SportsNation Blog Archives
Pittsburgh Pirates
Opening Day -- well, Opening Night, really, and we technically already had one of those in Japan, but who's counting? -- is finally here, as the Cardinals will take on the Marlins tonight in the first stateside regular-season MLB game. It's bound to be an exciting season with so many players having changed teams, but has the power structure been altered significantly?
Vote: Pick each division and pennant, and the winner of the World Series
Rank: Baseball's best teams? | Top players in the game?
World Series repeat?
The Cardinals prevailed over the Rangers in the 2011 World Series, but St. Louis lost its biggest gun this past offseason ...
Best player?
... which is a pretty big loss, considering he might be one of the best players of all time.
Odd one out?
The Red Sox missed the playoffs last season after an epic September collapse. Will they be on the outside looking in once again?
AL's best?
Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols were probably the two biggest additions to teams in the American League, meaning the balance of power could shift.
NL's best?
Likewise, the addition of Jose Reyes to the Marlins could give the team a huge upgrade -- offensively with new third baseman Hanley Ramirez, and defensively at shortstop.
We can understand if you don't want to take the time to grade your tech-support help on the other end of the telephone, but when we're talking about the dollars and emotion you've invested in sports, we think it's worth the effort. It's time for ESPN The Magazine's Ultimate Standings, in which SportsNation grades organizations on everything from ticket prices and stadium experience to the talent on the field, court or rink. Which team will end up on top this year? It depends on what you say.
Take part in the 2011 MLB survey
2010 MLB Ultimate Standings
1. Los Angeles Angels (Overall: No. 3)
2. Tampa Bay Rays (Overall: No. 6)
3. Colorado Rockies (Overall: No. 13)
4. Minnesota Twins (Overall: No. 14)
5. Atlanta Braves (Overall: No. 15)
Take part in the 2011 NFL survey
2010 NFL Ultimate Standings
1. New Orleans Saints (Overall: No. 1)
2. Indianapolis Colts (Overall: No. 4)
3. Green Bay Packers (Overall: No. 9)
4. Arizona Cardinals (Overall: No. 19)
5. Baltimore Ravens (Overall: No. 20)
Take part in the 2011 NBA survey
2010 NBA Ultimate Standings
1. Orlando Magic (Overall: No. 2)
2. San Antonio Spurs (Overall: No. 7)
3. Cleveland Cavaliers (Overall: No. 10)
4. Dallas Mavericks (Overall: No. 24)
5. Oklahoma City Thunder (Overall: No. 25)
Take part in the 2011 NHL survey
2010 NHL Ultimate Standings
1. Pittsburgh Penguins (Overall: No. 5)
2. Detroit Red Wings (Overall: No. 8)
3. Washington Capitals (Overall: No. 11)
4. San Jose Sharks (Overall: No. 12)
5. Chicago Blackhawks (Overall: No. 16)
- Vote: Should the Pirates prioritize winning games over making money?
- Rank 'Em: What are the most depressing franchises in pro sports?
The Pirates don't just lose, they lose with flair -- consider April, when they dropped back-to-back games in Milwaukee by scores of 20-0 and 17-3, respectively. But as much practice as they have losing on the field, missing the playoffs in each of the last 17 seasons, the trait apparently doesn't extend to the books.
According to the Associated Press, the team's financial documents reveal a profit of nearly $29.4 million in 2007 and 2008, seasons in which the team lost 94 and 95 games, respectively. As much grumbling as just about all of us outside the Big Apple do about the Yankees' payroll, is there spending really worse for baseball than the Pirates' penny-pinching ways?
“The Pirates ownership doesn't understand baseball teams. They understand how to run a business, but baseball is about more than that. They understand how to get good prospects, but the game is more than that. They understand how to find revenue sources and sponsor fireworks nights to fill the stadium on Fridays, but that doesn't win games. Pittsburgh had been a strong baseball town for nearly 90 years. The current owners are not doing justice to the legacy and they are not showing respect to the fans fo the city. Make all of the money that you want in another business. Sell the team. Respect the game.
” -- tunsa
“And people complain about the Yankees who actually take their profits and put it back into the team while the Pirates actually get money from the Yankees, and just pocket it. What the Pirates are doing is worse for baseball than the Yankees. The Yankees at least put out a quality product and reward their fans with winning instead of the Pirates who just rob their fans and embarass the franchise with 18 losing seasons in a row.
” -- Hayde4M
“So, is the mentality here to drive the franchise into debt in order to satisfy some bean-counters and expectant fans? Is it bad that they made a profit?
” -- imstrider
- Rank 'Em: What are the worst franchises in professional sports at the moment?
- SportsNation flashback: We've been here before with the woeful Pittsburgh Pirates
Tuesday night in Reading, Pa., Stephen Strasburg cruised through five innings against the home team without allowing a hit. In four starts with Double-A Harrisburg, he has a 0.52 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 17.1 innings. All of which raises at least one question. At least on nights when Strasburg pitches, is Harrisburg the second-best baseball team in Pennsylvania?
