Obnoxious

Top of the 9th in LA... Dodgers lead Philly 8-4. Everyone's ready to go except... left field is...vacant?

Where the heck is Manny??

After an awkward period of time [while people searched for him], he runs out from the dugout... grinning and looking ridiculous with his baggy pants and shirt not buttoned up.

From the announcers: "Well, we did a little special on "Manny being Manny,"... and we've got more. He's unbuttoned, he's late... who knows, huh? Who knows."

Absolutely obnoxious. His egocentrism and lack of seriousness about the game are not only annoying... but they also make the game seem like a joke.

You've got guys playing their hearts out... hustling down the line, chasing down balls in the outfield. It's like those guys realize that people are paying good money to watch them work hard. They realize that it's a privilege to be on the field in the first place and don't take it for granted.

And then there's Manny.

I've said it before... but one of these days [or years] Manny's offensive contribution will be outweighed by his mediocre defense and his lack of heart. On his way to becoming a player of little consequence, he'll go back to the AL and end up as a DH for awhile, I'm sure. [Which may happen sooner than later as he's hoping to go to the Yanks during the offseason. Apparently he wants to get back at the Red Sox or something. Good grief.]

He's a great hitter... one of the best of this generation. He'll make it to the Hall as his bat deserves to be there. But I wish the powers that be wouldn't tolerate so much stupidity and laziness from him. There's a higher standard for baseball players... and that he gets away with so much is an embarrassment.

Baseball is too good for Manny.

Trade deadline!!

As I've said before, this is an exciting season for Pirate fans, as we have a new front office that sometimes shows shades of competence. This is a huge improvement from the last seven or so years.

The Pirates have a decent offense this year and the worst pitching anyone's ever seen. Our minor league system is practically bankrupt.

A couple days ago we traded RF Xavier Nady and RP Damasco Marte to the Yankees for four prospects. Three were pitchers of various pedigrees, although none are top-shelf talent. The last guy, whose name is Tabata, is a 19-year-old OF with potential to be a star, although he's had a rough year in the minors so far.

Despite what some media members have said, it's a great deal for the Pirates, because Xavier Nady is mediocre and is simply having a career year. He's just as likely to fall flat on his face in New York as to continue his good year there. Marte is a relief pitcher and was going to be gone at the end of the season anyway. Nice job (general manager) Huntington!

Some have complained that we helped the Yankees. I could care less if it's the Yankees or anyone else. In fact, I'll be cheering a bit for the Yankees because Nady and Marte are both really great guys who liked Pittsburgh a lot.

As I have stated more than once, if Jason Bay is traded, I will cheer for his new team until the Pirates are good again. That promise is still on, and while there is a good chance Bay will not be traded in the next 24 hours, there is still a chance.

In fact, the Tampa Bay Rays are looking more and more like his new team. The Cardinals are in the mix too, but they don't have as much to offer. I would be excited to cheer for the Rays, although it'll make me look like a bandwagon jumper. Oh well.

Home cooking...to the extreme?

The Boston professional sports teams not named after bears are unstoppable at home. The Patriots went 10-0 this year at Gillette, Celtics are now 9-0 in the playoffs at home (take that Andy!), and the Red Sox have now won five in a row at home behind a great outing by Justin Masterson. Okajima made an appearance with the Sox up 2-1 in the 8th with the bases empty, and I figured he'd do well since there weren't any inherited runners, but for some reason he struggled. He managed to get 2 outs but left with the bases loaded. Thankfully, Papelbon came on and got a crucial strike out for the final out, and retired the side in the ninth for the save. That makes 8 wins in a row for the Red Sox at Fenway Park.

The road games, on the other hand, haven't been that great for any Boston team. The Bruins lost game 7 of the first round of the Playoffs to the Canadians at Montreal, the Patriots lost a their only game of the year in Arizona, the Celtics are 0-6 on the road in the playoffs and the Red Sox have lost 4 in a row, as well as 5 of 6, on the road. Is it cause Boston sports fans are that good and make that big of a difference? Probably.

By the way, I'm not one to kick a team while they're down or anything, but just in case your wondering, the New York Yankees lost 12-2 to the Baltimore Orioles tonight. Adding insult to injury, Derek Jeter got hit by a pitch and left the game. The Yankees web page say he's day to day. Fear not New York, A-Rod hit a home run in the sixth inning when the Yanks were down by 10, furthering his cause to be named least clutch hitter of all time.

The Yankees are now 20-25, which is good for dead last in the American League East, 7.5 games behind the Red Sox. As glorious as that is, I'm sure the Yankees will make this a race before the season ends.

Cincinatti Reds

The Reds just fired bench coach Bucky Freakin' Dent. No wonder they've sucked so much so far. They had Bucky Dent.

In 1978, the Red Sox had a 14.5 game lead over the Yankees in August (only 8 games over the Brewers, but no one ever mentions that cause it makes the story less dramatic), and blew it. It got to be so bad that heading into the last week of the season, the Yankees had a four game lead over the Red Sox. The Sox won their last four games and the Yankees lost their last four, setting up a 1 game playoff between the two at Fenway Park.

