One day after finishing the 2025 season with a 71-91 record, the Pirates extended manager Don Kelly, who took over on May 8. The team finished 59-65 under Kelly. RELATED VIDEO ABOVE: Don Kelly to return with the Pirates next season“It shows that you’re rewarding mediocrity, which is tough to handle, tough to accept as a fan,” said fan Aedan Marty.Some fans told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 Monday that they don’t see any reason to believe circumstances will change next year, even with some of the team’s successes this season.“To extend the contract of a poor performer doesn’t seem to me to pass the smell test,” said fan Ron Stromple. “So, I would ask Mr. Nutting, why do you keep hiring bad people to do a poor performance? Because you’re getting the same result of insanity.”Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 spoke exclusively with Kelly last week before his official extension. This is what he told us:“I think that we’ve gotten into some good processes and have gotten better in some areas,” Kelly said. “Still have a long way to go, and in terms of offensively continuing to get better, and the pitching side has been really good.”And the pitching was good. The Pirates led all of baseball in shutouts and had the third-lowest ERA in the National League. But the two teams above and below them on that list are playing October playoff baseball. “I think the manager is okay, but they need to get a new owner,” said fan Phil Azzolina. “The owner is just greedy, and he needs to spend more money on the team and not get rid of all the good players.”In a statement today, Pirates owner Bob Nutting said, “This season, we fell well short as an organization both on and off the field.” He added, “Today’s announcement of Donnie is the first of many steps we will take this offseason to bring winning baseball back to Pittsburgh.”Fans find that hard to believe. “I’m 30 years old. I hear that every year in my life,” Marty said. “So, you know, we had some success a decade or so ago, but it’s been tough sledding since then and hard to say it’s going to turn around any time soon.”Looking for more news in your area | Subscribe to the WTAE YouTube Channel

PITTSBURGH —

One day after finishing the 2025 season with a 71-91 record, the Pirates extended manager Don Kelly, who took over on May 8.

The team finished 59-65 under Kelly.

RELATED VIDEO ABOVE: Don Kelly to return with the Pirates next season

“It shows that you’re rewarding mediocrity, which is tough to handle, tough to accept as a fan,” said fan Aedan Marty.

Some fans told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 Monday that they don’t see any reason to believe circumstances will change next year, even with some of the team’s successes this season.

“To extend the contract of a poor performer doesn’t seem to me to pass the smell test,” said fan Ron Stromple. “So, I would ask Mr. Nutting, why do you keep hiring bad people to do a poor performance? Because you’re getting the same result of insanity.”

Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 spoke exclusively with Kelly last week before his official extension. This is what he told us:

“I think that we’ve gotten into some good processes and have gotten better in some areas,” Kelly said. “Still have a long way to go, and in terms of offensively continuing to get better, and the pitching side has been really good.”

And the pitching was good. The Pirates led all of baseball in shutouts and had the third-lowest ERA in the National League. But the two teams above and below them on that list are playing October playoff baseball.

“I think the manager is okay, but they need to get a new owner,” said fan Phil Azzolina. “The owner is just greedy, and he needs to spend more money on the team and not get rid of all the good players.”

In a statement today, Pirates owner Bob Nutting said, “This season, we fell well short as an organization both on and off the field.” He added, “Today’s announcement of Donnie is the first of many steps we will take this offseason to bring winning baseball back to Pittsburgh.”

Fans find that hard to believe.

“I’m 30 years old. I hear that every year in my life,” Marty said. “So, you know, we had some success a decade or so ago, but it’s been tough sledding since then and hard to say it’s going to turn around any time soon.”

Looking for more news in your area | Subscribe to the WTAE YouTube Channel