On October 2, 2024, the Pittsburgh Pirates organization announced a significant change in their coaching staff. This comes after a disappointing season, where they finished at the bottom of the NL Central. The Pirates’ poor performance, especially after the trade deadline, led to the termination of coach Andy Haines and bullpen coach Justin Meccage.
The Fall: A Closer Look at Pirates’ Performance
A sub-season for the Pirates, with a 76-86 record, was marked by a 21-34 finish after the trade deadline, effectively ending their playoff hopes. The team’s downfall can be attributed to several factors, most prominently a stagnant offense that has shown signs of improvement during Haines’ tenure.
Powerful Offensive Figures
The Pirates’ offensive statistics paint a poor picture of how he played. Over the past three seasons, under Haines’ guidance, the team has consistently ranked in the bottom third in all key metrics such as batting average, runs, home runs, and on-base percentage. The lack of progress was evident in the 2024 season, reflecting the disappointing performance of the previous two years.
Bullpen Woes
The Pirates’ bullpen, predicted to be a superstar at the start of spring training, unfortunately did not live up to expectations. Two key players, David Bednar, a two-time All-Star closer, and pitching man Colin Holderman, faced major challenges. Bednar lost his position late in the season, and Holderman suffered a turbulent August, resulting in three losses.
With an incredible 29 missed save opportunities this season, the Pirates trail only the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago White Sox, who have recorded a whopping 121 losses.
A New Path for Pirates
As the Pirates look to recover from this incident, the organization is determined to make drastic changes moving forward. The decision to release Haines and Meccage marks the beginning of a new chapter, as the Pirates look to rebuild their team and regain their competitive momentum.
