When do you think the Pittsburgh Pirates will ever have a winning season again?

Answer 1

All the woes of the Pittsburgh Pirates start at the very top. 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. he is making moves trying to save his hide. Jim Tracy deserves better, but he has to go as well. To me, Tracy is managing scared. The everyday lineup has more holes than O.J.'s alibi. Somehow, Jason Bay has horribly regressed. New front office, new manager, new core of talent, new scouts, hell, maybe even a new logo. Clean this mess up!

To answer your question: if these issues are addressed carefully and dilligently, they will win again.

Answer 2

The ownership has created the team that now takes the field for the Pirates. They are soley responsible for acquiring the players that are on the team. Instead of investing in quality players, they have hoarded the money they receive in revenue sharing. They have not invested in Latin America, the Far East or anywhere else in the world. Their thinking is many years behind the rest of baseball. This was evident in the recent call-ups of Matt Kata and Carlos Maldonado. Instead of bringing up one of the best power hitting prospects in baseball in Steve Pearce, the Bucs decided to go with "versatility" (which they have plenty of already). Until the ownership realizes how things should be done, the Pirates will continue to languish near the bottom of the league.

Answer 3

With Jim Tracy at the helm never!

He never did anything when he was in LA!

Poor decisions on the field and with lineup.

Next, I blame the head office for not going after talent.

When was the last time we saw a rookie pitcher out of Pittsburgh?

It will be at least 5 yrs for anything good to happen

Stick to the Steelers!

Answer 4

I would say that Snoop hit the nail right on the head with his answer. the Pirates are the Detroit Lions of baseball, and nothing will change until the "front office" problem is corrected. Look at the Royals... they bring in Dayton Moore and all of the sudden the Royals are threatening to climb out of last place.

Answer 5

Baseball desires a earnings cap. Payrolls are uncontrolled, gamers making way extra desirable than they deserve, and followers taking it interior the shorts whilst it includes expenses. remember the video games of yesteryear whilst the seats have been crammed for each activity....day or evening....weekday or weekend. whilst a lager or warm dogs grow to be a greenback, and it did no longer take an eternity between pitches. Now that is way too high priced for the small city communities to compete.....manhattan makes it a comedian tale by employing procuring each and all the huge money skills. video games are see you later now with each and all the batters calling time and doing all that adjust the gloves crap that truly isn't mandatory.

Answer 6

I think Snoop already has the best answer!

I'm going to say that the Pirates next winning season will come when hell freezes over!

Answer 7

I am a Mets fan and they were horrible in the 1990s and good today. So, yes Pitts can be better again one day ...

Answer 8

The management is just running the team into the ground. I don't know.

Answer 9

It will happen out of nowhere sometime in the next few years. No one will see it coming though.

Answer 10

they have a good minor league system... maybe... if they stop making terrible trades, like Mike Gonzales fr Adam Laroche!.. Stupid, I tell yah!

I saw that McCracken fella a week ago... he was bunting!.. wtf.. # prospect and he's bunting... fast guy tho...

that Sharpless pitcher is good too... good pitching coming through.. no hitting... flaky division tho.. well this year anyway.

they need to buy a bat... like Andruw Jones.