The road to 2026…guaranteed uncertainty / the current roster structure / MLB Playoff: ALCS, NLCS
You are listening to the Mark Leco podcast, a podcast by Die Hard fans for fans. Mark covers all things Penn State football and the Pittsburgh Steelers, as well as anything related to the sports and fitness world. Tune in weekly to listen to a couple of dedicated fans talk about these topics without filters. Thank you for listening to the Mark Leco podcast. [Music] What’s up, mies? Welcome to the Mark Leco podcast. I’m your host, Jayrod, and this is Pirate Central. All right, guys. First pitch of the off season truly, because I have entitled it the road to 2026, guaranteed uncertainty. There is no guarantee that this team will try to do anything to be competitive. There is nothing that would conclude that they are trying to be winners. They have never done that. It is all happen stance. That’s the nature of this organization. If it happens, great. If it doesn’t happen, also great. The the the demeanor does not change. I mean, you could tell them, you know, their house is on fire, and I think they would just say, “Okay, like they they just don’t seem to have any kind of uh meter in which to push any button to like pressure.” Like again, the the off season last year should be that indication. Um when you have people having rented airplanes with signs that say sell the team, Bob, you know, the billboards downtown, they have put uh money towards say sell the team. We’ve had people protest and absolutely nothing has uh changed anything like they have not done anything to warrant any kind of like pressure any kind of nothing like it just amounted to zip. In the end, guys, these guys get their money via the uh what is it? The revenue sharing with all the other clubs and the trades that they, you know, make with other teams. Like they’re they’re making their money no matter what, you know, the fans. And I think I heard that attendance, you know, the sales there. It just seems like that’s almost like on the very bottom tier when it comes to the how you make money and it just doesn’t affect them. It seems like it’s a little bonus, I guess. I mean, again, if they make the playoffs or if they have a winning team and, you know, we get to the playoffs, then yeah, it’s a wonderful happen stance because everything that they did worked and that’s really what it shows. They they don’t want to be the team that actually shows that they want to be winners. They just want to prove that everything they do is right. And last year was not the case at all. virtually the exact opposite effect had occurred where from the very beginning it was you know 10 15 games under 500 and by the time they were about that pace you know they fired Shelton they brought in Don Kelly he stayed around 500 and then dipped down a little bit more and by the end of it it was 71 and 91 an unforgett a very forgettable season so now you have 2026 to look forward too. I mean, that’s what you say because again, it’s they’re so far zero and zero. So, we can’t be disappointed with them just yet. I mean, that that is the the magic of the off season where you can’t be upset yet. You know, you’re going to get upset. That’s why you have six months to prepare. I’m here for you guys. I mean, I’m trying my darnest not to have any kind of discouragement. I’m not trying to be negative, but it’s just the reality of the situation. I’m an honest person who has dealt with the reality of what the circumstances that have been given to us from the organization. Now again, when Derek Shelton got fired, you know, I just recently saw something where someone put up a graphic where you saw what the players produced. Like about half of the team didn’t respond to Don Kelly and half of them actually showed pretty good uh numbers with Dawn. Um I think of course guys like Nick and Spencer, they were the two bright shining um stars. uh at the end of the season. They were the guys who had the batting averages you’re supposed to have in the off season or like during the season. But um yeah, everybody else uh Brian Reynolds did not respond to Don Kelly’s uh management at all. Like he kind of hovered around what was it 220 230ish? I mean just completely below what he is. And uh O’Neal Cruz is the probably the biggest uh culprit of what happened after Shelton got fired. I mean, they said that his batting average was like around 180, 200, what he ended up having at the end of the season, which what he hit. And I’m just like, that’s nuts for a guy who does not show any emotion like Shelton who does not I mean, again, I really don’t care for guys who apparently like to hide or people in general who like to hide their