Pirates Manager Derek Shelton was given a lot of slack when he was hired after the 2019 season.
The team was and continues to be in a total rebuild and with the lack of talent for him to manage, it's been almost impossible to judge the job he has done.
But after nearly three seasons (2020 was shortened), are we starting to see the type of manager he is?
In 2020 the Pirates only won 19 games, the worst in the Majors and lost over 100 last year.
So far, the Pirates are 45 and 70 and last place in the N.L. Central.
CBS Sports has a list of five managers that could be fired before the season and Shelton was listed as one of them.
But on Cook & Joe during his weekly segment on Tuesday, Shelton said he is "very secure" with his job security.
Shelton reportedly has another year on his contract that goes through 2023.
Shelton says he and General Manager Ben Cherington haven't had any contract extension talks.
While it's hard to evaluate the kind of manager Shelton is, there are some signs of the job he's doing after over two seasons.
As Fan Morning Show Producer Adam Crowley points out, Oneil Cruz is batting .200 after he struck out four times on Sunday.
"Derek Shelton is a hitting guy. It's like when the Steelers defense sucks, I blame Mike Tomlin, he's a defensive coach at heart, he calls the plays," said Crowley. "Oneil Cruz is hitting .200, getting no better, Neil Walker says he's not making adjustments, that to me is on the hitting coach, but it's also on the Manager, so I'm starting to evaluate Derek Shelton right now."
Crowley adds that if Cruz doesn't make a "considerable leap" next season that's on Shelton as much as it is on the Pirates short stop.
Shelton tells Cook & Joe that they are working on getting Cruz better behind the plate and that he's finding out how hard it is to play in the Major Leagues.
Every manager makes questionable calls, but it's hard to figure out why a player like Yoshi Tsutsugo was the designated hitter batting under .200 and Josh VanMeter continues to see playing time, batting .189.
It's unlikely the Pirates will get rid of Shelton this season, but you have to believe the heat will be very warm if the team doesn't start to show signs in improvement in 2023.
