Mark Madden’s Hot Take: Pirates watch as rival Reds improve by hiring New Brighton’s Terry Francona
Mark Madden is a prominent sports radio host and commentator in Pittsburgh, known for his outspoken and opinionated take on the city’s sports teams, especially the Steelers, Penguins, and Pirates. He hosts The Mark Madden Show on 105.9 The X, where he offers blunt, humorous commentary on ongoing sports events. Recently, he’s been discussing the Steelers’ progress in the 2024 season and critiquing the Pirates’ management decisions, such as their handling of Andrew McCutchen.
The Pittsburgh Pirates significantly bolstered their pitching staff this season by adding MLB’s top pitcher, Paul Skenes, a highly-touted prospect from LSU, who quickly made his mark in the majors. Alongside Skenes, another strong arm joined the rotation, improving the team’s overall pitching depth.
On the offensive side, their star hitter returned to full health after a frustrating 2023 season, in which he only played nine games due to an injury from a poor sliding technique. While his sliding issues may still be a concern, his return brought much-needed firepower to the Pirates’ lineup.
Despite the Pittsburgh Pirates making key additions to their roster, including the league’s best pitcher and the return of their top offensive talent, they finished the 2024 season with the same disappointing record of 76-86, identical to last year. This outcome reflects the broader struggles of the team, which continued to face challenges in development, consistency, and overall team performance. Even after the season ended, the Pirates still managed to face embarrassment, indicating deeper issues within the organization, from player management to strategic decisions.
The Pittsburgh Pirates have decided to retain both GM Ben Cherington and manager Derek Shelton, despite their underwhelming track record over the past five seasons. Many fans see this decision as primarily driven by the team’s low-cost approach to management. Cherington and Shelton have presided over several losing seasons, showing little improvement, yet their jobs seem secure. The Pirates’ reluctance to spend remains a key criticism, as owner Bob Nutting has been known for prioritizing profitability over competitiveness, dismantling a competitive roster after the 2015 season due to its rising cost.
In contrast, Cincinnati made a bold move by hiring Terry Francona as their manager, luring him out of a brief one-year retirement. Francona, a New Brighton native who grew up as a Pirates fan, is widely regarded as one of MLB’s best managers, destined for the Hall of Fame. Despite Francona’s local ties and admiration for Pittsburgh, the Pirates made no effort to pursue him, likely aware that he would not be interested in managing a team where ownership is unwilling to spend adequately on talent. The Pirates’ frugality makes them less appealing to elite managers like Francona, who opted for a more ambitious Reds team.
Although both the Pirates and Reds are in small-market cities and have comparable payrolls—$85 million for Pittsburgh and $100 million for Cincinnati—the Reds are seen as far more willing to invest when they see an opportunity to win. Kansas City’s recent leap from 106 losses last year to a postseason berth this season further highlights how other small-market teams are outpacing Pittsburgh. The Royals improved not only through player development but also by increasing their payroll when success seemed within reach—something the Pirates have historically failed to do. Francona likely recognizes that the Reds have more ambition and are better positioned for success than the Pirates.
