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The Problem With CubansI think I should get out of the prediction business, in fact forget think, I am getting out of the prediction business and back into the what-I-thinks business. Pirates call up Duffy, which is less bad then McClouth in my mind since I have been lead to believe Duffy's just a 4th outfielder anyway, however, so is Tike Redman. Rather would see the younger guy start.About the title, I thought it was awesome that of players nobody ever heard of would have a chance to compete against the "World's Best" next year. And hopefully school them to prove how much of a sham the World Baseball Classic might be (how can something be classic in it's first year). I might not get that chance though since Cuba seems to be pansying out. Also, Mark Cuban is in the news. People are salivating at the prospect of him buying the Pirates. Don't get your hopes up, for once I have FACTual information that's actually of use. Cuban sang "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" Saturday. Afterward he sat in the Cubs booth where he mentioned to the announcers that if the opportunity came up he would be interesting in being involved with an organization such as the Cubs; basically, verbatim what he said to Pittsburgh media. While I think it's more likely he'd come to Pittsburgh, I wouldn't look too much into it. But that won't stop people from dreaming. Cuban has been successful in Dallas because he's a marketing genius, responsive to fans, a competent business man, and a fan of the game. But the thought that he would make the Pirates better because he's a billionare and can buy us a team is ludicrous. In Dallas he got people to come to the games before that team was good, then ran with it by drafting and scouting well, and treating his players and fans the way they deserve to be treated. Some of the results are a reflection on his intelligence, some are a reflection of his luck. He dishes out money now, but only to keep the players there that deserve to be, or to fill an occasional hole, but not five of them. Be assured he's pulling in a lot more then he gives out. The other half of that argument is why would you want that? I left for college hating the Yankees, a team that outspent everyone and won the last three World Series. What I learned at school (which obviously wasn't engineering) is that the only reason to hate them is jealousy. 29 other teams would have killed to have brought up those kind of stars through their system and have the means to pay them through their stardom. Given the choice to have that kind of organization we all would have went for it instantaneously. The true enemies were the Arizona Diamondbacks of the world: the teams that truly did buy their players and had a fluffy fan base. Think about that, I want to grow with my team, I want to root for the Jason Bays, Jack Wilsons, and Jose Castillos because I struggled with them when they struggled; I have a vested interest. I don't want to go to the ballpark to see a team filled with Matt Lawtons. I don't want to go to the ballpark just because this year could be the year. Dare I get labeled a fair-weather fan in a *gasp* bad sports town. NO! Would Cuban be a good owner? Absolutely, but he wouldn't do anything different team-building-wise that current ownership isn't already doing. He just wouldn't suck at it. With that rant out of the way, tonight I'll be listening to the start of the ballgame, but I won't be finishing it. I'm going bowling, which means that I've officially reached the point in the season where having a life is more important than following baseball. From now on expect more of my posts to be less game opinions and more of what you just saw here. posted by Rory at 7:09 PM | |
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This is a blog about the Pittsburgh Pirates. My vision: to write about the games at the games. Want to email me? Make it out to rory at bleache... you know the rest. |
