Pirates

A boycott is in order folks.

LJ — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 14:57:43 GMT

You can say all you want, but a boycott is the only reasonable response to 16 years (going on 17 years) of inept management and the fleecing of the Pittsburgh fans of baseball. Some (in fact the Pirate organization itself--just another line of BS to keep you coming back to fill their wallets) will tell you that a boycott destroys jobs at the stadium and that Nutting will only lower the payroll to reflect lesser attendance. Bull!!!!!!!! In response to the first--the workers at the stadium are in constant fear of job loss as this team makes endless empty promises--a slow bleed for those who work at the stadium. Instead, how about we get ownership in there who put a winning product on the field thereby producing jobs that are secure for years to come. Yeah, it might be a little painfull for a short run, but the end result without Nutting & Co would be worth it. The second---Nutting knows there is and end game to reducing payroll. Sooner or later either he gets embarassed enough to sell, or MLB people would eventually step in to warn current ownership that revenue sharing is not for profit purposes, but to keep teams viable and competitive ON THE FIELD!!!

Nutting's newspaper businesses are hurting I'm sure, just as they all are right now. Interesting how Seven Springs (the resort the baseball fans bought for Nutting) isn't producing quite that well in this tight economy, AND he trades McLouth to the Braves!!! Interesting timing. Of course, ol' Bob says not for cost-savings though. Right. Stop being gullable people. The man is ripping us ALL off!!! AND, in the process, is destroying baseball in our town!!! Look around, when I was a kid everyone knew the Pirates and their success and played ball. Now, no one cares and the High School programs and lower league programs are being forgotten in response to the "who cares" attitude. Everywhere else in the country baseball is booming. Yes, revenues are up, kids are playing, and high schools are competitive as well as local college programs. Here--thanks to Ol' Bob--the dream of America's Past Time is past!!!

Tell me, what have the Pirates gotten in return for Nady, Bay, McLouth, Marte, etc, etc. Here's the answer: 2 below average starters at the back of the rotation and a bunch of underperforming minor leaguers who will probably NEVER see a big league roster. In the most recent trade we gave up a gold glover, team-leading HR hitter, All Star resume (even if you weren't a fan of McLouth's future you know we could have gotten better than what we did with his credentials!!) for what--a guy who "might" be a good pitchers someday at the back of a rotation, 2 minor leaguers who probably will never see a MLB field--even if they do they probably will never be a McLouth!!! What they have gotten however, is PAYROLL SAVINGS!!!

In the draft for the Pirates, watch, to make up for this latest disaster, they will probably pay some "prospect" some nice cash to fleece us into believing it's not about money. Not as much as it would have cost to keep McLouth, mind you, but another scheme to keep you coming back and to say "see, we told you it's not about payroll." Even if the kid did make it--he'd be gone before the Pirates acutally had to pay him his all star salary. Hence, salaries are lower, and the fans are fleeced again!!! Now, it will be a while til the McLouth noise goes away, so don't look for any more BIG trades to come to get rid of favorite players for a while. But once the clouds clear from this trade---Wilson, Sanchez, others are on the block. The only other trade I see this year from the Pirates--bye, bye, Laroche. Gets rid of like 7 million and he's a nice guy but not a fan favorite. Hey, money savings move with no fan backlash!!! The perfect kind of Pirate trade. And they'll get a used jock strap and two old bats for him--but they'll dump a ton of salary!!! Perfect!!

Incidentally, at the beginning of each season guess what the cheapest way to fleece fans into believing you've made SIGNIFICANT changes and that this is really going to help the club??? Yep, give them new management!! Think about it. New management, particularly if they are new to management as the Pirates new management always is, always costs less than the established management you're getting rid of!!! The old management is up for raises. Give the new management less money, tell the fans of all the significant changes you've made to become a winner, and voila--ATTENDANCE. Til the new management sees the tight wallet and product on the field stinks and they can't win with it!! It's a heck of a lot cheaper than paying what star players are asking, be it right or wrong. Unfortunately, getting real players is the only way to compete in today's baseball world. Something Nutting & Co are fully aware of, AND, won't do.

