Pirates Fans Should Be Embarrassed Watching Rays and Astros Thrive With Their Players

The Pittsburgh Pirates are coming off a 93-loss season, the most since 2010. If that's not bad enough, they dealt with a flurry of drama all year, whether that be scuffles in the clubhouse or the horrifying charges that have taken closer Felipe Vazquez off the field.

Well, time to kick your feet up, reflect on where you're at, and get ready for next season...right?

Oh, well, technically, they can sit at home and watch the postseason, which features three star players (Gerrit Cole, Austin Meadows, Tyler Glasnow) that were recently in their organization, and are now big factors in the ALDS between the Tampa Bay Rays and Houston Astros.

They were...essentially given away for free by Neal Huntington.

Just thought I'd mention Austin Meadows hit .291 and hit 33 HRs. Gerrit Cole had 300K's. Tyler Glasnow had an under 2 ERA (in the games he played). Charlie Morton had a 3 ERA. And you still traded McCutchen for nothing. @Pirates
— ORO (@hoosierIUdaddy) October 4, 2019

Pittsburgh traded Cole to the Astros a couple years ago, and while you could understand it at that time because he was struggling, he's figured it out and could win the AL Cy Young this year.

That stinging feeling would be soothed if the return had worked out, but Joe Musgrove and Colin Moran have been pretty average.

You think the Cole trade was bad? It pales in comparison to what they gave up for Chris Archer.

Just a friendly reminder the Pirates traded an All Star OF with 33 HR batting .291 and a pitcher with a 1.78 ERA on the season for Chris Archer who finished the season 3-9 with a 5.19 ERA. I TOLD EVERYONE IT WAS A BAD TRADE THE DAY IT HAPPENED NOBODY WANTED TO LISTEN TO ME SMH
— Shayne Petro (@PittsburghsVO) October 4, 2019

Tampa Bay's best player is outfielder Austin Meadows (Pittsburgh's former top prospect), and the Rays' Game 1 starter in the ALDS was right-hander Tyler Glasnow (another former top prospect in their system).

Yeah, they made a huge mistake, and it was a head-scratcher even back in the day, upon initial impact.

You can't help but feel bad for Pirates fans.