{"id":72110,"date":"2024-05-02T08:00:51","date_gmt":"2024-05-02T12:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=72110"},"modified":"2024-05-01T23:20:11","modified_gmt":"2024-05-02T03:20:11","slug":"pirates-shelton-set-lineup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/05\/02\/pirates-shelton-set-lineup\/","title":{"rendered":"The Pirates Have Problems. Here\u2019s One Thing That Won\u2019t Solve Them."},"content":{"rendered":"

One common criticism of Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton<\/a> is his unwillingness to stick with a set lineup every day. The Pirates offense<\/a> has been pathetic lately and is a chief reason why they\u2019re 5-16 in their last 21 games. Pirates batters are hitless in their last 16 at-bats with runners in scoring position. To borrow a phrase the legendary Pittsburgh Steelers coach Chuck Noll<\/a> once said of his troubled defensive lineman Ernie Holmes<\/a>, Shelton has problems, and they are many. However, the use of a set lineup won\u2019t solve them.<\/p>\n

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Pirates started 20-8 last year. Proceeded to go 5-16. Were 25-24 after 49 GP.<\/p>\n

This year, started 9-2. In the middle of another 5-16 skid. Currently 14-18.<\/p>\n

Then again, they had two 5-17 stretches in ’22.<\/p>\n

So much for shortening long losing periods.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Jason Mackey (@JMackeyPG) May 2, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n