NL CENTRAL

[mccoyrj]

That is what DVRs are for. I can't miss an opportunity to be with my daughter, who knows how long I will be here.

You've got your priorities in the right order. :up

 

[cybok0]

You've got your priorities in the right order. :up

Thanks.

 

[mccoyrj]

June 6, 2009

Dear Pirates Fan,

On the heels of this Wednesday's trade with the Atlanta Braves, I felt it was important that you hear directly from me as to why this move brings us closer to our goal of building a consistent championship organization and providing you a team of which you will be proud.

Obviously this was a very difficult decision as Nate is a quality player and person. We knew this move was not going to be popular in the clubhouse with our players or among our fan base who have suffered through a long stretch of losing seasons. Despite recognizing the probable unpopularity of this trade, we believed it to be the right step for our organization and made a sound baseball decision.

The quality and quantity of the players we received in this trade was the crucial component to this trade. We are excited about the three young players we received. We have been interested in and closely monitored all three of these players for some time as they are highly regarded by us and by most within the industry.

Charlie Morton is a power right-handed starting pitcher with upside, who should be ready to help us this year in Pittsburgh. In fact, in his first outing for our Triple-A affiliate, he tossed seven scoreless innings, giving up only four hits while striking out seven. Jeff Locke is an intriguing young left handed starter with the frame, athleticism and stuff to become a quality major league starting pitcher. Gorkys Hernandez is a dynamic athlete who has the speed and potential to become an above average everyday major league outfielder. It is worth noting that these three players were rumored to be sought by the Padres when they were talking to the Braves about trading former Cy Young award winner Jake Peavy.

Additionally, Andrew McCutchen has proven that he is ready to take the next step and begin his career at the Major League level. Andrew has done what we have asked of him in Triple-A and showed he was ready for the challenges of the Major League level. Andrew is an intelligent, hard working player that has shown the present ability to play impact defense in centerfield. While we do not expect Andrew to replace Nate's power production immediately, Andrew is an exciting top-of-the-order player who proved this spring that he can be an exciting part of a productive offense.

Ultimately, to become a championship team we need more championship caliber players at all levels. As difficult as these types of trades are to make, they are an important part of the talent acquisition and development process that will position us to be a consistent championship caliber organization sooner rather than later.

I understand why some people at first glance may believe this move was financially motivated, but I can assure you that this was strictly a baseball decision. In fact, our owner Bob Nutting was as surprised as some of our fans when we sought his approval for this trade. I am grateful that he has the faith in me, our baseball operations staff and the processes we have in place to approve a move like this, despite the risk of public backlash on him personally and the organization as a whole. Furthermore, I am appreciative that he continues to provide us with the resources necessary to build a championship caliber organization. Whether we sought to build our new facilities in Bradenton and the Dominican Republic, sign our young major league players to long-term deals, triple our amateur signing bonus budget in order to be aggressive in acquiring talent both domestically and internationally or significantly increase our scouting and development budgets, Bob was willing to provide the resources necessary to make these fundamental changes.

We have said several times that tough decisions will need to be made as we build and sustain a championship caliber organization. The decision to trade Nate was perhaps the most difficult one both personally and professionally that we have made to date. Tough decisions are not always popular. However, we have a singular focus on our goal of building an organization that can consistently compete for championships, not simply finish above .500. The organizational talent level has been vastly improved during the past two years and, as a result, we are a much stronger organization and closer to our ultimate goal.

Your understanding of the situation is greatly appreciated by all of us in the organization. Your passion for this team is the driving force behind our motivation to bring winning baseball back to you, the fans of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Sincerely,

Neal Huntington
Senior Vice President and General Manager
Pittsburgh Pirates

I'd go along with this if it weren't for the last 17 years! :rant:

 

[cybok0]

I'd go along with this if it weren't for the last 17 years! :rant:

:up:up:up:up:up:rant::rant::rant:

 

[SabresRule]

I'd go along with this if it weren't for the last 17 years! :rant:

Look on the bright side- you've got the Pens and Steelers to fall back on.

 

[cybok0]

Look on the bright side- you've got the Pens and Steelers to fall back on.

We want it all.

 

[talos4]

I feel for you too!

Substitute "Bud or Wendy Selig" at the bottom.

We're finally clawing our way out the 20 year old black hole of "rebuilding"

Brewers leading the NL Central by 2 1/2 games !

 

[mccoyrj]

I feel for you too!

Substitute "Bud or Wendy Selig" at the bottom.

We're finally clawing our way out the 20 year old black hole of "rebuilding"

Brewers leading the NL Central by 2 1/2 games !

I lived in Menomonee Falls in 2002-2003. I loved going to Brewers games. Milwaukee and Pittsburgh are a lot alike in that aspect - nice new stadium, good food and drink, fun atmosphere at the games. The problem with the Pirates is that they keep changing management and strategies. Everytime they say they've traded for the future, that very trade is gone for the same reason within a couple of years. At least the Brewers have stuck with good players like Fielder, Braun, Weeks, etc., and built a franchise around them. The Pirates can't seem to figure that part out.

