Rank the 5 major sports entities from top to bottom in terms of frustration.

[ChiefJusticeMarshall]

1. Steelers. Why? Because they have the biggest tradition, play in a league then generally is most balanced in giving teams a chance to win. But they have an owner who is stuck in a time 40-50 years ago. They have a head coach well past his prime who has usurped almost all of the power and they have no chance or plan at perhaps the single most position in sports.....Quarterback.

2. Pirates. The only reason they aren't #1 is because you expect the Pirates to do Pirates things. It is like hitting your head against the wall and wondering why you get headaches.

3. Pitt BB. You only need a guy or two to turn it around. We have seen regression in even their best player and they tease us. What is most frustrating is I felt last year it was a team set up for a nice run and they never even got a chance, some of it based on not how they did, but having key OOC opponents just cratering to the bottom.

4. Pitt FB. Again, here basically because while frustrating, (starting 7-0, finishing 7-6) there is a ceiling for this program. I do think the program is at a crossroads and another 7-6 type of season, best to cut ties and move on.

5. Pens. Why are they last as far as frustrating? I mean 3 championships with this group, key players all over 30, this is the natural progression in a cycle of a championship team to get towards the bottom of their league, so it is expected.

 

[303vND]

I would swap Pitt football with Pitt basketball but the Steelers and Pirates are absolutely 1A and 1B.

 

[pittbb80]

Good list. I would put Pitt FB last though because the way CFB is the deck is largely stacked against them

Depending upon what the pens do in the next year or two they could rapidly move to the top

 

[pittbb80]

I would swap Pitt football with Pitt basketball but the Steelers and Pirates are absolutely 1A and 1B.

I agree with the Pirates especially with the Pitching staff they have now. But at the same time I have such low expectations of this owner that I wouldn’t say what they are doing is surprising and therefore it’s not overly frustrating. Fool me once …..

 

[bobfree]

Let's let b-ball miss the tournament before we put them in the top 3.

 

[Las Panteras]

The Pirates are no longer frustrating.

Nutting has successfully turned a whole fan base from frustrated....to comfortably numb.......

 

[Pittisit4me]

The Pirates are no longer frustrating.

Nutting has successfully turned a whole fan base from frustrated....to comfortably numb.......

For sure. I don't go anymore. If everyone was like me and quit patronizing the Nutsack, maybe he would be motivated to do something like spend more or sell the team. All the idiots that go to games for a night out in the city are ensuring we will be comfortably numb for life.
As for frustration, the Steelers are a disgrace. A once proud franchise that the owner and head coach have turned into playoff patsies when they are lucky enough to make it. It's like watching a giant being chopped down to its knees due to year after year incompetence. That Rooney rule sure was a good one! It gave an incompetent a job for life!

 

[jtownknowitall]

Let's let b-ball miss the tournament before we put them in the top 3.

Why? The Steelers made the playoffs and are still number one.

 

[jtownknowitall]

For sure. I don't go anymore. If everyone was like me and quit patronizing the Nutsack, maybe he would be motivated to do something like spend more or sell the team. All the idiots that go to games for a night out in the city are ensuring we will be comfortably numb for life.

Is there any other reason to go to a game, any game, than to for an entertaining day or night out in the city? I’m not passing on a night out in the city in April or May because the team won’t still be playing in October.

 

[Pittisit4me]

Is there any other reason to go to a game, any game, than to for an entertaining day or night out in the city? I’m not passing on a night out in the city in April or May because the team won’t still be playing in October.

It is your prerogative to go see Bobby's Bums, I have found other things to do with my time and money.

 

[Pittisit4me]

Let's let b-ball miss the tournament before we put them in the top 3.

They pretty much have a miss locked up. A beat down in the Dean Dome today can assure it!

 

[jtownknowitall]

It is your prerogative to go see Bobby's Bums, I have found other things to do with my time and money.

Which is your prerogative. Do you want to tell us what those things are so we can evaluate whether it’s really worth your time and money?

 

[Pittisit4me]

Which is your prerogative. Do you want to tell us what those things are so we can evaluate whether it’s really worth your time and money?

