It's looking more and more like the WC is out of reach. It didn't help that the back end of their schedule featured so many playoff bound teams. But those are the teams they needed to keep up with.
I was hopeful, but it does seem like Shelton doesn't know how to fix their issues. I do foresee he and Haines getting the boot by end of season plus 500 or not. Just like with Russell, way back when, this team is poised to be great and needs a veteran manager to lead them to the promised land. I'm not sure who the answer is but I do hope they keep Oscar Marin. He's done some good work. He helped bring Mitch Keller back from disarray, and overall his pitching staff's have outperformed their skills IMO. I understand, though if the incoming guy would want to install his own coaches, though.
Ps second choice for manager would be Van Slyke who also is of the Leyland coaching tree and would have the drive to finish what wasn’t finished in the 90’s.
No money. No accountability. No real drive by ownership or management to actually win ballgames. Until we see a different offseason, there will be more of the same in the Burgh and lifelong fans like myself are getting tired of it. My kids would stay a new generation of fans and probably their kids, too, if not for this nonsense. The effects on the economy of the team from this losing are palpable and if a CEO ran a company like this bunch does, they'd not only be fired but possibly sued.
okay- i see your points, even if they are scattered thoughts packaged together. At this point, what exactly can be done other than wait for JJ, Gonzales, and even Palacios to come back in terms of "roster changes"- literally nothing. If you don't think De La Cruz and IKF are significant improvements, then surely you aren't saying there's any reason to suggest that anyone we have in AAA could be one? When guys come off the IL, roster decisions will be made. Triolo likely will go down, and one of the pitchers will need to go back to AAA. We sent down Olivares, we sent down Suwinsky, we brought up Bae and Gonzales, we brought Palacios when he was finally healthy. At this point in the season, I'm not really sure what it is that you are suggesting right now, it kinda seems like an aimless rant.
The Pirates definitely need Jared Jones to return to the Rotation.
I have already commented that it was time to send Triolo and Bae down, if we want to see what we have in Nick Yorke and Billy Cook. Triolo was the star last year, but has not reached anywhere near where he was last year. NG was a star in May (.913 OPS), but a .638 OPS in June, a .533 OPS for July, and an overall K/BB rate over 5/1 is proof that he needs to stay down at AAA if he returns from the IL in August. If Yorke and Cook do not prove their worth at the MLB level, then it will be wide open again in September!
Agreed, but scoring runs hasn’t been the problem during these close losses. There really isn’t any answer in AAA for the bullpen. That’s why nothing is being done.
i think by Ben saying that we have the existing talent to win right now, isnt that his sublte way of throwing Shelton and Haines under the bus right now and set the stage to fire them?
Good piece here AM! You absolutely kill so many facets of this site with regular fantastic reporting of stats, updates, video, etc. but I know that I (and many others) think that you are a very intelligent baseball mind so its fun to read a piece where its just your voice and your opinion on the state of things. Always a big supporter, but this one was extra fun
well you can't. Ke has no options, unless someone injures him and he goes there on a rehab assignment. Putting Cruz at 3rd would be a literal disaster. He would need an entire full offseason to figure that out if that was the plan.
I still wouldn't send him to A ball, because....why? Maybe Altoona would be logical. Or maybe its just his back and we can't fix it. This isn't something we are privy to
i'm sure there's been plenty of people with radical ideas on how to "fix Yelich" the last few years, but you can't fix a swing around a bad back, its just gotta get better.
It's looking more and more like the WC is out of reach. It didn't help that the back end of their schedule featured so many playoff bound teams. But those are the teams they needed to keep up with.
I was hopeful, but it does seem like Shelton doesn't know how to fix their issues. I do foresee he and Haines getting the boot by end of season plus 500 or not. Just like with Russell, way back when, this team is poised to be great and needs a veteran manager to lead them to the promised land. I'm not sure who the answer is but I do hope they keep Oscar Marin. He's done some good work. He helped bring Mitch Keller back from disarray, and overall his pitching staff's have outperformed their skills IMO. I understand, though if the incoming guy would want to install his own coaches, though.
Also this was an good article, and I'm glad you wrote it.
I’ll toss out some options…
1. Shelton is not a playoff manager, he has to go and I’d stick with Leyland tree. Don Kelley.
2. Move Reynolds to center, bring up 26 years old Cook to left. It’s now or never with him anyway. Taylor dfa.
3. York up to secure 2nd for now. IKF to third. Key to aaa to work out the swing.
4. Go for it- Bubba up and to the pen. Heller bye.
5. Activate JJ dump Gonzales
6. Henry up and dump yaz.
This is the must do list. For now and the future and less than this should lead to serious questions about BC’s commitment to win.
