Back on July 30, 2024, Tom Tango and I disagreed over where Paul Skenes ranked among starting pitchers. Tom put him seventh, the Bill James Ranking put him 89th.

The James ranking is more conservative, and I believe rightly so. How can you rank a pitcher or batter among the very best after just a couple of months of duty? Skenes’s rise was indeed impressive, but the league did not have a chance to adjust to the youngster.

Halfway through August, the meteoric rise has stalled. Today he ranks 80th. His last three starts don’t look all that legendary, good, but not great. He produced a 4.15 ERA in 17 1/3 innings, walking eight batters. He struck out batters at a good rate, but not exceptionally good.

The James ranking found a level that Skenes could sustain. I suspect the young star will adjust himself, and keep rising. For now, he appears to be where he belongs.