For years, it’s felt like déjà vu in Pittsburgh. New seasons often begin with new faces, the rise of a few breakout stars, and that all-too-familiar optimism that the tide is finally turning. But just as quickly, reality hits. The Pittsburgh Pirates spiral downward, once again, and the team identifies itself in a never-ending rebuild loop.
The face behind this cycle is Bob Nutting—whose name sparks more eye-rolls than hope. As the city’s beloved team continues to falter, the heat around management intensifies. And with each lost season, the silence from ownership grows louder.
It was supposed to be just another Tuesday night at PNC Park. Instead, it became yet another sad chapter in what is becoming an exhausting period for the fans. A 9-0 blowout to the Cubs was a spotlight on all wrong with the team currently. Seiya Suzuki‘s home run was a punctuation mark, and the infamous “sell the team” chant began. But they didn’t last long enough—there weren’t enough home fans in the stands to sustain them.
Nutting’s team is now sitting at 11-19, eight games under .500, just 30 games into the season. And while that accounts for only 18.5 percent of 2025, fans are already out of patience. And the Pirates’ offense? They’ve been shut out five times and have failed to score more than two runs in a third of their games. This isn’t just a slow start—it’s an offensive collapse. Fans are not buying excuses anymore and are calling out internal dysfunction. “Bob Nutting has done nothing but collect checks while we suffer through losing season after losing season.” This did not come from a media house or an analyst. It’s coming from the people who matter most—the fans—and it’s boiling over.
The frustration goes beyond just losing—it is about the total lack of urgency. Six years into the Cherington regime, five years into this supposed “new direction,” and what’s the return? A team OPS of .641—the fourth-lowest in MLB. This is a cast of bad first basemen. In addition, the fanbase is watching Henry Davis to take the backfoot while veterans with sub-.500 OPS stat takes the guidance. The Pirates are a team stuck in molasses.
So the question is: what exactly is Bob Nutting waiting for? His rebuilding excuse has expired. The Pirates have decent pitching, some marketable stats, and somehow… still nothing to show for it. Fans are watching the same story they’ve been fed since 2007. Just look across the field. The Cubs got destroyed in 2021 and 22, losing 91 and 88 games. But today, they lead MLB in offense.
The issue is—storms do not fix themselves and this one is been hanging over the Pirates for far too long.
Uncertainty of Derek Shelton’s future with the Pirates
The Pirates’ current struggles have not just reflected poorly on Nutting; they’ve also raised serious questions related to manager Derek Shelton’s future. While his tenure has been marked by lackluster outcomes, the latest wave of injuries has undeniably made things worse. Still, the looming concern remains: can Shelton survive another losing stretch? Or will the front office finally decide it’s time for a change?
Shelton’s number with the team stands at 305-432, with multiple last-place finishes in the NL Central. Yet, it is tough to ignore the context. The team has been under-resourced, and this season is not much different. The absence of key stars like Spencer Horwitz and Nick Gonzales, combined with the shutdown of Jared Jones, has severely hurt the team’s competitiveness. In addition, offseason additions, like Tommy Pham, have underperformed and have done little to solve the team’s offensive issues. With the Pirates’ pitching star not yet ready for the big stage, Shelton has had to rely on a misfit rotation with stars, like Carmen Maldonado, highlighting the challenges he’s been forced to manage.
Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton walks in the dugout during a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in Pittsburgh, Thursday, April 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
While he could have been given a vote of confidence by Ben Cherington after the 2024 season, there are clear highlights that time is running out. Cherington’s recent comments suggest the manager’s leash is shorter than it may appear. Meanwhile, in the large expectations from Nutting, who has extended the need for enhancement, and it is clear that the upcoming few games could determine Shelton’s future with the franchise.
The team’s continued struggle has reached a boiling point, with frustration mounting on and off the field. Nutting continues to draw the ire of fans, while Shelton’s tenure teeters on the edge, compounded by a lineup plagued by underperformance and injury. But one thing is certain: the clock is ticking, and for Pirates fans, patience is wearing thin.
Will change finally come? Or will the cycle of disappointment continue?
Only time will tell.
The post “Has Done Nothing” – Bob Nutting Faces Fiery Backlash as Pirates’ Never-Ending Struggles Deepens appeared first on EssentiallySports.