The Long View
Still in It: The Mariners Come to PNC
The Pirates are home at .500 and still within reach of a Wild Card. The Mariners come to town for three, and it should be a good test.
The Pirates are back at PNC after losing two of three to the Rockies, which is not how you want to come home, but here they are at 39-39 and still hanging around. They are fourth in the NL Central and 8.5 back of the Brewers. That is a real gap, but still well within striking distance. If this team ever puts together…
Read the full column →Final · 2026
The Standings
National League Central
| Club | W | L | GB | Pct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brewers | 103 | 59 | — | .636 |
| Cubs | 89 | 73 | 14.0 | .549 |
| Pirates | 82 | 80 | 21.0 | .506 |
| Cardinals | 77 | 85 | 26.0 | .475 |
| Reds | 75 | 87 | 28.0 | .463 |
Final 2026 regular season
Latest Dispatches
All posts →I Left, and Somehow Nothing Happened
I wrote my most recent article in October of 2025, and while the roster has changed, it feels eerily similar to other Pirates teams in recent years.
Thoughts on the 2025 Season
The Pirates finished 71-91, probably overachieving considering their limited offseason moves. There was some good mixed in with mostly bad. For a team that left themselves no real margin for error, the results speak for themselves.
An Offensive Graveyard: Why Position Players Fail in Pittsburgh
From Pham to Tellez, the Pirates have a long list of failed offensive acquisitions. This is a clear symptom of a broken philosophy and a front office that has turned Pittsburgh into a place where hitters' careers stall.
How Low Can the Pirates Go?
Getting swept by the White Sox was a symbolic surrender. With the GM already looking to 2026, it's time to diagnose the root of this failure: Ben Cherington's flawed organizational philosophy.
Why the Manager Doesn't Matter Much
The Pirates changed managers from Derek Shelton to Don Kelly, but the results remain the same. The debate is a distraction. The real problem is the flawed organizational philosophy they are forced to implement.
2025 Pirates First Half Recap and a Look at What's to Come
The 2025 All-Star break offers a moment to deliver a verdict on the Pirates' first half. While bright spots like Paul Skenes exist, they are being suffocated by a historically inept offense.