At this point, not even two weeks into the season, Pittsburgh Pirates baseball isn't even fun to watch anymore.
Over the past three calendar days, the Pirates have lost three consecutive games to the Minnesota Twins to by scores of 5-4, 7-3 and 5-2 to let their record slip to 2-10, the worst in all of Major League Baseball.
It's not even worth analyzing. The on-field product has been miserable. If fans were allowed in the seats, I'm not even really sure people would want to come.
At this point, even with a 16-team playoff field, the Pirates are well on their way to selecting first overall in next year's draft. And honestly, as frustrating as it may be, this is probably the best thing to happen for the franchise.
The major-league field and the farm system are as thin as can be. A full-scale rebuild, one that will be grueling to witness as fans, is essential for the success of this franchise.
It also doesn't help when your top six hitters probably couldn't hit a beach ball if it was thrown to them right now. Adam Frazier (.163), Kevin Newman (.167), Josh Bell (.222), Colin Moran (.220), Bryan Reynolds (.135) and Gregory Polanco (.053) have been simply atrocious through the first 20% of this season.
A rotation deprived of its top two starters (Jameson Taillon, Chris Archer) to injury has not been horrendous, as Joe Musgrove, Trevor Williams, Mitch Keller, Steven Brault/Chad Kuhl and Derek Holland have probably exceeded expectations to this point. Oh yeah, and Mitch Keller and Chad Kuhl were recently sent to the injured list.
Set that aside, and look to what could be a promising bullpen. As recently as last Labor Day, the Pirates could have envisioned a 'pen of Felipe Vazquez, Keone Kela, Kyle Crick, Richard Rodriguez and Edgar Santana. Pretty impressive, huh?
Well, Vazquez wound up in jail, Kela contracted COVID-19 and may never return, Crick found his way onto the injured list, Santana got busted for PED use and Rodriguez is still susceptible to the homerun ball, but he's been slightly better?
Okay, fine. Nick Burdi and Michael Feliz are relief arms that could end up breaking out this year and being bright spots.
Nope, they're both on the 45-day injured list and won't hit the mound again until 2021.
Okay, at least some reserve players will finally get the chance for some playing time.
Uh, Jose Osuna and Guillermo Heredia were sent to Altoona following tonight's loss to the Twins.
This is just so frustrating. But hey, if it means restocking the farm system and creating a brighter future, then I'm all for it.
Maybe we can start playing JT Riddle on a regular basis, eh?
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