Shelton's managing all this better than most seem to realize

ATLANTA -- Paul Skenes was put to work on his day off, placing a headset over his cap to partake in the broadcast of the Pirates' eventual 4-2 beating of the Braves in this Sunday series finale at Truist Park and ...

oh, it's better to just press play: ONEIL CRUZ JUST LAUNCHED A 117.3 MPH MISSILE TO GIVE THE PIRATES THE LEAD Paul Skenes: "Let's GO." 452 feet, HR in 30/30 ballparks pic.

twitter.com/69ULhkSeTM LET'S GET ROWDY!!!! Keep Paul Skenes on the broadcast the whole game 108.9 MPH exit velocity, 421 feet, HR in 30/30 ballparks pic.

twitter.com/FvvViwLxzZ "Yeah," Skenes would reply when the play-by-play guy cracked that he might want to hang around for the next inning. "Just keep me on forever.

" And as he spoke, several small objects were being sprayed into his face. I had to ask. "Sunflower seeds," Skenes informed.

Thrown by? "Jones." Of course. Jared Jones, the Perry the Platypus to Skenes' Doofenshmirtz with these two relentlessly pecking away at each other, though it'd been tough to tell since Jones never made it onto the screen.

"That's because he's too short," Skenes replied while scanning the clubhouse for Jones, who'd been seated at his stall too far away to hear but, upon making visual contact, not too far to raise one eyebrow as if to sense his name and/or stature were being taken in vain. Beautiful. Look, I don’t know where this is headed.

Any of it. At least beyond Skenes and Jones being a blast both on and off the field. These Pirates haven’t been good, but.