Livvy Dunne Criticizes Pittsburgh Pirates Decision to Pull Friend Paul Skenes in Costly Loss
One of the most pivotal decisions a baseball manager can make is determining the right moment to pull a starting pitcher. For Livvy Dunne, the girlfriend of Pittsburgh Pirates rookie sensation Paul Skenes, the team’s skipper, Derek Shelton, got it wrong when he pulled Skenes during a recent game against the Chicago Cubs.
On Wednesday, August 28, Skenes, 22, took the mound for the Pirates and delivered a strong performance, leading his team to a commanding seven-run lead after five innings.
Despite being at just 82 pitches, Shelton opted to remove Skenes from the game, a decision that proved costly. Relief pitcher Kyle Nicolas took over but quickly gave up two runs, leading to a bullpen collapse that saw the Pirates squander a 10-3 lead, ultimately losing 14-10.
Dunne, 21, who is a decorated LSU gymnast and a social media star, didn’t hide her frustration. She posted a GIF of Skenes on the mound, mouthing the words, “You gotta be kidding me,” expressing her disbelief at Shelton’s decision. The post quickly gained traction, with nearly 2,000 reposts in just two hours and “Livvy” trending on social media platform X.
Skenes, in his first year with the Pirates, has been nothing short of a revelation. He has taken Major League Baseball by storm, earning the coveted role of starting pitcher for the National League in the 2024 MLB All-Star Game—a rare honor for a rookie. His rapid rise has made him one of the most talked-about players in the league, and his relationship with Dunne, who boasts over 8 million followers on TikTok, has only amplified the attention.
The decision to pull Skenes, however, wasn’t just about the numbers on the scoreboard. While 82 pitches isn’t a staggering figure, Shelton likely had Skenes’ long-term health in mind. Skenes is already approaching the 122 innings he pitched last year at LSU, where he met Dunne. With a bright future ahead, Shelton may have wanted to avoid overextending his young star, even at the cost of the game.
Though Shelton hasn’t publicly explained his reasoning, Pirates beat writer Noah Hiles reported that Shelton was visibly upset after the game, describing him as “the most upset” he’d seen him all season. “It’s frustrating.
It’s about as frustrated as I’ve been,” Shelton told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “We’ve got to execute. You cannot have a 10-3 game in the seventh inning and give up 11 runs. We’ve got to be better.”
While Shelton’s frustration is understandable, it might not be enough to soothe Dunne—or the Pirates’ fanbase—after what has been a disappointing season.
Dunne’s post highlighting her frustration with the decision struck a chord with many fans, with some even humorously suggesting that Dunne herself should have taken the mound in relief, referencing a recent photo of her dressed as Skenes at Fanatics Fest, complete with a Pirates uniform and a fake mustache.
Despite the loss, the Pirates have little time to dwell on it. With a grueling 162-game season, the team will have a chance to bounce back when they take the field against the Cleveland Guardians on Friday, August 30. For Skenes and the Pirates, the focus will be on putting this loss behind them and continuing to build for the future.
As for Dunne, her support for Skenes remains unwavering, and she continues to be one of his biggest fans, both on and off the field. The couple, who have quickly become one of sports’ most talked-about duos, will undoubtedly continue to capture the spotlight as Skenes’ career progresses.