SO STOP GOING TO THE GAMES AND EMBARASS NUTTING INTO SELLING THIS TEAM. IN A LONG RUN, IT WILL BE WORTH IT!!!!! OTHERWISE, GET USED TO AN EMBARASSING BASEBALL TEAM REPRESENTING OUR WONDERFUL COMPETITIVE CITY!!!!! As long as Nutting & Co run this ship, baseball in this town is dead. The truly sad part, if you got an owner who actually wanted to win PNC Park would be filled EVERY game and baseball would "come alive" in this City of Champions!!!! We could have another team to be proud of, instead of embarassed. Currently we are the "City of Chumpions" in baseball with Nutting fleecing all of our wonderful fans in this great city!!!

SO BOB & CO, YOU'LL NOT GET ANOTHER DIME OF MINE UNTIL YOU AND YOUR PENNY-STEALING CRONNIES ARE GONE FROM OUR BASEBALL LORE IN THIS TOWN!!! YOU HAVE EMBARASSED THE NAMES OF STARGELL, PARKER, CLEMENTE, CANDELARIA, DRABEK, TEKULVE, ETC, ETC. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE DAY WHEN I RE-ENTER PNC PARK TO SEE OUR BASEBALL TEAM PROUD AND CONTENDING. GO AWAY AND FIND ANOTHER WAY TO MAKE MONEY OFF OF ANOTHER CITY, PITTSBURGH DOESN'T DESERVE IT AND THE FANS OF 'BURG TEAMS DON'T DESERVE YOUR MISTREATMENT!!!!!

SORRY FOR RANTING, BUT IT'S DESERVED.

Last Comment: Iwamura!! Knuckleheads!!!

LJ — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:38:37 GMT

What a bunch of knuckleheads!!! Chavez for WHO??? Oh great, the boys are at it again. Pleeeeeease stop!!! He's now our highest paid player at 4.25 million!!! Great clubhouse talk, huh guys. This reminds me of Matt Morris when the other incompetent GM Littlefield got the boot. Is this the last hurrah of this group of knuckleheads Bobbo??? The guy's 31 freakin' years old guys!!! He doesn't know how to get to Pittsburgh from Japan you morons!!!

PLEASE SELL AND STOP EMBARASSING THIS CITY!!!! I'm trying to enjoy the WS with a serious note, and then these idiots do something like this to ruin it. Stop, please.

Sano--Another Disaster by Our Wonderful Management!!!

LJ — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:34:29 GMT

Success or failure?? Doesn't matter, the results are still the responsibility of management. Either you know how to "handle" a situtation or you don't. Now, I don't really care, as a fan, how this disaster was handled--doesn't matter--the end result does. Did you get him or not?? The Pirates, as usual, will claim it wasn't their falut, and maybe it wasn't. If you had someone in their respective position on a major league baseball team who knew how to "handle" what obviously became a touchy situation between agent and baseball team the Pirates would have landed the kid. They didn't. Way to go Neal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Nice job. Ask Bobbo for a raise this year!!! Things are looking sooooooo much better since you joined "The Stooges."

Oh, by the way, the agent has handled 8 of 13 of the best players from Latin America over the last decade!! Their goes that money commited to the baseball academy in Dominican flushed down the toilet!!! Way to go guys, looking good!!!!!!

Wow, is there any way this organization could get worse??????????????

A Fool Exposure

1960Maz — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 21:28:18 GMT

John Russell is a fool and not just because he pulled Zach Duke with a 10 run lead with two-outs and empty bases in the 9th. He's a legitimate fool because he believes that Pittsburgh sports fans will buy his asinine phony baloney reason of giving Duke the pleasure of the fans' ovation. JR, this isn't a basketball blow-out.

