Pittsburgh Review

The Pittsburgh Pirates concluded their 2024 season with a 6-4 loss to the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Sunday, ending the year with a record of 76-86. This marks the same outcome as last year despite several efforts to improve the team.

Manager Derek Shelton acknowledged the need for improvement: “We have to get better,” he said. “I mean, the last two teams that we played in terms of the Brewers and the Yankees, they're doing what we expect to do, and what we need to do and want to do. So I think that's the thing. We have to continue to find ways to get better."

The Pirates were active during Spring Training and throughout the season, adding Paul Skenes and Jared Jones to their rotation and making moves at the Trade Deadline. Despite these efforts, they could not convert these changes into more wins.

General Manager Ben Cherington expressed his frustration: “We were in it at the Deadline,” he said on his weekly radio show on 93.7 The Fan on Sunday. “We made the decision to add and give this team a chance. We didn’t play well enough. That’s really frustrating, but it’s become clear that we need to be better.”

The final game of their season was marred by an hour-and-a-half rain delay and ended in another bullpen loss after Alex Verdugo's single off Carmen Mlodzinski put the Yankees ahead.

Cherington highlighted bullpen issues as a major concern: "That bullpen situation is going to need to be rectified after finishing with a 4.49 ERA, 27th in the Majors." However, he also noted that improving a bullpen can take less time than other parts of a roster.

Despite these challenges, there are positive signs for Pittsburgh's future. The rotation led by rookies Skenes and Jones posted a respectable 3.95 ERA.

Veteran outfielder Andrew McCutchen sees potential: “I look at teams like the Mariners,” he said. “I look at Baltimore... When I look at teams like that, I go, 'This team isn't far off from that.' We're right there with 'em."

Isiah Kiner-Falefa echoed this optimism: ”I feel like our windows are now opening,“ he said. “We have to figure out a way to adjust and get over the hump."

As players exited Yankee Stadium's visitors’ clubhouse for perhaps the last time this season, they passed by next year's schedule—a reminder of where their focus now lies.