# URGENT: The REAL REASON Even Elite Arms Like Paul Skenes May LOSE the Strike Zone Suddenly? | Pittsburgh Pirates Podcast

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Podcast: [Locked On Pirates - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Pirates](https://stenobird.com/podcast/locked-on-pirates-daily-podcast-on-the-pittsburgh-pirates-63933)
Published: 2026-05-12T04:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-pirates/
Audio file: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/pdrl.fm/c332f6/lockedon.simplecastaudio.com/ca178804-c720-476f-9857-ad70690e8c6a/episodes/515b1932-7f39-4cb1-9da5-40f7f56370dd/audio/128/default.mp3?aid=rss_feed&awCollectionId=ca178804-c720-476f-9857-ad70690e8c6a&awEpisodeId=515b1932-7f39-4cb1-9da5-40f7f56370dd&feed=z3NI6hOx
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Duration seconds: 2278

## Resource

Why do even elite pitchers suddenly lose command, and can throwing harder actually hurt your game? Former Pittsburgh Pirates coach Eric Minshall explains the science behind pitching meltdowns, debunks myths about "reaching back" for extra velocity, and reveals how subtle changes—like the slide step—can shake a young arm’s confidence. What separates Paul Skenes and Bubba Chandler from the pack, and how can pitchers effectively control the running game in a post-pitch clock era? Host Gary Morgan and Eric Minshall unpack the mental and mechanical battles behind the mound, from MLB starter velocity strategies to injury risks lurking behind max-effort throws. Key insights include optimal pitch sequencing, the evolution of the strike zone, and how teams calculate safe innings jumps for prospects like Paul Skenes and Braxton Ashcraft. Development philosophy, the art of pitch tunneling, and the realities of player promotion for standouts like Seth Hernandez round out this inside look at Pittsburgh Pirates pitching.

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