Pittsburgh Pirates: Jose Osuna Needs To Play & Other Takeaways From Series Loss vs Mets

People need to lose their jobs

What has happened with the Pirates is unacceptable. A 4-18 stretch that knocks a team from being 2.5 games out in both the divisional and wild car race to being 12.5 and 10.0 games out just can not happen. Especially this late in the season, it’s not like this was some greatly overachieving team crashing back down to earth after a strong April.

When play began on July 12th the Pirates were 44-45. That’s 55% of the season. For 55% of the season, despite more injuries than any other NL squad, the Pirates were contenders. The team has since completely collapsed, and the coaching staff needs to be held accountable.

It’s not just the coaches who are at fault, though. Yes, the players deserve blame for not coming through. But, in addition to the coaching staff, the Pirate front office needs to be answering hard questions too.

This is coming from someone who is a huge Joe Msugrove fan, but the Gerrit Cole trade has been a total and complete disaster. The Chris Archer trade has been even worse. Imagine an outfield of Bryan Reynolds–Starling Marte–Austin Meadows, to go with a Gerrit Cole-Jameson Taillon (when healthy)-Tyler Glasnow–Trevor Williams–Mitch Keller (we’ll get to him) starting rotation. This team would look much different.

Also, the roster decisions

this season have been mind boggling. There is zero reason for the aforementioned Keller to remain at the Triple-A level, especially with, literally, the entire Pirate rotation struggling. Then again, if Keller was in the MLB rotation they would make him be fastball heavy instead of using his best pitches – his curveball and slider – and it would be for naught anyway. It also took them far too long to move on from Nick Kingham and Jordan Lyles.

Guys like Pablo Reyes and Erik Gonzalez have no business being on a MLB roster. No offense, but those Pirate scouts that “pounded the table” this offseason for Gonzalez may want to look for a new career.

What was once viewed as one of the best run, most respected franchises in baseball under the guidance of Neal Huntington has become a dumpster fire. With the Bucs closing in on their third losing record in four seasons, and worst record since at least 2011 if not the 100+ loss team of 2010, it is time for the Pirates to clean house. It is time for people to lose their jobs.