Mark Madden: Rotation looks promising, but Pirates have urgent need for bats

The Pittsburgh Pirates could be on the verge of turning a corner soon. The Paul Skenes phenomenon might be even bigger than expected.

Every game Skenes starts is an event, like a playoff game. That won’t wear off anytime soon. I just hope he doesn’t get rattled and drop the ball.

The Pirates respond to Skenes. The Pirates can’t hit but have scored 19 runs in Skenes’ two starts.

Skenes’ MLB tenure is a small sample size. But consider Caitlin Clark. Three games into her pro career, and the buzz has diminished.

The Pirates might have an excellent starting rotation. Skenes is an obvious No. 1, Jared Jones a solid No. 2 and Mitch Keller right where he belongs at No. 3. Bailey Falter pitched well Saturday at Chicago and might wind up a decent fit.

But if Skenes and Jones evolve as projected, they won’t be in Pittsburgh long. Sorry, but that’s reality. Skenes won’t spend any of his free-agent years with the Pirates. He likely will get traded at some point during his arbitration period.

So when it comes to maximizing Skenes’ tenure in Pittsburgh, there’s a sense of urgency. Or should be.

This coming offseason, the Pirates have to spend what’s necessary to bring in at least two or three solid bats and/or make significant acquisitions at this year’s trade deadline if they’re in the playoff hunt.

This is your shot.

The Pirates rank sixth-to-last in MLB when it comes to runs scored, fourth-to-last in OPS.

The Pirates only have three regulars hitting .250 or better.

That is utterly unacceptable.

The Pirates have black holes of production at catcher, first base, second base, center field and DH.

Perhaps Nick Gonzales is the remedy at second base. But he didn’t spend a month-plus in Triple-A because he’s Rogers Hornsby.

Maybe Endy Rodriguez is the answer at catcher next season. But forgive me if I don’t trust the Pirates’ judgment and development of young players. (See Davis, Henry.)

How many teams have first basemen who can’t hit? That’s where you hide the guy who can’t do anything but hit. Rowdy Tellez is useless.

Andrew McCutchen is the DH. He’s batting .216. What exactly is he “designated” to do?

This should be a time of optimism for Pirates fans. But that optimism is guarded because winning is not a priority for owner Bob Nutting.

To Nutting, Skenes’ primary value is cash cow. Draw a big crowd every time he pitches at home. (That will be tested Thursday when Skenes starts the Pirates’ 12:35 p.m. matinee vs. San Francisco. Will Pittsburgh take a long lunch to buy tickets?)

It would be nice if, just once, you could count on something with the Pirates.

This starting rotation is serious business. You could win playoff series with that rotation. Those pitchers go out and take control.

But you’ve got to hit, and the Pirates often don’t.

What if they had signed a few legit, affordable bats this offseason, like Justin Turner or Joc Pederson? Turner, 39, got one year, $13 million from Toronto. Pederson, 32, got one year, $9.5 million from Arizona. (If Turner is too old, where does that leave McCutchen?)

Hitters like that, at this stage of their careers, offer no guarantees.

But they offer you a chance.

Tellez doesn’t. Michael A. Turner doesn’t. (The “A.” stands for “ain’t gonna hit.”)

If Justin Turner and Pederson are the wrong names, tell me the right names. Because they were available, too.

The pitching is great. But the big picture has that same, sad, familiar ring.

We know how this ends: Nothing accomplished by the Pirates, Skenes in pinstripes and the can kicked down the road.

Prove me wrong. Go get bats. Win now.

But can those bats be convinced to come to Pittsburgh? Great ballpark aside, it’s not baseball paradise.