Pittsburgh Pirates owner Bob Nutting expressed confidence, saying the team will be able to compete for the postseason in the 2024 season.
"I think we have shown that (the competition for the postseason) is an achievable goal," Nutting owner said in an interview with local media such as the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette after the sponsorship contract ceremony at PNC Park on the 21st.
Pittsburgh is ranking third in the Central Division of the National League with 36 wins and 38 losses ahead of its home game against the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday. It is 7.5 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers and 0.5 games behind the San Diego Padres, which are ranking third in the wild card rankings.
Advancement to the postseason is not a "tree that cannot climb." However, fierce competition awaits them.
Currently, as many as nine teams in the National League wild-card race, from the second-place St. Louis Cardinals (37-37) to the 10th-place Cincinnati Reds (35-39), are in a fierce battle within two games.
"If you look at the results of our team so far, our pitchers are doing well. We have pitchers who show great performance," Nutting said, expressing satisfaction with the pitching staff.
At the same time, he said, "The offense seems to need more reinforcement. It is hovering at the bottom in terms of offense," pointing out that reinforcement is needed in the lineup.
"We are well aware of this. We know where we need to improve. I think some of these areas are areas that the players can make progress and supplement. I have seen some rebound. Whether this is a problem that can be solved within the club or whether we need to get help from outside is something that Ben Cerrington, the general manager, is working on," he said.
"I'm not sure what opportunities will come to us ahead of the trade deadline. That's why we need to prepare in advance to take over the opportunity when the opportunity comes," he said, stressing the need for a quick response to reinforce players.
"I know that general manager Cherrington has the flexibility to not only go back and forth between alternatives and options, but also to judge when he needs to step up," he said, expressing trust in the front desk again. 토토사이트 순위
Meanwhile, Pittsburgh signed a contract with convenience store company Schitt's to rear-end their uniforms on the day. Pittsburgh will play with advertisements on the sleeves of its uniforms starting from the Tampa Bay Rays and home games on the day.
Schütz is a chain of convenience stores that began in 1952 when businessman Bob Schütz took over the store from his father in Altuna, Pennsylvania, and operates more than 730 stores in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio and North Carolina.