Perrotto: Pirates Should Feel Comfortable in A-Ball Setting

The Commissioner traditionally has brunch with members of the Baseball Writers Association on the morning of the All-Star Game.

It is less formal than a press conference. And it is limited to those who cover baseball rather than those who never leave the house yet proclaim themselves to be beat writers.

When Bud Selig was Commissioner, I would ask the same question every year: Does it bother you that the Pittsburgh Pirates are eliminated from contention by Mother’s Day every year?

I don’t think Selig particularly liked the question, but many of the other writers would get a chuckle out of the query.

Selig is no longer the commissioner. However, I would like to ask Rob Manfred a new form of that question: Rob, does it bother you that the Pirates are already eliminated from contention before April Fools’ Day?

OK, the Pirates aren’t mathematically eliminated despite losing three of four games to the woebegone Marlins in Miami over the weekend to begin the season.

The Pirates aren’t even in last place in the National League Central. That distinction goes to the defending division champion Milwaukee Brewers after they were pummeled in three games by the New York Yankees in the Bronx in their season-opening series.

I know better than to write a team off four games into a season. I certainly realize that anything can happen in baseball after covering the sport in parts of five decades.

Also, a saving grace for the Pirates is good starting pitching and playing in a weak division.

However, I know a bad baseball team when I see it.

The Pirates have had winning seasons just seven times in 37 years since I became a baseball writer in 1988. Some of my colleagues suggest I may be history’s losing baseball writer.

The Pirates look like a bad team. I felt that coming into the season, despite management’s claim that it had improved the roster during the offseason and it was time to win now. I didn’t hold the same optimism. I predicted they would go 75-87 this year, one less win than each of the previous two seasons.

While I hate to conclude anything after four games, the Pirates haven’t inspired confidence. They were walked off three times in four days by a Marlins team that may have the weakest roster in the major leagues.

The Pirates managed just 14 runs in four games with a slash line of .184/.317/.289.

On the other hand, the Pirates stole 15 bases in 16 attempts. Their starting pitchers also shined, allowing six runs in 22.1 innings for a fine 2.42 ERA.

However, the stolen bases were negated by an alarming amount of baserunning blunders. Six years into Derek Shelton’s tenure, the Pirates still run the bases like a T-ball player, not stopping until someone tags him or her out.

The rotation’s stellar effort was negated by a bullpen that has compiled a 4.50 by giving up 10 runs – seven earned – in 14 innings. The bullpen was a problem last year and the Pirates didn’t make any moves to improve the relief corps after allowing Aroldis Chapman to jump to the Boston Red Sox as a free agent.

Making matters worse, David Bednar was on the mound when the winning run scored in two games and barely survived a two-run home run to get the save in the Pirates’ lone win. That only adds to the questions surrounding Bednar after having a rough 2024 season, then being just as bad in spring training this year.

Maybe the Pirates’ luck will change on the other side of Florida when they open a three-game series tonight against the Tampa Bay Rays. It will be a unique situation as the Rays are playing their home games at George M. Steinbrenner Field, home of the New York Yankees’ low-A farm club, after Tropicana Field’s roof was destroyed in October by Hurricane Milton.

Perhaps the Prates will feel more comfortable in those surroundings after playing like a Class A team in the first four games.