What Will Bob Do?

On July 2cd, I sent this email to the Pirates beat writer Alan Robinson for the Associated Press who I assumed still has a relationship with his ex-boss Ogden Nutting:

"Ogden Nutting hasn't gotten where he has in life believing things like, outside of a few players, the youth the Pirates have in the organization are going to take them anywhere. And he has to see the mortar holding the foundation starting to crumble at his boys feet with everyone from the fans, to the sponsors, to their own personnel, now walking on egg shells.

This isn't playing out like a typical Ogden Nutting venture.

I have to believe his main objective was to put himself in a position to have a healthy cash cow (ala Schott/Selig) for a few years knowing revenues were sliding from changing times in his other ventures. If so, he deserves it - he was one of the few with a vision in late 2002 that took a chance by stepping forward. Kudos to him.

Yet, even he has to see the writing on the wall.

I'm guessing his next move will be a to replace the CEO later this winter who then hires a new GM and core staff late 2008 and the 'five year cycle' starts anew to keep the cash cow alive. That fits Nutting to a "T", as well as hoping that the youth can make a run one day so his competitive nature is also satisfied.

But I'm starting to get the feeling nobody believes that is going to work anymore.. the foundation's cracks are deeper than even Nutting envisioned they would be."

Robinson never replied.

But the message I sent sums up my thoughts pretty well. The incident I had recently was likely a precursor - the Pirates employees can't help but wondering how long they will have a paycheck.

So what will Nutting do? I see three possible scenarios.

My first guess, based on the current "all in the family" Nutting theme, is that Robert Nutting will supplant McClatchy with William Nutting as the CEO or President and then hire a well respected baseball operations man as a VP to assist him.

In this scenerio, the Phillies Pat Gillick or the Yankees Brian Cashman quickly come to mind as possible candidates. Both could be paid significantly more money as a VP with the Pirates I'm guessing than they will make doing what they are doing now. But are either willing to lay out to pasture? Hmm..

To me, this path signals that the need for the Nutting cash cow to remain alive and well is still more important than being competitive. When it comes down to it, someone like Beltre won't sign in Pittsburgh just because a VP like Cashman says we are building a winner but only projects a $60MM payroll and is tossing vets out the door for prospects.

My second guess would be that Nutting hires another front and center clone to keep the heat off him as he continues to keep the cash cow going. The key here is that the move would have to seem to the fans like it means something.

Who Nutting would get to perform this role is beyond me. Someone like Brian Graham with the Pirates won't cut the mustard with the fans, and I'd bet someone like Phil Garner would reject even the notion of it.

My third guess, and the one I think is least likely even though it is the one I wish they would take, is to revamp the entire system from the GCL to Pittsburgh.

Out with the Expo/Marlin blood, in with old Black-n-Gold blood, and build a winner at every level of the system.

The unfortunate part about this scenario is that the fans are, once again, pushed back in time as another five-year plan begins. Plus, this won't be an easy scenario for Nutting to pull off because the Pirates seem to be in a deep hole everywhere and the fans are on the edge of their seats.

For now, the key is who Nutting replaces McClatchy with.

It's my opinion that Nutting already has mapped out his plan of action, knows who he is going to hire, and will now apply the window dressing like asking for interviews.

Personally, I expect William Nutting to be named President acting like the CEO, and then two VP's hired - one to come from the internal ranks like a Brian Graham type, and the second to be a respected name in the industry to guide Graham like Gillick.

As Nutting might say, may the cash cow give milk forever.