Lets Go Bucs 2025!

[jeemie]

https://x.com/Steelersdepot/status/1910037418285350982

Only the Pirates...

[Rod & Wire Mill]

Cruz in the field is a danger to himself and others

[R_S]

Holy shit i just watched my first game this season start to finish. Just horrible. Mediocre talent + terrible fundamentals + no hustle does. It's almost impossible to find any optimism with this team.

[jeemie]

So it is almost May.

when does everybody predict that the annual tease will begin, where the Pirates will suddenly string together a bunch of wins and make it look like they could actually compete for a playoff spot?

Only to crash and burn at the end?

[Dan Smith--BYU]

Which franchise is worth more?

The Pirates or the Savannah Bananas?

[MJG75]

Sorry I didn't post earlier but keeping my thoughts and prayers with Kavan Markwood, the young man who toppled over the Clemente Wall during the 2nd game of the Cubs series. He's still at AGH in critical condition as far as I've been able to tell.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nbcnew ... rcna204273

[MJG75]

So it is almost May.

when does everybody predict that the annual tease will begin, where the Pirates will suddenly string together a bunch of wins and make it look like they could actually compete for a playoff spot?

Only to crash and burn at the end?

Their stats are better in 2nd half of April after being horrendous in first half. About or close to league average in most categories. I suppose if they could maintain that they might have a shot at .500 but realistically with this roster that's about the most we can hope for. We buried ourselves too deep. The entire feel of the organization feels rotten. From on field ineptitude to off field idiocy. It's such a shame what has become of this franchise. I'm sticking but less intensely than recent years.

[franco>madden]

To answer Jeemie's query, the Bucs appear to be skipping the teasing part this season and just dove straight into the crashing and burning. Could easily picture them not winning another game in '25, though of course they'll eek out a few.

Bless you Mean Joe for hanging in there, a few of us brave/crazy souls left I guess, though I too haven't made much of an effort to follow this time around. They were just out here in SoCal last week, only a 10- minute drive away at the Big A but I couldn't even muster the enthusiasm to bother going.

By the way awesome avatar photo! Joe & Wilver, man those were the days huh. So grateful I got the chance to see both of those legends in action ...

[jeemie]

Shelton canned.

Now if only the owner could be fired...

[JackLambert58]

I was expecting a separate thread for the firing of Derek Shelton, but it's the Bucs, so...

I'm surprised to learn Shelton was in his sixth season managing the Bucs. Doesn't seem that long. Just looking at the list of managers since Jim Leyland whose last season was 1996:

1997-2000 Gene Lamont
2001-2005 Lloyd McClendon
2005 (interim) Peter Mackanin
2006-2007 Jim Tracy
2008-2010 John Russell
2011-2019 Clint Hurdle
2020-2025 Derek Sheldon
2025-? Don Kelly

Hurdle is obviously the best of the bunch as he had the only winning seasons in that time (2013-15, 18). The rest are trash. 28 losing seasons in the last 32 years, and getting ready to go 29 in 33. The Pirates last won the World Series in my senior year in high school. I turn 63 in November. An absolute garbage organization with an owner who ought to be publicly drawn and quartered for his cheapskate ways and management who couldn't manage a piss-up in a brewery. Good luck, Don Kelly. You're definitely going to need it.

[MJG75]

Great post, Jack. I agree with all of it 100%. My order of favorite Buccos managers is: Chuck Tanner, Danny Murtaugh (he's the greatest of my lifetime), Jimmy Leyland, and Clint Hurdle. Hurdle made a huge difference in transforming the losing culture. Miss him.

Sorry I've been having some health problems but I meant to post about the firing of Shelton and promotion of Donny Kelly. I never was quite sure what I thought of Shelton but it's never a good idea to use the same manager to oversee losing and then to try to oversee winning. Ever since the team said they were trying to win, Shelton was exposed. No fire, players quitting on him and so forth. He was terrible. I already like Don Kelly who won a series vs the Braves and was tossed out in his second game. He has the players backs and they are playing like it.

Now I have no illusions. These are the same players. But if Kelly can get more out of them than Shelton did, then I'm all in.

I get leaving this mess behind. The horrible off season and mess of the off field incidents nearly caused me to call it quits. I'm not there yet. Sticking with my black and gold baseball team even though I hate Nutting with every fibre of my being.

Let's go Bucs!!

[MJG75]

To answer Jeemie's query, the Bucs appear to be skipping the teasing part this season and just dove straight into the crashing and burning. Could easily picture them not winning another game in '25, though of course they'll eek out a few.

Bless you Mean Joe for hanging in there, a few of us brave/crazy souls left I guess, though I too haven't made much of an effort to follow this time around. They were just out here in SoCal last week, only a 10- minute drive away at the Big A but I couldn't even muster the enthusiasm to bother going.

By the way awesome avatar photo! Joe & Wilver, man those were the days huh. So grateful I got the chance to see both of those legends in action ...

Thanks a lot, Franco. Sorry i haven't been posting as much. I've had a little bit of health issues recently plus I have to admit my enthusiasm has been dampened down with the off season lack of effort plus the off field mess with the bricks and 21 in RF.

It's been tough to stick this year but I'm glad they finally made the change at manager. I like Don Kelly. The best managers can get more out of the players than they normally are able to, and can make the right lineup and bullpen moves. So far I really like what Donnie has done and absolutely love that he got tossed in his 2nd game as manager. I don't expect much this year in terms of playoff action, we are buried too deep now plus the Cruz injury, but I think its possible we play some better ball and make things a little more exciting. We have one of the toughest schedules in MLB and its about to get even tougher here but let's see what we have.

Let's go Bucs!!

[Stlcrtn1974]

Reynolds batting like absolute garbage tonight. This team needs some hitters in the worst way.

[MJG75]

2 more tough losses with great starts by Skenes and Keller. Doesn't seem to matter, and never will if you go 0 for 13 with RISP. Reynolds is in one of the worst slumps he's ever been in. He's slipped below the Mendoza line and seems to only get hits at in the early innings, rarely when we need it most. Don't know what they can do because either moving him down the order or sitting him for a while will just further expose their lack of depth. Bae comes up and I thought finally, but he's just as bad at this level as before despite typically performing well at the minors.

Their problems are many and systematic. I still enjoy the occasional win but man they are tough to watch and follow right now. Let's see if we can salvage one in NY. Let's go Bucs!!

[Stlcrtn1974]

Honestly, I'd send Reynolds to Indianapolis for a few games, let him get his MOJO back. Baseball is such a mental game, if you didn't play you wouldn't understand.

[Dan Smith--BYU]

Baseball seriously needs to consider relegation/promotion arrangements with AAA.

[MJG75]

Congratulations to Cutch for his 240th HR in a Buccos uniform which ties him with the Great Roberto Clemente at 3rd on Buccos all time HR list! Way to go, Cutch!

Also I'm fricking loving Donny Kelly! He has the guys playing much better baseball.

[Stlcrtn1974]

Another wasted pitching gem by Skenes, and another game being shut out. They are so hard to watch.

[Gonzo]

when i thought this team couldn’t sink any lower …. they did. this year is an abomination on several levels. i think we all knew what Nutting is but with Skenes the general public is starting to get a look at the crime being committed on Pirates fans by this owner

[Ice]

Three game sweep of the cross state Phillies and 6-4 in the last 10... this team has looked better since the manager change. Actually got to watch all three games, and they were all fun. Can't ask for much more at this point.