The Red Sox had a late lead, and Bucky Bleeping Dent comes up. This guy sucked so bad. He had absolutely no business doing anything significant. Very much an Aaron Boone type player. Anyway, the jerk hits a pop up that the wind takes barely over the Green Monster to give the Yankees the lead and the division title, scarring generations to come. Yeah, I remember watching it on Classic Sports as a youngin' and being really upset by it. Bucky Freaking Dent. It was a popup. A miserable popup.

Anyway, the Reds fired his butt, which is good for them. I'm surprised they've won 31 games this year and 80 games last year in spite of him.

Ron Guidry pitched the Yankees back into contention in '78. He's now their pitching coach. It would be interesting if they hired Bucky Bleeping Dent as their bench coach. It would probably help the Yankees out. I've always said Don Mattingly was cursed. He retires after '95 and the Yankees win it all in '96. The Yankees hired him as the bench coach before the '04 season and haven't won a Series since.

Whatever. Bucky Freaking Dent, you've just been fired! HA!

Only the Pirates could accomplish this.

Yesterday I said the Pirates were seven runs better than the Rangers.

Today they beat us by six runs.

Over all, I suppose, it's a wash.

So, what is the state of the Pirates organization now? We are 28-38, which is pretty bad, although to be honest, not as b


WE INTERRUPT THIS BLOG POST TO BRING YOU IMPORTANT NEWS:
Okay, I just found all of the sudden out in the middle of nowhere that I'm going to the U.S. Open in Pittsburgh tomorrow. What???!! yes, I am just as confused as you.

ad as last year at this time. That, of course, is irrelevant, as the winner of our division could conceivably end up under .500 anyway.

We are 8 games out of first place, though, and our season is over as far as contending goes. This is the second straight year we have jumpstarted the Yankees.

This is the earliest in a season I have ever stopped caring about the Pirates winning games.

We are just one win away to matching our inter-league win total of least season! (Three.)

The terrible-on-purpose-to-save-money draft pick has really stirred the Pirates fan community in Pittsburgh and on the internet. People are getting really, . really angry. If you don't believe me, check here, or here. People just can't take it anymore.

You may think your fans are depressed or that your team has bad times, but have you EVER seen a fan response like that middle link? And this is to one single draft pick. People are sick of the Pirates here. And they're sick of being told that management is trying to make the team better, when the team is obviously trying to spend the least amount of money possible. If attendance goes down, the owners just get more of the new and "improved" revenue sharing.

The Yankees are Coming! The Yankees are Coming!

No, not to Fenway. Though it has been about two weeks, which must be the longest drought of the season.

But just when you think it's safe to let the kids out to play, the Evil Empire wins 7 in a row to climb back up to 500. They're 8-2 in their last 10, and only 9.5 games behind Boston. Methinks we shall have a division race on our hands sooner rather than later. Mewishes we weren't gonna.

The Pittsburgh Pirates: a picture of commitment

No one is more committed than the Pirates.

Not committed to winning of course, nor making an honest attempt to win.

Yesterday in the draft, with the fourth overall pick, the Pittsburgh Pirates selected a player that belonged a dozen or so picks down.

Why?

Because he was cheaper. The Pirates passed on a dozen or so players who are all HEADS AND SHOULDERS above the left-handed relief pitcher we got, including possibly the best player in the draft.

There is no argument, NO ARGUMENT, that the guy we picked was the best choice to make our baseball club better, nor is ANYONE even attempting to argue that. Not even the Pirates.

There is no more charade to be exposed. The Pirates officially and overtly value NOT SPENDING MONEY over PLAYING COMPETITIVE BASEBALL. We are more committed to losing than anyone, ANYONE else in the majors, despite other teams having lower payrolls. No other owners would have made this draft pick.

Make no mistake about it, the Pirates picked the 15th or 18th best player in the draft at the 4 spot because they would much rather save money than obtain a (much) better player.

The Pirates have made some bad moves. Ramirez to the Cubs for nothing. Perez to the Mets for nothing. Schmidt to San Francisco for nothing. Etc. But this draft is the first move that makes me actually want to avoid Pirates games. Why should I support this ownership? Why should I give them any money?

It would only take one season of boycotting, and 5,000-6,000 in attendance per game 4-5 days a week, and the owners would be forced to sell to Cuban or someone else. That is the only, the ONLY thing I can hope for as a Pirates fan.

Seriously, it seems extreme, but when we pick Daniel Moskos.,, My God, who the heck is this??? How is this the number four overall pick????!!!!

When he is picked over Matt Wieters, a possible franchise catcher (that's a need position!), or any of the DOZEN PLAYERS RATED AHEAD OF HIM, it is clear there is no dignity, no integrity, and no honesty in this organization. Believe me, they did not make this pick because they're stupid. (Although they are indeed stupid.) They made it because would rather save money than win ball games.

The only solution for the Pirates is new ownership. There is no other escape. I'm not going to any more games. With PNC Park in place, the Pirates are not moving, so when enough people figure out that we need to stop supporting this AAA joke (maybe AA), the Nuttings will be forced to sell.

It's over. I only am sorry for Ian Snell, Tom Gorzelanny, Freddy Sanchez, and Jason Bay, the only four redeemable players on our roster. Once Jason Bay is traded in a year or two, I will cheer for his new team until the Succos get new ownership.

In fact, I don't even want to see the Pirates win any more. I say, go Yankees this weekend! The more we lose, the more sick of the Pirates people will get, and a sale will be accelerated. In this case, losing is the quickest path to winning.

Go Yankees!