I do not need your evaluation, just as you do not need mine.

 

[TheWerewolfFromTwilight]

The Pirates are no longer frustrating.

Nutting has successfully turned a whole fan base from frustrated....to comfortably numb.......

Yeah, the Pirates aren't frustrating at all. That would be like watching Dumb and Dumber and getting genuinely upset that Lloyd traded the truck for the moped. Once you recognize them as the clown show they actually are, they can't affect you much emotionally.

 

[ChiefJusticeMarshall]

The Pirates are no longer frustrating.

Nutting has successfully turned a whole fan base from frustrated....to comfortably numb.......

Well they did.....until Skenes came along.

 

[Zeldas Open Roof]

i share everyone's frustrations with pirates ownership but with that said, going to a baseball game in this city beats the hell out of going to a steeler game surrounded by the cess pool that is nfl fans and easily more enjoyable than going to a pitt football game, which is a very lazy and quiet football ambience..

Hockey games used to be fun to go too but not so much anymore.. i guess pitt hoops games are the best if they have a good team but that's dating back quite awhile..

 

[pittchagg]

I think it depends on what you view as the ceiling for each of those teams, and how far away the current and recent results are from that ceiling.

I would put Pitt basketball #1, because I think it has the biggest gap right now between ceiling and results. Sure, the Steelers and Penguins are frustrating right now and the Steelers in particular should be better, but they’re both ultimately in salary capped leagues and are caught in downswings of the natural cycle that is inherent in leagues with parity - the Steelers not having a QB, and the Penguins being old. Neither one is really anyone’s fault, but they’re also massive barriers to success.

I don’t really think that the Pirates can be frustrating because there are just so many structural barriers in their way. Yes, Nutting should spend more. They’d be better if he did. But it’s still a league with the Dodgers, Mets, Yankees and Phillies.

I think Pitt football is a little more similar to the Pirates, only because the scale of the gap between the highest spenders and the lower spenders is just as big as it is in MLB. Pitt football is objectively more successful than the Pirates, but college football is financially a structurally unfair sport just like MLB is.

Which brings you to Pitt basketball at #1. While college basketball is technically the same financially as college football, I believe that the gap between the big spenders and everyone else is significantly less, and I believe that Pitt basketball is more well-position financially versus its peers than what Pitt football is. And I think the ceiling is higher. So the fact that we’ve seen what we’ve seen makes Pitt hoops the most disappointing.

 

[Burgh15]

1. Steelers - too long without a playoff win.
2. Pitt BB - I thought the team was going to take a step forward this year and they've dropped some games I thought they should've won.
3. Pens - a lot of their issues are self-inflicted and it's a bit frustrating given what the Caps are doing with Ovechkin.
4. Pitt FB - college football has basically turned into MLB, but it still sucks Pitt gained nothing from winning the ACC.
5. Pirates - when you don't even try to improve your team a year after drafting Skenes there is no reason to be frustrated.

 

[PittPharm2002]

1. Steelers. Why? Because they have the biggest tradition, play in a league then generally is most balanced in giving teams a chance to win. But they have an owner who is stuck in a time 40-50 years ago. They have a head coach well past his prime who has usurped almost all of the power and they have no chance or plan at perhaps the single most position in sports.....Quarterback.

2. Pirates. The only reason they aren't #1 is because you expect the Pirates to do Pirates things. It is like hitting your head against the wall and wondering why you get headaches.

3. Pitt BB. You only need a guy or two to turn it around. We have seen regression in even their best player and they tease us. What is most frustrating is I felt last year it was a team set up for a nice run and they never even got a chance, some of it based on not how they did, but having key OOC opponents just cratering to the bottom.

4. Pitt FB. Again, here basically because while frustrating, (starting 7-0, finishing 7-6) there is a ceiling for this program. I do think the program is at a crossroads and another 7-6 type of season, best to cut ties and move on.

5. Pens. Why are they last as far as frustrating? I mean 3 championships with this group, key players all over 30, this is the natural progression in a cycle of a championship team to get towards the bottom of their league, so it is expected.

