# Falling Short AGAIN Pittsburgh Pirates Face DEVASTATING Reality as St. Louis Cardinals Loom

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/locked-on-pirates-daily-podcast-on-the-pittsburgh-pirates-63933/falling-short-again-pittsburgh-pirates-face-devastating-reality-as-st-louis-cardinals-loom
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/locked-on-pirates-daily-podcast-on-the-pittsburgh-pirates-63933/falling-short-again-pittsburgh-pirates-face-devastating-reality-as-st-louis-cardinals-loom.md
Podcast: [Locked On Pirates - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Pirates](https://stenobird.com/podcast/locked-on-pirates-daily-podcast-on-the-pittsburgh-pirates-63933)
Published: 2026-09-21T15:32:47+00:00
Episode link: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-pirates/
Audio file: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/pdrl.fm/c332f6/lockedon.simplecastaudio.com/ca178804-c720-476f-9857-ad70690e8c6a/episodes/77b97530-304b-4e01-bb3d-664c73a8509b/audio/128/default.mp3?aid=rss_feed&awCollectionId=ca178804-c720-476f-9857-ad70690e8c6a&awEpisodeId=77b97530-304b-4e01-bb3d-664c73a8509b&feed=z3NI6hOx
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/locked-on-pirates-daily-podcast-on-the-pittsburgh-pirates-63933/episodes/falling-short-again-pittsburgh-pirates-face-devastating-reality-as-st-louis-cardinals-loom
Duration seconds: 1879

## Resource

Pittsburgh Pirates face playoff elimination, but Gary Morgan argues their final six games are loaded with meaning. Can finishing over .500 and topping division rival St. Louis Cardinals redefine expectations for this historically struggling franchise? Brandon Lowe’s record-setting offensive season at second base raises urgent offseason questions—should the Pirates prioritize keeping his big bat in Pittsburgh to stay close to postseason contention? Morgan breaks down milestones the Pirates rarely reach, the significance of overtaking the Cardinals, and what these achievements signal about progress under manager Don Kelly. He spotlights rookie standouts like Esmerlin Valdez and Bubba Chandler, weighs in on O’Neil Cruz as the team’s current best player, and responds to fan AMAs about rookie impact and controversial management decisions. With the offseason approaching, the episode sets the stage for crucial moves that could turn the Pirates from near-miss to playoff threat in 2027.

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## Transcript

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