Ugh. The best part of firing a manager midseason (or in the offseason) is the hope that you’ll replace them with someone *significantly* better.
I’ll give Kelly credit — he got buy-in from some of the guys down the stretch, and getting them to play for each other when there’s nothing else to play for is a fine accomplishment. And if a better managerial candidate wanted to keep him on staff, then great, no problem. But let’s be real: I don’t look at this guy and see the managerial architect of a team turnaround.
If we’re going to keep running a league-low payroll (and probably *less* next year, thanks to Nutting’s dumb “attendance = roster spend” equation), then the only chance you have is making a legit home-run hire at manager — someone who can take a handful of young, under-performers and old, over-the-hillers, and create some sort of magic alchemy that wins baseball games. What won’t work is promoting, then extending the guy who’s been here for all these losing seasons and expecting things to change.
And how long is the extension for? We don’t know, because this organization doesn’t think we deserve to know.
It’s just disappointing. And no, I can’t get excited about “maybe cracking .500” next year. This is an unserious organization that will always prioritize cost savings over wins. Pittsburgh is a sports town, with the best stadium in the league and incredibly loyal, passionate fans who all deserve better.
Rant over. Go buccs.
No manager candidates with other options would want anything to do with this organization.
I have no issue with bringing Kelly back. I have significant issue with Cherington returning for a 7th season (which this announcement signals). Last place in the division 5 of 6 seasons. Second last the other season. Best season was 10 games under .500.
Unreal how embarrassingly inept this owner and front office are. What a joke. A sad, sad joke.
This move signals they are running out the clock until the CBA expires in Dec. 2026 and don’t want to try to do anything significant with that looming. Disappointing and predictable at the same time.
6 comments
Can’t be worse than the last guy, right?
Ugh. The best part of firing a manager midseason (or in the offseason) is the hope that you’ll replace them with someone *significantly* better.
I’ll give Kelly credit — he got buy-in from some of the guys down the stretch, and getting them to play for each other when there’s nothing else to play for is a fine accomplishment. And if a better managerial candidate wanted to keep him on staff, then great, no problem. But let’s be real: I don’t look at this guy and see the managerial architect of a team turnaround.
If we’re going to keep running a league-low payroll (and probably *less* next year, thanks to Nutting’s dumb “attendance = roster spend” equation), then the only chance you have is making a legit home-run hire at manager — someone who can take a handful of young, under-performers and old, over-the-hillers, and create some sort of magic alchemy that wins baseball games. What won’t work is promoting, then extending the guy who’s been here for all these losing seasons and expecting things to change.
And how long is the extension for? We don’t know, because this organization doesn’t think we deserve to know.
It’s just disappointing. And no, I can’t get excited about “maybe cracking .500” next year. This is an unserious organization that will always prioritize cost savings over wins. Pittsburgh is a sports town, with the best stadium in the league and incredibly loyal, passionate fans who all deserve better.
Rant over. Go buccs.
No manager candidates with other options would want anything to do with this organization.
I have no issue with bringing Kelly back. I have significant issue with Cherington returning for a 7th season (which this announcement signals). Last place in the division 5 of 6 seasons. Second last the other season. Best season was 10 games under .500.
Unreal how embarrassingly inept this owner and front office are. What a joke. A sad, sad joke.
This move signals they are running out the clock until the CBA expires in Dec. 2026 and don’t want to try to do anything significant with that looming. Disappointing and predictable at the same time.
As long as he isnt worse than shelton