2026 Pirates Thread

[BCS PSU]

I wish I was that optimistic
Chandler has been better recently and Skenes looked good his last time out
Absolutely need to upgrade the pen though if they want a shot. Need a legit closer IMO

The problem with the starting pitching is that, while Skenes has stabilized somewhat and Chandler has become more reliable, Ashcraft has been pretty poor since June.

Also, while Jones has pitched really well lately, the brain trust won’t let him go more than five.

Finally, none of the starters ever go deep into games, which negatively affects a bull pen which isn’t good under the best circumstances.

 

[KingLando]

The problem with the starting pitching is that, while Skenes has stabilized somewhat and Chandler has become more reliable, Ashcraft has been pretty poor since June.

Also, while Jones has pitched really well lately, the brain trust won’t let him go more than five.

Finally, none of the starters ever go deep into games, which negatively affects a bull pen which isn’t good under the best circumstances.

Yupp--agreed. I expect Ashcraft to bounce back but...

 

[LB99]

The problem with the starting pitching is that, while Skenes has stabilized somewhat and Chandler has become more reliable, Ashcraft has been pretty poor since June.

Also, while Jones has pitched really well lately, the brain trust won’t let him go more than five.

Finally, none of the starters ever go deep into games, which negatively affects a bull pen which isn’t good under the best circumstances.

This is the trend in MLB though, it is not exclusive to the Pirates.

 

[BCS PSU]

Yupp--agreed. I expect Ashcraft to bounce back but...

I actually heard today on Mark Madden’s show that Ashcraft may be shut down sometime in September like the Nationals did with Strasburg a long time ago.

 

[KingLando]

Bucs added Ron Marinaccio from the Padres for "signing bonus pool" considerations--that's one way to cancel out the money coming in

 

[KingLando]

Sigh...its great Skenes had double digit Ks but another subpar outing overall. He has to be better. No excuses.

 

[BCS PSU]

Sigh...its great Skenes had double digit Ks but another subpar outing overall. He has to be better. No excuses.

He’s just a mediocre to slightly below average pitcher this season for whatever reason; he’s obviously not going to be the pitcher in the last two months of the season that he was last season. We might have seen the best that he’s ever going to be because right now, he’s nothing special at all.

Also, on a macro level, this team now will have lost four of their last five and will be one game over .500 after getting to four games above after the second Yankees game. That’s what they are and what they’re going to be. They actually should be sellers in the next week; the playoffs as always are a pipe dream.

 

[psu83]

Skenes is definitely not pitching the way we know he can and that wonderful bullpen shows up again tonight, giving up 6 runs. Those 2 gems Cherington traded for are off to a stupendous start and we can see why the White Sox and Padres were more than welcome to get rid of them.

 

[Bison13]

Skenes is definitely not pitching the way we know he can and that wonderful bullpen shows up again tonight, giving up 6 runs. Those 2 gems Cherington traded for are off to a stupendous start and we can see why the White Sox and Padres were more than welcome to get rid of them.

Skenes it’s a little bit off with his mechanics from what he did last year. It’s just enough for him to be down a couple miles an hour in velocity and not being able to get the off speed stuff quite as consistently. He was on fire for forwarding today. But then lost it.

If they lose a few more and are under 500 by the deadline I could see them giving the young guys some extra rest and go with a 6 man rotation

 

[KingLando]

Skenes it’s a little bit off with his mechanics from what he did last year. It’s just enough for him to be down a couple miles an hour in velocity and not being able to get the off speed stuff quite as consistently. He was on fire for forwarding today. But then lost it.

If they lose a few more and are under 500 by the deadline I could see them giving the young guys some extra rest and go with a 6 man rotation

I understand why you're saying that but I hate the idea of a 6 man rotation--these guys need to get used to pitching every 5 days. The need to stop babying them.

 

[KingLando]

Taking the win but...eh...not looking good

 

[Bison13]

Next 7 are 3 with the Dbags and 4 with the Reds. Trade deadline is the next day when they start a 4 gamers at Milwaukee.

Need to go 5-2 next week to really be in position to stay in it and have a realistic shot for the wild card.

Need a real bullpen arm and a better bench bat since Horowitz had a set back.

 

[LB99]

Taking the win but...eh...not looking good

A win is a win, especially against the cub scouts.

Raise it.

