PITTSBURGH (AP) — Andrew McCutchen ran out to the Clemente Wall in right field at PNC Park and tipped his cap to the cheering crowd as they stood up to welcome back the Pittsburgh Pirates legend during the team’s home opener on Friday against the opponent. New York Yankees .
It stood as a brief instance of elegance amid an otherwise stressful evening where the positive atmosphere from baseball’s comeback was dampened by the host team's challenging beginning.
A day that started with a plane flying a banner above, asking owner Bob Nutting to sell the team, and featured manager Derek Shelton getting jeered during pre-game announcements concluded with the Pirates repeating their usual errors. in a 9-4 loss that brought their record down to 2-6.
It’s not the first period of challenging baseball that McCutchen has faced in his 12-year tenure with the Pirates. However, this marks the first instance where cries of "sell the team" have echoed through the stands during what was meant to be a joyous occasion. The volume reached its peak following consecutive defensive errors in the third inning, which aided Aaron Judge and the Yankees in pulling ahead swiftly.
By the time the seventh-inning stretch rolled around, a substantial portion of the approximately 37,000 attendees were making their way across the Clemente Bridge to avoid both the rain and the ensuing traffic jam.
They desire a successful team, and they will express their opinions; this comes with the territory," stated McCutchen, who achieved three hits out of four attempts and executed a impressive running catch on Ben Rice’s liner to conclude the fourth inning. Despite his 38 years and having not played an outfield position during spring training, his stamina proved adequate.
Others have gone as far as taking to the airways to express their dissatisfaction.
Nutting was present on the field during batting practice when he glanced up and noticed a plane carrying a banner that said "Sell The Team Bob" along with an address. website encouraging supporters to look for methods to demonstrate against his leadership.
I genuinely admire the enthusiasm of our supporters," stated Nutting, who became the owner in January 2007. "I recognize their frustration and I acknowledge their worries because they desire success for the team just as much as I do. That is what we prioritize above all else.
Since Nutting took over the Pirates, they've had only four successful seasons and made it to the playoffs just thrice. For the past eight consecutive years, the team has concluded at either the bottom or second-to-last position in the NL Central. Moreover, the franchise didn’t make significant moves in free agency to improve an offensive lineup that was one of the least productive in the major leagues last year or strengthen a relief pitching corps that faltered dramatically towards the end of summer.
Initial reports haven’t been promising. Pittsburgh’s hitting has only managed a .204 average, and two-time All-Star closer David Bednar was sent down to Triple-A Indianapolis following his rough outing at the start of the season.
The Pirates often claim they must secure victories through small plays and executing minor details consistently to stay competitive. However, they aren’t managing to do so reliably enough. Mistakes on the basepaths occur frequently. In the fifth inning, when trailing by six runs, Isiah Kiner-Falefa was caught stealing first base—a move Shelton deemed as unacceptable.
The performance in the outfield has been inconsistent at best. Recently signed Alexander Canario misplayed a ball in the third inning, allowing Trent Grisham to advance an additional base. Later in the game, Grisham scored as a result of Oswaldo Cabrera’s hit.
"We need to tidy that up," Shelton stated.
Maybe even more importantly, the Pirates need to figure out how to prevent situations from getting out of hand.
McCutchen, who remains the final remaining connection to Pittsburgh’s frequent postseason appearances between 2013 and 2015 when he was also considered one of baseball's most prominent players, hopes that the first ten days of the season will ultimately prove to be fortuitous for him.
The past few years have seen strong beginnings, yet they ultimately didn't work out well for us," he stated. "Indeed, our team is currently facing some challenges, but we mustn't let them stray too far from our path. We'll emerge stronger on the other side.
The Pittsburgh franchise has been undergoing a comprehensive restructuring since the autumn of 2019 when they appointed Shelton along with general manager Ben Cherington. Throughout this period leading up to the 2025 season, everyone within the organization—from owner Bob Nutting down to GM Ben Cherington and including National League Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes—has consistently emphasized their readiness to secure victories.
The external anxiety is evident. McCutchen is working to ensure it doesn't seep into a locker room that is still attempting to "gel."
When this occurs—and it surely will—you can only hope that the performance follows suit, which typically it does," stated the 2013 NL MVP. "We must continue pushing forward collectively, without allowing external distractions to impact us.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Will Graves, The Associated Press