emotions behind closed doors. They don’t want to show anything. And every time you just saw Derek Shelton, it was just always like this. Like he just moved his mouth up and down. Like he never like had any kind of eyebrow raise. He never had wide eye. He just would just stand there and his whole up top face never moved and he just answered question. It just seemed like so robotic and just so lifeless. Like I just don’t understand how a guy can have a job in that kind of profession where it’s like you are going to be on camera. you are going to be in the public’s eye. You would think that you would want to try to be a little camera ready, but no. The guy just seemed like he was so I don’t care about any of this. I don’t care in general. Like again, if you do that when the cameras are off, I I’m sorry, but that just seems like that’s a pretty I don’t know what to say about it, guys. I just don’t like when people do that. It just it doesn’t seem genuine. It doesn’t seem right. Be who you are at all times. Like that’s just my attitude about it. No matter where you are at and what you are doing, be the same person. I don’t care for the whole people that have the work me, you know, party me, home me, like I just no be you everywhere you are. Like I just don’t understand. It just saves a lot of headaches with people when it comes to society. But I digress. But no, like with Don Kelly being the manager for this team now, I’d like I mean you see so so much different. I actually do see genuine emotion. I actually see a guy who can actually hold a conference or he actually answers questions with a little bit of emotion. Like he actually smiles a little bit. He actually shows a little bit of like of a different expression. It’s never just the same thing every time. So it’s it’s nice that there’s a little bit of a change in that. But does that transition into what will transpire for next year? like he’s going to be our skipper next year. And these players that are coming in, I mean, again, having a new manager does not um change the situation that is the Pittsburgh Pirates’s ultimate situation. Like I am not saying that he’s a band-aid on cancer, but this is a cancer culture that this organization has allowed to grow where you again all you expect is these players that are good to be traded to be sent out and the minor leaguers just like stay in the minor leagues until they’re 30 and then they go elsewhere and they finally get a chance to be in the majors or they just fizzle out. like this whole structure that has been built within this organization. I mean, what are you looking at? Truthfully, inside the minor league system, your hitting prospects go as far as probably Griffin, Connor Griffin, I think it’s Emanuel Valdez. I think that’s his first name. I know it’s Valdez. And maybe Tamar Johnson, maybe. Like those are the three prolific names that I constantly hear from reports that actually show something because in the DA affiliate with the curve, they were in the playoffs, the minor league playoffs this year, and they had Connor Griffin and Tamar Johnson and Valdez all in that uh group. So there’s three bats that potentially are going to be here either this coming season or 2027. But like I am always pointing out that 2027 seems like there’s just going to be a lockout because the deals are going to be up with the MLBPA and MLB and they’ll have to go into, you know, some big trade uh the discussion and uh they’re just going to have to lock it down and negotiate how they’re going to handle going forward with a salary cap, which if it doesn’t happen, guys, uh it’s it’s big big trouble for us. that’s just how it’s going to be. I mean, it needs to happen. So, when you watch um again with these players that are going to be um coming up through the system, you have also in the majors basically how many guys I mean, you’re talking maybe three or four names tops that may crack your uh top 20 or like you know, your whole major league roster. Like, I’m going to really break this down. I am going to bring this up. I’m I’m going to go right into my uh seventh inning stretch already because this is the team in which Oh, hold on. The wrong page. Apologies. Yep. Here we go. So yeah, this is the 40man roster at his current state. You have Braxton Ashcraft, Hunter Barco, Mike Burroughs, Bubba Chandler, Michael Derk Hicks, Thomas Harrington, Colin Holderman, Jared Jones will be back probably late May, early June at the latest for them. Mitch Keller could potentially be traded uh in this off season. It’s still early. Justin Lawrence, Jack Little, Isaac Matson, Carajinski, Dur Moretta, Kyle Nicholas, Johan Ovido, Johan Mermirez, Cam Sanders, Dennis Santana, Chase