Kevin Gorman

We haven't talked to anybody about that specifically, but...

I would imagine it's a concern.

I would imagine that the Pirates are going to be very, you know, want to be very careful about how Paul Skeens is used.

And I would imagine everybody involved in USA baseball is going to be concerned about that, too.

They don't want to have players get injured while playing in the WBC for Team USA, knowing that it could affect whether players will participate next time around.

So I think everybody's very cognizant of that.

But Paul Skeens is a different breed.

This is a guy who you could say to him, well, we want to be careful about that.

Paul Skeens is going to do what he feels is best.

He's very careful about his routine between starts.

He's very careful about making sure that he follows the same routine.

I think there's very much a trust from the Pirates front office and Paul Skeens.

And I think there's very much a confidence in Skeens that he can pitch at that high level and then come back down and kind of ramp up and be ready for the season.

And that this is going to be the first season where he's not only going to make 32 starts, which he did last year, but I expect him to eclipse 200 innings as well.

I think all Skeens at 6'6", 260 is certainly built for that.

That's what I think they should do.

I'm not suggesting that's what the Pirates will do.

I think it's what they should do.

I think he looks the part.

And I think if Connor Griffiths are starting shortstop, you can live with Jared Triolo and his, you know, gold glove caliber defense at their base.