Here it is; the only audible thing this guy has said in two years and it insults anyone who still cares. I might be among the last of the remaining, fading hopefuls (fools) to say I've seen enough.

Russell has been part of the nutty but successful scheme to dumb-down all Pirate fans. But zapping Zach was a transparent giant leap of dumbness from the Chauncey Gardner of baseball managers.

(you know, the reference to the dim-witted Peter Sellers character in Being There)

This time the skipper has misunderestimated us. We know if he were really a sincere. sensitive and thoughtful fellow he would have also sent a Doug Strange out to replace Andy LaRoche at third base. You know, Andy has also had a tough year but went 5-5 with two homers on Monday and he also deserved to hear a swell 9th inning ovation from the fans. Just like they do in blow-out basketball.

Creepy opportunity missed, JR.

Hey Frank, Nice Try with Ol' Bud Selig!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LJ — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:17:30 GMT

Hey, ya' just gotta love Frank Coonelly for trying!!! He gets his ol buddy, and former employer, to speak highly about the job he and Bobbo are doing here in Pittsburgh!! What a joke!!! And I'm sure there will be a few, not many, who might buy it Frank. Just not me.

Bud says the Pirates aren't pocketing money. Well, if thats the case, why did they admit that the mangement made like 17 million in two consecutive years?? AND, why just last year did the team START spending on draft choices--what about the prior 15 years--where did that money go??? Hmmmm Must have had a thief in the organization!!! Call the Cops!!!!! If Bobbo didn't take it, where the hell did it go for 15 years????? Holy crap, no wonder they haven't been winning, it's the thief's responsibility!!!!

Wow, how stupid can management be?? If what Selig says is true throughout the article (of which I don't beleive a word), then Bobbo & Co are more dumb than I thought!!! What that article is stating is that Bobbo & Co are like all small market teams, but that they don't have a clue on how to win!! AFTER 17 YEARS!!!!!!! Boys, ya gotta think before you take foolish action like ol' buddy Bud's article---it makes you look worse as a management group!!!!!!!!!!!!! He's telling everyone that small market teams are doing OK. Well then, what the hell's wrong with the Pirates for 17 YEARS!!!! What, they JUST NOW discovered how to win???? Puhleeeeeeease!!! How foolish can you guys look??? Just spend the damn money, put a competitive team on the damn field, and watch the City's baseball following come alive!!! Stop all this nonsense already!!!

Hey, Bobbo & Frank, let me spell it out for ya. WHEN THE PAYROLL HITS THE $70 MILLION MARK YOU'LL HAVE MY ATTENTION. TIL THEN-----STOP STEALING FROM THE FANS OF PITTSBURGH!!!! SIMPLE ISN'T IT??

PS When you hit around the $70 million mark I'll be going to the games as a season ticket holder!!! Why so straight forward?? Because at that level of salary, I'll know (and you know too you sneaky dogs!!) that there will be a VERY competitive team on the field at PNC Park!!!! Simple boys, simple. (Please get some folks who know how to evaluate REAL baseball talent first. But even with the current group, fumble as they may, at 70 mil even THEY can't screw it up that badly!!! I'll still show up at PNC Park. OR, call me, I'll get you a competitive team on the field. Hell even I couldn't screw that up!!!)

In the meantime, stop putting this BS in the paper about how you're going to be competitive spending about 1/5th the money that winners are spending. Makes you look even more dumb!!! It's dribble and you know it!!!

What is a Closer Worth

Brett of Indy — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 12:59:34 GMT

Matt Capps makes $2.42M already and I find the to be excessive for a closer to begin with. Why would a team in a small market pay that much by to a position that plays every other day or less, for one inning? Why would they provide arbitration vs. simply allowing the player to go and finding another alternative?

Where's Bobbo Now?????

