Ron Cook: Pirates are a National Joke

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette columnist Ron Cook blasted Ogden Nutting and Kevin McClatchy today in this article. Here are a few quotes:

"McClatchy and his partner, G. Ogden Nutting, who many of us believe is calling the shots and has turned the franchise into a national joke, have shown no signs of being able to build a winner...

Yes, the Pirates raised their payroll more than 30 percent to $47 million. But they still have the lowest payroll in the National League Central Division.

Yes, the Pirates brought in Sean Casey, Jeromy Burnitz and Joe Randa to change the losing culture in their clubhouse. But based on what? Casey played on losing teams the past five seasons in Cincinnati. Burnitz grew up in the Milwaukee organization. Randa played on San Diego's division-winning team last year after being traded from Cincinnati at mid-season, but played on just one other winning team in his previous 10 seasons.

Yes, the Pirates are counting on Oliver Perez and Kip Wells, big time. But where are the guarantees? They combined to go 15-23 last season.

Yes, the Pirates are convinced Zach Duke and Paul Maholm will pick up where they left off last season. But, again, where are the guarantees?

Ah, enough with the negativity.

I know, it's hard to avoid with a team that never wins.

But let's try, OK?

Maybe Casey will hit .350 and Burnitz will hit 30 balls into the Allegheny River.

Maybe Perez, Duke and Maholm will pitch lights out.

Maybe new pitching coach Jim Colborn really will be a miracle-worker and break through to the enigmatic Wells.

Maybe new closer Mike Gonzalez will get 50 saves, which is exactly 46 more than he has to this point of his career.

Maybe new manager Jim Tracy will do what McClendon, Lamont and Leyland couldn't do before him under McClatchy and field that winning team.

Then -- and only then -- should we believe anything McClatchy says about baseball."

Cook's scalding is almost as good as Goose Goslin's hail and brimstone article last year that stopped just short of calling for a fan boycott.

Most Pirate fans I know would be happy to see just a reasonably competitive team fielded each year (2006 is closer than we have been but still only 60%), an organizational plan developed and adhered to, and a reduction in the amount of mis-communication (better known as lies, innuendos, and garbage) from the Pirates' front office.

We expect the partnership to take home a profit realized from a combination of franchise value appreciation, yearly sales revenue, and other stadium related sources.

NOT from MLB's welfare.

We're tired of losing and tired of being lied to. Cook's article sums it up well.