Shelton tries to keep even keel
Manager is consistent, win or lose
It’s not exactly breaking news to say this current stretch has been difficult for the Pirates. Entering Wednesday’s series finale against the Cardinals, the Pirates were trying to snap a nine-game losing streak.
Not only that, recent results had been rough. A near-no hitter in the second game of a doubleheader Tuesday. A blown five-run lead the night before. The Atlanta Braves bashing four home runs on Sunday and the game before that exploding for an eight-run seventh inning.
As much promise as there seemed to be following series victories over the Rockies, Dodgers and Diamondbacks, that’s long gone now. Left are the losses and a desire to get back on the right path.
In the middle of it all, surrounded by an exceedingly young and impressionable roster, have been third-year manager Derek Shelton, someone who has definitely seen this fish before.
Shelton has been through the COVID-19 shutdown, a 19-41 record coming out of it, a 100-loss season the next year and the MLB lockout. His demeanor has been challenged plenty. The manager has also been careful not to change.
“We’ve got a lot of young kids,” Shelton said. “It’s their first experience to the big leagues. It’s their first experience to me and our staff, and if they see change because we don’t play well for a few games, then they begin to question our process and what we’re doing.
“Consistency, in my mind, especially from my seat, is the most important thing. I want them to see me the same every day, regardless of if we’ve won nine games in a row or lost nine games in a row.”
The results obviously aren’t good enough, but it’s been impressive to see Shelton stay the same way despite some ugly numbers the Pirates have piled up of late.
Over the past nine games, the Pirates are last in MLB in batting average (.189) and OPS (.545) and had struck out the most times (97). On the mound, their staff ERA of 5.59 was 24th, while only four teams had allowed more home runs than the Pirates (14). Opponents had outscored Pittsburgh, 49-21.
And while there certainly have been performances to criticize, especially Tuesday when Bryse Wilson gave up seven runs in the first two innings, the Pirates’ struggles or shortcomings of late haven’t been for lack of effort.
“My whole thing is effort,” Shelton said. “I think I told you guys, the last time we played [the Cardinals] at home, I didn’t think our effort was good, and I may have changed a little bit. But our effort’s been good. With the exception of [Tuesday[ night, we’ve played really well on this trip.”
The “change” that Shelton referenced came after that 18-4 loss to the Cardinals on May 22, when he assembled his players and said more was expected out of them. The message hit its intended target, as Pittsburgh responded by winning eight of its next 12.
A spark is needed during this particular slow stretch, although Shelton said he’s only interested in changing something if the situation warrants it. No changing for the sake of change or trying to be something he’s not.
“I try not to change,” Shelton said, “regardless of if we’re coming off that last road trip where we played as well as we could play, or coming off this road trip.”
Injury updates
The most popular job in town might soon be that of a rehabbing Pittsburgh Pirate. That was the No. 1 takeaway from Todd Tomczyk’s weekly session with reporters, the Pirates director of sports medicine describing several players who are nearing that moment. Among the key points:
• Josh VanMeter (left ring finger fracture), Kevin Newman (left groin strain) and Jake Marisnick (left thumb surgery) are all the closest. They could all start rehab assignments as early as next week. They’re all on the trip and have basically been fullgo with baseball activities.
• Ben Gamel (left hamstring) is behind that group by about three or four days, although the Pirates are ramping up the intensity of baseball activities for him.
• Yoshi Tsutsugo (lumbar muscle strain) has “made some really nice strides” in Pittsburgh and will ramp up the intensity of his work on Thursday and Friday. Tomczyk said the Pirates expect more clarity on when Tsutsugo could start a rehab assignment by the weekend.