The Morning Report is back, and I find this upcoming series with the Royals interesting. We have the Pirates playing out the string, almost eliminated from the playoffs. We have the Royals in pretty good position for a wild card and still an outside shot at the division. They are in 2nd Wild Card spot 5 games ahead of the Tigers. These games are far from meaningless to the Royals. The Pirates are playing pressure free games. The Royals are in the thick of the playoff race and although their position is good, they are far from clinching anything. Many times, a team like the Pirates, pathetic, can be a real thorn in the side of a playoff contender this late in the season. The Pirates are just coming off sweeping the even more pathetic Marlins, to go on a 4 game winning streak. The Royals have been treading water the last 10 games going 5-5. Let’s see if the Pirates can play spoilers.
The other newsworthy item is it looks like Derek Shelton, unfortunately, will manage the Pirates next year. Cherington’s quote was, I believe he is the right man to manage this team in 2025. He sure as hell did very little managing in 2024, so he should be fresh to do the job. The bottom line, Nutting is not going to eat another contract. Everybody has to get better according to the management team. This is pretty pathetic, my favorite word today. I can’t even comment on such rhetoric. It is a shame that the fans of Pittsburgh have to put up with such incompetence. I think the Pirates have the talent. In order for this team to get into the playoffs next year we have to hope that they get off to a horrible start so Shelton will get fired around the 15th of May. One last thought, which will be expanded upon at the end of the season. WILL THE PIRATES SIGN ANYBODY DURING THE OFFSEASON THAT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE TEAM? That will be the first step.
The Goofy Game of Golf/Life Searching for the Answer 