How can we fix the Pittsburgh Pirates problem?

Question

With ownership that won't let the team draft anything close to the best players to save money, even with high draft picks each year.... (This year we took the 5th rated Pitcher with the 4th overall pick!) Even though they probably get like 25 million each year from the Yankees for revenue sharing...
And with well more than a decade of loosing... Is there anything Baseball fans can do in Pittsburgh to get a major-league team playing here again?

hahaha. They have a lot of young talent, and pretty soon those players will be playing for the Mets or Yankees! (Go, Oliver Perez)

Yeah, the Bob Smicik (spelling?) article is what inspired me to post this question.

Answer 1

I'm not a pirates fan really but I did love the Pirates of the 70's. Todays version is hard to watch and looks a lot like a JUCO team more than a pro team. The problem is the ownership, scouting is spotty because they cut corners there, and the front office is so cost concious they probably write contracts on toilet paper. There are only three ways they can become legitimate again: New ownership with deep pockets, a lot of luck, or a change to how revenue sharing money can spent. If they were forced to actually spend that money on the team either via payroll or player development they might get better, but when they can claim that as "Found money" to line the ownership pockets and still operate at a profit before that why bother actually being competitive. While some organizations do a great job using it to develop talent and stay at least passably competitive the pirate ownership seems satisfied with subpar or mediocre. Either is fine as long as they make money. Sorry bucs fans but even kent tekulve can't save this and it's sad to see a once proud, strong team become so beaten into the ground. The only way to end it is to stop going to the games and buying the merchandise. Granted nobody will probably do that anymore than they already have, but the only way to make ownership notice anything is the bottom line. If the cash cow gets sick, changes will be made.

Answer 2

This team will never be a contending ball club as long as this ownership group remains intact. Seriously....we drafted a reliever!!!???when a player that Keith Law said "has the potential to become the next Joe Mauer" was still available. I don't give a damn if he's a Boras player. You pick up the best available player!!! No other team in the draft avoided the best player simply because his agent wants to much money. This draft is a microcosm of the entire Nutting ownership. They keep on settling for mediocrity and the fans are dying off. Fast.

Answer 3

I think that until the owners of the Pirates can show MLB that they are trying to field the best possible team they can, revenue sharing money should be withheld from them. It is a shame that ownership must resort to padding their pockets with this money instead of using it on players that will make the team competitive. If they still refuse after revenue sharing is stopped, they should be forced to sell the team to someone who will comply. The Pirates' problems all start at the top with the owners and can only be solved if/when these owners get their act together.

Answer 4

Haha i feel ya. I am a huge Pirate fan and also live in Pittsburgh. I know for a fact, that they have the money for some big time draft picks and big time players but Littlefield isn't willing to spend the money. I think what Pirate fans can do is to let the baseball team know they need to spend the money to win. Possibly even get rid of Littlefield because as soon as he came to Pittsburgh we started losing. Our team now has talent in Bay, Sanchez, Nady, Snell, Gorzelanny, etc...But they are lacking that leader and that good player that changes a team such as Pujols, A-Rod, or Prince Fielder.

Answer 5

Keep your head up man. The Pirates have a lot of young talent on there team and in a few years, Im sure they'll be a contending baseball team

Answer 6

i'm a die-complicated Cubs fan. I extremely have dealt with an excellent style of dropping seasons. you're the two a fan or your no longer. Do you extremely think of you are able to set up this "walk-out" effectively?...and if so, how does you stealing innings from your self injury a millionaire(s) various situations over? You paid for the cost ticket. You already gave them money. set up a actual boycott. do no longer bypass to the activity in any respect. extra valuable yet, end stessing your self out. locate yet another pastime. those people (the possession) are creating wealth hundreds of alternative techniques and one low attendance night won't impression them interior the slightest...I assure you.

Answer 7

Boycott the team. Don't go to games. Organize an effort to make this meaningful.

Nothing gets the owner's attention like threatening his revenue streams.

Answer 8

$ell the ballclub to a well-heeled, deep pocketed owner who's willing to spend the $$$ for some above average free agents to compliment some young talents that the Pirates have in their system.

Answer 9

A new owner that cares for starters. Not an owner who cares more for putting money in his pocket than improving his team.

Answer 10

There's nothing you can do, except pray for a shot-in-the-dark, one in a million season where everything clicks for some unknown reason. Even then, the Pirates would probably still lose in the playoffs. You're screwed.