Brewers are the team I pull for once the Pirates prove that it's the same ole same ole.

 

[cybok0]

I lived in Menomonee Falls in 2002-2003. I loved going to Brewers games. Milwaukee and Pittsburgh are a lot alike in that aspect - nice new stadium, good food and drink, fun atmosphere at the games. The problem with the Pirates is that they keep changing management and strategies. Everytime they say they've traded for the future, that very trade is gone for the same reason within a couple of years. At least the Brewers have stuck with good players like Fielder, Braun, Weeks, etc., and built a franchise around them. The Pirates can't seem to figure that part out.

Brewers are the team I pull for once the Pirates prove that it's the same ole same ole.

Pretty soon the pirates will trade Oliver Onion to Milwaukee for a prospect sausage because he is winning too many Pierogi races.

 

[Paul Wozniak]

Pretty soon the pirates will trade Oliver Onion to Milwaukee for a prospect sausage because he is winning too many Pierogi races.

LOL!

The Pirates did get at least one hot prospect - Gorkys Fernandez (not sure of the last name - he was a rising star in the Detroit system. Tons of speed, but Granderson made him expendable).

 

[cybok0]

LOL!

The Pirates did get at least one hot prospect - Gorkys Fernandez (not sure of the last name - he was a rising star in the Detroit system. Tons of speed, but Granderson made him expendable).

The pitcher they got went one inning then left with a sore hamstring.

He was pitching in the mid 90's, Morton I think is his name, he look good even pitching with a sore hamstring.

 

[mccoyrj]

Pretty soon the pirates will trade Oliver Onion to Milwaukee for a prospect sausage because he is winning too many Pierogi races.

LOL! Too funny. The Sausage Races do put the Pierogi races to shame. You need to just keep it simple and have them run the stadium. Pierogi race uses too much computer generated garbage.

I do like the Pirates' battleship intro, although I wish they would've left it alone...the older one was better with the cannonballs sinking the other team's ships, and the newer one is a little farfetched with all the gimmick cannonballs. Still pretty cool though.

 

[cybok0]

LOL! Too funny. The Sausage Races do put the Pierogi races to shame. You need to just keep it simple and have them run the stadium. Pierogi race uses too much computer generated garbage.

I do like the Pirates' battleship intro, although I wish they would've left it alone...the older one was better with the cannonballs sinking the other team's ships, and the newer one is a little farfetched with all the gimmick cannonballs. Still pretty cool though.

I always have to watch it when I go to a game.

 

[mccoyrj]

I always have to watch it when I go to a game.

Me too. Remember the one in Three Rivers with the Pirate and the Parrot on the train - they passed out the wooden whistles? I still have a couple of those around.

 

[cybok0]

Me too. Remember the one in Three Rivers with the Pirate and the Parrot on the train - they passed out the wooden whistles? I still have a couple of those around.

I tell you there is nothing like going to a Pirates playoff game. I saw the Pirates beat the Braves at Three rivers, it was great. Stadium rocking, good looking women everywhere.

 

[Paul Wozniak]

I tell you there is nothing like going to a Pirates playoff game. I saw the Pirates beat the Braves at Three rivers, it was great. Stadium rocking, good looking women everywhere.

Better than a Steeler's playoff game? It's been so long for the Pirates, that I'm surprised you even remember what it was like.

 

[cybok0]

Better than a Steeler's playoff game? It's been so long for the Pirates, that I'm surprised you even remember what it was like.

I've never been lucky enough to see the Steelers during a playoff. Only the Pirates and Penguins.

And yes I remember...that one guy....who is he.......hit a lot of home runs......head got big once he left Pittsburgh....Hmmmmmm......I can't think of him right now.....I'll get back to you on that.

 

[Paul Wozniak]

I've never been lucky enough to see the Steelers during a playoff. Only the Pirates and Penguins.

And yes I remember...that one guy....who is he.......hit a lot of home runs......head got big once he left Pittsburgh....Hmmmmmm......I can't think of him right now.....I'll get back to you on that.

msmith198025?

(inside joke)

 

[mccoyrj]

I've never been lucky enough to see the Steelers during a playoff. Only the Pirates and Penguins.

And yes I remember...that one guy....who is he.......hit a lot of home runs......head got big once he left Pittsburgh....Hmmmmmm......I can't think of him right now.....I'll get back to you on that.

If by "big" you mean "famous", then that describes every good player the Pirates have had over the last 17 years. If you mean "fat", well, don't bother getting back, we all know who that roid is.

 

[cybok0]

If by "big" you mean "famous", then that describes every good player the Pirates have had over the last 17 years. If you mean "fat", well, don't bother getting back, we all know who that roid is.