‘If Pittsburgh Isn’t Relevant This Year, It’s a Shame,’ Hall of Famer Sounds Off on Pirates

Just over a week ago, national baseball writer Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic called out Pittsburgh Pirates owner Bob Nutting on the Foul Territory podcast.

It feels like more and more prominent members of the baseball world are expressing opinions about the Pirates and their overall lack of winning in recent seasons, and well, for much of the last three-plus decades.

Every fifth day last season, and what will surely be the case again this year, the baseball world has eyes on the Pirates when National League Cy Young favorite Paul Skenes takes the mound.

Skenes made his first start of the season against the Miami Marlins on Opening Day and pitched well. The 22-year-old allowed a pair of runs and struck out seven in 5.1 innings and left in line for the win. But a late collapse from the bullpen resulted in a 5-4 loss for Pittsburgh.

It’s extremely early in Skenes’ career, but ask anyone and they would say he’s on track to one day be enshrined in Cooperstown in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Recently, a former big-league pitcher already in the Hall of Fame sounded off on the Pirates on the Bear Bets Podcast.

“I’ve always said the Pittsburgh Pirates are dangerous but they never seem to really wanna win when it matters and do the things you have to do,” said John Smoltz, who pitched 21 seasons in the big leagues. “If Pittsburgh isn’t relevant this year, it’s a shame, because they have the talent and they have the pitching.”

The Pirates have not reached the postseason since playing in three-straight wild card games from 2013-15. They haven’t won a division title since 1992 and haven’t won a postseason series since 1979, when they won their fifth World Series.

Skenes is now tasked with the increasingly difficult task of trying to lead the Pirates to their first playoff appearance in a decade. Even if he didn’t receive much support from ownership and the front office this offseason.

“Baseball’s better when Pittsburgh’s relevant,” Smoltz continued. “They’ve always been my dark horse, but every time I seem to get on that bandwagon, they show me why over the last 10 years its the same old story.”

The clip of Smoltz as well as a link to the full podcast can be found below.

"If Pittsburgh isn't relevant this year, it's a shame."

John Smoltz is hoping the #Pirates have a breakthrough season.

🎙️https://t.co/vSySjHX2JJ
📺https://t.co/YTSdCaEsRd pic.twitter.com/EhnC1FlTK8

— Bear Bets Podcast (@BearBetsPod) March 28, 2025