Former Cardinals strikeout machine debunks Paul Skenes' viral health rumors

It’s been a commodity lately for the Cardinals to meddle in intra-divisional conversation. First it was John Rooney calling out the infamous working conditions at Wrigley Field, and now it’s Lance Lynn speaking his truth about the most recent Paul Skenes rumors. 

Skenes, 24, has been one of the best pitchers in MLB since his debut. 

The Louisiana State University product took over the game in Pittsburgh, so much so it forced owner Bob Nutting, who’s notoriously frugal, to go out and spend some money. Subsequently, the Pirates have been a much more respectable team. 

Weirdly enough, Skenes hasn’t been totally a part of that success. His 2.1 bWAR and 3.88 ERA are entirely respectable, but both would be career-worst marks by far. 

Per the unwritten rules of being a baseball fan, rumors have swirled around his decline. In particular, his drop in velocity first had fans pointing towards potential mechanical issues. But now, health is becoming a focal point, and it’s getting hard to ignore. 

After a recent photo of Skenes at the beach went viral, fans weaponized their fingers on social media, jumping to insult the pitcher for his physique, or at least question if it could be a cause for concern. 

Lynn, who was, for lack of a better term, burly, didn’t feel the response was appropriate. He joined Cardinal Territory with Jim “The Cat” Hayes to share his thoughts. 

“When I lost weight and got skinny, I threw softer and got hurt,” Lynn recalled. “You got two different guys with two different bodies on this podcast. Kyle [Gibson’s] the beanpole, and I’m the wheelbarrow. …

“I found that if I pitched above a certain weight, I did better than I did below that weight. If Kyle were to gain weight because they said he’s too skinny, he might get himself hurt, or his body might not move the same. …

“Everybody moves differently, and as long as Skenes knows how his body moves, and knows what his weight and stuff needs to be to do what he needs to do…Pitchers are different; they’re different animals.” 

Breaking down former Cardinal Lance Lynn’s explanation of the Paul Skenes rumors 

Lynn raises a valid point about pitchers being that they’re “different animals.” It’s rather stereotypical for a hurler to have a less defined physique than a position player. Other pitchers around the league like Tarik Skubal and Gerrit Cole, both Cy Young Award winners, are not “jacked” by any means, and yet they dominate. 

Being in good shape doesn’t always entail big muscles, veins as thick as fingers, and the strength to boot. Sometimes it just means being in the right kind of shape to reach peak performance. 

That, however, is the rebuttal to Lynn’s claim. 

Skenes is NOT performing at tip-top shape. He is NOT commanding his pitches or throwing nearly as hard as he used to. With that being the case, it’s hard to look past anything that could signify a difference in health–whether it be injury or simply a lack of dietary discipline.

To call Skenes out for being out of shape, before the team does, is crass. That’s not just pointing out Skenes; it’s a finger at the manager, front office, training staff, and anyone else who’s involved in keeping him at top speed.  

Until the Pirates release more information, this season is simply a testament to the volatility of modern pitching. 

Chasing velocity, RPM, and spin rate dominates in a vacuum. Unfortunately, longevity and peak performance are as far apart as they’ve ever been. Skenes is just the latest victim of a game that’s changing faster than it can adapt. 

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