Ok so the season is over once again for the Pirates. What will it take for them to finally have a winning not finishing amongst the Royals and Devil Rays as worst teams in Major League Baseball.
cheers
2007-09-30 19:50:14 · 7 answers · asked by Cookie 5 in Sports ➔ Baseball
I honestly think it's a shame for a franchise as old and with as much history as the Pittsburgh Pirates to be one of the worst teams in baseball. I'd really like to see the Pittsburgh Pirates being a contending team every year.
They will probably need new ownership or a new GM and I think they fired their GM recently.
2007-09-30 19:54:52 · answer #1 · answered by rootbeersoup 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Atleast the Bucs finally have a solid nucleus to build around. In the past, they just had too many holes to fill and went out and got free agents that were washed up and no other team wanted. Now they can concentrate on getting just a couple players to continue their progress. I think their new CEO is going to shake things up a bit in the front office and that has been long overdue. Plus they have a GM in place that is a "baseball" man rather than a businessman and can start making the good changes they need to become competitive. They've already made a commitment to develop players in Latin America and are even getting more involved in Japan and the Far East. At least the Nuttings seem a lot more concerned than McClatchy was! Let's give him a chance and see what develops.....can't get too much worse!
2007-10-01 04:44:10 · answer #2 · answered by P.I. Stingray 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I hate to say it, but follow the lead of the Braves, Yankees, Red Sox, etc...
Those teams have been willing to spend money intitially to build good teams. They may take a loss for the first couple of seasons, but in the long run it will pay off. The market may not be as big as some of the others, but when you stop to think that the Braves of years ago did not have much of a fan base. They paid for good players, won games and after a few successful seasons they had an international fan base. Now they are able to spend more on a regular basis to maintain their success. Granted the last couple of years havent been extremely kind to them. Look at the most successful organizations over the last few years, they were willing to open the wallets.
New management would definately help in the case of the Pirates. They have had a recent tendency to let individuals that could help the organization move on as soon as they hit contract years. And in the free agent market they seem to try and fill gaps by going after the guys no one else wants.
Baseball is a business and the team should be run in that mindset. "You have to spend money to make money."
Bearing in mind the examples of teams like the Twins, who somehow manage to defy that logic. Thw twins maintain a respectable organization by having a great minor league system and outstanding scouting.
Bottom line: New Management that is not afraid to compete.
2007-09-30 21:38:55 · answer #3 · answered by smokin_joe_72 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, Mets fans take note of this: it could be worse.
The Pirates have a good tradition and history and they have quite possibly the most beautiful stadium in the league, yet they really haven't had a winner since Leyland was there. Thye also can't draw too many fans in the Steeler city.
They need to get a big bat and pitcher from the market, gonna have to spend a lot of money or they need to develop better minors (maybe get better scouts). It's probably not gonna happen overnight. Then it depends on who replaces Jim Tracy since it seems like most people want him out of town.
2007-10-01 01:38:08 · answer #4 · answered by Js_5 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a disgrace to see a franchise with the history that the Pirates have in the gutter like this. You need a real owner with a passion to win. What ever happened to Mark Cuban possibly becoming an owner? He's the kind of guy who could potentially breathe some life back into the Pirates. PNC Park is to beautiful a place to have so many empty seats.
2007-09-30 22:42:15 · answer #5 · answered by dj 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have been a Pirate fan for a long time.
They have had 15 losing seasons in a row. They finished in last place again this year.
They will never be a contending team. It takes money to pay good players. Without good players, you can't win. The Pirates do not have the money to obtain and keep above average players. So until the league changes its revenue policies, the Yankees and Red Sox and Braves will always win and the Pirates will always lose.
2007-09-30 22:01:14 · answer #6 · answered by Jeffrey K 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
With a market like Pittsburg, I really think the Pirates need a great GM, like Billy Beane in Oakland or Terry Ryan in Minnesota, because they know how to win by trading and drafting smart..................... they do not have to have a huge payroll to put a competitive team on the field................. and with the Pirates being in the NL Central, they may only need 82 to 87 wins to get into the postseason, so maybe next year..................................
2007-10-01 03:04:41 · answer #7 · answered by Chris 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