The Pirates finally entered a season with a clearly defined goal: make the playoffs. They didn’t, and Alex Stumpf argues the frustrating part is how preventable it was. From Marcell Ozuna to the bullpen, Carmen Mlodzinski’s role and a lack of urgency, Pittsburgh repeatedly failed to maximize a roster capable of more.

Watch or listen to the latest OffBeat and hear why simply finishing above .500 shouldn’t change how 2026 is judged.