Pirates 8-7 Cubs (Jul 26, 2026) Final Score - ESPN

Game summary of the Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Chicago Cubs MLB game, final score 8-7, from July 26, 2026 on ESPN.

www.espn.com

 

[psu83]

I agree, a win is a win, but the bullpen was leaky again!

A win is a win, especially against the cub scouts.

Raise it.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/game/_/gameId/401816267/cubs-pirates[/URL

 

[KingLando]

Keller looked so good through 5 (only like 65 pitches too) then the wheels came off--we bash the pen a lot but Ramirez did a very nice job keeping us in the game.

 

[Thorndike2021]

All of this 'money ball' BS. The lines show this and the lines show that.

When the other team digs in on you in the 7th fire a 100 mph a quarter inch from the batter's left eyebrow. Baseball has become MUCH too polite.

This team needs a fiery manager and a real pitching coach.

 

[LB99]

Am I the only one that hopes they strike/lockout next year? I welcome a salary cap and salary floor to MLB.

 

[KingLando]

Am I the only one that hopes they strike/lockout next year? I welcome a salary cap and salary floor to MLB.

I have zero faith in getting a cap--lockout or not
If there is a lockout and they return without a cap the sport is in serious trouble

 

[LB99]

I have zero faith in getting a cap--lockout or not
If there is a lockout and they return without a cap the sport is in serious trouble

I want to see a cap AND a floor so deadbeats like Nutting have to spend or sell.

 

[LB99]

Raise it.

Pirates 3-2 Diamondbacks (Jul 27, 2026) Final Score - ESPN

Game summary of the Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Arizona Diamondbacks MLB game, final score 3-2, from July 27, 2026 on ESPN.

www.espn.com

 

[Bison13]

Agree that they need a cap and floor, but I do not want to see a lockout. This is the small window that the pirates normally operate on so I’d like to see them not completely lose the year when they have a chance to compete.
They need to offer Valdez a long-term deal like griffin. Lock up their Young pitching and then try to get Lowe and OHearn signed.
With the amount of outfielders say now have, I think it might be best to try and trade Cruz though with him being injured it’s a sell low scenario.
Get a good bullpen arm , right handed bat for the bench and find a way to give Ashcraft a little time off because they’re going to need him in September

 

[LB99]

Agree that they need a cap and floor, but I do not want to see a lockout. This is the small window that the pirates normally operate on so I’d like to see them not completely lose the year when they have a chance to compete.
They need to offer Valdez a long-term deal like griffin. Lock up their Young pitching and then try to get Lowe and OHearn signed.
With the amount of outfielders say now have, I think it might be best to try and trade Cruz though with him being injured it’s a sell low scenario.
Get a good bullpen arm , right handed bat for the bench and find a way to give Ashcraft a little time off because they’re going to need him in September

I hear you, but I’m willing to concede the lockout and the Pirates small window now for more consistent competitiveness from them in the future should a floor and cap be implemented. I’ve also come to terms with it in my mind that Lowe and O’Hearn will not be offered a reasonable offer from this management to stay. I agree on Valdez and Cruz.

 

[KingLando]

I could be wrong...usually am lol...but I dont think a floor and a cap are really going to do anything for the next 5-8 years...and then spending the floor won't actually level the playing field...just let's the Bucs and others overpay for people the reat don't have money for. Maybe a pessimistic look but...

 

[LB99]

I could be wrong...usually am lol...but I dont think a floor and a cap are really going to do anything for the next 5-8 years...and then spending the floor won't actually level the playing field...just let's the Bucs and others overpay for people the reat don't have money for. Maybe a pessimistic look but...

I’m hoping the floor would be high enough to trigger someone like Nutting to sell. That’s the only way we are getting away from him. However, if the cap/floor keeps a team like the Dodgers from loading up on all-star free agents year after year, that can only be a good thing in my book. Make the organizations develop home grown talent and rely on scouting again over just lazily overpaying for top end talent that was developed elsewhere and can’t afford to keep them with a competitive offer. I also am not naive enough to think that the large market teams, who are the darlings of the MLB, will not successfully fight this off. That’s my pessimism.

 

[Bison13]

I’m hoping the floor would be high enough to trigger someone like Nutting to sell. That’s the only way we are getting away from him. However, if the cap/floor keeps a team like the Dodgers from loading up on all-star free agents year after year, that can only be a good thing in my book. Make the organizations develop home grown talent and rely on scouting again over just lazily overpaying for top end talent that was developed elsewhere and can’t afford to keep them with a competitive offer. I also am not naive enough to think that the large market teams, who are the darlings of the MLB, will not successfully fight this off. That’s my pessimism.

