The Pittsburgh Pirates had one of the worst records in MLB last season, with 62 wins and 100 losses.
It was their fourth consecutive season with a losing record and seventh straight with no playoffs.
Unlike the Baltimore Orioles, contention doesn’t appear to be a possibility in 2023, but stranger things have happened in baseball, sports, and in life.
Pirates owner Bob Nutting seems to believe the Bucs have what it takes to start changing the organizational culture and put together a positive year.
That’s doubtful, to put it lightly.
“Chatted briefly w/Bob Nutting tonight about baseball stuff after charity questions. ‘We’ve been through a rough run. We’re turning. It’s time for us to mentally turn. [Players] need to know I mean it & the organization means it. We need to be headed in a different direction,’” Pirates insider Jason Mackey tweeted, after chatting with the owner of the team.
Chatted briefly w/Bob Nutting tonight about baseball stuff after charity questions.
“We’ve been through a rough run. We’re turning. It’s time for us to mentally turn. [Players] need to know I mean it & the organization means it. We need to be headed in a different direction.”
—Jason Mackey (@JMackeyPG) February 23, 2023
Evidently, Nutting is not taking the microphone and saying that the Pirates are destined to miss the playoffs again.
The optimism is nice, but the team does seem at least a couple of years away from contention.
It’s true that the players, coaches, and front office need a mentality change to turn themselves into winners, but they also need an owner who is willing to spend to win.
They don’t have one.
Ji-Man Choi, Andrew McCutchen, Carlos Santana, Connor Joe, Rich Hill, Vince Velasquez, Austin Hedges… the team made lots of additions, but probably no impact ones (except for what McCutchen means for the fan base).
The Pirates have Bryan Reynolds, Oneil Cruz, and some promising pitchers, but still look a couple of years away from putting it all together.
NEXT:
David Bednar Is Already Throwing Gas This Spring
