Pirates fans can't comprehend why organization is opting for continuity with Matt Hague

When Pittsburgh Pirates pitching coach Oscar Marin and third base coach Mike Rabelo were relieved of their duties at the end of September, it sparked confusion among the fanbase.

Specifically regarding Marin, the Pirates' pitching staff finished with a 3.76 ERA – good for seventh in all of baseball – under his leadership in 2025. Why would they mess with a good thing?

Despite how effective the Pirates' pitching was, reports later came out that Pittsburgh's pitchers were not satisfied with the level of improvement they had achieved under Marin, which prompted the decision to let him go. Soon after, Pirates fans' confusion turned into hope: could hitting coach Matt Hague be the next to get the axe?

Sources told Colin Beazley and Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that the Pirates were still evaluating "every aspect of the coaching staff" and that the moves made with Marin and Rabelo were easier because they involved contracts that wouldn't be renewed.

"Sources did not rule out further changes on the hitting side of things, including a possible new role for hitting coach Hague," Beazley and Mackey wrote. "Although those discussions are ongoing and nothing concrete has been decided on the hitting side of Kelly’s staff."

Naturally, this led to speculation about Hague's future role with the organization, prompting Alex Stumpf of MLB.com to address the matter later in the week.

"I’ve been told the full expectation is that Matt Hague will be continuing in his current role as Pirates hitting coach," Stumpf posted on X. "We’ve already seen some changes on the Pirates’ coaching staff, but Hague should be back for a second season."

Well, then. So much for "nothing concrete being decided."

Pirates' offensive frustrations reach boiling point with Matt Hague expected to remain as hitting coach

The 2025 Pirates lineup was among the weakest in baseball in nearly every major category. They were in the bottom five in runs scored and OPS. They were near the bottom in team average and on-base percentage. There was alarming regression from young hitters like Jack Suwinski and Henry Davis. Even Bryan Reynolds' power numbers dipped for long stretches.

When an offense fails this completely, fans naturally expect changes – especially at the hitting coach level. Keeping Hague despite these results feels to many like rewarding mediocrity, or doubling down on a failing process rather than reassessing it.

Ultimately, the Pirates’ insistence on continuity rings hollow because the franchise has no track record of turning continuity into success. Fans don’t see a stable, consistent developmental machine; they see a front office using stability as justification for inaction and cost-cutting.

Keeping Hague saves money, avoids external hires and allows the Pirates' front office to claim internal belief in the process. But to fans, it signals a lack of urgency to win.