I find no satisfaction in this situation. Arguing for someone’s job to be on the line is not something I enjoy; I’d much rather be writing about other topics. It’s an unpleasant task.
I have no hidden agenda. I don’t take pleasure in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ struggles, nor do I benefit financially from increased page views.
Last night, the Pirates delivered another disappointing offensive performance. Red Sox pitcher Brayan Bello dominated, allowing just one hit and striking out seven over six innings in the Pirates’ 8-1 loss.
The performance of Quinn Priester in his season debut or Jared Jones’ strong outing in New York are overshadowed by the poor state of the offense. When the team’s offense is this lackluster, other aspects become secondary.
Since starting the season 9-2, the Pirates have gone 2-7. Their once strong BABIP has plummeted, and the whole team has collectively stopped hitting. They have struck out 91 times in this stretch, which is unacceptable.
With the Pirates now aiming to compete, the benefit of the doubt previously given to hitting coach Andy Haines, due to the weak rosters of 2022 and 2023, is no longer valid. The team must act accordingly, and Haines no longer meets the standard.
Under Haines, the team has frequently fallen into a disorganized and passive approach, leading to inconsistent performance and a roster that appears hopeless for extended periods.
It’s unacceptable that Oneil Cruz strikes out 40% of the time, Henry Davis is hitting .188, and Rowdy Tellez has only one extra-base hit. The lack of situational hitting and the poor performance of key hitters cannot continue.
After finishing near the bottom in key offensive categories in 2022 and 2023 under Haines, the Pirates are once again among the worst in several important metrics this season, such as wRC+, strikeout percentage, slugging percentage, and home runs.
However, the problem extends beyond Haines. Observing the issues within the organization’s farm system reveals that the problem is broader than just the Major League hitting coach.