DK's Daily Shot of Pirates: Deafening silence 

We can only hope!!!

Pirates Friday: Lost..... Gave up 8 runs, struck out 14 times, committed 1 error. Pirates Saturday: Lost.... Scored 1 run, struck out 13 times, committed 2 errors. Thank Goodness we are keeping Raygun Shelton and his no-hitting coach!!

We'll be having this same conversation this time next year.

I'm glad that you used the term "well-being of the club" in this episode. I've been watching the Pirate players, their performances, and their body language all season, and at times they've seemed impaired as if playing with a collective spiritual "illness"-- sometimes a mild flu, and other times something more severe. This is a very SICK organization as it's currently constructed, and the players, their physical demeanor, and their performances on the field seem to have exhibited some aspect of the "organizational illness" in too many games this season. Mitch Keller in particular seems to be significantly affected by the "illness" (at least to me) based on his very inconsistent outings and his overall demeanor in postgame interviews. Sometimes after a game he looks like he's going to be physically sick, and his repeated verbal expression of "Just have to flush it and move on" (which is the simplest thing to say) appears to be a self-imposed but energy-sucking barrier that's holding back a potential flood of much stronger emotions and frustrations that Keller knows he can't express publicly. I've seen Jared Jones and Joey Bart looked similarly disturbed in postgame interviews as well, as if they're being distracted by larger problems that have nothing to do with the questions that the reporters right in front of them are asking. Observing the Pirate players this year being at times extremely "unwell" (in their own individual ways) has overwhelmingly been the most difficult aspect of this Pirates season for me to witness. The J1Q segment was very interesting to me for this reason: just as DK illuminated the fact that those in charge of scouting in the Pirates front office never sit behind home plate and actually SCOUT, it immediately brought to mind the fact that the President of the Pirates, Travis Williams, was hired by the Pirates organization having ZERO baseball experience (professionally speaking). In fact, the extent of his professional sports experience only appears to have been in the NHL before he was hired. Why (and for what reasons) was Travis Williams really brought into the Pirates organization to oversee Ben Cherington's work? I wonder on a daily basis how on Earth the Pirate players can develop well, perform consistently at a high level, and become the best versions of themselves in this total toxic mess of a franchise that's filled with the landmines of little or no hands-on baseball experience (i.e. the scouting department, Travis Williams), in combination with field manager and coaching incompetence that's also coupled with a total lack of competitiveness, a consistent motivation to win, and a shocking lack of respect for baseball fundamentals (i.e. Derek Shelton and the coaching staff). Bob Nutting needs to CLEAN HOUSE for the sake of the players first and foremost, and Pirate fans can only benefit if the organizational "illness" is slowly and systemically eradicated. Seemingly those in the most important roles (and especially leadership roles) in the organization are merely "dabbling" in baseball, which is completely unacceptable in a MLB context. Please do it, Mr. Nutting-- for EVERYONE'S sake.

Analytics doesn't tell you if a player is properly backing up a play, hustling to first on a ground ball, or is just the right fit for the clubhouse. There are no analytics for intangibles.

U only hear from Williams when there’s a new hot dog or wall gets painted

DK: why don't we ever hear from Williams? Seems he's a forgotten member of the management team?

I'm wishing the Pirates TRY. It's just ridiculous that any professional sports team can legitimately be criticized for not trying. And that starts at the top. Either Bob Nutting or the vanishing Travis Williams need to make that clear. It shouldn't take decaded(for Nutting), or 5 years(for Williams) to make that clear to the people below them.

Travis Williams???? Does he even actually exist....Also Ben Cherrington ought to just quit..Such a dummy

Morning DK, going back to your show yesterday, how about you trying to get a protest going? Bet you could get a bunch of people down there. As for the Pirates, been a fan since I could watch baseball, 60’s, and I would not blame you for not doing this show for a while. It’s just plain sad and infuriating. If I were a player I’d be looking to go to a team that gives a crap. In your opinion, is there a light at the end of the tunnel in all this?

DK just stop, they are terrible and that’s it don’t even speak anymore On the pirates I for one no longer watch