We’ve got to remember that Pittsburgh Pirates manager Don Kelly is only 142 games into his managerial career.
That’s not an excuse for his ridiculous decision to pinch-hit for Brandon Lowe on Tuesday night during a 5-4 loss to Washington. A trained chimpanzee using an AI chatbot could’ve told Kelly that was the wrong thing to do.
That frame of reference, though, is a reminder that Kelly truly doesn’t know what it is like to be in that hot seat when baseball results really matter in his hometown of Pittsburgh yet. This year, so far, they do.
Meanwhile, the Bucs were already 13 games under .500 when he took over for Derek Shelton last year. So, feeling the extended fallout from a flubbed decision like that — before the Steelers make a draft choice and the Penguins lose a playoff game — means that all the spotlight is on Kelly.
I bet Wednesday was a lot of fun for him.
Let’s make things alllll better by having some more fun at his expense in this week’s “U mad, bro?”
Matt was mad that Don Kelly pinch-hit for Lowe on Tuesday night, despite the fact that Lowe had four homers over the three games — including one earlier that day (off a lefty). Nick Yorke replaced him and hit into a double play.
“In the 7th inning of the April 14 game — Bucs within a run, bases loaded, one out, and the Nationals quaking in their cleats at the prospect of facing red-hot Brandon Lowe — Don Kelly decides to swap in Nick Yorke to pinch hit. No disrespect to Yorke, but Lowe had been so hot this past week … there is no further evidence needed that Don Kelly has no feel for a dugout.”
I actually think Kelly is a better manager so far than you do, but I couldn’t agree more with your complaints about this situation. That was egregious over-managing. There is no need to go righty-lefty there.
I know Lowe stinks against lefties, but he homered off of one earlier in the day, and his .143 batting average against left-handers was the same as Yorke’s at the time.
I heard Kelly try to justify the move Wednesday on the radio pregame show, and I just think that made the situation worse.
Thomas didn’t like that move either.
“Pinch hit for Lowe??? Crazy!!!”
I like Kelly. So I want to try to find a way to validate it, Thomas, but …
Erik sent this comment to “Madden-Benz:Unfiltered!” after the Pirates bullpen had some bad outings last week.
“Will the bullpen be the Pirates’ downfall if they end up with another poor season? The minute the starter is pulled, I assume the worst is about to become reality.”
I have concerns about the bullpen, too, Erik. For the most part, things have been really good so far for the Buccos. That said, the defense is shaky as well, and I sure would like to see a real lefty starter in the rotation.
But, come on now, Erik. What is it about the last three decades that makes you inclined to always think the worst about the Pittsburgh Pira …
… nevermind.
Dave also chimed in about the Pirates’ bullpen.
“They should have never traded Bednar!”
Dave, Bednar may have five saves so far with the Yankees, but he recently blew his first one. He’s 1-2 with a 4.70 ERA and has allowed a run in four of his last six outings. Let’s not count those chickens yet.
Also, one outing at Wrigley Field aside, Dennis Santana and Gregory Soto have been good. It’s not the back-end guys that have been the problem. It’s been the middle relief.
“StillMill1” is using the Penguins’ postseason trip to take a victory lap about the franchise firing Mike Sullivan.
“Pens make the playoffs ! First time in 4 years. And what changed? What was the biggest impetus? Why, the head coach, that’s what. Muse did everything Michael THE ALMIGHTY Sullivan refused to do — Instill standards. Accountability. Game planning. In-game adjustments. Innovation. Leadership. And a halt to over-reliance on grizzled veterans who weren’t worth a (darn)…COACHING. It matters. Stop the over-reliance on stale coaches whose value, like that of a stale loaf of bread, is little more than 10 cents.”
Well, if we are burying guys on the way out the door, I’d also argue the subtraction of Tristan Jarry helped.
But give Kyle Dubas equal credit for the additions of Anthony Mantha, Ben Kindel, Egor Chinakhov and others.
Unfortunately for the New York Rangers, Sullivan is worth a little bit more than 10 cents. It’s about $6.5 million per year.
Finally, “wxman21b” took great offense to my “cross-state hate” column about the Penguins-Flyers rivalry and their looming playoff series.
“Hate is a very strong word that shouldn’t be used by a sports columnist or by anyone else in the world! You are what is known as an instigator!”
Lighten up, Francis. Give me a little poetic license, eh?
Because if anyone knows about “instigating,” there’s about 60 years of evidence suggesting it is the Flyers.