Pittsburgh pirates go from manager Derek Shelton after six seasons at the helm. The team dismissed Shelton Thursday after the pirates started season 12-26.
The team announced Shelton's dismissal in a statement. The managing director Ben Cherington thanked Shelton for his stay in the organization, appearing a “intelligent, curious and motivated baseball leader”.
“Derek has worked incredibly hard and has sacrificed more than five years. His family has become a large part of the Pirate family, and we will miss this,” said Pirate Director, Ben Cherington. “He is an incredibly intelligent, curious and motivated baseball chief. I think he was the right person for work when he was hired. I also believe that a change is now necessary. I want Derek and his family to be the best in their next chapter.”
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The team owner, Bob Nutting, has echoed this feeling, but added that the team “must do better”.
Pirates Bench coach Don Kelly will take over as director of the team after Shelton's dismissal.
Shelton was hired by the team before the MLB 2020 season. Before his dismissal, the pirates were detached. After playing three consecutive appearances, Pittsburgh made a percentage of victories from .471 between 2016-2019. The team finished no more than the third in the central NL during this period.
After finishing in the last place in the division in 2019, the pirates dismissed Clint Hurdle and Hired Shelton.
The pirates finished with an MLB-Worst 19 victories during the COVVI-19 season shortened in 2020, the first season of Shelton at the helm. The team failed to progress under Shelton, not finishing more than fourth in the division of the first five seasons of Shelton with the club. The team seized the last place in the Central NL when Shelton was dismissed on Thursday. Shelton respected a record of 306-440 with the pirates, good for a percentage of victories .410.
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The arrival of Paul Skenes in 2024 brought the excitement to a pirate team that desperately needed young stars. More help may be on the way soon. The launcher Bubba Chandler, one of the best consensus hopes for the game, is required to join the pirates every day now.
With Skenes excellent in the majors and chandle on his way, the pirates will turn to Kelly to hope that he can put the team on the right track.
It could be difficult without helping the front office. Cherington followed the arrival of Skenes with a calm off -season, in which the pirates barely brought notable players. This was the case throughout the majority of Shelton's mandate with the team. The team had trouble, but he didn't have exactly star players at his disposal.
Put the pirates back to the line will require a complete change in the organization. Maybe Kelly is the right person to direct this charge, but he will need support – emotionally and financially – from the front office and the nut to get there.
The arrival of Skenes looked like the start of something promising at Pittsburgh. Thursday's dismissal seems to indicate that hackers have higher expectations with their young star finally here. Shelton was the first victim of the team's failure to show growth, but he should not be the only person in the organization held at this standard.
