Joliet Jake: Cook's Column is Just for Show
I used to like Ron Cook of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He was witty, smart, and typically somewhere near the middle on most things. Today he released an article telling Pirate fans the organization allegedly has no real interest in signing Suppan.
Does Cook honestly believe we're that gullible?
Why does Cook stop there?
Why doesn't he also suggest the Trot Nixon offer is also an alleged interest.. or Mike Gonzalez isn't really being sought out?
Because these deals are too real and talking about them will potentially make him look bad?
Right.
You won't see anything more ridiculous than all of Cook's speculation. He's a writer seemingly past his prime and out of touch with the heartbeat of the Pirates.
Beyond that, the Post-Gazette isn't doing too well financially and cutting corners faster than Ogden Nutting tosses PNC workers. So why should Cook write better material? I mean, he's working for Dead Paper Walking and nobody else will want his negative material anyway.
The only interest Cook could possibly have in writing positive material about the Buccos is because Cook enjoys the Post-Gazette's free suite at PNC Park.
Then again, that thinking is pretty silly, isn't it?
Every Pirate fan is getting to know the Post-Gazette's yarn is typically off base about the Pirates anyway. Perhaps Cook needs to be paid more for his work ala Freddy Sanchez?
How did Cook himself put it so appropriately three short years ago - not to give up on Littlefield? I suppose Cook jumped off the bandwagon after the Post-Gazette sold their shares back to the team.
"I think local writers have become entrenched in the idea that negativity about the Pirates sells papers in Pittsburgh," one fan recently said. "If you owned shares in the Pirates then got stabbed in the back selling that stock back to the organization, and only got the right to use a suite out of the deal instead of interest earned, knowing your employer is facing financial hardship and you might lose a job, wouldn't you be negative too?"
You know the answer to that one from what you read at the Post-Gazette about the Pirates.
Not only is Cook not interested in taking the "I want to just cry" blinders off, the newspaper isn't interested either, as all the other writer's seem to spin the same yarn.
The Post-Gazette actually had all of us take more notice of them when they reported that the Braves would trade Mike Gonzalez for Adam LaRoche. But that lasted just a few minutes as we all realized their untimely news release about the LaRoche deal being done probably busted the entire trade up. Pirate fans learned quickly that the Post-Gazette didn't even have the right players listed.. that their research was obviously lacking.
You know, the kind of researchers the PG never develop.
I suppose the only way we will ever see good information flowing from them anymore is if another paper comes and buys them out.
A buy-out is the Pirates fan's only hope.
That they screwed up the LaRoche deal was not surprising. And it's understandable that they have a hockey guru writing about baseball, a football columnist writing about baseball, and a political guru writing statistical pieces.
To a point.
The way the newspaper business is these days, good writing is precious. And just think, a blogger initially broke the LaRoche rumor and he isn't getting paid a dime. Just think how embarrassing that must have been to the PG.
Perhaps he shouldn't give up information to the newspapers so easily.
But there's no guarantee the blogger will continue to feed information to the Post-Gazette. After all, we saw what happens when people actually believe what is printed about the Pirates "done deals".
Considering the grievous nature of the PG's blunder, and the sorry plight of the newspaper business, none of the writer's over there should be untouchable.
Neither should Cook.
Not that the Post-Gazette would ever have the strength to can any of them, of course.
The only good news for Pirates fans is that the games start in 110 days.
Not because we'll be ready to whip butt next year. Bulletin: Bob Smizik is still out there. No, it's good news because 110 days seems like a short time before we get back to reality instead of hearing a bunch of grossly overpaid, whinny brats continue to upchuck their garbage material every other day about the team we all love.
Gladly, it will be here before we know it.
PS - Cook can send me the keys to the suite at PNC because the PG obviously doesn't need it.