Schugert, Evans Cisk, and Paul Skins. Yeah, I mean the pitching I mean right there again the whole legacy of Ben Sherington basically is this whole list we just heard so far. There’s a lot of really good pitchers. I very much appreciate what these guys bring to the table, but you also look at the things that certain guys lack. I mean, if we’re looking at the guys that don’t really have a lot yet proven, like Cisk is a guy. Sanders, I mean, I have not heard that name. Johan Ramirez, I mean, he had inconsistent stuff. Kyle Nicholas, I mean, he had really inconsistent stuff. Majinsky was really good in the beginning but didn’t uh slate it uh didn’t solidify it. I mean Isaac Matson that was probably the story of last year. That was such a cool thing to know that a guy from Pennsylvania never been really in the majors never been in the minor leagues really just found somewhere in Erie then gets a try out and gets it and here he is like and he just absolutely showed that he was meant to be a professional baseball pitcher. I mean, he was fantastic. Justin Lawrence came back. That was a good news. But yeah, you know, Colin Holderman, I mean, how is he still on this roster? I mean, he definitely did not have anything remotely resembling what he had two years ago when we got him. And yeah, it just seems like there’s always going to be that thing where it’s like, when is it going to derail? When the guys have so much talent, it’s like it seems like there’s always either a setback or they completely fall apart. And that was the case with Holderman. know outside of him like I named all the guys like there’s like four or five guys that it’s like I don’t know if they are worthy of being on a team that’s meant to try to be competitive but that’s the thing we’re not trying to show that we’re just saying that we thought these guys were good and they’re going to be fantastic. So, it’s unfortunate when you watch certain performances, especially from the pitchers, where it’s like everyone else is great, but then there’s that one guy that doesn’t do the consistent thing. Then you get concerned and then you get discouraged, and that that’s really what it is. So, I mean, if we really break down what’s coming next, I mean, Joey Bart, Henry Davis, Raphael Flores. I mean, Flores was not terrible, but he was not anything to be excited about. He I think he ended his season with like a two 10 220 batting average tops. And it’s like, yeah, that’s not going to be competitive. That’s not even close to trying to be competitive. And, you know, honestly, Bart, I mean, he is going to be turning uh 29 this off season. Is he a trade piece? I mean, it wouldn’t be the worst idea, but then it’s like, you know, Henry Davis, guys. It’s a bust. I I don’t know how else to sugarcoat it, but like it’s just they got to accept it. He just does not have the hitting power that we need. You can’t have a a catcher on your um roster with his type of numbers. Like, it’s just insane. I mean, if we really go further into his numbers, I mean, his career numbers are this. He has a career batting average of 181 after seeing I mean, how many at bats? 581. That is plenty of a sample size. I think once you get over 250, 300, you really know where someone’s going to be at in their career. And look at this. his whole 2025 year 167. I mean, nothing about that is major league. Nothing. The only thing that might have a chance at staying is maybe the home runs. Maybe it’s it’s just unfortunate. But yeah, this is the sit situation they put themselves in and they have to correct it in this off seasonason. They have to go and acquire a legitimate catcher. And again, we know what they’re going to do, but what they need to do is a completely different story. I mean, and then you look at the 40man roster through the infielders. Um, Chow Chang Chang, I’m so sorry, I do not know how to pronounce that name. Cam Dey, Nick Gonzalez, Spencer Horowitz, Levi Pagarro, Andy Rodriguez may be back by spring training. Um, Ronnie Simmon, I mean, it’s it’s five. He’s at 5’8 150. I mean, dear Lord, I don’t know how that guy will be in the majors. Jared Triolo, Emanuel Valdez, again, it’s But he, look at him. 5’9, 190. I mean, that’s that would I say would be the cut off point, but I mean, h um what’s his name? Alejandro Kirk is for the I mean, my goodness, that guy must be no taller than 5’6. He is very, very short, but he gets results, guys. So, it’s a possible that a little guy can do it, but it’s just you’re asking a lot. But again, 98, I mean, he’s going to be 27 in the uh by the end of the year. So, it’s like either get him up now or it’s never going to happen. So, Nick York, it wasn’t terrible. But everything