Paul Skenes Jokes He's 'Too Stupid to Call My Own Pitches' During Pirates Starts

Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes isn't trying to think about what pitches he's throwing when he is on the mound.

Appearing on The Pat McAfee Show, Skenes joked he's "too stupid to call my own pitches" when explaining why he rarely shakes off his catcher.

Skenes is good enough without thinking that it's no surprise he lets Pirates catchers do that part for him.

The reigning NL Cy Young winner is technically having the worst season of his career so far by ERA at 1.98, but he is also allowing his fewest hits (4.5) and walks (1.3) per nine innings in a season.

It's especially impressive that Skenes' ERA has dipped below 2.00 this early in the season considering how bad his first start was. He allowed five earned runs on four hits and recorded just two outs in the opener against the New York Mets on March 26.

In eight starts since then, Skenes has allowed a total of six earned runs with 55 strikeouts over 49.1 innings. He has given up one run or fewer in seven of those eight games.

Despite Skenes' self-deprecating remark, there has been growing discussion around MLB about the role of catchers in calling games.

The Miami Marlins, Colorado Rockies, New York Mets and San Francisco Giants are teams that have at least experimented with coaches relaying the pitch call from the dugout to the catcher, who then signals it to the pitcher.

It's a strategy that has been met with some pushback from players.

Skenes' comment was about making it clear that Pirates catchers are still in charge of calling games for their pitchers.

It seems to be working for everyone involved since the Pirates enter Friday with the fourth-best team ERA in the National League.