A fraternity brother of mine, BJ, is a huge Pirates fan, and quite knowledgeable when it comes to baseball. Since Bob Nutting became the controlling owner of the Pirates four years ago, BJ is the only fan I know who has supported him. BJ and I can discuss anything in a calm, rational, intellectual fashion; except the Pirates. When it comes to the Bucs, BJ and I butt heads like two rams at mating season. He always argued that Nutting is a savior who kept the Pirates from leaving Pittsburgh and had led them out of financial ruin. I always argued that Nutting was a Dark Lord who had a formula for profiting from losing and has kept us from having any chance at a winning season. The majority of the fan base was on my side, and I thought I would never be proven wrong. However, if the Pirates team and organization keeps moving in the direction it is moving, I may owe BJ a beer, or two. It's starting to look like he may be right, and Nutting is not the Evil Lord I thought he was. Again, this is still a maybe. I'm not sold yet.
Dejan Kovacevic, of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, did an interview with Bob Nutting right before the All Star Break. I have to admit, I liked what I read. Nutting seemed willing to increase the Pirates' $47 million payroll via trade. And he doesn't want to part with the teams elite prospects. Imagine that, the Pirates not parting with their elite prospects. You mean we wont be the farm team for the entire league anymore?
″One thing we won't do is mortgage the future of the club ever again,″ Nutting said. ″Neal's (Huntington) going to need to make decisions that are good for the long term of the Pittsburgh Pirates and be able to make sure we're playing important games this September but also next September and the year after that.″
Wow, if that's true, I may actually start to like this guy.
″I'm thrilled, happy, ecstatic ... proud of what Clint Hurdle's done, what the organization has done and what the players have accomplished so far,″ Nutting said. ″Most of all, I'm humbled by the response of the fans: the attendance, the ratings, seeing people walking around town wearing Pirates gear ... that's what really feels good. They deserve this. We're just beginning to deliver back to them.″
I like what Clint Hurdle has done as well. Nutting doesn't sound like a Dark Lord in this interview. But remember, Dark Lords live to deceive. I am not ready to jump on the "Nutting Bandwagon" just yet. I want to see what moves GM Neil Huntington really makes before the July 31st deadline, and where we end up in September. Will he go for the big bat the Pirates need, or trade off our future? I hope it's the former. Will the Bucs be competing in September, or not? Is Nutting the Dark Lord we all thought he was? Or did he have a good plan and the gumption to stick to it?
Again, I like what I've seen so far this year, but I am not sold on any of it yet. So come on Bob, prove me wrong!! Make me eat my words!! I Double Dog Dare ya!! Make a good trade for a clean up batter. Compete in September!! Bring the Pirates back to glory!! I'll be the first to congratulate you if you do. Prove to me you are a good guy, and not akin to this guy. Evil Spock!!
Cute and clever article. Nutting deserves the benefit of the doubt because he has only had the team for four years and inherited an organization with no minor league talent left after all the horrible trades of the McClatchey era. Although on field success is nice to see this year, I don't foresee the Pirates winning the division with or without an added clean up bat. The Brewers and Cardinals are both too deep and have stayed with the pack the first half of the season mainly due to injuries to their own star players.
ReplyDeleteNutting has spent a ton of money on acquiring young talent in the amateur draft each of the last four years and that's the right way to go for small market teams. The ultimate judgment of Nutting as an owner will come when we see whether or not he invests money in the major league staff when the young talent becomes arbitration eligible, and whether he moves to lock up some of their young stars with long term contracts before they're arbitration eligible.
Right now there are only three Pirates that I believe should be signed to such contracts and I think they're obvious to everyone. Andrew McCutheon, Joel Hanrahan and Neil Walker should be inked to long term deals as soon as possible. This year or this off season if at all possible. Next year they need to look long term at Jose Tabata and Jeff Karstens if they continue along the path they're on. No one else on this team is untouchable for the right deal.
At this point though the right deal has to be for major league players that can get this team over the hump. Right now the Pirates have pitching to burn and pitching is always in demand by contenders. As much as I like Paul Maholm, if he can't be dealt for a decent power bat, the deal should be made. Brad Lincoln is ready and able to move up and take his place.
I was very dismayed to hear speculation that the Pirates might be interested in obtaining Josh Willingham from the A's. He is over the hill and having a terrible year. If the Buccos are going to gamble, they ought to do so on a player who's producing but perhaps unsignable next year. The Red Sox and Yankees have been acquiring players for years to get to the end of a season and another round of playoffs/world series. The Pirates ought to set their sights on bringing back Jason Bay or borrowing Carlos Beltran. The Mets are going to unload one or the other, and Bay is showing signs of finally being healthy and regaining his power. Playing at PNC vs. Citi Field will add ten HR's per year to his bottom line and 25 RBI's. Bay is signed for one more year after this and we'll worry about what to do with him then. Beltran is a free agent and he would be strictly a this year deal, but the Mets will part with him cheaply rather than get nothing.