I really don’t care how high the cap is. I just want the floor to be high enough that nutting has to sell, exactly what you said. Until he gets rid of the team, they will never put the money into contracts that they should. They have some young talent that they could hook up with long-term deals at low rates right now and be competitive for the next 5 to 7 years, but he won’t do it.

 

[JakkL]

Am I the only one that hopes they strike/lockout next year? I welcome a salary cap and salary floor to MLB.

The last CBA the players wanted a floor, but ultimately gave in to owners. Pirates fans need a floor to make Nutting spend at least a little bit.

 

[LB99]

The last CBA the players wanted a floor, but ultimately gave in to owners. Pirates fans need a floor to make Nutting spend at least a little bit.

I want him gone altogether. No compromise. Force him to sell to someone who wants to win.

 

[KingLando]

Awful game so far this evening but I will say Eisert does have much better stuff than his career numbers would suggest--I'm just not convinced our staff can fix his issues.

 

[Bison13]

Valiant efforts but couldn’t get it done in extras. Need another bat off the bench without Horowitz/cruz/griffin. Bullpen was solid, maybe Mlodzinski but to the rotation and ax Bubba to the pen

 

[PSUFTG]

I actually heard today on Mark Madden’s show

You coulda' shoulda' stopped there. Have you ever actually met him?

The fact that you were listening - apparently of your own free will - to Madden is kind of frightening but nothing that fellow emits is ever worth the paper it is written on. Just inane random ramblings.

 

[KingLando]

JMO--after the loss today it's almost impossible to justify "buying" unless it's a guy that's under control for multiple years
We're not very good

 

[Nits74]

JMO--after the loss today it's almost impossible to justify "buying" unless it's a guy that's under control for multiple years
We're not very good

Pretty much agree. At times they look good, but they lack the ability to put together any winning streaks of considerable length.

 

[KingLando]

Pretty much agree. At times they look good, but they lack the ability to put together any winning streaks of considerable length.

Agreed. They're much improved and if we were in the AL I might feel differently. Allegedly they're going to be aggressive though so we'll see.

 

[KingLando]

Skenes was given a 2 run lead before he took the mound--then proceeds to walk two of the first three batters and it's tied after the first
He simply has to be better. ERA approaching 4 now

 

[Bison13]

Skenes was given a 2 run lead before he took the mound--then proceeds to walk two of the first three batters and it's tied after the first
He simply has to be better. ERA approaching 4 now

Something definitely up with him . Velo has been down all year but even lower today plus 4 walks.

 

[BCS PSU]

Something definitely up with him . Velo has been down all year but even lower today plus 4 walks.

He sucks, at least right now. There are a lot of apologists for him, but he’s had a bad season. He’s as unreliable as most of their other starters, and that says something. I posted earlier in this thread that it will not surprise me at all if we’ve already seen the best that he’ll ever be. His trade value also is dropping dramatically; my guess is that this insipid organization will trade him either next season or definitely in 2028, but as of now they won’t get the haul that they otherwise would have.

 

[KingLando]

He sucks, at least right now. There are a lot of apologists for him, but he’s had a bad season. He’s as unreliable as most of their other starters, and that says something. I posted earlier in this thread that it will not surprise me at all if we’ve already seen the best that he’ll ever be. His trade value also is dropping dramatically; my guess is that this insipid organization will trade him either next season or definitely in 2028, but as of now they won’t get the haul that they otherwise would have.

Trading guys like him is all a gamble though
Had the Bucs moved him and he didn't collapse people would have complained...he'll even if he did collapse it would have been attacked
I know I'm probably wrong but I swear babying these guys is the real issue.

 

[KingLando]

Blew a 2 run lead in the first and the 8th
Can't lose that game...period
Now under 500...pathetic

 

[Tgar]

This is becoming painful.

 

[psu83]

Once again the bullpen pisses away another lead and the Pirates lose a winnable game. Nuttiness and Bumblington have to be the worst owner\GM combo in any major sport. It looks like Skenes has lost interest in pitching for this team, maybe the fact they gave an untested rookie that contract and not taking care of him first. I have no dreams of ever seeing this team be truly competitive in my lifetime with this management in place