Finally.

The fans in Pittsburgh are starting to understand. PNC Park, a true treasure amongst baseball parks in America, is filled hugely with empty seats this year. When it is filled it is because of a Paul Skenes bobblehead giveaway or, in many instances, because the opposing team brings a ton of fans. There were more Cleveland fans at PNC when the Guardians were in town. Same was true for Yankee fans. Many of the actual Pirates fans in attendance regularly chant, “Sell the team.”

It took far too long, but Pirates fans are fed up to the point of not wanting to go watch one of the worst teams in baseball during the sixth year of a supposed rebuild.

If you needed something built, Bob Nutting, Ben Cherington, and Derek Shelton would not be the construction company you want to hire.

In the sixth year of this group being in charge, the Pittsburgh Pirates are worse than they were in previous years.

Year.

Six.

 Worse.

I have written many times over that nothing will change as long as this clown owns the team.

Nutting doesn’t seem interested in the least in selling the team. There is one sliver of hope, and that will come after the 2026 season. A salary cap. If baseball finally does the right thing and institutes a salary cap, Nutting will be forced to spend more. A cap always comes with a floor. Of course, if Nutting is incapable of hiring a decent GM it won’t really matter.

Let’s take a look at the bang up job Ben Cherington and Derek Shelton have done with this team. When I am done I want you to ask yourself how they are both still employed by the Pirates.

Here is a list of free agents signed during the Cherington era. Note to readers: you may want to have a “barf bag” nearby.

  • 2020: Luke Maile(C), JT Riddle(IF), Jarrod Dyson(OF), Guillermo Heredia(OF)
  • 2021: Trevor Cahill(P), Tyler Anderson(P)
  • 2022: Jose Quintana(P), Daniel Vogelbach(1B), Yoshi Tsutsugo(1B), Jake Marisnick(OF), Roberto Perez(C), Heath Hembree(P), Andrew Knapp(C)
  • 2023: Carlos Santana(1B), Vince Velasquez(P), Rich Hill(P), Austin Hedges(C), Andrew McCutchen(OF)
  • 2024: Martin Perez(P), Rowdy Tellez(1B), Aroldis Chapman(P), Edward Olivares(OF), Yasmani Grandal(C), Michael Taylor(OF)
  • 2025: Adam Frazier(IF), Tommy Pham(OF), Andrew Heaney(P), Justin Lawrence(P), Alexander Canario(OF)

Here are players brought in via trade after parting with Jameson Taillon, Josh Bell, Starling Marte, Joe Musgrove, Jacob Stallings, Martin Perez, Jose Quintana, and “prospects”.

  • Infielders: Liover Peguero, Ji-Man Choi, Spencer Horwitz
  • Catchers: Endy Rodriguez
  • Outfielders: Josh VanMeter, Dustin Fowler, Conner Joe, Mark Mathias, Bryan DeLa Cruz
  • Pitchers: Duane Underwood, David Bednar, Brennan Malone, Nik Turley, Kyle Nicolas, Johan Oviedo, Dauri Moreta, Marco Gonzales

A few things may strike you about these two lists. First, most of these guys were either over the hill or never going to get to the hill. Old. Talentless. Second, many of these guys weren’t coveted by a single other team. Third, clearly the Pirates can’t develop their own below average first baseman.

It isn’t pretty, but teams on small payrolls like the Pirates build through the draft. We all know of Paul Skenes, but I bet there is a bunch of homegrown talent on the Pirates roster and coming through the system.

Oneil Cruz has the potential to be a…oh, wait, he isn’t a Cherington guy. Bryan Reynolds has been really solid for his…oh, yea, he wasn’t a Cherington guy either. Andrew McCutchen is still good at 38 and…nope, he came way before Cherington.

Well, there is Henry Davis, the first pick in the entire draft, Ke’Bryan Hayes, Jack Suwinski, and Nick Gonzales. They are better known as Stink, Stank, Stunk, and Always Injured.

To be fair, Cherington did luck into the first pick two years ago and didn’t screw up. Paul Skenes is a stud. I think. Even Skenes has been a mere mortal this year. Jared Jones is hurt but showed tons of promise last season. Johan Oviedo, acquired in trade showed great promise two years ago before undergoing Tommy John surgery. Bubba Chandler is tearing up AAA ball and should be in Pittsburgh. But winning now has never been as I,portant as winning later to this crew. Oh, and saving money, too.

If you are a Pirates fan and haven’t fallen ill already reading this, let’s focus on this year’s squad.

The Pirates are currently 12-24, the third worst record in baseball. They have done so with a pitching staff led by Paul Skenes. They blew some games early by relying on the two guys that were terrible last year, David Bednar and Colin Holderman. Otherwise, the pitching staff has at least been league average.

The offense is worse than the dump where the Pirates sent the Bucco Bricks.

Joey Bart is above average offensively and below average defensively at the catcher position. The thing is, the Pirates have two young guys that they MUST find out about once and for all. Endy Rodriguez is currently hurt, while Davis was called back up from AAA after Rodriguez’s injury. I know Davis has been terrible, but he needs to be given one more extended look. You can’t just throw away the first pick in the draft without exhausting all opportunities. Only the Pirates would overload on catchers.

