A word general manager Ben Cherington used to describe why he is bringing manager Don Kelly back in 2026 is continuity.
That word struck a nerve with Pittsburgh Pirates fans, who had have been beaten down by seven consecutive losing seasons and 29 in 33 years. The last thing they want is more of the same after a 71-91 season, which was five wins less than the Pirates had in each of the previous two seasons.
Not that the fans necessarily wanted Kelly fired. He is a Pittsburgh native managing in one of the most provincial cities in the country, and he led the Pirates to a 59-65 record after being promoted from bench coach on May 9, when Pittsburgh was a dreadful 12-26 under Derek Shelton.
The fans don't want to hear about continuity, especially from a GM who hasn't put a winning team on the field during his six-year tenure. They are tired of the Pirates losing year after year after year.
Cherington attempted to clarify the use of the word during a news conference on Monday, when announcing Kelly's contract extension.
"First of all, we've got to deliver better to our fans," Cherington said. "That's very clear. It's in my mind all the time. I want to do that. Totally hear the frustration. Bottom line, we've just got to deliver. That's our expectation to do that.
"I don't believe that continuity in certain positions reflects a lack of change. Our jobs are to change all the time. Our jobs are to find an opportunity tomorrow to change, if we need to, to get better. Change is constant. It's happening throughout baseball operations, throughout our clubhouse, all the time."
Yet the Pirates will have plenty of continuity in 2026. Cherington and Kelly will be back. So will team President Travis Williams, who has the faintest idea of running a baseball team after spending the rest of his professional sports career in the NHL.
And, of course, thrifty owner Bob Nutting will back unless he takes the unprecedented step of firing himself.
One day into the offseason, and Pirates fans have nothing to look forward to in 2026.