I’d like to quote what the great Frank Coonnelly said about the 2010 Pittsburgh Pirates. I couldn’t stop laughing so I figured it would be a great joke for you all to read:
“Don’t let people tell you that the Pirates have a great future, but it’s not today.’ Today is our future. 2010 is the beginning of the next dynasty of the Pirates for me.”
I know, I know. It’s hilarious right? I read that this morning and immediately thought “If you’re going to spew garbage and nonsense, at least make it something I could believe.” Hell, I’d settle for just a .500 win season, rather than a dynasty. It’s really just an unattainable feeling to reach for myself, in getting that hyped for a team, that has basically stayed the same since last years deconstruction.
We’ve attained the services of Bobby Crosby, Akinori Iwamura, and Octavio Dotel. Those where the amazing off-season signings/trades the Pirates went after, and now has Coonnelly spewing that this is the start of a dynasty. The Pirates have a long way to go, and I mean a long way to go to even be considered a good team. First they have to increase their payroll by another 15-30 million to have a chance to compete year in and year out, and they have to hang on to their starters, ala Zach Duke this year.
Which brings me to my biggest reasoning that this is all just hype. This year is the year that will tell if they’ve done a good job in attaining
Zach Duke of the Pittsburgh Pirates
assets and keeping the ones who are bonafide winners. Zach Duke, is going to be first up to the plate. The Pirates have re-signed him, but I’m sure they will make it known halfway through the year what they want to do with him depending on the kind of year he is having. If he’s doing outstanding, I believe he’s going to get traded. If he’s doing poorly, I really believe he’s going to be sold low. It’s lose-lose, and the Pirates organization has done nothing to disprove that thinking otherwise.
Jose Tabata better be staying in the majors when he gets called up in the summer. He’s a hitter, and has shown nothing but progress everywhere he’s been put. He can flat out hit the ball well, and he’s shown that in every situation he’s been put in, he’s adapted. I really see no reason barring injury or major failure, why he shouldn’t be given a legitimate shot. The same holds true with Pedro Alvarez, he was your first round draft pick for a reason, and if Clement doesn’t work out, Alvarez needs a shot. If he’s your future, and the future is now. The Pirates better come through.
With the official start of the 2010 season, I always get excited for baseball. As I’ve said numerous times, I’m about as die hard as it gets. I believe every year that the Pirates have a chance to at least show some kind of winning baseball, and every year I’m majorly disappointed. I’ve even considered buying season tickets when I had the money because I love baseball and the Pirates that much. However being the age of 23, I’ve quickly realized that I shouldn’t be giving money to a team that technically doesn’t even deserve the fans it has. I just hope I can be alive long enough to see the Pirates have success in the post-season. However, with a pay-roll of sub $50 million, I fear I’ll never see that day. Pictured below is my hope for the future. Pedro Alvarez wearing the Pirates colors this year:
Pedro Alvarez of the Pittsburgh Pirates
Wed, Feb 24, 2010
Sports