The Pittsburgh Pirates were swept by the Oakland Athletics this week, losing the final game by a shutout score of 4-0.
As I wrote earlier in the week, the offense has been severely lacking. There are very few above-average performers, and too many players who look like they need to be replaced on the Major League roster.
The Pirates have what they need to make change. The Major League team has gone 5-16 in their last 21 games, dropping from 9-2 to 14-18 in that stretch. At this point, making a change to the offense is crucial to saving the season from a severe downslide.
There are two ways the Pirates can fix the offense. The easiest is firing Andy Haines. The approach from Haines is not working, and has not been working since he arrived in 2022. By firing Haines, the Pirates would free their hitters to find their own best approach for the remainder of the season. The results can’t be worse than what we are seeing now.
I think firing Haines would be the best approach. The Pirates now have at least six spots in the lineup filled with players who will be here long-term. Their current strategy has those players adapting to the approach of Haines. It would be better to create a new approach for the needs of players who are expected to be with this team for years. It doesn’t make sense to have long-term players adapting their routines to a coach who hasn’t produced more than a bottom-third offense in six seasons as an NL Central hitting coach.
If the Pirates don’t want to fire Haines, they have players in the minors who can shake things up.
Yasmani Grandal could replace Henry Davis behind the plate. Davis has a .486 OPS and below-average defense. Other than the promise of prospect hype, there’s nothing that should keep Davis in the majors right now.
Nick Gonzales could replace Jared Triolo at second base. Triolo has shown good defense, but has a .552 OPS. Gonzales is hitting .374/.436/.606 in Triple-A, while dropping his strikeout rate to 17.3%.
Rowdy Tellez is also a candidate to be replaced, with a .552 OPS at first base, and poor defense. The Pirates have veteran Jake Lamb in Triple-A, batting .391/.481/.609. They should also make Connor Joe an everyday part of the lineup, and first base wouldn’t be a bad spot for primary time.
Those three moves would replace the three lowest performers on offense with three of the best players in Triple-A. Regardless of what the Pirates do with Haines, they should make these changes.
Right now, the Pirates are moving at a slow pace that is not conveying any urgency to compete. The Orioles sent down top prospect Jackson Holliday after 36 plate appearances, but the Pirates are giving a month-plus to Davis and Triolo to figure things out. The Cubs already cut ties with free agent addition Garrett Cooper, who was performing better than Tellez.
Both of those teams are trying to win this year. Winning means putting the best team on the field, as the best team reveals themselves during the season. It does not mean trying to win with the best pre-season plan. The Pirates are long past the point where they need to adjust the Opening Day strategy.
With an off day on Thursday, the Pirates have the opportunity to make much needed changes to impact the offense the remainder of the season.
STATCAST HEROES
The minor league Statcast Heroes can be found in the nightly Pirates Prospect Watch.
DAILY VIDEO RUNDOWN
Brenden Dixon homered for Altoona on Wednesday.
Brenden Dixon leaves the yard and we are tied in the seventh!
LISTEN: https://t.co/aioWvW3Svf
WATCH: https://t.co/6GP894jPtF pic.twitter.com/xekIpndDU1— Altoona Curve (@AltoonaCurve) May 1, 2024
Mitch Jebb homered twice for Greensboro.
Mitch Jebb is in a groove for the @GSOHoppers.
The @Pirates' No. 8 prospect swats two homers, giving him three in the past two games. pic.twitter.com/5KyGi9xr4W
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) May 1, 2024
Rodolfo Nolasco also homered for Greensboro.
Rodolfo Nolasco homer!!
Hoppers: 8 | Dash: 4 pic.twitter.com/YU8JjK8gDJ
— Greensboro Grasshoppers (@GSOHoppers) May 1, 2024
Javier Rivas had the only hit for Bradenton, and he also made this play.
Hustle play by Javier Rivas! pic.twitter.com/UWEqNKxYIs
— Bradenton Marauders (@The_Marauders) May 1, 2024
PIRATES PROSPECTS DAILY
Pirates Prospect Watch: Mitch Jebb Homers Three Times in Two Games
Statcast Heroes: Oneil Cruz, Rowdy Tellez, Paul Skenes, Nick Gonzales, Garret Forrester
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TODAY: PIRATES (14-18) OFF
In the Minors…
- Triple-A: Indianapolis, 6:35 PM – LHP Cam Alldred (0-3, 9.00)
- Double-A: Altoona, 5:00 PM – RHP Braxton Ashcraft (0-1, 6.91)
- Double-A: Altoona, Game Two – TBD
- High-A: Greensboro, 6:30 PM – RHP J.P. Massey (2-1, 3.86)
- Single-A: Bradenton, 6:30 PM – RHP Antwone Kelly (0-2, 9.00)
THIS WEEK ON PIRATES PROSPECTS
This week’s featured column for Patreon subscribers looks at the below-average offense of the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the idea of replacing hitting coach Andy Haines as a solution.
**Williams: The Pirates Are Severely Lacking on Offense
Jared Jones has been putting up better numbers than any Pirates rookie I can remember for decades. I looked at the early results from the right-hander, who is a Rookie of the Year candidate.
**Jared Jones is Having a Special Start to His MLB Career
The Pirates drafted Henry Davis first overall in 2021, with hopes of getting a power hitting catcher. He’s not hitting for power this year, and grades below-average behind the plate, which might necessitate a change.
**Henry Davis Has Questions on Both Sides of His Game
Paul Skenes is schedule for a two-start week this week, for the first time in his pro career. As the top prospect gets to a regular workload, I look at when he might arrive in the Majors, and how many innings he might throw.
**When Will Paul Skenes Arrive in the Majors?
The Pirates went with Jared Triolo as their starting second baseman out of Spring Training, which was a move that was deserved. After his early results, and early results from Nick Gonzales in Triple-A, they might need to make a change.
**Jared Triolo Looks Like a Major Leaguer, But Not a Starter
Depth is going to be crucial for the 2024 Pirates to have a winning season. They’ve already seen a few players step up to contribute in the Majors. I looked at five depth options who have excelled this year, led by RHP Hunter Stratton.
**Five Depth Options Who Have Excelled For the 2024 Pirates
SONG OF THE DAY