The Pirates traded for Spencer Horwitz to be the new first baseman. Filed under “Only the Pirates”, it was found out Horwitz had a wrist that needed surgery. The team new that fact. He has yet to play. Doesn’t matter as he is a platoon guy at best with limited major league experience. In the interim, the Pirates seem to have settled on Enmanuel Valdez at first. He tries hard. That’s it. That’s all I have on Valdez. He is not a first baseman as his defense usually proves, and the Pirates keep hitting his .207 big bopper bat cleanup because…well, there isn’t anyone better.

At second base the Pirates got three at bats out,of Nick Gonzales before he was hurt. Gonzales is average on his best day. Now we are forced to watch Adam Frazier play second base every day. Frazier was good five or seven years ago. Now he is a .227 hitter with no power.

Isaiah Kiner-Falefa is not really a shortstop, so, you guessed it, the Pirates play him every day at shortstop. He is hitting .280, but Falefa has only 4 extra base hits. His defense is suspect.

Third base is where the Pirates actually spent some money. Hayes signed an 8 year/$70,000,000 contract a couple years ago. Hayes is a gold glove caliber third baseman. Hayes can’t hit. He is slugging .311, which is hard to do. He has 4 extra base hits and rarely hits the ball hard. The Pirates did something they can’t afford to do, which is spend money on the wrong player. Hayes also Carrie’s himself like someone that doesn’t particularly care about any of it.

Two thirds of the outfield is legit. Bryan Reynolds and Oneil Cruz are probably the two best players on offense. Even they have issues, as both hitters are streaky. In addition, Cruz has at least one mental lapse per game. The other outfield position has mainly been 37 year old Tommy Pham with a sprinkling of Jack Suwinski and Alexander Canario. Suwinski struck his way out back to AAA, Canario is hitting .132, and Pham is…well, here is his highlight for the year.

 

Ah, that veteran presence we were all promised.

In case you lost count, or interest, here is the end result of this offensive juggernaut.

  • .223 team batting average is next to last in the National League.
  • 114 runs scored also next to last.
  • Last in doubles and home runs.
  • Third most strikeouts.
  • Next to last in on base percentage.
  • Last in slugging.
  • Shutout a MLB leading 6 times in 35 games.

Who would have thought acquiring “has beens” and “never going to be’s” would lead to such an offensive malaise?

That is how you deconstruct, but surely not build. Small budget. Good players around the league not being swayed by a bad GM to come to Pittsburgh. Horrific drafting and development.

Voila.

On pace to lose 110 games. In year six.

What Now?

Let me first give you my PSA one more time. None of what I type next will matter in the big picture.

Bad team.

Worthless owner.

Moribund franchise.

Still, as a fan, you would at least like to see them pretend like they are trying. That starts with the owner. Okay, so he isn’t going to start spending a bunch of money, but he could start acting like those silly “winning matters” words he stated at the home opener were not just platitudes. Yes, we all know they were just that. Play along.

  • Derek Shelton should be fired by the time you read this. Sure there is a lack of talent, but Shelton’s teams always run the bases poorly, make defensive mental mistakes, and don’t always hustle. That is on the manager. I won’t even go on my usual tirade of how he handles the pitching staff. He is 306-438, the worst record for a manager that lasted 5 or more seasons with their team. That is embarrassing. I don’t care if Nutting has to wake John Russell up from a nap to come back and manage. There just needs to be a change. Period.
  • Ben Cherington should be fired by the time you read this. Obviously his record is that of Shelton’s. Simply go back up and read again the horrible talent acquisition that is ever present during his entire tenure. It is reported that scouts mock his ability, or lack thereof, to spot talent.
  • Quit playing the old guys and start playing the young guys. As a matter of fact, Pham and Frazier should simply be released. They can show Canario the way out, as well. The young guys may be just as bad, but it is imperative to find out what you have. This is especially true if changes in the front office and dugout are made. Henry Davis has to be given every chance after being the first pick in the entire draft. Liover Peguero is only 24. In typical Pirates fashion they called Peguero up and he hasn’t seen the field in four games. Sure, we want to keep watching Adam Frazier and Jared Triolo. Bubba Chandler is wasting time in AAA. Nick Yorke is only 23 and deserves a look.
  • Allow the new GM to get up and running before this year’s draft. Let him pick his players. Then tell him to go begging and pleading to see if anyone is stupid enough to want Ke’Bryan Hayes. Hayes is the poster boy for this period of failure.
  • Demand the new manager, even if he is just an interim, to demand accountability. It would be the first time in 6 years that would be demanded.
  • Sign Oneil Cruz to an extension. At least approach Paul Skenes. I know, I know, that would require spending money.

