Results matter, not names. Sure if they signed Albert Pujols this offseason fans would have packed PNC, for a few weeks.

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This is Getting Old


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When you're making a good, steady profit, why put your balls on the line and take a risk of spending major money?

Results matter?

Clint Barmes?

20 losing seasons?

Nate Mclouth?

Lyle Overbay?

Pedro Alvarez?

No impact pitching prospects in decades to come to the big leagues?

Results definitely matter.

Huntington took over 4 seasons ago --

I see A LOT of progress in the past few years --

It might not be obvious but it's there - when they finally win a division, people will be surprised and will think "wow, I didn't see that coming" -- but those who follow closely can see the steady progress this team is now making. From 4 years ago to now seems like a generation ago.

pujols has sucked so far this season, but he would do more to improve results than any of the nobodys they actually signed and a few weeks of his name packing the park would be a few weeks more than the guys they signed.

the steelers can get away with never signing free agents because they consistently produce winners. the pirates never produce winners and never try to sign anybody of note... what is there to get excited about? a top-five pick not suffering a career-ending injury during his first 5 years in the minors?

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This post consists solely of the opinions of the author, and should in no way, shape or form be interpreted as an assertion of fact.

RESULTS MATTER

Bonifay----------616-775 - .442%
Littlefield--------442-581 - .432%
Huntington------276-405 - .405%


Team W L PCT GB
Washington 29 19 .604 -
Miami 27 22 .551 2.5
NY Mets 27 22 .551 2.5
Atlanta 26 24 .520 4.0
Philadelphia 26 24 .520 4.0


Nationals Roster
17 Sean Burnett L-L 6'1" 180 Sep 17, 1982
36 Tyler Clippard R-R 6'3" 200 Feb 14, 1985
48 Ross Detwiler R-L 6'5" 190 Mar 6, 1986
47 Gio Gonzalez R-L 6'0" 200 Sep 19, 1985
32 Tom Gorzelanny L-L 6'2" 205 Jul 12, 1982
33 Edwin Jackson R-R 6'3" 210 Sep 9, 1983
45 Ryan Perry R-R 6'4" 215 Feb 13, 1987
63 Henry Rodriguez R-R 6'1" 225 Feb 25, 1987
35 Craig Stammen R-R 6'4" 225 Mar 9, 1984
37 Stephen Strasburg R-R 6'4" 220 Jul 20, 1988
40 Chien-Ming Wang R-R 6'4" 225 Mar 31, 1980
27 Jordan Zimmermann R-R 6'2" 220 May 23, 1986
# Catchers B/T Ht Wt DOB
26 Jesus Flores R-R 6'1" 210 Oct 26, 1984
49 Carlos Maldonado R-R 6'2" 290 Jan 3, 1979
# Infielders B/T Ht Wt DOB
20 Ian Desmond R-R 6'2" 205 Sep 20, 1985
8 Danny Espinosa S-R 6'0" 195 Apr 25, 1987
25 Adam LaRoche L-L 6'3" 210 Nov 6, 1979
1 Steve Lombardozzi S-R 6'0" 195 Sep 20, 1988
11 Ryan Zimmerman R-R 6'3" 230 Sep 28, 1984
# Outfielders B/T Ht Wt DOB
24 Rick Ankiel L-L 6'1" 210 Jul 19, 1979
2 Roger Bernadina L-L 6'2" 215 Jun 12, 1984
10 Corey Brown L-L 6'1" 210 Nov 26, 1985
34 Bryce Harper L-R 6'3" 215 Oct 16, 1992
21 Xavier Nady R-R 6'2" 215 Nov 14, 1978