It's not even May, and, well, the Pirates are right where you would expect them to be. And at least one fan has had enough of this dysfunctional relationship. After shelling out money to MLB to be able to watch his favorite team from afar, blogger swysz2730 wants a refund from the man in charge.
"I'm not even going to ask that you make changes, because I know you won't. I'm not going to continue to cry about this situation, because I fully expect that, for the rest of my life, I will never see another winning season from the Pirates. All I want is my money back for this year's MLB.TV subscription."
It's just like the census, only this one is fun and doesn't come in the mail. And nobody from FOX News or MSNBC will yell at you about it. It's time for ESPN The Magazine's Ultimate Standings, in which SportsNation grades organizations on everything from ticket prices and stadium experience to the talent on the field, court or rink. Which team will end up on top this year? It depends on what you say.
Take part in the 2010 MLB survey
2009 MLB Ultimate Standings
1. Los Angeles Angels (Overall: No. 1)
2. Milwaukee Brewers (Overall: No. 7)
3. Tampa Bay Rays (Overall: No. 16)
4. Minnesota Twins (Overall: No. 23)
5. Philadelphia Phillies (Overall: No. 24)
Take part in the 2010 NFL survey
2009 NFL Ultimate Standings
1. Pittsburgh Steelers (Overall: No. 3)
2. Green Bay Packers (Overall: No. 13)
3. Indianapolis Colts (Overall: No. 14)
4. Tennessee Titans (Overall: No. 15)
5. New England Patriots (Overall: No. 19)
Take part in the 2010 NBA survey
2009 NBA Ultimate Standings
1. Cleveland Cavaliers (Overall: No. 5)
2. San Antonio Spurs (Overall: No. 9)
3. New Orleans Hornets (Overall: No. 12)
4. Houston Rockets (Overall: No. 17)
5. Orlando Magic (Overall: No. 18)
Take part in the 2010 NHL survey
2009 NHL Ultimate Standings
1. Carolina Hurricanes (Overall: No. 2)
2. Detroit Red Wings (Overall: No. 4)
3. Washington Capitals (Overall: No. 6)
4. Pittsburgh Penguins (Overall: No. 8)
5. St. Louis Blues (Overall: No. 10)
It's been a rough week for Pirates GM Neal Huntington and Mets GM Omar Minaya (that's him, right). Huntington is taking a beating, here included, for continuing to destroy the value of his collectors set of genuine Pittsburgh Pirates by taking them out of the wrapping and trading them off individually. Minaya didn't need any questionable trades to draw criticism, just questionable judgment in calling out a New York writer in a press conference.
So in the interest of fairness, we turn to Keith Law for some good words on the two of them. All right, saying he's surprised Minaya hasn't been fired and questioning the Pirates' ability to judge talent isn't exactly glowing, but there's some positive in there.
Greg (NJ)
Did you interact with Omar Minaya much when you worked in MLB. If so, is he better "off camera"?
Keith Law
Interacted with him more in this job, just once while I was with Toronto. Great guy, very charismatic. He showed bad judgment on Monday - very bad - but I also think it was a case of letting his frustration get the better of him. I am surprised he hasn't been fired, but I am not sure I would have just fired him on the spot either.
Dan (Washington, DC)
Keith, what's your overall opinion of the job Neil Huntingdon has done in trying to rebuild the Pirates. Your assessment of individual deals seems like you feel he's doing a poor job, but is the sum greater than the individual parts?
Keith Law
I haven't seen a big win in any of the deals, but it's the right overall strategy. The core he inherited wasn't winning anything, and the farm system was in sad shape. I just don't agree with many of their evaluations of individual players, like the Alvarez over Posey/Smoak decision. Full transcript.
We've spent considerably more time over the last couple of months talking about the Pirates than their basement-dwelling peers like the Royals and Orioles, but they just make it so easy. After all, an inability to field a competitive team is one thing -- Elgin Baylor made a nice living out of it -- but trading away a potential contender over the course of two seasons? That takes a certain something special. Surely, Pirates GM Neal Huntington deserves to be ranked ahead of Royals GM Dayton Moore for chutzpah alone.
The latest to leave the fold were shortstop Jack Wilson, second baseman Freddy Sanchez and pitcher Ian Snell. And look, this whole rebuilding thing might work, even if SportsNation isn't buying it. The haul for Sanchez was Tim Alderson, the Giants' No. 4 prospect according to Baseball America, and the guys at USS Mariner, who are right more often than they're wrong about these things, weren't thrilled about how much Seattle gave away for a good defensive shortstop in Wilson and an enigmatic pitcher in Snell.
