How much longer for Shelton and Cherington?

The Pirates losing streak has hit 10 games.

That's currently the biggest active losing streak in the MLB and the third longest of the season, behind only the Chicago White Sox who went on 14-game and 21-game losing streaks this season.

Speaking during his show on Tuesday, Manager Derek Shelton said he doesn't believe his team is playing bad baseball, they need to catch a break.

That's something Joe Show host Joe Starkey and many Pirates fans are taking umbrage with.

If you've lost 10 games-in-a-row (it was 8 at the time of his comments) you're certainly not playing good baseball.

For Pirates fans the past two weeks have been a gut punch with the team going 1-12 since the trade deadline.

At that time, the Pirates were fighting for a playoff spot.

But, optimism has turned to disappointment and anger and that is quickly turning into apathy.

Much like 2011 and 2012, the Pirates are in free fall as the season begins to wind down.

So, should General Manager Ben Cherington and Shelton be looking for new jobs?

Not yet, says Starkey.

While admitting he would totally understand if owner Bob Nutting fired both today, he would totally understand that decision, he points to 2012.

Then manager Clint Hurdle was given another shot and in 2013, the Pirates fortunes finally changed.

Starkey says then GM Neal Huntington went out and got pitchers A.J. Burnett and Francisco Liriano and catcher Russell Martin during the offseason.

"I think Cherington deserves that time to see if his babies finally grow up," said Starkey pointing to Endy Rodriguez, Henry Davis, Nick Gonzales and other.

There have been some managing mistakes, especially with bullpen decisions, but Shelton isn't the reason Ke'Bryan Hayes, David Bednar, Colin Holderman, Jack Suwinski and others have been playing well below their potential.

The hot seat needs to be basically on fire when the season starts next year, but changing regimes? We're almost there, but not quite yet.