Only pittsburgh sports or an actual evaluation of all teams ?

 

[PittPharm2002]

Well they did.....until Skenes came along.

1 pitcher isn’t going to matter a bit
Even if he wins every start

 

[ChiefJusticeMarshall]

1 pitcher isn’t going to matter a bit
Even if he wins every start

1 pitcher on entry level contracts along with another......yeah......you can sign a big time slugger right now and not blow out your salary. Because in a few years they will have to pay Skenes $30+ million a year or trade him. Now is the time.

 

[pittbb80]

1 pitcher on entry level contracts along with another......yeah......you can sign a big time slugger right now and not blow out your salary. Because in a few years they will have to pay Skenes $30+ million a year or trade him. Now is the time.

They have a pretty good young staff and some solid position players. If they weren’t cheap they could as a few pieces and be contenders

 

[Upg bobcat]

They have a pretty good young staff and some solid position players. If they weren’t cheap they could as a few pieces and be contenders

I'm afraid with Shelton leading the troops, I don't care what pieces they add, the franchise isn't going to contend. I hope he proves me wrong, but I would have fired him at the end of last year (if not earlier during the season).

There is a ton of critiquing of Tomlin, Narduzzi, Capel, and even Sullivan on these boards. I think Shelton is the worst of the bunch.

 

[ratking17]

Pirates free agency pick ups have projected negative WAR values. That tells you all you need to know about their commitment to winning

 

[BillyWestFan]

The OP didn't specify Pittsburgh only, but my vote is "local":

1. State Penn football. Why? Year in year out they get a pre-season top 10 ranking. Garbage schedule with only 1 or 2 real tests who they ultimately lose to and win the rest of their cupcake schedule.

 

[BigChungus90210]

Your list is correct. The team that pays their coach $15M+ to reenact the movie ground hog day wins by default.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Pitt Basketball is the most frustrating because they legitimately looked like a potential Sweet 16 team. The NCAA Tournament was a lock. The question was could we win enough games to get a protected seed in Cleveland. To go from that to a maybe not even being close to making it is as disappointing as it gets.

 

[Richard A]

1 pitcher isn’t going to matter a bit
Even if he wins every start

You mean Tommy Pham in right field won’t get them to the playoffs?

 

[JohnnyGossamer]

i share everyone's frustrations with pirates ownership but with that said, going to a baseball game in this city beats the hell out of going to a steeler game surrounded by the cess pool that is nfl fans and easily more enjoyable than going to a pitt football game, which is a very lazy and quiet football ambience..

Hockey games used to be fun to go too but not so much anymore.. i guess pitt hoops games are the best if they have a good team but that's dating back quite awhile..

Woof. Pirate games are brutal. Boring and often disgustingly hunid in summer. And, usually, a terrible product too.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

You mean Tommy Pham in right field won’t get them to the playoffs?

Luckily they've got Adam Frazier to lend him a hand.

 

[ratking17]

Luckily they've got Adam Frazier to lend him a hand.

Plus the DFA blue Jay's pitcher with a 9 era

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

Plus the DFA blue Jay's pitcher with a 9 era

At least with bullpen arms you can argue that other than the top guys, relievers are kind of up and down from one year to the next, so maybe this guy turns out OK, and if not, well there are plenty of other guys who can replace him.

But Adam Frazier sucked last year. He's being going down hill since, really, before the Pirates traded him. Him being a good player this year would be a huge upset. Him being even an average player would be a big surprise.

A mediocre middle reliever at least has some level of up side. It's been years since Adam Frazier had any sort of upside.

 

[pittbb80]

I'm afraid with Shelton leading the troops, I don't care what pieces they add, the franchise isn't going to contend. I hope he proves me wrong, but I would have fired him at the end of last year (if not earlier during the season).

There is a ton of critiquing of Tomlin, Narduzzi, Capel, and even Sullivan on these boards. I think Shelton is the worst of the bunch.

No argument here. He’s flat out awful

 

[Richard A]

Luckily they've got Adam Frazier to lend him a hand.

