Pirates' Paul Skenes saves himself with sarcastic Steelers comment

Pittsburgh Pirates rookie phenom Paul Skenes made an appearance on Barstool Sports' "Pardon My Take" podcast and got a crash course on how to pander to fans in the Steel City.

When co-host Dan Katz asked Skenes if he had a favorite NFL team, the right-hander replied that he didn't have one. Katz quickly advised Skenes to "just stay Steelers," recognizing that the quickest way to many Pittsburghers' hearts is through their beloved football team.

Skenes understood the assignment and didn't miss a beat, quickly deadpanning that he was a "big time Steelers fan."

"That's going to lead the seven o'clock news in Pittsburgh," Katz said, chuckling. "Paul Skenes says he's always been a Steelers fan."

Skenes cracked a smirk and nodded in agreement as he said, "My whole life."

The fact that Pittsburgh is largely a football-first town isn't lost on Skenes, either, as the No. 1 overall pick from last year's MLB Draft noted the uniqueness of the crowds that come to watch him pitch at PNC Park.

"That is one thing that's interesting about the fans, I think," Skenes said. "They're all Steelers fans that just come to the games ... to yell and drink and just have a good time, which makes it fun to be out there. They're rowdy."

Paul Skenes is one of few bright spots in another disappointing Pirates season

While Skenes isn't entirely incorrect in his assessment that many Pirates fans also happen to be Steelers fans, there could be other reasons that the fans at PNC Park are yelling and drinking.

Perhaps, for example, they're yelling and drinking because their favorite baseball team came out of the All-Star Break as a legitimate playoff contender before experiencing an epic second-half collapse? Or maybe it's because said baseball team hasn't been to the postseason (or close to it) since the 2015 National League Wild Card Game, in which they were shut out by a division rival?

Regardless, Skenes has been one of the few bright spots in the second half of the Pirates' season, as he's currently 9-2 with a sparkling 2.13 ERA as he dukes it out with San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill in the National League Rookie of the Year race.

Still, as long as the Pirates commit to organizational mediocrity, they will never be the No. 1 team in the hearts of Pittsburgh fans. They will simply remain the "Baseball Steelers."

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