Ps second choice for manager would be Van Slyke who also is of the Leyland coaching tree and would have the drive to finish what wasn’t finished in the 90’s.
No money. No accountability. No real drive by ownership or management to actually win ballgames. Until we see a different offseason, there will be more of the same in the Burgh and lifelong fans like myself are getting tired of it. My kids would stay a new generation of fans and probably their kids, too, if not for this nonsense. The effects on the economy of the team from this losing are palpable and if a CEO ran a company like this bunch does, they'd not only be fired but possibly sued.
A few points:
1. Actions motivated by panic seldom produce good results.
2. The 2024 Pirates had a weak chance at making the post season. It's weaker now.
3. The trade deadline is in the rear view mirror.
4. There are few position player prospects that can provide immediate help.
5. A few pitching prospects might be helpful additions to the 2024 bullpen.
6. Nutting tied Cherrington's hands during the 2024 trade deadline and during the 2023-2024 winter period.
7. Cherrington lacked the funds to do more than he did each period.
8. The 2024 Trade Deadline was a seller's market.
9. Nutting is the problem, not Cherrington.
It's hard to fight a gun battle after the bullet bin is emty.
okay- i see your points, even if they are scattered thoughts packaged together. At this point, what exactly can be done other than wait for JJ, Gonzales, and even Palacios to come back in terms of "roster changes"- literally nothing. If you don't think De La Cruz and IKF are significant improvements, then surely you aren't saying there's any reason to suggest that anyone we have in AAA could be one? When guys come off the IL, roster decisions will be made. Triolo likely will go down, and one of the pitchers will need to go back to AAA. We sent down Olivares, we sent down Suwinsky, we brought up Bae and Gonzales, we brought Palacios when he was finally healthy. At this point in the season, I'm not really sure what it is that you are suggesting right now, it kinda seems like an aimless rant.
The Pirates definitely need Jared Jones to return to the Rotation.
I have already commented that it was time to send Triolo and Bae down, if we want to see what we have in Nick Yorke and Billy Cook. Triolo was the star last year, but has not reached anywhere near where he was last year. NG was a star in May (.913 OPS), but a .638 OPS in June, a .533 OPS for July, and an overall K/BB rate over 5/1 is proof that he needs to stay down at AAA if he returns from the IL in August. If Yorke and Cook do not prove their worth at the MLB level, then it will be wide open again in September!
Murph, you hit this one into the Allegheny.
ksox just canned their manager
fire shelton and Haines and give Rock and KY a run at it for the rest of the year
I'd prefer they put Joe Block on the bench. Then I don't have to listen to him call games anymore.
You're a good dude, Murph. Love your style, and don't sell yourself short.
Agreed, but scoring runs hasn’t been the problem during these close losses. There really isn’t any answer in AAA for the bullpen. That’s why nothing is being done.
should be cut and dry
.500+ shelton keeps his hide
under .500 we have a new manager and coaches in november
in their minds, they should be playing tooth and nail to end the season above .500
i think by Ben saying that we have the existing talent to win right now, isnt that his sublte way of throwing Shelton and Haines under the bus right now and set the stage to fire them?
ive never seen them in a photo together
just for fun, i wonder who would be on the list of candidates to be manager next year?
i would assume that a prerequisit is a resume of long tenure and previous playoff success
funny that Hurdle checks those boxes
Hurdle was one of the worst situational managers i've ever seen.
who´s on your list of manager candidates?
Good piece here AM! You absolutely kill so many facets of this site with regular fantastic reporting of stats, updates, video, etc. but I know that I (and many others) think that you are a very intelligent baseball mind so its fun to read a piece where its just your voice and your opinion on the state of things. Always a big supporter, but this one was extra fun
Well said, Anthony. Agree 100%.
You could certainly add the economic model of MLB in general into this.
well you can't. Ke has no options, unless someone injures him and he goes there on a rehab assignment. Putting Cruz at 3rd would be a literal disaster. He would need an entire full offseason to figure that out if that was the plan.
My mistake, thanks!
I still wouldn't send him to A ball, because....why? Maybe Altoona would be logical. Or maybe its just his back and we can't fix it. This isn't something we are privy to
i'm sure there's been plenty of people with radical ideas on how to "fix Yelich" the last few years, but you can't fix a swing around a bad back, its just gotta get better.