LJ — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:12:37 GMT

I think it's kinda funny, when the team was holding in there and at least respectable, you couldn't see enough of Bobbo. Man he was stepping up taking credit for the "new" management's position on the team and even his own new "seeable" position!!!!

So, now that we're seeing his results--Where the hell is he????? Haven't seen hide nor hair of the guy?? Why isn't he stepping up to the plate NOW???? Hey, guaranteed if this team was even half way respectable, you'd be seeing his face plastered all over this team saying "I told you so, we've got the right management in place". Hell, he'd be the damn poster boy for the "New Resurgence". Now that they stink, in typical fashion, you NEVER see the guy. Hell, he's not even quoted in the paper anymore!!!! Maybe he's too busy counting his money from fleecing the fans again, or revenue sharing. Or, maybe he's just planning the next SCAM to fleece the fans for next year??? Maybe he's planning how to get rid of more salary, there has to be someone who's making too much money. Well, I'm thinkin' there are only about 3-4 major league salaries being paid. Hey, Bobbo, what the hell, get rid of em'!!!!!!!!! HaHa!! Next year's scam is going to be a challenge for any marketer at this point. My bet, Bobbo will come up with something!!!

HEY, BOBBO, WHERE THE HELL ARE YA?????? STAND UP AND BE PROUD OF WHAT YOU'VE DONE!!!!

Frank's Mad--What a great talent evaluator!!!!!!!

LJ — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:55:16 GMT

Frank, in his wisdom says he's angry at the players for not running with the opportunity before them!!! Hey Frank, you obtained all these players, don't you think maybe YOU should be a little embarassed with your choices??? Here's a word for ya': MIRROR!!!!!

I'm thinkin' Ol' Frank is now concerned that maybe all his wonderful drafts aren't as wonderful as he thought. Maybe he isn't the wonderful talent scout that he thought he was???? Hey, what the hell, he's making some nice money while he's here playing "baseball talent evaluator"---SOMETHING HE'S NEVER GOTTEN TO DO BEFORE!!!! And the best part--IT'S ON BOBBO!!!!

I loved the sign at the park: HEY BOB, THANKS FOR NUTTING. Great.

If the boycott can rally from here, Bobbo will be gone sometime next year and we can get on with re-assembling a winning baseball program in "the Burg".

This is mortifying!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LJ — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:46:45 GMT

This is past embarassing folks!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Like 2000 fans in the stands!!! What a shame!!! Hopefully the fans of Pittsburgh start next season off this same way and even Ol' Bobbo will get the idea that maybe selling isn't such a bad idea.

Bryce Harper

mattyalou1966 — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 02:56:54 GMT

Am I the only one crossing my fingers for the Pirates "catching" the Nats to win the Bryce Harper derby? According to my calculations, we're 4 1/2 "behind". I root for the Bucs to win during the game, but I get over a loss real fast...

stunning...or maybe not

findyoursports — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 16:42:27 GMT

I can't be-LIEVE that we continue to have runners at third base "freeze" on ground balls to the right side. Pearce last night repeated the same "deer in the headlights" mistake that has repeated itself again and again since Opening Day in 2008 (Bixler...cost us the game in '08!) Beasley (3rd base coach) - sorry that your season has included some personal tragedy but you should be fired for letting these "pros" make the same mistakes again - and again - on a team that is struggling to score runs. And "Sleepy" John Russell should demand better from his coaches and players...if there's a heartbeat in there, that is. Instead of Winter Ball, can Russell be forced to spend the summer at Camp Tomlin to learn how to lead with passion?!

Let the dead bury the dead

Razzgospel — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 20:50:24 GMT

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.