🤣

 

[Slick Manager of Champs]

Is there any other reason to go to a game, any game, than to for an entertaining day or night out in the city? I’m not passing on a night out in the city in April or May because the team won’t still be playing in October.

You sound like your good friend, Bob Smizik, who used to romanticize constantly about baseball and how there was nothing better than spending a summer evening at PNC park watching baseball. Why do his job and call the Pirates out for the con that they are when you can wax poetic.

 

[Slick Manager of Champs]

In terms of frustration? Has to be Pitt football, just so frustrating the constant onslaught of mediocrity. One season to hang your hat on in 40 years since Sherrill.

But in terms of almost criminal negligence, it is the Pirates, hands down. A total con job by Nutting, yet people fall for the con and follow the buccos blindly and pack the stadium (there's an analogy I could make to current events but will refrain). Even worse is the local media still provides generally friendly coverage, aside from an occasional snarky column from Starkey.

As Panteras said above, Pirates are no longer frustrating. People have just accepted the con as the truth.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

In terms of frustration? Has to be Pitt football, just so frustrating the constant onslaught of mediocrity. One season to hang your hat on in 40 years since Sherrill.

But in terms of almost criminal negligence, it is the Pirates, hands down. A total con job by Nutting, yet people fall for the con and follow the buccos blindly and pack the stadium (there's an analogy I could make to current events but will refrain). Even worse is the local media still provides generally friendly coverage, aside from an occasional snarky column from Starkey.

As Panteras said above, Pirates are no longer frustrating. People have just accepted the con as the truth.

How can the Pirates make this list? They have been terrible for 40 years.

 

[jtownknowitall]

You sound like your good friend, Bob Smizik, who used to romanticize constantly about baseball and how there was nothing better than spending a summer evening at PNC park watching baseball. Why do his job and call the Pirates out for the con that they are when you can wax poetic.

It’s like going to a movie for me. Once a month or so. The only things that matter is the Pirates win that game, the popcorn is freshly popped and the Coke ain’t flat.

 

[HailToPitt725]

1. Steelers. Why? Because they have the biggest tradition, play in a league then generally is most balanced in giving teams a chance to win. But they have an owner who is stuck in a time 40-50 years ago. They have a head coach well past his prime who has usurped almost all of the power and they have no chance or plan at perhaps the single most position in sports.....Quarterback.

2. Pirates. The only reason they aren't #1 is because you expect the Pirates to do Pirates things. It is like hitting your head against the wall and wondering why you get headaches.

3. Pitt BB. You only need a guy or two to turn it around. We have seen regression in even their best player and they tease us. What is most frustrating is I felt last year it was a team set up for a nice run and they never even got a chance, some of it based on not how they did, but having key OOC opponents just cratering to the bottom.

4. Pitt FB. Again, here basically because while frustrating, (starting 7-0, finishing 7-6) there is a ceiling for this program. I do think the program is at a crossroads and another 7-6 type of season, best to cut ties and move on.

5. Pens. Why are they last as far as frustrating? I mean 3 championships with this group, key players all over 30, this is the natural progression in a cycle of a championship team to get towards the bottom of their league, so it is expected.

The only thing I’d switch is Pitt MBB with the Pirates because, like you said, you expect futility from them. I’m still frustrated because the men’s basketball program is still recovering from the Stallings/Barnes error era. The team this year should also be much closer to a tournament bid than they are at the moment.

The Steelers should’ve won at least one Super Bowl during the 2010s and most certainly should’ve won a playoff since 2016.

 

[ChiefJusticeMarshall]

The only thing I’d switch is Pitt MBB with the Pirates because, like you said, you expect futility from them. I’m still frustrated because the men’s basketball program is still recovering from the Stallings/Barnes error era. The team this year should also be much closer to a tournament bid than they are at the moment.

The Steelers should’ve won at least one Super Bowl during the 2010s and most certainly should’ve won a playoff since 2016.

Again, the reason why I placed the Pirates where I did is because of the young pitching staff they have and not doing anything with he offense to help win games. I mean how many no decisions or losses did guys like Skenes and Jones have last year going into the 7th inning only giving up 2 runs or less?