The 2024 season has been a roller coaster ride, to say the least, for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Only a few games are left in this season, and things have come to reflect on the year with all the highs and lows the Pirates have endured in this season. They started strong but tumbled in the second half. Let’s get into what worked and what didn’t or what the future holds for this team.
A Promising Start
In the initial parts of the season, the Pirates seemed to be one of the league’s toughest, most powerful teams. At other times in the season, they seemed to have a shot at making it into the playoffs. The fans were excited as they observed the Pirates play with some form of aggressiveness. This success was displayed when the team could pitch and hit. However, that success went away during the season.
The bright spot of the Pirates this year had been the pitching squad, specifically the rookies Paul Skenes and Jared Jones. Skenes, the No. 1 pick in the draft last year, 2023, has been sensational. With a very fine win record, 11, and only three losses, his 1.99 ERA is tremendous for a rookie. He made history by striking out 167 batters in 131 innings, which no other first-year pitcher has ever done.
Jared Jones also showed much promise but saw his season derailed by injury. He still had a decent season with a 4.14 ERA. These young arms give fans something to look forward to as they grow in health and keep improving.
Struggles at the Plate
Other than the strength of their pitching, the Pirates have lacked offense. They rank dead-last or almost dead-last in most batting categories. The lack of offense fell primarily on the shoulders of the very good pitching staff. Bats so far this season have hurt for the Pirates, except for Andrew McCutchen, who was nearly automatic at times. Managers hate trying to win with a 37-year-old, and it is not an ideal strategy in the future.
August was a sinking point for the Pirates. They were 8-19, which ruined their prospects to run post-season. This dramatic slump, or plunge, in performance has many thinking about the depth of the team and its ability to work under stress. Fans saw the promising season slip from under their very noses and tried their minds on what the future would hold.
Looking Ahead
As the Pirates conclude this season, the focus must be on improvement. Paul Skenes and Jones are potential additions at the top of the rotation, but the team needs to spend money on developing its young hitters to build a strong offense if it’s going to use the quality of pitching properly it has.
The offseason will offer the Pirates a good chance to rebuild the team. They need to find young, talented hitters who can produce and maybe complement some batting statistics. The team should look for power hitters via trades or free agencies. If they could pair strong offensive production with their strength on the mound, they could be one serious contender.
The Pittsburgh Pirates have proven they can be good with great young pitching, but their inconsistent offense has been the sticking point. Toward the end of the season, improvements must be made to create a well-rounded team that will look forward to the next day. With the right pieces during the offseason, the Pirates could make setbacks stepping stones for a brighter tomorrow. Fans are full of hope, and everyone waits to see what the next season brings.
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