126 Comments

Pirates since Ben's "improvements": 1-10.

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I'm not sure you can blame Ben. He had to come out at almost no cash difference at the TD. How do you add, not trade away any of your top 10 prospects and stay about cash neutral? In spite of his poor trades, he's managed to build a competitive team on a shoestring budget. I think he's done pretty well. And as long as he keeps making money for their crook owner, he will have a job in Pittsburgh. The only thing moving him out of the 'Burgh is if/when he wants to leave. First team that offers a real budget - boom, gone.

IMO the culprit is the manager and his decisions on the field. They have lost 6 of those 10 by one run. Many were blown by the same pitchers used in the same situations. The team needs a leader at the helm, someone who has the answers in the key moments. He's showing that he doesn't have them. He may one day make the right calls but will it be this season, 2025, or ten years from now?

They should cut bait with Shelton and Haines at seasons end. I think everyone can see that.

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We need gifs, so I can post the big lebowski hell yeah gif

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Idk whose idea it was to move to Substack without checking about the GIFs!

whoops lol

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*inserts la who, za her gif*

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As someone who has seen that movie way too many times, that took way too long to process lol

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Not ideal

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Lower it.

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We will get a top 4 pick!

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Once again Bucs outhit the opponent. Just not the right hits at the right time.

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That’s why this “offensive strategy” will never work. Now, what is the probability of stringing several hits together to score a run or two with this putrid lineup, let alone doing this multiple times per game? THIS IS their run producing strategy.

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Damn. Thought BRey had a double there.

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Well, there's the requisite run to make this a one-run loss.

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9 1 run losses since the All-Star break. Nine!!!!

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Overall, we're now 19-24 in one-run games and that's correlated with us now being a game behind our Pythagorean record. The fact that we're only a game different, though, suggests that our record is about where it should be and not just evidence of bad luck.

Last year we were 22-17 in one-run games and likewise finished five games better than our Pythagorean record. At least one fan cited that as evidence of Shelton being a good manager but it was probably nothing more than a little luck and a dominant closer.

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Wait, what!? That’s bonkers!

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Hayes needs to take a look at where his strike zone box is. He's swung at 4 straight balls.

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Let's hope after the smoke clears we'll have a new manager next spring although my gut says otherwise.

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I'm not saying Nutting is suddenly going to open his wallet, but I really do think he knows Bucs have a window for next 3-4 years and will make necessary management changes.

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I doubt it. My guess is that he thinks this is 2012. He was rewarded for sticking with Huntington another year, and I’m guessing he will do the same here.

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???

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No chance Nutting gives a shit

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Weakass team

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Man i love watching hayes play defense

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It’s so smooth and effortless, could watch him play defense all day.

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Too bad this team needs offense and Hayes is the worst regular in all of MLB against RHP. I hope they cut his dumbass this offseason. The Hayes hype can't die fast enough imo.

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Anyways… Back to his defense, incredible, huh?

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If he's a sink and helping us lose because of his offense, who gives a shit? Are .4 fWAR 3b typical on winning teams?

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But the defense, tho, am I right?

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Are .4 fWAR 3b typical on winning teams?

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F his defense. His 4 ABs per game are pathetic.

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Good thing I didnt say anything about his offense!

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he's a net sink. this team doesn't win with Ke'Dancer Hayes at 3B.

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And then there is Bryan De La Cruz in right field lol

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Wanted to give a quick heads up, apparently Substack is getting ready to do an update, which may limit access to the site. Supposed to start around midnight eastern time, so if the site drops, that is why. Just figured I'd throw it out there since there is a chance the game is still going on at that time

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Surprisingly bad AB by Bart... Ks on a 56ft pitch.

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Don't get to see too many excuse me doubles. Would be sweet if Cruz could develop that into a skill.

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Nice job by IKF to bail out Nicolas.

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Nicolas getting high leverage exposure is good for his development

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Go to bed!

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Not like there are a bunch of options, but yeah, he deserves the shot more than anyone right now.

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You have to find a way to win a game when Jake Woodford gives you 6 shutout innings

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