Year of the klutz?
By Jake • Apr 17th, 2008 • Category: Feature Story
You might want to launch this video first: http://pittsburghpirates.buccoblog.com/wp-content/themes/mimbo2.2/images/errors.htm (click the start button a couple of times if your browser doesn’t start it the first time.)
Let’s face it, the 2008 Pirates are not the 1996 - 2007 Pirates. We’re on pace to allow more runs than in any season since 1894 (950), on track to record the highest number of errors in franchise history, player values are decreasing, not increasing, most of the talent that is on the roster is broken down or not performing, and every day we see new levels of ineptness and/or laziness, the extent of which far surpasses Dave Littlefield or Cam Bonifay days.
Buzzwords over the winter included accountability and pride, but the fans have yet to see credible instances of either from management.
To be sure, the players who do play look like they are on a mission to create more than 200 errors this year. Almost every inning shows some sort of unprofessional conduct like lazy throws, refusing to bend knees to field balls in play, poor blocking or skills behind the dish, impatience resulting in wild throws all over the diamond, or - the best one yet - just plain passing the third base coach with our middle finger in the air his way.
You name it, we’ve done it.
I mentioned this winter that the players hadn’t bought into the new system and it’s pretty clear many of them continue to have lingering issues. What did not sit well is when management blamed the players for ‘underachieving’ instead of ownership taking responsibility for their own actions (ie: insuring the club was managed competently).
And if that wasn’t bad enough, our top three prospects in the farm are now hitting a collective .235 in AAA.
So while this club is a remarkable 7-8 in the win/loss column despite all the problems surrounding the club, you can be sure of one thing - there isn’t one person in the Pirate family that is happy right now, except one group.
The Nuttings of Wheeling.
They might be nerds, but klutz isn’t in their financial portfolio.
Jake is a contributing writer at Bucco Blog, a fan blog covering the Pittsburgh Pirates.
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Jake, Obama was right. You Are bitter!
“We’re on pace to allow more runs than in any season since 1894 (950), on track to record the highest number of errors in franchise history …”
If you’re going to extrapolate those numbers, isn’t it also true that we’re “on pace” to go 81-81? No, I don’t think that will happen, but I don’t think either of the first two will either. I’ll take all three together, though!
I don\’t understand why management isn\’t holding up their end of the bargain when it comes to accountability and pride. They have tried different options in the field - pretty much all of the options they have. When Jack his back, Rivas will surely hit the pine and Bixler will surely be on a bus back to Indy. Also, Mientkiewicz has been thrown into the mix to spell both underperforming corner infielders. It is not like last year when Paulino was trotted out there game after game no matter how disinterested he was. Are they supposed to attack the players with bats and hot dog shooting cannons whenever they make a bonehead play? The fielding is embarrasing, but it is April. What do you suggest that J.R. and Neil do?
Still what is John Russell to do? He has to throw 9 guys onto the field everyday. He has his hands pretty much tied. He can preach accountability all he wants, but if they don\’t listened the players know there is no one to replace them. I bet if they had a hot prospect breathing down their neck they pull it together real fast. This is going to take a while to fix…
imagine how long the video will be at the end of the first month