But even if Alderson, Jeff Clement, Lastings Milledge and Andrew McCutchen are the second coming of the "We Are Family" Pirates, the franchise has a serious credibility problem. Just ask SportsNation blogger Fairsoldier50, who says it's time for Huntington to buy a cabin in the woods.
- Sanchez makes it close, but voters say Nate McLouth still best player dealt this season.
- Is there hope for baseball fans in Pittsburgh? Vote on state of the Pirates.
- Is Neal Huntington the worst GM in baseball or a secret genius? Rank them all.
- Groups: I'm not a fruntrunner; I'm a Pirates Fan! | Pittsburgh Pride | The NL Central
“Any Pirates fan that doesn't like either of these trades is not really a Pirates fan.
” -- redguy12588
“I GIVE UP!!!!!! How can I watch and cheer for a team that wants to suck. I just gave all my stuff to a bum because thats how i feel about the Pirates. Pirates ownership sucks soooo bad, pay me half the money those guys make and I can do just as good as them and maybe better. oh, I just threw up in my mouth. I am so glad that football is starting soon so i can watch a team that wants to win in Pittsburgh, THE STEELERS!!!!
” -- BrianLarry
“The Pirates ownership continues to bilk the fans buy putting out a terrible product in a nice package (PNC Park). They wouldn't even spend to a salary cap, if there was one because they don't care enough. How long can you continue to rebuild a team for? The last time they were any good, Barry Bonds was a skinny young man. They have gone beyond rebuilding. It's a constant cycle. Pathetic..
” -- bus3668
If the American public had the kind of faith in the auto industry's brands that SportsNation has in the St. Louis Cardinals, well, maybe Hyundai wouldn't be reporting record profits. Come hell, high water or Miguel Tejada, voters refuse to doubt the power of Pujols.
A little more than a week ago, the Cardinals were 49-42, held a 2½-game lead on their closest competition in the NL Central and were the pick of 60 percent of SportsNation to win the division. Fast-forward to the present, and they've gone just 2-4 in the interim, including a sweep at the hands of Tejada and the Astros, and watched three teams close to within two games of the lead. And now 65 percent of voters are picking them to win. If they get swept again, this thing might be unanimous.
Looking at each of the four top contenders, SportsNation blogger pacersfanatic33 admits he's among those who underestimated the Cardinals' pitching entering the season and suggests acquiring shortstop Julio Lugo from the Red Sox isn't necessarily a minor trade.
If only the Pirates were so lucky. The Bucs actually won Wednesday -- in dramatic fashion, no less -- but the bigger news of the day came when the team traded yet another regular player, Adam LaRoche, for seemingly marginal return. Next up? Probably Jack Wilson and even Freddy Sanchez. It's not exactly a crushing condemnation, but SportsNation isn't buying that the team has a plan. The verdict is that the franchise is bad for baseball.
- Will the Cardinals lose the lead for even a day? Vote on the NL Central.
- Thursday's chat: Steve Phillips at 3:30 p.m. ET
- Groups: St. Louis Cardinals Nation. | Redbirds Nest | Houston Astros Baseball
“Wow...what a game [between the Cardinals and Astros], and what a division. This is going to be really fun down the stretch.
” -- TyHoward24
“Wow, the Astros are only a game back in the NL Central... Oh, what a division!
” -- pride4jc1222
“[Ryan] Franklin has had an outstanding year. This one game doesn't change that. I blame our offense for this sweep.
” -- Cards Fan90
- Who is the Phillies' best position player? The answer may surprise you.
- Ryan Howard recently reached 200 home runs, but SportsNation thinks he's not even half done.
- Groups: Die Hard Phillies Phans | I'm not a frontrunner: I'm a Pirates fan!
- User sethsz3 thinks the Phillies will easily take the NL East, but sees them losing to the powerhouse Dodgers.
We're poised on the precipice of the second half, caught between the cold reality of the first half of the season and the limitless potential of the second half. We're ... bored. Seriously, the Triple-A All-Star Game is all we get today? Couldn't the Nationals and Pirates play at least? It's not like their rosters are exactly swamped with All-Star Game obligations.
A practice round from the British Open? A midweek NASCAR race? Give us something.
It's the slowest day in sports, but that does give us the chance to look back and look ahead. We've been surveying SportsNation for the best each team had to offer before the break. Some of these votes are closer than the Minnesota Senate race, but the leaders as of Wednesday morning are as follows:
National League Team MVP
Dodgers: Andre Ethier
Phillies: Raul Ibanez
Giants: Tim Lincecum
Cardinals: Yadier Molina (non-Pujols)
Rockies: Brad Hawpe
Brewers: Prince Fielder
Marlins: Hanley Ramirez
Astros: Miguel Tejada
Cubs: Derrek Lee
Braves: Brian McCann
Reds: Brandon Phillips
Mets: David Wright
Pirates: Freddy Sanchez
Diamondbacks: Dan Haren
Padres: Adrian Gonzalez
Nationals: Ryan Zimmerman
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