I agree that Cook seems out of touch, but I think it's a little harsh to complain about "a hockey guru writing about baseball." Dejan is really an exellent writer, is fair minded, and knows his stuff. I find the idea that somehow he is critical of the Pirates because of PG is having financial problems and he's trying to sell more papers to simply not be credible. Sure, he's skeptical -- he's covering the PIRATES, he'd have to be a **** to not be skeptical -- but in no way is he as relentlessly negative as almost all the bloggers. His Q&As are almost always a pleasure to read -- honestly thoughtful, with a real sense that he speaking WITH the readers, not TO (or DOWN TO) them. For a contrast, check out the Steelers Q&As, which are mostly just kind of smarmy and empty.
I live in NY, and have daily access to all four major daily newspapers (Times, Newsday, Post, Daily News) -- Dejan covers baseball as well as anyone writing for those publications, and I think we're lucky to have him.
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Hilarious spoof Jake! I think Dejan suc ks myself.
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i was thinkin of other trade partners, and I think the Dbacks might be decent trade partners. Would you do something like Youman and Gonzalez for Tracy and Hudson? Hudson plays GG defense at 2B, a switch hitter, and if we could maybe sign him to a 3 year deal (he has 2 arb years left, so this would go into his first year of FA), he would be a great fit for us.
Tracy is comin off an off year, but still he his a lefty bat, has power, and under control for 4 years i believe. His defense is suspect, but at 1B its not as big of a deal as 3B. A infield defense of Tracy/Hudson/Jack (hopefully he rebounds from a bad D year)/Sanchez is pretty darn good.
This would also make Castillo tradeable, for what thats worth. The only downside would be Bautista or Nady would be out of a starting spot as RF is the only open spot. But competition for a spot is good, right?
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The article really was bunk. The only thing I could think when I was reading it was, "Does this guy even care that he's flinging around such poorly written junk?"
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hey jake. my blog has finally resurfaced, much like cory, over at blogspot (thepirateguy.blogspot.com) and i started it with what turned into "why we should pursue marcus giles"...it's, umm, interesting reading if nothing else.
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It isn't a great article but I think his points are still valid.
IMO the Bucs owners have taken the fans for a ride. DL is a failure any way you look at it. I think he is even a failure financially because he could have made the owners even more money than he has. The Bucs don't use their resources wisely. I agree with the part of the article that at least on the surface Suppan talks seem to be a bunch of hot air. Unless the Bucs are including a couple of very lucrative option years the idea of a two year offer vs. a 4 year is not really comparable.
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star - Chad Tracy isn't on my personal short list, but I can see why he would be on other folks.
nicolas - a shout comes your way tonight. Glad to see you are back!
rl - I don't think Cook's point is valid.. that's my point. Basically he is telling the fans how he would run the organization and, if DL doesn't do or act *his* way, he is wrong. Pookie!
We all know two years fits the team's plans.. just because they have a bit more financial freedom doesn't mean they should start issuing "stupid contracts'.
Cook needs to chill out and gauge Littlefield on what he does or does not accomplish AFTER THE FACT, not DURING the fact, especially when Cook doesn't have one iota of a clue what Littlefield offered Suppan.
The Post-Gazette has become a rip artist and I'm sick of it along with a lot of other people.
But that's my take.
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IMO, the article looks like it doesn't give the Bucs a chance to do anything down the road and that can be looked at as a rip. I think Cook is evaluating that DL is going to do little in the future because he has done little in the past. However, I think based upon the organization's track record it deserves to be ripped. Sort of like Wimpy who will gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today. One of the things that the Bucs have talked about over the years is players track records. I don't either DL or Ed Creech have good track records and are lucky they haen't been evaluated on their records (at least as far as gathering talent).
Still, the Bucs are interesting team to follow and I'll never give up.
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I agree that the article was poorly written. However I do agree that the Pirates knew going in that Suppan wouldn't accept a 2 year deal. At his age it would be the worst thing he could do. What other pitcher this offseason has done it? The guy is never going to get as much money as he is on this contract, so he'll want as long of one as he can get. I don't pretend to know the motivation of the writers at the PG, but factually, the article is true. The Pirates stink, and nothing is going to be done to make them better.
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Hey, sunny/jake, since you don't like Cook, will you be making up lies about him?
Bobster
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