Let the dead bury the dead

Good, that's over.  Now let's move ahead. I know the bible says that the sins of the fathers are passed on to the sons, but it doesn't say anything about old losing streaks being passed on to a new team. Consider it the Littlefield Legacy. Now we can get on with the future.

Looking at the NEW Pirates we've acquired these last two years is cause for optomism. Even some of the trades that initially looked bad, like Nyjer Morgan and Sean Burnett for Lasting Milledge and Joel Hanrahan are looking good now. The one real bust was the Bay trade, but we would never have been able to keep him. It's questionable that the Red Sox will be able to. That trade is more than offset by the group of talent we've acquired. Even giving up on Andy LaRoche and Randy Moss, the Pirates have more exciting young players on the team and waiting impatiently in the wings than they've had in my memory.

Am I tired of losing? Sure. that's why I am enthusiastic about tomorrow, and many more tomorrows. I've been a Pirate fan since Vernon Law and Bob Friend played outfield on occasion. That's how bad the Pirates were when I started following them. I had hopes each year that they'd finally crack the .400 winning percentage barrier.

Let the past be past.

 I am 61 years old, and I also remember how pitiful the Pirates were in the late 50's. They too, were the laughing stock of baseball.

I cannot share your optimism and enthusiasm for tomorrow.  Bob Nutting claims he and his crew are not responsible for the last two years of the "streak", but,  we have given away an all-star team the last two years, under his ownership. The Yankees, Red Sox, et al thank us.

Why does Neal Huntington still have a job?

Why does Frank Coonelly still have a job?

Bob Nutting, please sell the team to an owner that is committed to put a winner on the field.

 Oh, Boy!

True, Nutting and Huntington traded away an All-star team that finished in last place. What is wrong with that sentence? They traded away some good ballplayers none of whom (with the exception of Sanchez) were perennial All-Stars. It remains to be seen whether the trades were brilliant or God-awful. The Xavier Nady trade has to fall into the "brilliant" category and the Bay trade looks like a strong candidate for "God-awful." Where would the Pirates be in 2011 if they hadn't made the trades? McClouth looks like a solid .250 hitter with some power, Sanchez was getting brittle, Wilson was a brilliant fielder with a near God-awful bat, Adam LaRoche was ridiculed until he was traded and suddenly became a near-All-star, Nyjer Morgan was a terrific 29 year old rookie and Sean Bennett finally was o.k., and I'll still take Milledge and Hanrahan in the long run. Gorzellany and Snell started out strong in their careers but wouldn't even have made  the AAA All-Star team.

The Pirates of the last few years (including the recent years) were proven losers, getting old. I've rooted for them loyally, and wish all of them well. So far, their performance with new teams has been very mixed.

Here's to the future. I like it better than the past.

 Razzgospel,

You're looking forward to the future with a General Manager who gets rid of all of our left-handed relievers, and says, "We don't need a left-hand reliever specialist, because we have right-handers that can get left-handed batters out"!

Why does Niel Huntington have a job?

Why does Frank Coonelly have a job?

Bob Nutting, please sell the team.

 In 2011 I'd place all my betting money, if I were a betting man, that the Pirates will still be where they are--or damn near!!  Cellar-dwellers!!!  The team Nutting & Co have put together no where near resembles a playoff contender in 2011 or beyond.  I'm not convinced that they can get out of the cellar yet.  Yes, they are young.  But they don't have but 1 or 2 PROVEN major league caliber players to date. 

In fact, for everything to play out the way Nutting & Co are telling us--EVERYTHING would have to play out PERFECTLY!!!  The pitching would have to get a little better, the offense would have to get unbeleiveably better!!  Our SS, well, he'll have to learn to play SS.  Etc, etc.  We have a 2nd baseman who's "learning' the job from our coaching staff--if he can!!  The odds are so great against,  that common sense and HISTORY (which tells us Bobbo won't spend a dime for Major leaguers) would ultimately lead us to KNOW that they are going nowhere.  Bobbo will sell this team, that's when the Pirates will be contenders again.  He will sell!!!  When??  When it becomes unprofitable.  Simple.  He's an accountant as I've said numerous times.  He knows the bottom line.  He's already had some very strong interest in buying the team.  Figure it out!!!!  He said NO.  Why?  It isn't because he's losing money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  He's making a TON of money.  AND, when he is finally forced out, the profit he's making (which he claims goes back to the club--it does--but to pay down the debt for the team--which becomes a ton of equity when he finally sells!!) will net him millions again.  17 YEARS my man, and you're telling us to be positive!!!  17 YEARS!!!   And counting!!!  They won't just break that record, they're going to smash it for a few more years!!!  Bobbo may get embarassed out of ownership as well--another hope.  He's made tons off the fans of Pittsburgh, just tell him to take his money and GO!!! 

Stop being gullable.  The man has fleeced you for 17 years and your response--"keep positive and hoping".  Nonsense!! 

PS  The team he gave away over the last few years would have been tremendous--it needed 2 or 3 pitchers for 10 to 30 million--A CONTENDER!!!  Instead, Bobbo gives you new management, cheaply, and tells you about "all the positives" and how we're "rebuilding, in a different way, once again!!!"  Nonsense.

 LJ, you have nailed it.

Nutting is NOT innocent of the last two years. 

He is trying hard to distance himself, but look at the talent he has given away for "prospects"!.

Many GM's have learned that "Prospects will get you fired", unless you're making lots of Bucs for the stockholders, and owners condone your dealings.