Why are my pirates the worst team in baseball next to the tampa bay devil rays. I thought this would be the year I would at least have the pleasure of seeing in them as a .500 team.
2007-08-07 11:59:43 · 9 answers · asked by Cookie 5 in Sports ➔ Baseball
Where do I begin...
1. Ownership chooses to pocket revenue-sharing money instead of reinvesting it into the team. Seems like Minnesota, Milwaukee, Oakland, and a few others do not have a problem doing the reinvesting thing.
2. The last impact player the Pirates have drafted was a fellow by the name of Barry Bonds...and that was 22 years ago! During the last 15 years, the Pirates have yet to draft anyone who can help the team at the major league level. Picking pitchers most of the time (remember Bobby Bradley in 1999, Clint Johnston in 1998, Kris Benson in 1996, Bryan Bullington in 2002, etc.) or hitters who never seem to hit (J.J. Davis in 1997, Mark Farris in 1994, Chad Hermansen in 1995, etc.) sure as hell doesn't help, either. The best trades in the last 15 years have involved the same player: Brian Giles. Giles was picked up in 1998 for Ricardo Rincon and in 2003, was shipped to San Diego for Oliver Perez, Cory Stewart, and Jason Bay. That's it.
3. Not utilizing free agency has killed the Pirates. When was the last time they signed a free agent that has actually worked out? We have to go back to 1999, when they picked up Ed Sprague (who was their All-Star game rep that season). Every year, Pirates management tries to sell the fan base on "improving", only to bring in guys like Pat Meares, Derek Bell, Mike Fetters, Matt Morris, Victor Santos, Brant Brown, Jose Hernandez, Raul Mondesi, and the list goes on and on. Trading away useful players hasn't helped much as well. Losing Aramis Ramirez, Kenny Lofton, Oliver Perez, Chris Young, among others has just been too painful to watch.
4. Fleecing local government to pay for a new stadium. Current ownership PROMISED the fanbase that they would put a better product on the field if the city would fund a new ballpark. City caved, knowing quite well that a franchise over 100 years old simply cannot be forced to move away. Ownership has not lived up to their end of the bargain, annually cheating the fans out of decent baseball. The endless promises to get better fall upon deaf ears.
5. This team is horribly mismanaged from the top on down. There needs to be a complete overhaul. Starting in the front office, where David Littlefield clearly doesn't know what the heck he's doing. Jim Tracy deserves better, but he has to go as well. New front office, new manager, new core of talent, new scouts, hell, maybe even a new logo. Clean this mess up!
2007-08-07 12:21:00 · answer #1 · answered by Snoop 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think they are because their ownership and GM(Littlefield) can't decide whether they want to compete now or later. They have had some good players that they traded away, and some others that they waited too long on. They need to acquire an ace type pitcher and allow a nucleus to develop; let the Brewers and Cubs have their fun this year. The Astros are old, the Cards are injury prone, and the Reds have similar woes. One good offseason could put the Pirates in the mix next year.
2007-08-07 12:57:23 · answer #2 · answered by Thomas H 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Smaller market teams have a really tough go of things. I am an A's fan and they seem to be the best farm team for the rest of baseball. Every year we lose a stud or two. We just can't compete with the big money as much as we used to. I am afraid it will get worse and worse too. All anyone cares about is money and loyalty goes right out the window. Hey there's always next year... maybe.
2007-08-07 12:04:05 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Everyone is just having an off year on the Pirates. Salomon Torres has struggled in the beginning of the year, and guys like Duke and Maholm have pitched poorly, not to mention a below average bullpen.
Their hitters are also having below average years. Jason Bay usually has a bad first half, but not this bad. He will heat up in the second half like he always does though. Adam Laroche has also had a bad year, but they really just aren't producing enough offensively.
2007-08-07 12:05:07 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the ownership doesnt really care about them, they have alot of potential but they trade them off to make it looks like they are trying to make them a winning a team. Tey just dont care about there team and thats sad
2007-08-07 12:03:21 · answer #5 · answered by kyle w 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hehe- happy intertational talk like a pirate day! ;) yet another humorous pirate shaggy dog tale is the single with reference to the pirate who walked into the bar and had a steerage wheel linked to the front of his pants. the bartender asked why he had a wheel linked there, the pirate replied by using asserting "ARRRRGGGGHHH... that's a drivin' me nuts!" ;0)
2016-10-09 10:50:12 · answer #6 · answered by ismail 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lack of depth and youth. The youth equals inconsistency, and the lack of depth means that when someone fails or underperforms, there is nobody to replace him.
2007-08-07 12:22:54 · answer #7 · answered by JerH1 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sadly you have an ownership that don't care for your team or it's fanbase.
2007-08-07 12:17:40 · answer #8 · answered by Scooter_loves_his_dad 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know, I'm from Pittsburgh and I probably would have went to more than one game if they didn't suck. But at least I have the steelers...
2007-08-07 12:03:13 · answer #9 · answered by Ali 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