Comments on: Are The Pirates Heading For A Transitional Year? https://thepointofpittsburgh.com/are-the-pirates-heading-for-a-transitional-year/ Ideas Involving Pittsburgh Fri, 28 Apr 2017 15:46:41 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.7.4 By: Steve DiMiceli https://thepointofpittsburgh.com/are-the-pirates-heading-for-a-transitional-year/#comment-6530 Wed, 23 Dec 2015 14:27:58 +0000 https://thepointofpittsburgh.com/?p=3781#comment-6530 I’m not really sure how a piece that suggests that if just one or two of the system’s high upside players of the 5 or 6 I noted make it, the team will be a lot better in the short and long term, just not April through May, can really be construed as optimistic. However, I stand by my point that those players will help the team more than any of the free agents the Pirates could reasonably connected to like Scott Kazmir and even Daniel Murphy.

Every season has ebbs and flows. The Pirates didn’t miss the division because of the their slow start. That slow start was more than made up for by an absurdly good June through September which was sustained by a series of small but effective moves at the trade deadline. They lost the division because over 162 games, St Louis was slightly better than they were. Not many teams come in second place with 98 wins and the Pirates had that misfortune.

It’s also worth noting that the largest catalyst for the slow start was the poor play of Andrew McCutchen. Maybe the Pirates should be looking at center fielders rather than a replacement for Jeff Locke who has a career 3.68 ERA in April ?

It’s time for Pirates fans to just accept that the Bucs are not going to win the offseason or trade deadline and that they don’t need to. While there are certainly no guarantees with prospects, there are no guarantees for success that come with making large scale major league acquisitions or free agent signings. Look at the Nats and Padres from last year. Look at the Dodgers the year before.

So in the end, there are no certainties or any magic formula for winning the World Series. The Pirates are competitive and have put themselves in the conversation each of the last three years. For me, they deserve the benefit of the doubt as their system has gotten them to three consecutive post seasons and to one of the highest three win totals in baseball. There is value in that. Even with a transitional year, they should still be competitive and if they can simply keep their head above water in April and May, they could be a lot better by June with internal options than they would be with external.

]]> By: Scott Emmonds https://thepointofpittsburgh.com/are-the-pirates-heading-for-a-transitional-year/#comment-6524 Wed, 23 Dec 2015 11:41:54 +0000 https://thepointofpittsburgh.com/?p=3781#comment-6524 I’m not buying into this article, or its “Rosy Cheek” optimism… I truly believe that far too much, of what has been said about Mr. Nutting, and his unwillingness to spend what is necessary, to put a TEAM TOGETHER CAPABLE OF WINNING, FROM APRIL UNTIL THE JUNE CALL-UPS… The entire point for this strategy, need only be recalled from the beginning of the ’15 season, when a slow start cost them a Division Title & the opportunity for a much deeper run in the playoffs… The Pirates reluctance to deal ANY OF THEIR TOP PROSPECTS, for a “rental player”, or even one who’s remaining contract is club friendly, for the next 1-2 seasons… The very idea, that all of the teams top prospects, are headed for stardom, and cannot miss at the pro level, is a ridiculous pipe dream… I have nothing but enjoyment, from watching the majority of their games over the past 2+ seasons… The thought of a “Bridge-Year”, even being considered with Cutch & Cole, (while Cole learns how to be a pitcher, and use his almost unhittable fastball, while he gains control of his other three pitches, he will blow ALL NL Starters, away.) If these two veteran players voice their concerns, if the teams plans fail; they are completely justified & have every right to be very upset… Along with a FANBASE, THAT ENDURED 21 YEARS OF HORRIBLE BASEBALL, AND IS BEING ASKED TO ACCEPT A “BRIDGE YEAR”; while Bob Nutting counts the tens of millions, he has saved… The Pirates plans, are simply not based upon sound facts or judgement… Similar to the old ownership… I agree with Nutting, & almost all of the MLB’S Small Market Ownership… The long term health of MLB, dictates that a salary cap, (or some form of maximum salary structure) become the law of the land… But, Nutting & a very small minority of owners, cannot continuously hold onto their mistaken belief, that this small minority’s absolute refusal to pay the market set prices for Free Agent Players, is only hurting their fan base… Which, if they paid attention; would reflect these numbers, to be in decline… The current state of MLB, is only a reflection of what happens when you have a PLAYERS UNION & AGENTS, that repeatedly strong arm the teams able to afford to pay Pitchers with career.500 Records, (5) Five Year Contracts for 80 Million Dollars, and career everyday players, hitting .265, with 15-20 HR, and 60-85 RBI; getting 5-6 yr. deals (depending upon their age) worth 65-90 Million $… Baseball is a game, screaming for some really radical changes, without these changes; their may be a horrific drop in the number of franchises, that simply cannot continue to operate a solvent business, within the current climate & aystems…

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