'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAX/xAAVAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADBP/aAAwDAQACEAMQAAAAlC8f/8QAIRAAAgIBAgcAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIDBAUABhITIiRRcrL/2gAIAQEAAT8AzdbDwx03yday0MTEWOS6s0kvC/kDp0u6tuFR2WUPs0TH51//xAAYEQACAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgMEIf/aAAgBAgEBPwCkitHp/8QAGBEAAgMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECAxH/2gAIAQMBAT8AuWyP/9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts understood how tough it was for the Pittsburgh Pirates to pull Paul Skenes early on Thursday. The young ace had a no-hitter going through seven innings but had reached 99 pitches.
It was a decision that rubbed fans and some players the wrong way. This has become a growing trend over the past few seasons, with pitchers not being able to finish their job.
While it was an unfavorable decision, it was a smart one in the eyes of Roberts. It is all about trying to keep somebody as exciting as Skenes out there and healthy all season long. He spoke on the situation recently on MLB Network Radio.
Trending
"He's an organizational-altering player, so those are things we have to weigh in. Those are tough decisions," - said Roberts.
Roberts said there are some players that you have to be extra careful with, and Skenes is one of them. Like Shohei Ohtani, he has taken the baseball world by storm, but it would be a shame if he were overused leading to an IL stint.
"You also have to protect them from themselves and you also have to appreciate you are working for an organizaiton with best interests for the organizaiton. You gotta thread that needle and I don't envy any manager. I'm sure [Skenes] understands that [Shelton] did it for his best interests and the team" - said Roberts.
Roberts knows just how tough of a job it is to keep somebody as exciting as Skenes out there, but not let the hype make the decisions. It is a fine line that managers have to maneuver all year long.
Pirates ace Paul Skenes is the real deal
All eyes were on Paul Skenes after he was drafted No. 1 to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Many were sure he was the next big thing, but there were some who were not completely sold on the hard-throwing righty.
After his dominant performance against the Brewers, he now holds a 6-0 record with a 1.90 ERA. Through 66.1 innings of work, he has only given up 14 earned runs and will now start for the NL squad in the upcoming All-Star Game.
For those not entirely sold on Skenes, it is hard not to be now. He has come to the big leagues and has completely exceeded expectations.
