Pirates/Marlins

The Pirates just finished up a four game series with the Marlins. Coming into the series, the Pirates were 16-20 and the Marlins were a nearly identical 16-21.

Both teams are extremely low payroll teams. The Pirates are spending just under $40 million this year (wow, almost like an NHL team or something!) and the Marlins are spending $30 million.

Amazingly, nearly $14 million of the Florida payroll is wrapped up in two players: Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis. That means the Marlins are paying 23 players a total of $16 million dollars.

Keep in mind: This is a Major League Baseball team we are talking about.

But even that does not stump the insanity of this factoid: Can you guess the Pirate's highest paid player this year?

Jason Bay? Jack Wilson? Adam LaNewGuy?

Wait for it...

No, the answer is none other than Oakland A's catcher JASON KENDALL! We are paying the A's $5.5 million dollars for trading for him a couple years ago. That's $.25 million more than Jack Wilson.

The point is, the teams are similar in their low payroll ways. Here's how they matched up statistically:

The Marlins are a better hitting team. The've scored 48 more runs, have hit 19 more home runs, and their BA is about 20 points higher than the Pirates.

Meanwhile, the Pirates have better pitching, including being .34 better in ERA and giving up about 50 less walks(!).

So how did the series go? We split it, 2-2 of course. So what's the point?

I'm just posting this because right now, both teams look very equal and very mediocre. But how will they look at the end of the season? Like this: The Marlins will overachieve and have a winning record. The Pirates will eventually fall apart and win about 70 games. How can this consistent divergence between these basically equal teams be explained?

I am just posting this now so that everyone will begin to understand. Turning around the Pirates organization is much more than just trading for some better players. We need improvement in every spot on the team: hitters, pitchers, bat boys, coaches, manager, GM, and MOST importantly, OWNERS.

But we do have a beautiful ballpark.