The hype, both in Pittsburgh and nationally, continues to build rapidly around Pirates rookie phenom Paul Skenes (above). But as the MLB club approaches the start of lease renewal negotiations for the publicly owned PNC Park, some Pennsylvania legislators are still unhappy.

As the Pirates are still three games under .500 entering Friday’s game at the White Sox and haven’t reached the playoffs since 2015, Republican state representatives Tim Bonner and Jim Gregory are arguing those losing ways are depressing taxpayers’ investment in the ballpark.