At one point, the Pirates were 63-47. 16 games over. 500. First place in the NL Central. The talk of the league. Their first winning season in 20 years was a foregone conclusion. The debate around here was would they win the division or settle for a wind card. Andrew McCutchen was a shoe-in for MVP. Folks thought James McDonald was an All-Star snub. Clint Hurdle was going to be Manager of the Year. What a difference 38 games make. They're now 74-74. No real shot at a wild card. And now in real danger of another losing season. At what point should MLB step in? They have to be embarrassed by this franchise that can't seem to get out of it's own way.
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The New England Patriots cheated to win four Super Bowls. -
Re: The Pittsburgh Pirates Part Deux
I meant to say "Pirates Collapse Part Deux"The New England Patriots cheated to win four Super Bowls. -
Re: The Pittsburgh Pirates Part Deux
Why should the MLB have to step in for a .500 team?
(Disclaimer: I'm an Oakland A's fan, not a Pirates fan)
Andrew Filiponi from the fan said it the best the other day. Look at the roster, if you can look at the talent and say they are underperforming than sure, make an argument for that.
I see a team that for the second year in a row, drastically overachieved early on. They relied on the long ball and pitching.
Please don't get me wrong, I love the nucleus they have built and enjoy watching them. I'm just not close to saying someone needs to jump in and do something.Last edited by kehlis; 09-19-2012, 11:42 PM.Comment
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Re: The Pittsburgh Pirates Part Deux
I don't know. I think they're in the best shape they've been in for years. Now, if they just let all their core young guys go over the next few years instead of supplementing the team with pieces to contend, then you might have a point.
If you really want to jump ship at this point (no pun intended), we can make room over on the Twins wagon. The wheels flew off and the axle is broken, but we could always use another body to try and push.Comment
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Re: The Pittsburgh Pirates Part Deux
It wouldn't be this way if the Pirates got to play the Cardinals every week.Comment
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Re: The Pittsburgh Pirates Part Deux
Have the Pirates seriously gone 11-27 like stated in the OP?
That is a .289 winning percentage, and a record of 47-115 over 162 games.
Good lord....7 National Championships
43 Conference Championships
152 All-Americans
5 Heisman Trophy Winners
#1 in weeks ranked #1 in AP Poll
#1 in weeks ranked top 5 in AP Poll
#1 in wins/winning percentage since 1946
Oklahoma Sooners, Boomer Sooner!Comment
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Re: The Pittsburgh Pirates Part Deux
11-28 now. But yeah on August 8th they were 63-47.The New England Patriots cheated to win four Super Bowls.Comment
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Re: The Pittsburgh Pirates Part Deux
MLB should step in because a team had a Jekyl and Hyde season? I think that's asking too much. kehlis makes a good point that the talent has overachieved the last couple years though the trend of completely falling off the rails in the 2nd half is a bit disturbing. If we see something like that next year than Clint Hurdle will have to be shown the door.
Personally I think the Pirates are in prime position to be a very good team as they have the right nucleus there. I do think they need to bring in a good veteran or two to bolster the roster and give a guiding hand for the younger guys when the going gets tough in the 2nd half of the year.Member of the Official OS Bills Backers Club
"Baseball is the most important thing that doesn't matter at all" - Robert B. ParkerComment
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Re: The Pittsburgh Pirates Part Deux
I'm talking about 20 years of futility. And recently it's come out that their assistant GM put their minor league players through Navy SEALS training for some reason and said they need to be more like "Hell's Angels". This organization is making a mockery of the sport.The New England Patriots cheated to win four Super Bowls.Comment
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Re: The Pittsburgh Pirates Part Deux
They aren't the first sports team to do that. Michigan football did it before this season. The Minnesota Wild came to the woods surrounding Duluth/Superior and had a week of boot camp and survival training exercises. It's about team building. I don't get why you're so down on your team when they actually finally seem to be turning the corner. Would you rather be out of it in May? I don't have to tell you how much that sucks.Comment
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Re: The Pittsburgh Pirates Part Deux
As was stated above me other organizations have done that sort of thing. A couple older examples were the Vikings during Les Steckel's one year abortion of a campaign and the Expos did that when Tom Runnells was the manager.
It sometimes works and other times it doesn't but it's not an unknown thing to see in professional sports.Member of the Official OS Bills Backers Club
"Baseball is the most important thing that doesn't matter at all" - Robert B. ParkerComment
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Re: The Pittsburgh Pirates Part Deux
I'd rather they been out of it in May and slowly building to the record they have now (74-75). That shows that the team is coming together. That's exactly what happened in 1987 2 years after losing 104 games. 3 years later they were in the playoffs. And had there been 2 wild cards in 88 they probably would've made it then. When you get white hot in June and July then ice cold in August and September that's a sign of a team without character. Not growing pains. Especially when it happens 2 years in a row!The New England Patriots cheated to win four Super Bowls.Comment
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Re: The Pittsburgh Pirates Part Deux
I know it may have been early but I would have liked to see the Pirates call up Gerrit Cole or Jameson Taillon and put them in that bullpen to get some kind of stability. The Rays did that with David Price and look at what he did.
I've heard that sound 3 times... once was Babe Ruth, the second was Josh Gibson, and the third was Bo Jackson- Buck O'Neil
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