| Home of the Bleacher Blogger |
|---|
|
|
A Change of Heart/PhilosophySo while I was gone last weekend I met a man on the roof of the Holiday Inn parking garage in Duluth, MN. He played stickball for a college in Evansville, IN. Both of us had just struck out with the same girl and we started talking it up. He played outfield, a converted catcher, and he hated it.It was about this time a lightbulb went off in my head. We talked about it. Catchers have this attitude about them, a swaggy confidence that comes with being involved in every play of the game. You stick them in the outfield and they fall asleep. Their entire attitude changes and it affects the rest of the game. I have been a Cota proponent, and I would like to set the record straight. I like Cota because he's an above average for a catcher (or at least was until visiting strike out island) who isn't overpaid. That's exactly the type of thing that you can actually get a return for in a trade, but he isn't part of the solution. Humberto Cota will not be on the next Pirate playoff team. Neither will Kip Well, Craig Wilson, or Josh Fogg: all guys I like. Team chemistry does not build a winner, and fan chemistry doesn't either. I could put together a lineup of my favorite Buccos over the last decade and it still wouldn't have much of a chance of finishing over five-hundred. And it's time for me to accept the fact that good guys aren't always good players. So Doumit should start, because you're just messing with him if you do anything else. Cota can play, but not if he's holding back progress. Same with Fogg, the guy (except for the last month) keeps us in games and wins more then he looses, but he's not part of the future and has virtually no trade value, plus we have a lefty copy of him already on the team. If another guy is deserving of a shot to start, Fogg is the guy who needs to take the hit. I hate to say it, but it's true. If something of value is offered for Wells or Wilson, we should take it. It will be tough for me as a fan. I don't know how to root for a winner, I only know how to cheer on nice guys. I'll still scream the loudest when the good guy comes up big. And that next clutch Cota pinch hit, I'll praise him here first. But from now on, I'm fully embracing the goal. posted by Rory at 4:10 PM | |
|
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. |
