How are yinz feeling about 2026? Should Big Don be back as manager?
August 10, 2025
We are .500 since firing Shelton
34 comments
He is decent but at this point you need a new gm and let him bring in his choice of manager no disrespect to don but its time for yet another pittsburgh pirates reset
How am I feeling about 2026?
I am thinking next year will be the season the team puts it all together to win the div……
I say keep Donnie if you’re keeping Ben. Why let Ben make the next hire?
Or, my preferred option, fire Ben and move on from Donnie.
I’d be happy to retain him but any new GM is realistically going to bring in a guy to replace him.
He’s done a really good job as a manager IMO, but a new GM is going to want to bring in his own guy rather than be stuck with the last guy.
It’s hard to judge him. He doesn’t have a good roster. So 500 is probably decent and getting the most out of it. That said, still think you need a full search
Don’t care who the manager is. I care who they pick up in the off season
How much does the manager matter given the owner-created problems being caused?
Does it even matter anymore?
Until Nutting sells or retires, there really isn’t any hope here.
“500 is probably decent with the roster” no Donny is a miracle worker. Keep him
So we are assuming they are going out and potentially getting a manager? Given the fact that DK isn’t and never has been labeled as the interim manager I’m not so sure they are going to be looking.
I like Don but I don’t know if he will be retained.
He can hire a new hitting coach and let’s see an off-season moves that make us feel more consistent at the plate
Joe Girardi ??
Feeling the same way since 1996 moving around pieces on a lopsided chess board.
Everything coaching-wise needs torn down in the offseason. This staff had their chance.
It doesn’t really matter tbh. I wanted them to go after Francona this past off season. Seemed like a no brainer to me. But this team does nothing right, so it doesn’t matter.
Nope
I like Don a lot. But I agree get a new GM and let him decide. Manager in baseball does not mean as much in game anymore though.
Far from perfect, but he’s a good fit.
However I can see the new GM if we hire one bringing in his own manager and staff.
Donnie has a record floating around .500 with a garbage roster. That is beyond what anybody expected.
I say we give Kelly a full season next year. If he can’t cut it for 162 we can easily move on from him.
Buccos are 39-41 under Kelly. Keep him
No and the pirates should move to another city to steal their fans money and tax dollars
At the end of the day how much does the manager matter? If they don’t bring in more talent they’re still going to be mediocre. Just bring him back because there isn’t a guy out there that’s going to improve this team unless they bring talent in.
No need new everything
I’m fine keeping Donnie but literally everyone else around him has to go. I think he’s a decent manager without too many weak spots, but outside of maybe Oscar Marin no one else from this staff can stay in tact. And please baby Jesus let’s get Ben Cherington the fuck out of Dodge.
Absolutely not
Clean out every last molecule of rot from this regime. Kelly included.
I am 100% serious when I say this: Don Kelly is the NL Manager of the Year. He took a team that looked flat and lifeless and turned it completely around right out of the gate. If he finishes the season with a .500 record you have to give him the award.
So yeah make him the full-time manger.
Donnie has been apart of this mess since 2020.
Does it matter
Team needs a reset. That includes GM, manager, & coaching staff.
They could hire Jesus Christ himself to manage this team but it won’t matter a damn thing if they continue to not spend money and field a team of mostly scrubs.
34 comments
He is decent but at this point you need a new gm and let him bring in his choice of manager no disrespect to don but its time for yet another pittsburgh pirates reset
How am I feeling about 2026?
I am thinking next year will be the season the team puts it all together to win the div……
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
I say keep Donnie if you’re keeping Ben. Why let Ben make the next hire?
Or, my preferred option, fire Ben and move on from Donnie.
I’d be happy to retain him but any new GM is realistically going to bring in a guy to replace him.
He’s done a really good job as a manager IMO, but a new GM is going to want to bring in his own guy rather than be stuck with the last guy.
It’s hard to judge him. He doesn’t have a good roster. So 500 is probably decent and getting the most out of it. That said, still think you need a full search
Don’t care who the manager is. I care who they pick up in the off season
How much does the manager matter given the owner-created problems being caused?
Does it even matter anymore?
Until Nutting sells or retires, there really isn’t any hope here.
“500 is probably decent with the roster” no Donny is a miracle worker. Keep him
So we are assuming they are going out and potentially getting a manager? Given the fact that DK isn’t and never has been labeled as the interim manager I’m not so sure they are going to be looking.
I like Don but I don’t know if he will be retained.
He can hire a new hitting coach and let’s see an off-season moves that make us feel more consistent at the plate
Joe Girardi ??
Feeling the same way since 1996 moving around pieces on a lopsided chess board.
Everything coaching-wise needs torn down in the offseason. This staff had their chance.
It doesn’t really matter tbh. I wanted them to go after Francona this past off season. Seemed like a no brainer to me. But this team does nothing right, so it doesn’t matter.
Nope
I like Don a lot. But I agree get a new GM and let him decide. Manager in baseball does not mean as much in game anymore though.
Far from perfect, but he’s a good fit.
However I can see the new GM if we hire one bringing in his own manager and staff.
Donnie has a record floating around .500 with a garbage roster. That is beyond what anybody expected.
I say we give Kelly a full season next year. If he can’t cut it for 162 we can easily move on from him.
Buccos are 39-41 under Kelly. Keep him
No and the pirates should move to another city to steal their fans money and tax dollars
At the end of the day how much does the manager matter? If they don’t bring in more talent they’re still going to be mediocre. Just bring him back because there isn’t a guy out there that’s going to improve this team unless they bring talent in.
No need new everything
I’m fine keeping Donnie but literally everyone else around him has to go. I think he’s a decent manager without too many weak spots, but outside of maybe Oscar Marin no one else from this staff can stay in tact. And please baby Jesus let’s get Ben Cherington the fuck out of Dodge.
Absolutely not
Clean out every last molecule of rot from this regime. Kelly included.
I am 100% serious when I say this: Don Kelly is the NL Manager of the Year. He took a team that looked flat and lifeless and turned it completely around right out of the gate. If he finishes the season with a .500 record you have to give him the award.
So yeah make him the full-time manger.
Donnie has been apart of this mess since 2020.
Does it matter
Team needs a reset. That includes GM, manager, & coaching staff.
They could hire Jesus Christ himself to manage this team but it won’t matter a damn thing if they continue to not spend money and field a team of mostly scrubs.
I like Donnie Ball.
Probably not