(TNS) —The presence and positivity of Don Kelly has clearly made a difference for the Pirates. After losing 26 of their first 38 games under Derek Shelton, they entered Monday 14-14 with the new guy in charge.

It’s modest, sure. But also enough to wonder why the Pirates didn’t turn to Kelly sooner, especially considering the impressive traits we’re seeing in the Mt. Lebanon native and Point Park product.

We’ll get there. For now, though, I think we need to reconsider what we’re watching and how it’s been impacted by a couple of key figures throughout Pirates history.

We’ve heard about Jim Leyland’s influence on Kelly. But there’s another comparison that recently caught my attention: Chuck Tanner.

Leyland and Tanner are legends. Kelly has managed 28 games and would be the first to say he’d doesn’t belong in that conversation, yet there are some common traits worth noting.

Genuineness and relentless positivity. Affability about 90% of the time — unless there’s a point to make with an umpire or someone disrespects his players. Then the horns come out.

“I’m glad he’s doing well,” Chuck’s son Bruce told me late Sunday night. Bruce Tanner works as a scout with the Tigers and has plenty of insight on all three men.

“I hope [Kelly] has continued success,” Bruce added, “because honestly, when you talk about him, you can’t talk enough about what a great human being he is.”

The Tanner comp should be talked about more.

It’s been easy to link Kelly to Leyland due to their time together in Detroit. They also talk regularly, about strategy but also how to manage the dynamic in a clubhouse. And earning respect.

Kelly was ejected in his second game as Pirates manager, and I’ll go to my grave believing it was a suggestion from Leyland. Stand up for your players. Let ’em know you mean business.

“I don’t think you can do anything to make him madder than disrespecting his team or one of his players,” Bob Walk said Friday on Pirates postgame with Dan Zangrilli on 93.7 The Fan.

“I saw Jim’s first year as a manager. I remember him talking to an umpire about the same thing. ‘OK, we have young guys. We’re not the best team in the league. I’m a first-year manager. How much do we have to take? When does this stop?’ That’s definitely the attitude Donny has. He doesn’t want anything more than anybody else. He just wants treated fairly.”

None of this means the problem has been fixed.

The Pirates are 26-40. The postseason, or even surpassing .500, remains laughable. But there has been some actual momentum because of Kelly.

What took so long, right?

It’s something I’ve considered before, as the Pirates lost 10 of their final 11 under Shelton. Being around the team, you could certainly tell they were over it.

Imagine if the Pirates would’ve acted sooner. At 11-18 following a West Coast trip, they could’ve been 30-36 now if they went 19-18 in their subsequent games. If they would’ve pulled the plug at 12-20 and played .500 ball (17-17), that adds up to 29-37.

Eight games under .500 feels a lot different than 14.

It also should’ve been done after 2024.

It’s something I think about with general manager Ben Cherington, the MLB draft and the trade deadline. If the Pirates don’t intend on keeping Cherington for 2026, why let him oversee these things?

That’s also not Kelly’s problem.

He has needed to stabilize things, and Kelly has done that with a mix of Leyland and Tanner. There’s the constant communication with players, either in the field during batting practice or the dugout once the game starts. Almost always with a smile.

“He reminds me of my dad with his positive attitude,” Bruce Tanner said. “He brings really good energy, and I think over time, that rubs off on the team.”

The combination of Leyland and Tanner has certainly worked thus far. And it’s been fun to observe how much Kelly clearly cares. He’s relentlessly positive … but it’s also believable and not annoying.

Walk continued by telling a story about a recent conversation he had with Kelly, how they were discussing some of the Pirates’ struggles.

“You can say some things that are negative and they’re still truthful,” Walk said. “I’m looking at him as I’m talking, and I can tell that he didn’t like that. I thought, ‘I have to be a little more diplomatic, I guess.’ That’s when it dawned on me. He believes in these guys. I think that’s a great thing for the players to see and know. They feel how legitimate that is and how honest that is.

“I think that’s part of this vibe thing that he has going with the players right now.”

A mix of Leyland and Tanner.

Better late than never.