was a great opportunity to say this is one of the best we are watching. He deserved it.”
With his game not until much later in the day and with this decision coming, Lovullo, who won a World Series as an assistant coach with the Red Sox and played in MLB from 1988 to 1999, said he watched the Pirates-Brewers game Thursday afternoon. He said the seven no-hit innings ‘drove a nail into that decision’
Lovullo said he understood it was a tough decision for Pirates manager Derek Shelton to pulled Skenes at 99 pitches. The manager of the Diamondbacks since 2017, Lovullo says he’s been in that position before. He said when you are talking about somebody as elite as Skenes with such a bright future, you need to separate the moment from the potential of an injury. In this instance, you would be heartbroken if he got banged up. Lovullo said Shelton did it right.
The 58-year-old threw out some big names when comparing Skenes, saying he played against Ken Griffey, Junior who also took baseball by storm. He compared Skenes to Stephen Strasburg and former Pirates number one pick Gerrit Cole . He then took the comparisons to another level.
“The fans in Pittsburgh have to appreciate what he’s done so far,” Lovullo told Andrew Fillipponi and Chris Mueller on 93.7 The Fan. “There is no reason to believe that this can’t continue. He might be that one outlier. He might be Michael Jordan , you just don’t know.”
“The sky is the limit for him. It’s great for baseball. It’s great to see. I’m going to dread the two days that we are going to face him. I’m going to enjoy the one that I’m going to be in the same dugout with him.”
“To the fans of Pittsburgh, enjoy what you have there. Love him up, support him because you have something very, very special.”
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