about this, like I’m said, Nick Gonzalez and Spencer Horowitz, these are the guys that are going to be slated to do something next year for sure. and everybody else, I mean, toss up. You don’t know. Constantly gets injured, can’t trust them, can’t they’re not reliable. So, it’s it’s a mess in the infield. But knowing that we have a first baseman and a second baseman, at least you have half of it figured out. And here you have the outfielders, G1 Bay, Alexander Canario, Billy Cook, O’Neal Cruz, Ryan Kendler. I didn’t even know this guy was on our roster. Andrew McCutchen, Tommy Fam, Brian Reynolds, Jack Sinsky. If I saw this correctly, I heard that Jack Sowinsky may have a shot at getting an arbitration deal of like 2.7 million. And I am just like based on what? How does a guy who is going to get 2.7 million give you this? One.147 RA nothing. I mean, he is worse than Davis. That’s probably the worst hitter we had in last season. I don’t care if that’s only 150 at bats. That’s insane. His whole career is under 200 and he might get $2.7 million. That is a very savvy human being. I’ll pro I’ll give him that. That’s pretty impressive. But yeah, I mean, what are your guarantees for the outfield? Brian Reynolds, we don’t know if Fam or McCutchen will be coming back next year. These guys are in the ends of their careers. Not they still can’t play, but I’m saying they’re at the back ends. And what do you want to play for? I mean, we want to play for championships. We want to actually have one run at going all the way. And I I I just know that this right here is just the epitome of what should have been when they went into the s uh playoffs in the early 2010s. I mean, he was right there. He was like 26, 27. He was all It was fantastic, guys. And seeing that guy in the playoffs, he deserved it. But, you know, again, it was a oneame playoff each time. And I think for the most part of his playoff career, I mean, he only had so many games, but he, you know, he didn’t have the biggest moment. So, it was like we we had a shot in 2013 in the division round against the Cardinals, but if I’m right, I think he had a batting average of 220. Like, it was just okay. It wasn’t good enough. And it yeah, it just stinks that you see where you can get to and then you see how much you don’t have that can compete. And that was really what it came down to. We finally had teams that got to the playoffs, but it it’s takes more. I mean, look at this. You’re talking about one Reynolds, two Horowits, three Gonzalez. I mean, we’re going to keep Flores because we just traded to it for him. four. He may be a backup catcher. And all these pitchers, four guys out of nine in the majors that can actually be potentially something for a push for contention. This is what you have, folks. This is what the Pittsburgh Pirates organization has given you. It has given you basically if you do that in percentages how many how many guys are in each roster for AAA double A single A and majors I mean you’re looking at 160 so four guys I mean that is a 4% I mean good god what what more is there to say about it I mean the fact that you gave us 4% of players that have any shot of doing anything going into next year that’s really what it comes comes down to guys, we are just we’re in trouble and where does it end? I mean, it just stinks that we’re just not going to try to be competitive, but that’s really what it comes down to, guys. The organization has to care. They just do. So, in closing this out, guys, and again, I’m trying my darnest not to be negative, but I mean, it’s it’s a long road to the spring training in February. So, we we’ve got a long five months ahead of us. But again, I’ll be here every week. And I’m going to end it here, guys, with the showing of the matchups for the playoffs. We’re now into the NLCS and ALCS. See here. And I know we already started from last night. I mean, this is currently uh Monday, October 13th I’m doing this episode. So, if it uh gets loaded late, just know that that’s when I did it. So, you have the Mariners currently leading the Toronto Blue Jays, which was a great game yesterday. I mean, Gauzeman for the Blue Jays, he did everything he could to keep that game close. And then the bullpen got in and, you know, the Mariners, they they just have a great bunch of bats. I mean, they they have been ink inking at this for like, you know, doing something in the playoffs for over 30 years. I mean, what’s it been at least 20 years since they’ve been to the playoffs, but you know, they they were really competitive, you know, in the 90s. I mean, it’s only been a couple of handful of times that they have had a chance to make it all the way. And I