There was a period of twenty years during which the Pittsburgh Pirates did not record a winning percentage of .500 or better. This dark age began after Sid Bream and Francisco Cabrera teamed up to break the hearts of Pirates’ fans in the 1992 National League Championship Series, and mercifully ended in 2013, when the Buccos qualified for the postseason for the first time since that fateful October day. 

Despite the occurrence of twenty-straight losing seasons (admittedly, I was alive for just over half), I do not think that there was a time during that era where the venom, vitriol, and complete rage from the Pittsburgh faithful rivals what has been displayed throughout the 2025 season. 

It is the sixth year of Ben Cherington’s tenure as general manager, and the team is no closer to competing for a playoff spot than it was when he took over for Neal Huntington. Since he was hired, the Pirates are 333-475, a perfect .412 winning percentage. That is 52 games behind the fourth-best team in the division during that span, the 387-421 Cincinnati Reds, and 119 games behind the best team in the division, the 453-353 Milwaukee Brewers. 

So…why does Cherington still have a job? One possibility is the notion that he has made a couple good draft picks (Konnor Griffin, Paul Skenes, Bubba Chandler). Only one of those three names has graced a MLB jersey in the regular season, though, so we do not know if Griffin or Bubba are actually good players. Skenes aside, the current roster is absolutely dreadful. They have two hitters with an OPS+ above 100, meaning they have two players that are considered to be above-average hitters (and these OPS+ values are MARGINALLY higher than 100). The pitching has been solid, with most arms having a positive bWAR, but pitching does not mean anything when you cannot score runs. 

The better explanation for Cherington’s job retention is that, since he is still under contract, firing him costs money…and Bob Nutting does not want to spend money. Why else would the GM of a team 22 games below .500 in year six of a tenure without a winning season still be employed? He has not shown evidence of substantial improvement! He has not made savvy trades! He has not done anything that you would ask of a competent general manager. 

And now, for the first time in over a century, the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise is below .500. An organization with five World Series, with countless Hall-of-Famers, with the only walk-off grand slam in game 7 in World Series history, has sunk below the standards of a successful franchise. Thanks, Bob and Ben. You have embarrassed 100 years of fans, players, and staff. It is disgraceful.