Screw the general baseball thread, this deserves its own for history...Pirates!

Not saying Pirates fans shouldn't enjoy the ride. Just saying that people are making lots of questionable assumptions about where this ride is going.

 

That's why they play da games ...

 

Not sure anyone's assuming anything. No one in my family has. No one in my extended family has. No one I talked to at PNC Park the day before the All-Star break did. But we all agreed on one thing -- we're enjoying it while we can.

My Twitter feed blew up the other night because the Bucs landed an ESPN prime-time game next week. No assumptions on the future, mind you, just excited they landed a prime-time game on ESPN. So I'm not sure who you're seeing on a daily basis that leads you to believe fans are assuming they know how this fairy tale ends, but your world and my world are obviously worlds apart.

 

Just responding to things on this thread, Oz.

 

In that case, your perception of this thread and mine are world's apart.

 

I will just say this.

THIS is why I wished the NFL didn't have the cap in the new CBA. Maybe if the NFL went uncapped, people finally would shut up about MLB.

That said, and knowing I've probably opened up the shit storm even more, this IS a great story. People are coming out to PNC to watch a fresh product. If they fade in September, so what? OK. They've at least proven they can compete.

What this will also do is put pressure on the ownership to keep the momentum going. They're not going to sell these pieces off so easily. People will demand McCutchen be kept. They'll want this team to keep achieving.

What was it I heard the other day? The last time the Pirates and Indians were in first at the same time this late in the season was 1921? Let's just enjoy a great baseball story.

 

Why would this ownership finally care now after all the years that they haven't? The only way this matters is if they finally get it through their heads that while they are limited by their market, they could do better financially if they would at least try to win.

So far, it has been easier and more of sure thing to go the cheap route to ensure profits, but hopefully for Pittsburgh's sake, this spike in attendance will help change their minds.

 

For the first time in many years, I have forgotten about ownership and enjoyed watching the players. 1-9, every one of them runs out ground balls. Hell, Cutch beat out at least two routine grounders to short this season. Walker, in his third position in his career, makes plays that make Ozzie Smith stand up and cheer, and he walks off the field like it was nothing. Hitting is coming around, but it is still pretty porr and they somehow still find ways to win. They lose two key componants in Alvarez and Tabata, and they didn't really skip a beat and in the process, the young guys like D'Arneau, Harrison and Presley are getting really really valuable playing time.

I don't care if they win the division. Hell, I'm pretty certain even if they keep this up, they won't be able to beat the Brewers, which will cost them. It's a bad matchup for them. But I will continue to enjoy a competitive major league team, with guys who routinely make me laugh and shake my head in amazement day in and day out simply because I have forgotten what this feels like.

I won't withhold judgement until seasons end because I really don't need the playoffs. I got what I have been waiting for for 18 seasons. Next year? Well, that's different, I expect growth and I will turn my attention to the ownership and how they react to this, but in the meantime, I suggest you just enjoy good baseball on the north shore, OOP.

 

I see your point on that actually. Aside from hiring Hurdle, there is no signs that ownership planned or worked for this. They have a bunch of scrappers who are having above average years...this is not a Tampa or even Oakland like build the system plan. While injuries have been bad on everyday players, their pitching staff has been remarkably healthy and reliable..their starting five has made every start except for three games this year.

But fuck it, I am excited, kick the ball Charlie Brown, take the mound again, ask the ginger out, fly the kite etc.

 

What does that mean? I need an example of the public pulling off some sort of successful boycott or even affecting a major attendance change because the front office did something they didn't like.

If the fan has any power, they aren't organized enough to do anything with that power.

 

Well, now you are starting to sound like me.

McCutchen looks like he is going to be a very key part to all this, a test to see if ownership is ready to step up and try to win this time or keep doing more of the same old shit.

 

I just got a shiver.