don’t think they’ve ever made the World Series. So, everybody is due. And I know that the Mariners are a team that it’s like, wow, Seattle might actually have a shot at going all the way and winning everything. That would be really cool to know because again, the Seahawks just won won a Super Bowl 2014 or 13. It was something like in the early 2010s and yeah, that was really cool to know that Seattle had a championship team and it’s like could they possibly see the baseball team do something? I know they’ve been a in the uh MLB now for the what early 70s like they’ve almost been around for 50 55 years. And for them to finally get all the way to the championship, I mean, that would be everything. I mean, that’s exactly what some people who are, you know, what would they be 40, 45 years old now, if they follow this team their whole lives, growing up watching Ken Griffy Jr. and Randy Johnson and all them in the 90s and then saying that now their kids are going to grow up seeing a championship team. I mean, that’s really what this is all about. This is just all about the things that you saw in your life. And if the Mariners could pull that off, that would be pretty awesome. And I that’s what I really see. I do I do see that the Seattle Mariners will take this game to game six and they will go to the World Series. I do like the Blue Jays a lot. I really truly do. But the Seattle Mariners story is it’s just a better story. It just it needs to happen. and then could potentially in the NLCS Dodgers and Brewers start tonight at 8 o’clock on TBS. This is it, folks. This is about as big market versus small market as you can get, especially with this kind of setup for the World Series. Either the big league club gets it or the small club team gets it. I mean, you look at what the Mariners or that the Mariners the Brewers, sorry, Milwaukee Brewers have endured for at least half a century. I mean, they they’ve only been to the big show. I think they’ve gotten close. I don’t know if they’ve been to the World Series. Again, it was they’ve been in the playoffs, but I don’t think they’ve ever made the World Series. And they have so much talent. I mean, you have their uh coach. Oh, is it is it Pat Murphy? I think that’s the guy’s name for the Brewers head coach. But yeah, like you’ve got Dave Roberts on the other side with years and years and years of success. I mean, all those championships and all the accolades and MVPs on the Dodgers that it’s just really what it’s all about. This this this is a really cool story to know that you’ve got these big names going up these other guys and it could very well be, you know, the upset, the underdog. We This is what really you love seeing as a fan, seeing the underdog get all the way to this juggernaut of the franchise, you know, can you break down the empire? Like that’s really what this is. You’re you’re asking this little tiny, you know, spaceship to take on the whole like Enterprise. like it’s just it’s it’s going to be absolutely incredible back and forth and I do think this is going to be pushed to at least game six. I’m going to say it’s going to go all the way to seven and I do believe I do believe that the underdog will actually prevail. I think that folks we are going to witness the Seattle Mariners take on the Milwaukee Brewers. Two teams that have never won a World Series go all the way and winner wins the World Series for the first time. Gosh, it just doesn’t get more romantic and more sappy and movie than that. I mean, I just again, I love me a good movie uh about baseball and this would definitely be a Field of Dreams for everybody. So, I’m I’m very much looking forward to it, guys. This is just again, I love the playoffs. I love baseball. And yeah, so this is wrapping up for today’s episode and I really hope you guys have enjoyed it. I will see you again for the next one for next week. And you know, again, just a little side note, I didn’t even mention um the Pirates getting rid of their pitching coach, Oscar Marine. Honestly, it’s just because now Kelly knows that these guys need to have a better, you know, motivation, I guess. I mean, we’re we’re sitting there talking about that they don’t they got they kept the hitting coach, Matt Hey, that didn’t produce anybody pretty much and yet we get rid of the best part of our team. Again, Pittsburgh Pirates, guys. I I I just again, what what doesn’t surprise you about these guys. So, this is really what we have to deal with. And again, long road ahead of us, guys. Five months until spring training. Lot can happen. So, again, you guys have yourselves a good one. And until next time, guys, let’s
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