Cubs absolutely breaking Pirates manager with no-hitter is incredible

Ah, a week or so after sending Livvy Dunne into an utter state of confusion after pulling off a shocking come-from-behind victory to complete a sweep of the Pirates, the Chicago Cubs have claimed another victim in Pittsburgh manager Derek Shelton.

Sitting down with reporters after watching his team get no-hit in a 12-0 loss at Wrigley Field Wednesday night, Shelton took exception with a reporter's question about his using first baseman Rowdy Tellez as a pitcher in the eighth inning - the third time he's done so in the last two weeks.

Look, it's a fair question. This was a team that, earlier in the year, had the makings of a sneaky wild-card contender. Instead, Wednesday's loss dropped them to 65-74, 11 games out of a playoff spot and in last place in the National League Central. The Pirates played .500 ball in the first half only to go into a nosedive after the All-Star Break with a 17-26 record.

Whether Shelton likes it or not, it's a valid question. It's hard to inspire your guys to break up a no-no when you're trotting out your first baseman to pitch. Frustrations are clearly at a breaking point in the Pirates clubhouse and it's worth wondering if time is running out on Shelton in the Steel City.

He inked a contract extension with the team in April 2023, but terms were never made public. After the Pirates underperformed again this year with him calling the shots, change could be coming. The Cubs' utter domination of Pittsburgh in Wednesday's finale, which prevented a Pirates sweep at Wrigley, may be the final nail in the coffin.

On the year, Chicago went just 7-6 against their NL Central foes. That mark was obviously helped by the sweep last week at PNC Park. But handing the Bucs two of their most frustrating losses of the year in the span of a week seems to have utterly broken Derek Shelton. You really just love to see it.