Mark Madden's Hot Take: Ke'Bryan Hayes' gaffe again makes Pirates a national punchline

Ke’Bryan Hayes had no glove on. He was eating sunflower seeds. The ball was in play. A runner was rounding the base he was standing next to.

Beat ’em, Bucs!

The usual suspects say what happened Friday night is no big deal, that every athlete does something stupid occasionally.

But this goes beyond stupid. The Pirates third baseman was on the job but couldn’t even be bothered to pay attention.

It’s a reflection of the same laissez-faire culture that saw Rodolfo Castro’s cellphone fall out of his pocket while he was running the bases.

It’s evidence of a bush-league attitude that permeates a franchise when winning isn’t important.

It’s what happens when the manager wouldn’t be hired in that capacity by any other team and won’t manage in MLB again when his tenure with the Pirates ends. (Derek Shelton should be fired. Too much horse manure has transpired on his watch. Bring in the next bargain-basement jabroni.)

The video is everywhere. New York Mets TV analyst Todd Zeile spoke unsparingly: “This is in the big leagues, and he doesn’t even have a glove on. If you watch a little longer, he’s pulling sunflower seeds out of his back pocket. That’s September baseball when you’re in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization right now.”

Boston analyst Dennis Eckersley previously lambasted the Pirates. So did Philadelphia’s John Kruk.

The Pirates are a joke. They’re too often a national punchline. (The local media stooges too often rally in support.)

It’s one thing to lose. It’s another to visibly not care. It’s a terrible look. If the Pirates aren’t baseball’s worst organization, they sure look like it.

Hayes might just be stupid. He was dumb enough to sign a long-term extension with the Pirates: Eight years, $70 million. Perhaps Hayes doesn’t have enough faith in his own ability to ever test free agency. Maybe he likes the lack of accountability.

The Pirates weren’t too bright for giving Hayes that deal, either.

Hayes has just seven home runs. It’s the era of launch angle, and the Pirates gave $70 million to a defensive specialist who doesn’t always wear his glove. Owner Bob Nutting doesn’t spend much. But when he does, he spends foolishly. (See Polanco, Gregory.)

Hayes’ father, Charlie, is an ex-MLB player. Wonder what he thinks? Maybe he didn’t always wear his glove, either.

Even KDKA-TV’s Bob Pompeani was critical. He’s such a nice guy, too.