They Made A Valid Point.

marshal1964 — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 19:36:13 GMT

Mister Kasper and Coach Brenly made some interesting observations about the Pirates organization that I wholeheartedly agree with. First, the Pirates weren't making any progress with Jimmy Grabow, Tommy Gorzelanny, Nyjer Morgan, or Jack Wilson. Secondly, you know it's frustrating and I know you Pirates fans are terribly frustrated. However, patience and time are of the essence here. Believe me folks, I've followed the Pirates long enough to know that just when things really look bad for the franchise, good things tend to happen. Don't ever write the Pirates off. Believe me. Better days are ahead.

Another Record Tied!!! 8 Hits in a Row!!!

LJ — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 18:14:42 GMT

Hey we tied yet another record with our ballclub of the future--gave up 8 consecutive hits!!! Can't wait to hear all the "we're getting better now" folks tell us how "that one almost got caught" or "if Laroche would've dove". Nonsense. How many times have we as a team got seeing-eye singles?? It goes down in the books as a hit. In fact, 8 in a row!!! This team is on a roll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The old Pirates actually HAD eight hits in a row--1975 I think? That's when we were "The Battlin' Buccos". Today, we're the "Bumbling Buccos!! with no end in sight!! THANKS BOBBO!!!

They are awful and the next SEVERAL years don't look promising!!!

Wow!! Will this ever end?? OOOps, never mind, I can answer that--yes, when Bobbo sells the team!!!

Happy Pirates

bossman — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 12:46:16 GMT

From the article in today's PG, Pirate officials are happy with their complete staff.

If they're happy, I guess we all should be happy. Develope current players and then we'll have more players to trade.

Bossman Mike

Good experience

Jay S — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 19:38:01 GMT

I wanted to compliment the staff and fans at PNC Park. I spent Monday evening at the ballpark with my son, who just turned three. (We are Pittsburgh fans who, like so many others, live out of state.) Now living in the New York area, it's difficult to explain just how refreshing the PNC Park environment was for my son and me. The staff was courteous and the fans were earnestly cheering on the Bucs--frustrating as that might be. I sensed that the fans know that the players are doing their best, perhaps witholding their ire for private conversations about the management. I'm hoping to make this an annual trek, and this first adventure left me excited for our trip to Pittsburgh next year.

STOP the whining

POPS — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:50:05 GMT

So i gather that most of you would have liked Nutting to tell Neil to keep the same group of players so we could continue to lose upwards of 100 games a year. "It was always nice to see Jack play when went down to get our bobblehead or watch the fireworks".....

WAKE UP people, it just was not working. I am sure all of the players we traded away were great players but Jack Wilson might be able to help the Red Sox win a division as a minor piece on the team, but you can not win with Jack as one of your best players!!!!!

Maybe the plan the Pirates have is the right one, and maybe it is not. Maybe they have the right person pulling the strings, and maybe they do not. Maybe they executed it the right way, and maybe they did not.

BUT...... atleast there was a solid plan and they are sticking to it. No more whining over breaking up a team that was set to lose 90+ games. No more whining over salary dumps after we gave Nate his upfront money. No whining about being cheap after the money that has been spent on the draft and on the international market.

Take solice in the fact that atleast there is a plan to get us to a better place. Pray that it works, cause lord knows I love baseball and I want nothing more than to see a winner in town. But quit all the complaining becuase it was without a doubt the right thing to do. Take a minute to see how Neil H. has actually put a few decent propsects into our minor league system. Take a minute to think how many games we would have lost in 2010 and 2011 if the team was still together.

Be glad there is a plan and that the entire organization is willing to stick with it.

For a more detailed explanation please visit the following:

http://www.buccofans.com/2009/08/after-deadline-in-beginning-there-was.html

POPS

New Record!!

bossman — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 13:39:35 GMT

What do you think?

Do you think we can all get together and root the Pirates on to a record 20 losing seasons?

From the assinine statements of management, it seems they would be content with it. Even the mangler, I mean manager is talking stupid. (When he talks.)

Let's go for 20! It will at least give us a reason to follow the team the next few years.

