About That 17-Year Losing Streak

What a feat!? The local "professional" baseball team
has managed a record - seventeen consecutive losing
seasons. A dubious honor, no doubt, but one that
causes a fan and scribe to ask, "Does anyone really
care?" Do you? Does the city of Pittsburgh? Does
the management? Does the owner?
Recent press reports stated that Pirates' owner,
Mr. Bob Nutting is fully supportive of his team's
management staff. While decrying the sending
of quality players to other major league teams in
recent years, his assertion is that the organization
is "building for the future" by securing players
with a lot of potential. Huh? Potential for what?
Potential to bring in more gate receipts?
Potential to bring a higher trade or buyout value?
Potential to help the team to continue its futile
efforts?
Whose "potential"? It appears obvious that owning
a big-league team is financially profitable. Whether
that squad finishes "over .500" or not does not
seem to matter, as long as the fans, the city, the
advertisers, and the investors are content. Huh?
Ghosts of Clemente, Kiner, Face, Stargell and
company, why can't or don't the paying public
have a team that they can be excited about?
What is the plan for improvement? Nutting.
What are the reasons for "dumping" players that
were performing and exciting fans? Nutting.
How many farm team prospects appear to be
almost ready for "the Bigs" move? Nutting.
What are the chances that we'll soon see a
Pirates team worth fielding? Nutting.
What price should Mark Cuban pay for an
organization that doesn't seem to care? Nutting.
BOYCOTT? PROTEST? PICKET?
CHANGE ALLEGIANCES TO ANOTHER TEAM?
Maybe since we are a "small market" city we
should lower the classification of the Pirates to a
AA or AAA level?
Maybe the Pirates should be moved to a city that
is better equipped to support them?
We back our Steelers and Penguins when they're
not doing as well as we think they should, but they
haven't gone an "eternity" without at least showing
signs of potential and making watching them a
delight.
WHY CAN'T OR WON'T WE HAVE A WINNING
PIRATES BASEBALL TEAM?
P.S. - My sympathy for the announcers who have to
feign interest and excitement year after year, and who
also have to try to make losing efforts sound as if
their team is in the World Series every game. SIGH!