45 Erik Bedard L-L 6'1" 200 Mar 5, 1979
34 A.J. Burnett R-R 6'4" 230 Jan 3, 1977
29 Kevin Correia R-R 6'3" 200 Aug 24, 1980
39 Jason Grilli R-R 6'5" 225 Nov 11, 1976
52 Joel Hanrahan R-R 6'4" 250 Oct 6, 1981
48 Jared Hughes R-R 6'7" 245 Jul 4, 1985*** Littlefield
32 Brad Lincoln L-R 6'0" 210 May 25, 1985 **** Littlefield
53 James McDonald L-R 6'4" 205 Oct 19, 1984
50 Charlie Morton R-R 6'5" 230 Nov 12, 1983
30 Chris Resop R-R 6'3" 225 Nov 4, 1982
43 Doug Slaten L-L 6'5" 215 Feb 4, 1980
44 Tony Watson L-L 6'4" 210 May 30, 1985 ** Littlefield
# Catchers B/T Ht Wt DOB
26 Rod Barajas R-R 6'2" 250 Sep 5, 1975
55 Michael McKenry R-R 5'10" 215 Mar 4, 1985
# Infielders B/T Ht Wt DOB
24 Pedro Alvarez L-R 6'3" 235 Feb 6, 1987
12 Clint Barmes R-R 6'1" 205 Mar 6, 1979
65 Matt Hague R-R 6'3" 225 Aug 20, 1985
5 Josh Harrison R-R 5'8" 190 Jul 8, 1987
46 Garrett Jones L-L 6'4" 230 Jun 21, 1981
14 Casey McGehee R-R 6'1" 220 Oct 12, 1982
36 Yamaico Navarro R-R 5'11" 215 Oct 31, 1987
18 Neil Walker S-R 6'3" 210 Sep 10, 1985 *Littlefield
# Outfielders B/T Ht Wt DOB
62 Gorkys Hernandez R-R 6'0" 190 Sep 7, 1987
22 Andrew McCutchen R-R 5'10" 185 Oct 10, 1986 *Littlefield
31 Jose Tabata R-R 5'11" 215 Aug 12, 1988

People seem to be forgetting that the Pirates franchise has been spending money.

But they've been spending it in the draft which is something they desperately needed to do.

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And then you take a good look around and they stole your rock n roll
And once it's gone you'll never get it back

I agree that results matter. I agree the Pirates haven't produced well enough on the field or in scouting and developing talent. I do believe they are getting better on both those fronts under this regime, but whether or not this front office can complete the process and put a real winner on the field capable of competing for a championship is yet to be seen. However, I can say the exact same thing about the Nationals. Tell me when they were a playoff team? Tell me when they weren't buried at the bottom of their division? The Nationals are off to a good start and this may be the year they break through, but really the only difference between the Pirates and the Nationals over the last 4 or 5 years is the Nationals picked the better years to have the worst record in the league. These two franchises have virtually the same records over the last half dozen years.

Wow. You certainly misunderstood what I said.

I was talking in relation to fans showing up. It's nice to think they would show up if the team just spent a bunch of money, and they would. For a few weeks. If the results aren't there it doesn't matter what the payroll is, fans aren't going to show up.

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This is Getting Old


https://www.facebook.com/ThisIsGettingOld

and you're ignoring the fact that players generally get paid according to how much an organization thinks they will improve the team's W-L results. I'm not suggesting they need to just throw money at every popular player who hits free agency, just that if they're going to spend money in free agency, don't waste it on guys who aren't going to have a measurable impact on the team's record anyway. nobody's going to get excited over the guys they sign because history has shown that those guys aren't going to offer any significant upgrade.

i'm not forgetting they've been spending everyone else in the league in the draft... their minor league teams should be awesome with all the money the pirates throw into signing picks who will stay in the minors until they suffer a career-ending injury or mindfuck themselves out of baseball wondering if they'll ever get called up. maybe they'll start being successful at developing their prospects and the guys they've drafted will suddenly start winning games for the major league club, but for as many high picks as they've had over the last two decades, i'm not holding my breath.

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This post consists solely of the opinions of the author, and should in no way, shape or form be interpreted as an assertion of fact.