What a fiasco is this group. (It's not even worth calling them a "team." ) But, TOP MANAGEMENT (or lack of it) is the main reason for the decline. I don't think they know if a baseball is stuffed or blown up.

As long as the club makes money with fireworks, bobble heads, and other give aways and as long as people (I love the game.) keep going, things will remain status quo.

Bossman Mike

Bucs are just aAA ball club

rphabel — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 22:01:00 GMT

Way to go, Nuttings. 17 to 2!!!! Great team and I hope that you are happy. Please sell the team and allow someone to make it respectable again. The team you greated is a "JOKE". But I'm sure that you are still making money. You make me sick!!!

The Cubs led, 8-0. There still was nobody out.

ICDrinker — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 23:37:31 GMT

The shame of the reality is that the Pirates have given up on the season because their management has given up on the season. If Huntingon and Russell would come out tomorrow and say, Hey, were restocking the minors and can't find a major league team, and really we just don't think we can win 10 more games this season, so deal with, I would respect them.

What they are doing is pretending to be a real MLB team. None of the players on the team are ML caliber. The audacity to charge a ML price to see them is sickening. The manager, who will never be fired because he is not asked to win games, is truly horrible. WHAT MANAGER LEAVES A PITCHER IN to give up 8 runs.

To me, that borders on cheating.

The absurdity is that people continue to go out and PAY to see them. i understand the ballpark is beauitful. And its a fun night. But come on. You realize you look like fools cheering when they get a run only to give up 3 the next 1/2 inning.

The team has collasped; the management is not even trying to hide the fact that they have given up on the season, and you cheer? That is not being a fan, it's being cruel.

Today was an example of why this team will not win more than 7 more games this season. The management is worried about '10, the manager clearly has no idea how to manage (um, didn't he GET FIRED from this team!), and the players, even at their best are borderline AAA caliber. That's okay if you are INdy.But you are not.

LEt's just hope 2010 has some promise...except if anyone shows any promise in spring training,..well...keep your bags packed.,

Final note...I laughed out loud when lap Dog, Greg BRown commented about McCutchen and how fun it will be to watch him develop. How naive or idiotic. If he continues, he will be traded for more prospects...and the cycle begins anew.

New Name "Pittsburgh Prospects" ?

Aero90 — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 02:03:08 GMT

Over the last week I have seen the word prospect more then I have seen "Pirate", so might as well call them what they are..... now taking the field, the Pittsburgh Prospects.

It has a ring.

Give them a Break

Cangelosi's Crew — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 14:51:50 GMT

I am so tired of the national and local media beating up the current Pirate front office. Everyone talks of the All-Star line-up they have traded away since 2003. I implore anyone to look at that line-up and tell me where it ranks within the division, let alone the National League. Is it better than Chicago? St. Louis? Houston? Milwaukee? No, not even close. So let's say this was our line-up. We would be no better than 4th or 5th in the division, maybe have 83 wins, and then lose 8 of these guys to free agency after this seaon, with nothing to show for it. That would be fantastic, huh? This is the ONLY way to get it done, and I truly believe that starting in 2011, we can be a 90 win contender for many years to come. Of course, potential only goes so far, and injuries are always a part of it, but I have not been this optimistic since that 27-11 run to end the 1987 season, which catapulted us into 5 seasons of competitive baseball (1989 not included due to key injuries). Give this current FO a break...PLEASE...they will be considered geniuses by these same fools who are making fun of them very soon!!!

A Question

mecwag — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 05:27:23 GMT

Hello All,

I am not an expert on the official scoring system in MLB. But, I feel that it was not fair for Charlie Morton to get the loss for last night's game. How could it be? He gave up one run and it was clear that Bootcheck gave up the winning run. Did Morton get the loss because the Pirates were behind when he left the game? Please educate me in this matter. Also, why don't they have an official stat for inherited runners that score. If they do, I can't find it. I would be interested to see what kind of record the Pirates relievers have. I am sure that it is at least 50%.

