How much is the Bucs rivalry still a thing for you?

[HokieRed]

I try not to hate anybody, but I make an exception for the Dodgers.

[savafan]

I think it was just Amir Garrett who had a rivalry with the Pirates.

[Ky Fried Redleg]

I think it was just Amir Garrett who had a rivalry with the Pirates.

Every damn one of them, bless his heart.

[Bob Sheed]

I don't think the Reds and Pirates have a rivalry in the traditional sense, as neither team ownership is trying to win. So when you look at the definition of "rivalry":

competition for the same objective or for superiority in the same field

the bolded pretty much disqualifies team ownership like the Reds and Pirates.

The first part though...

competition for the same objective or for superiority in the same field

It could be argued that perhaps there is a rivalry there. Perhaps, which team ownership can extract more money from misguided and outdated fan sentiment.

There could be a pretty decent rivalry there, I suppose, if that thrills anyone.

[64red]

It seems there was a little something in the early 2010s. I remember something about Mat Latos’ wife and Devin Mesoracco’s grandmother getting shoved around at a playoff game at PNC. Nothing like the Dodgers in the 70s. Although, I have to admit, my Dodger hatred has cooled over time.

[Danny Serafini]

I hated the Pirates when Clint Hurdle was their manager intentionally throwing at opposing hitters.

That's the only time I've ever even thought twice about the Pirates. There are plenty of teams I dislike more than them.

[westofyou]

Here's the thing, the Reds and Pirates have been in the same league for every year of the Reds existence save three (Pirates went to NL sooner, Reds stayed because of Sunday ball and beer) furthermore they were in separate divisions from 1969-1994, so the only place they would meet as “rivals” was in the Division Playoffs.

So, that’s 143 seasons since they both started in the AA, 286 combined. In those seasons the two teams combined have 152 seasons of .500 or better, 53% of the time, 78 for the Reds, 74 for the Pirates.

88 of those seasons saw both teams having a .500 record or better in the same season, 22 of them were during the division era, three were when Pittsburgh was in the NL before the Reds

That leaves 58 seasons of the 143 that the two franchises could have had a “pennant race” against each other (40.5%)

But being .500 doesn’t mean much if you are in the middle of the pack, so if we look at the teams placement at year end and only focus on the top three finishes in the standing it shrinks the pool of rivalry chances even more (Reds have finished 3rd or better 52 times, Pirates 51)

In all those seasons the Reds and Pirates have finished in the top three together seven times, 1885, 1922, 1923, 1925, 1926, 1944, 2013. In all cases neither team finished first.

The familiarity is based on sameness, the Reds have played the Pirates 31 times on Opening Day still less than the Cubs (32) and more than the Cardinals, most of that is old school train travel starts, since WW2 the Reds have seen them on OD just seven times.

There is no rivalry because there is no drama, no passion, no history, the complete opposite of the Steelers vs Bengals.

[RedsManRick]

Rivalries mean more when the teams are actually competing for a championship. Hard to get too riled up for beef between two teams that make the playoffs once a decade or so.

That said, I hate the Cards way more than the Bucs.

[foster15]

The Reds have been to the post season 12 times since the division era started in 1969. They have had to play Pirates in 6 of those. In the down years beginning around 2000, it seems when one team has a period of slight resemblance to a competitive team, the other is either at the same level or just behind. It's usually the Reds showing signs of life and the Pirates leaping over them a year later.

So yeah, I think there's kind of a rivalry. It used to be a rivalry of fans but now it seems like the rivalry is between front offices. We're both the poor Jones'es and both teams are trying to keep up with each other whether that means being at the bottom, middle or on rare occasions at the top of the standings.

So yes, I feel there's an underlying, quiet rivalry between the two clubs(pretty much both clubs feeling they can't compete with anybody but mirror images of themselves and that means each other.

Also, not only have we had to play the Pirates in the playoffs 6 out of 12 times, but we had to play the Phillies twice also, which means I feel a rivalry with the state of PA lol

[GADawg]

i despise the Pirates(and the Cards, Brewers, Cubs, Braves, etc...) but it kinda tapered off with Clint Hurdle going away....he was the worst

[redsfan39]

I sure as hell enjoyed watching Derek Dietrich get under their skin in 2019 after his home runs.

[JFLegal]

We do not currently have a rivalry with them. But it's funny you mention this (in your own, funny way). I was just thinking the other day that the Reds and the Pirates have a chance to be a big problem for the NL Central next few years if they play their cards right. And if that happens, they will naturally be big rivals, due to proximity, small market status, etc.

So, both will likely play their cards wrong and the Brewers, Cubs and Cardinals will continue competing for NLC supremacy. But a boy can dream.