JOE STARKEY | You are likely not alone if you felt conflicted watching the pittsburghpirates and Paul Skenes on Wednesday night in Cincinnati. On one hand, it must have made you proud as a Pirates fan to see the incomparable Skenes finish off the greatest pitching season in franchise history — or at least since Babe Adams in the dead-ball era — in grand style. Skenes wiped out the Reds over six shutout innings and finished the season with a ridiculous 1.97 earned-run average. He is a lock to win the National League Cy Young Award. He is arguably off to the best 55-game start in baseball history. On the other hand, even though the Pirates won, it must have been infuriating to watch them blow a 2-0 lead, cost Skenes the win and leave him with a 10-10 record. Not because of the record itself, but because of what it represents. Namely, that the Pirates have positively mangled two seasons of a generational pitcher. Read Starkey's full column at the link in our bio. 📸: Associated Press...