You Win Some, You Lose...Well, When Your the Pirates, A Little More, and More, and More, ect.

Well, the Pirates may have lost the series to the Brewers, but at least we didn't let them leave PNC with brooms in hand. Sure, it hurts to lose to Milwaukee, who had lost 5 straight before head into the 3 river city, but when you're so close to .500. MAN! It hurts even more. I don't understand if it really is the talent we lack or if the number in general, that for the past 15 years has become such a pressure point to the ball club that it may never be reached. Look at the Marlins, a young talented team with a lot of potential. They even got rid of two of their best players, who were both Cy Young and League MVP candidates. Why is this such a problem for the Pirates? When I started writing, it was going to be just another typical run down of the last two games. Well, I started thinking....and when I think about the Bucs and there decade and a half of losing, I get pissed. How can a team like the Marlins compete and win two world series in the past 10 years? Then they fire sale off all their talent and yet, they still compete. Do you know who Hanley Ramierez is? You should. He's one of the best players in the National League this year, boasting a .309 AVG with 9 dingers and 23 RBI, all from the lead off spot. Oh, and what about that guy that threw a no hitter a couple of years ago? Anibal Sanchez, yeah, both of those guys came down from Boston via trading Josh Beckett away. The young talent the Marlins have is unreal: Mike Jacobs (11 HR), Alfredo Amezega (Is speed a stat?), Jeremy Hermida (23 RBI, .276 AVG), Dan Uggla (.323 AVG, 14 HR, 32 RBI, 36 R), Matt Treanor (.287 AVG), Mark Hendrickson (6-2), Scott Olsen (4-1 2.82 ERA), & Kevin Gregg (9 SV). They're loaded with young talent. You can argue the same for the Bucs, but there's a problem. The Marlins young core actually performs! We've had our one's and two's of guys who perform like Jason Bay during his Rookie of Year parade and Freddy Sanchez's batting title. Sure, that's great and all, but where's the hardware?In Even in the market, Florida does it better. The Marlins pick up free agents like Jacque Jones and Luis Gonzalez, the Pirates....Chris -effing- Gomez. Kudos on that one. The Pirates are 6.5 back of the Cubs while Florida is 27-19 and is leading a division that boasts ball clubs that dish out enormous pay rolls, own home run titles, Silver Sluggers, and former Cy Young Winners in players like Carlos Beltran's paycheck, Ryan Howard's home runs, Chipper Jone's Silver Slugger's, and Cy Young's from John Smoltz, Johan Santana, and Pedro Martienez. What the -ef? Really. The more I go on, the more and more I realize, sure the Pirates don't spend money on big free agents. The Marlins don't either, but they do keep their talent around until they get the most they can out of them. The Pirates see a hot commodity and a good escape on possible arbitration or out right losing out on "something in return". So, it's not so much -shame on the ownership-, but shame on the front office for doing a terrible job in scouting, trades, and free agent signing. How many #1 draft picks have the Bucco's had in the last decade?! Thanks for Kris Benson, he was a treat. Or at least his wife was. The Pittsburgh Pirates, a ball club full of jags behind wooden desks and one year salaries bigger than Nate McClouth's 3 year contract.

-In other news, the Pirates won (Yay!) 8-4 over the Brewers. They're now 22-25 and 6.5 back of the Cubs. Speaking of which, guess who comes to town this weekend. The Pirates are 1-8 against Chi-town's north side team. That can only mean positive things, right Bucco fan's?