I know team president, Travis Williams, is napping. Well, when he isn’t busting up Bucco Bricks and covering up Clemente signs. But maybe someone could nudge Bob Nutting and see if he is still alive. How can a penny counting miser be accepting of a half filled stadium even on weekends, Star Wars giveaways, and Paul Skenes starts? That is money lost, and that is bad for the bottom line. The one thing Nutting cares about.

How bad is the 2025 Pittsburgh Pirates roster? This is a giveaway item coming at the next home stand.

 

Triolo is hitting .154 with a .211 OBP. Last year he struck out 118 times in 384 at bats. But he can field. Good enough in Pittsburgh for a giveaway. Hey, at least it’s not a bobble head.

Hey, Bozo Bob, fire these bozos and at least pretend like you care.

Hopefully the fans will continue to show their disgust and dismay. This is the biggest display of baseball fan anger in Pittsburgh I can recall since the 1980’s.

They realize this construction company has built a house of cards. The cards are old, crumpled, and unplayable, and they are collapsing all over the diamond at PNC Park.

Two Cent Takes

NBA

~The two NBA game seven’s were clunkers. Onward, I guess. Why the NBA playoffs just aren’t super compelling.

MLB

~Obviously Max Scherzer is familiar with CB Bucknor’s work behind the plate.

 

Golf

~Scottie Scheffler shot -31 last week to win the Byron Nelson by a mile. What do you think Phil Mickelson thought?

 

Here is a hot take, Phil. Nobody has cared what you think for years.

College Football

~There is hot recruiting, and then there is what USC is doing.

 

If you are getting USC, you may want to do it this year.

~Michigan gave head coach Sherrone Moore a self imposed two game suspension for the Connor Stallion fiasco. The NCAA has to complete its investigation. I will give the NCAA a rare compliment if they get it done expeditiously and hand out a meaningful punishment. That means none of that nonsensical vacated wins or a fine. Jimmy Harbaugh got out of Dodge, which leaves Moore to suffer the consequences. A two game suspension for two games Michigan will win by 40 regardless of who coaches is not exactly a deterrent.

NHL

~Mike Sullivan and the Rangers may just be a match made in heaven.

~Did anyone understand the lottery ball game the NHL used to select its order for this year’s draft? The Islanders jumped from 10 to 1, which seems unfair honestly. The Flyers stay at 6, while the Pens drop to pick 11. It was the worst case scenario for the Pens.

The Weekly Shiny Penny

The Stanley Cup Playoffs never fail to be spectacular. Over the weekend the NHL had two game sevens. On Saturday night the home team Dallas Stars were down 2-0 in the third period. That is when former Colorado star turned Dallas Star, Mikko Rantanen took over. A hat trick later and Dallas had come back to win game seven.

On Sunday night Winnipeg took it even further. Down 3-1 with about three minutes left, the Jets pulled the goalie and went all in trying to get back in the game. They scored one goal to make it 3-2, but time was running out. Then…

 

1.6 seconds. Amazing. One lucky bounce later and off to overtime they went. What a great call from Winnipeg’s Paul Edmonds trying to maintain some professionalism while clearly working in some emotion to his call. Perfect.

Deep into the second overtime, Winnipeg completed the miracle comeback to advance to round two.

 

If you aren’t a hockey fan, you are truly missing out on a spectacle not found in any other sport.

A Penny For My Final Thought…

Baseball has two big problems right now.

No, no. I’m not talking about the Pirates this time.

Baseball brags about how adding the extra playoff teams brings all of this added excitement. Some seasons it works out that way, while other seasons it does not.

It is May 5, and check out the standings.

 

In the American League Baltimore, Chicago, and Los Angeles are already out of it. None of those teams are resurrecting themselves. In addition, Tampa, Toronto, and Minnesota are teetering. So on May 5, the American League is already down to 9 teams for 7 spots.

The National League is even worse. Pittsburgh, Colorado, Washington, and Miami are out on May 5. St. Louis, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, and Atlanta are borderline. I think Atlanta will ultimately be in the chase, but I am not sure the other three will be. If that is the case, the National League is already down to 8 teams for 7 spots.

Competitive imbalance is a problem. You can add all the extra playoff spots you want, but it will not improve this issue. A salary cap? Now, that would help fix the imbalances.

Even if I end up being off just a little, there are still far too many teams that are out of it a month into the season. That is a problem. Houston started 12-24 a year ago and came back. That is the exception not the rule.

The other problem MLB has is not having enough good hitters. There are only 87 players hitting above .250 on May 5. Usually early in the season the batting averages are much higher. By comparison, in 1978 there were 195 players at .250 or above at the end of the year.

In other words, there just isn’t enough hitting in today’s game. Launch angles have everyone trying to hit home runs rather than driving the ball from gap to gap. Most teams start at least one hitter who is batting below .220. There just aren’t enough quality hitters in today’s game. It is all or nothing for many hitters in today’s game.

Between the competitive imbalance where some teams are already done for the season and the lack of hitting for higher averages, baseball has a subpar product.

Baseball is trying to make improvements, but until these problems are solved everything else won’t really matter.

Sometime the good old days were indeed better.

Just my two cents…