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Baseball
Is Don Kelly Really to Blame for the Pirates’ Failed Season?
North Shore Nine: A Pittsburgh Pirates Podcast›
Sep 15, 202617:13
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Baseball
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The Pirates entered 2026 with playoff expectations, and with those hopes essentially gone, Don Kelly has become a popular target for frustrated fans.
Alex Stumpf looks at what Kelly deserves blame for, what was outside of his control, and why firing him might not solve the Pirates’ bigger problems. Alex also discusses the Gregory Soto decision in Chicago, Carmen Mlodzinski coming through in a huge spot, the handling of Paul Skenes, a season full of injuries and why 2027 could become one of the most important years in franchise history.
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"Is Don Kelly Really to Blame for the Pirates’ Failed Season?" is an episode of North Shore Nine: A Pittsburgh Pirates Podcast. Runtime 17 min. Published September 15, 2026. Hit play above to stream it here, or open the free Spot Sports app for background play and offline downloads.
