Paul Skenes gave a funny answer when asked how much control he takes over pitch-calling during starts.
The Pittsburgh Pirates ace did not try to make himself sound like a one-man pitching lab on the mound.
Instead, Skenes joked that he leaves the important decisions to his catcher because he trusts the person behind the plate more than himself in that area.
Photo by Bryan Kennedy/MLB Photos via Getty Images
On The Pat McAfee Show , Paul Skenes said he does not usually shake off his catcher's signs because he prefers letting them handle the game plan.
"Yeah, catcher. I don't shake a ton, you know, I'm too stupid to call my own pitches, so I just let him do it. He's got my career in his hands every fifth day," Skenes said.
The answer was clearly self-deprecating, but it also showed how much trust Skenes has in his battery mates.
Pitchers can shake off signs when they disagree, but Skenes made it sound like he rarely feels the need to take over.
That matters because a pitcher with his stuff could easily want full control. Instead, he seems comfortable letting the catcher manage sequences while he focuses on execution.
Skenes then explained that the Pirates are not using a system where every pitch call comes from the dugout.
"Yeah, it's all him. Some teams are doing the, you know, from the dugout stuff, but we do it where Henry calls the game, and Joey and Endy and our other catchers, they all call the game for themselves," Skenes added.
That puts real responsibility on Henry Davis and the rest of Pittsburgh's catching group.
Skenes' point was that his catchers are not just receiving pitches. They are reading hitters, setting up sequences, and helping guide the entire start.
For a young ace, that kind of trust can be important. It keeps the pitcher from overthinking and allows the catcher to manage the chess match from behind the plate.
Skenes may have joked that he is "too stupid" to call his own pitches, but the answer really showed a smart partnership. He knows where he wants control, and he knows where he is willing to trust someone else.
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