Pirates' crushing series vs. Cubs leaves many uncomfortable unanswered questions

The wheels had all but fallen off already for the 2024 Pittsburgh Pirates, but if there was one last opportunity for the Bucs to salvage their season, that came earlier this week when the division-rival Cubs came to town.

The Pirates had won four of their first seven meetings with the Cubs this season and were sending their three top starters - Mitch Keller, Jared Jones, and Paul Skenes - to the hill. Those three entered the series with a combined 3.22 ERA across 343.1 innings.

The result? Despite the Pirates scoring nearly eight runs per game in the series, they were swept, losing each contest by at least four runs while allowing 41 runs, a season-high for a three-game series across all of MLB.

The Pirates started the season 9-2 and, on the evening of the trade deadline, were three games over .500 and just two games out of a playoff spot. The club now sits at 62-71 and, according to FanGraphs, has a 0.0% chance of making the playoffs. This collapse is reminiscent of the team's dreadful second halves of the 2011 and 2012 seasons, and is perhaps even more painful. The Bucs ultimately made the playoffs in the ensuing three seasons following those historic collapses. But is there light at the end of this tunnel?

At what point will any member of this regime bear any semblance of accountability? GM Ben Cherington, in his fifth season at the helm, spent over $30 million on Aroldis Chapman, Michael A. Taylor, Rowdy Tellez, Yasmani Grandal, Edward Olivares, Martín Perez, and Domingo Germán, who have combined to produce 0.5 WAR as Pirates this season.

Cherington's fifth-year squad includes Taylor, Grandal, Olivares, Ke'Bryan Hayes, Jared Triolo, Jack Suwinski, Henry Davis, Alika Williams, and Ji Hwan Bae, who have combined for an abysmal .580 OPS across 2,214 plate appearances (that accounts for 44% of the team's total offense). His attempt to patchwork together bullpen depth has produced the likes of Germán, Jake Woodford, Ryder Ryan, Ben Heller, Daulton Jefferies, Justin Bruihl, and Brady Feigl, who have combined for 86.2 innings pitched and a 7.69 ERA.

The overwhelming hope among Pirates diehards and general baseball fans alike was that Cherington would reward the club's strong July by adding an impact bat or two at the trade deadline. Apparently, Cherington's version of "going for it" was adding Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Bryan De La Cruz, and Jalen Beeks. Since then, the Pirates have gone 7-19.

Which Pirates should be held accountable for second-half collapse?

How about any member of the coaching staff? Manager Derek Shelton has constantly been under fire for his bullpen management, general late-game decision making, and deflecting blame solely to the players after tough losses. And while he often hasn't had a great roster with which to work, his career .412 winning percentage is the worst by any manager who has coached at least as many games as he has (679) in over 50 years. His leash has been plenty long; 18 teams have made managerial changes since the Pirates hired Shelton.

What about hitting coach Andy Haines? He has overseen an offense that has posted high strikeout numbers and dreadful results with runners in scoring position year after year, and has seen significant struggles from nearly every single prospect or outside acquisition who made their way to Pittsburgh. Or maybe even bullpen coach Justin Meccage, who could be deemed responsible for David Bednar's awful 2024 campaign, inconsistencies from the team's other high-leverage arms, and an inability to make things work with once-promising arms like Roansy Contreras and Jose Hernandez.

The status quo cannot remain the status quo. Because if it does, Cherington's intentions to build a "player-centric culture" can be disregarded entirely.

Why should Bryan Reynolds or Mitch Keller want to be here? Both players debuted in 2019, before Cherington and Shelton were even hired, and both signed extensions to remain in Pittsburgh long-term. They endured more than their fair share of losing, believed in the organization's vision enough to agree to stick around (likely for less money than they would have received on the open market), and this is where the franchise is at.

Why should Oneil Cruz want to be here? While Bednar has received every opportunity to continue to close out games despite six blown saves, seven losses, and a 6.32 ERA, and after Tellez was still afforded regular at-bats after sporting a .463 OPS in the season's first two months, Cruz has been forced - clearly against his wishes and amid a tremendous offensive stretch - to permanently move to an entirely brand new position, which came just eight days after Cherington provided public reassurance that Cruz was the team's shortstop.

And perhaps most importantly, why should Paul Skenes want to be here? While he has an 8-2 record in his first 18 starts, the Pirates' record in those games is a less impressive 11-7. Skenes is doing his part - his ERA sits at a stellar 2.23, and he is one of a handful of starting pitchers averaging over six innings per start. In those 18 games, the relievers following him have a collective ERA of 6.40.

Losing isn't in Paul Skenes' DNA. Surely he knows that the team that lucked into drafting him and can't be bothered to push their payroll into nine figures won't be able to pay him when the time comes. The Pirates have to capitalize on the opportunity they have to compete with Skenes in the fold. And that clock is already ticking.

The Pirates' recent collapse is a massive disappointment to fans who were told that the competitive window would begin to open in 2024.

The players, coaching staff, front office, and ownership all need to be held accountable, and changes in strategy and philosophy need to occur. The Pirates have a strong young core, including arguably the best pitcher in the sport. If this collapse isn't enough to prompt organizational changes and demand better results, then what will be?