Pirates should be embarrassed watching MLB’s smallest markets dominate October

Rum Bunter's Emma Lingan argues that the Pittsburgh Pirates should be embarrassed as small-market clubs such as the Milwaukee Brewers, Tampa Bay Rays, and Cleveland Guardians thrive in October. Lingan highlights that these franchises succeeded in reaching the Division Series despite payroll constraints similar to or stricter than Pittsburgh's, undermining the Pirates' ongoing financial excuses.

While the Pirates finished 82-80 for their first winning record since 2018 behind pitchers Paul Skenes and Jared Jones, Lingan contends the rebuild remains incomplete. The piece asserts that limited resources demand elite organizational competence, which other low-budget contenders routinely display.