Any help in the above matters would be greatly appreciated.

Mark (mecwag)

Moving on, Tonight is a new Season

Bucs Fan in GA — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 18:30:28 GMT

I have been a Pirates fan since late 50's. I have rooted for the Bucs thru thick and thin. Experienced three World Series teams and numerous playoffs. Enjoyed stars like Roberto, Wilbur Stargell, Manny, Rennie, AlleyOp, Billy Maz, Steve Blass, Smokey, Dave Parker, Matty Alou, the scrappy Tim Foli, Phil Garner and Jay Bell. The likes of the Killer B's: Bonds,Bonilla, Bream and Van Slyke... Lots of good memories....Yet even with the drug scandel and the terrible teams of the late 50's, no time has been as bad as the past 16 years. The folks we had running the team:Bonifay and Littlefield were not good judges of talent..They always tried some spin to bring in this palyer for this need and the addition never brought results. When Littlefield was fired, I was hoping someone with the ability to assemble folks who knew talent and possessed the ability to make decisions would come on board. I don't know Neal Huntington from Adam's House Cat. Poor decision making, lack of knowledgable folks juding talent brought us where we find ourselves this year and the past 16 seasons. While Huntington has been on the clock, things have began to go in a different manner. Granted, the dealing of Jason Bay was tough to swallow-our only ever NL Rookie traded...Then X-Man, a clutch hitter, for minor leaguers...Then the shocking deal to Atlanta this year and Nate McLouth, our Gold Glove CF...That was really something-I did not expect that. When "Capt." Morgan and "Bulldog" Burnett were dealt to the Nats, I wondered why? It was exciting to see McCutchen and Morgan at the top of the batting order and manning the outfield pasture. The Pirates had not had that type of speed in years...We are at the bottom of the division again. However, I actually am feeling somewhat optomistic...No, I will not enjoy seeing Freddy Sanchez or Jack Wilson play elsewhere or John Grabow putting out the fire in the late innings...But what I hope to see is young players hustling, playing all out, doing their darndest to win or make a play or achieve something. There are some interesting parts now among our starting nine: Lastings Milledge, Garrett Jones, Steve Pearce look to have some potential offensive capabilities. Mess them with the likes of Ryan Doumit and Andrew McCutchen and hopefully we will have some bats that hit for offense. And with the addition of Kevin Hart to the rotation: Maholm, Morton, Duke and Ohlendorf gives us a solid group. Not the Orioles of the early 70's but solid pitchers who can get the ball over and get some outs. There are alot of if's to address: can Dewyln Young play 2nd? What can Ronny Cedeno do at SS to contribute? While Andy LaRoche's defense has been stellar, when is he going to hit? Is Brandon Moss of mid July the real deal? Can Meek, Chavez, Hanrahan, Karstens, Capps and Veal put out the fire? Will Vasquez, Cruz, Salazar, Jaramillo provide enough off the bench to keep the bench afloat? Well, we are going to find out...Here's to our Bucs playing competative, scrappy, hustling baseball through the remainder of the 2009 season! I for one think we fans deserve it!

Beat'em Bucs

Enough is enough

swimmindog — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 00:35:25 GMT

Forgive the musings of an older reader. I attended my first Pirate game in the late 1950s at Forbes Field and I've stuck with the team for more than 50 years--until tonight. Yes, the team was unable to win with some very good players--Bay, McLouth, Sanchez and Wilson, but the reason is that the ownership refused to spend money to AUGMENT these guys so pitchers would have to work to them, not around them. How fitting is it that the Pirates on the day Wilson and Sanchez were traded were shut out again.

As other posters have noted, this Pirate team that is left probably wouldn't win in Triple-A. Tonight I have reached my limit. I'm one who used to buy tickets for several games a year--no more. In the words of Arnold Schwarzenegger just before he killed Sharon Stone's character in Total Recall: "Consider this a divorce."