Pittsburgh Pirates
It’s been 18 years, and counting, since the Pittsburgh Pirates last had a winning season. An entire generation of people (youth) has gone without seeing winning baseball in this region. Depending on your perspective and point of view, that could be seen as a travesty (tragedy?) and you would probably not be far off. Of course, we are talking about sports, which have their place in society, and not life and death. Then again, we are talking about Pittsburgh and the region and our story is told through the prism of sports.
We are proud to boast six Super Bowl championships, three Stanley Cup titles, and five World Series championships, the last having come in 1979. Much has been written about the 1960 championship and how it still carries so much weight in this region even 51 years later. There is a statue of Bill Mazeroski proudly displayed at PNC Park commemorating that event and joyful moment. A hard scrabble, scrappy team that defeated the mighty, and evil, empire in the New York Yankees. It also came on the heels of the last World Series title in 1925, 35 years in between.
That 1960 championship helped to spawn the titles in 1971 and 1979. The 1970s were a golden era in these parts with a team that was loaded and contended for division titles every year. But, it all began to dry up in 1980 and, if not for the three division championships in the early 90s, we would be marking over 30 years of baseball futility in Pittsburgh.
Having said all of that, I see reason for optimism with the hiring of Clint Hurdle as manager. He had the opportunity to go elsewhere for more money, but he chose Pittsburgh, and that tells me something. He saw something that has potential, but needs to be cultivated. He saw something in this city and its people that told him that he could succeed here. Perhaps the most optimistic manager we’ve had since Jim Leyland.
We all know that attitude, optimism, and a can do spirit can only do so much. You still need the horses to win ball games and win championships. But it is also a top down approach that produces winning and winners. Look at the Steelers and the Penguins. The Steelers didn’t start winning until Chuck Noll was hired and he changed the culture and the perception of the franchise. He also built through the draft – homegrown talent. The Penguins didn’t stabilize until Mario Lemieux bought the team out of bankruptcy and, of course, the ping pong ball bounced the way it did and the Pens landed Sidney Crosby. But both organizations offer a top down attitude about how to do things.
This is what the Pirates need, now, in order to stop the losing. In this case, it needs to come from Hurdle. He can make sure he is getting the support he needs from Bob Nutting, Frank Coonelly, and Neal Huntingdon. If you want to win like I do, then this is what I, and the team, need. Plain and simple. If you want me to do a job, then give me the tools and the resources with which to do it and let me do the job. I believe Hurdle has brought that type of attitude to Pittsburgh and the Pirates organization and not a moment too soon.
Part of being a coach, or a manager, is displaying leadership, optimism and having your team buying into what you have to say and also in how you do it. You can be a player’s coach/manager, or you can go about your business and be distant. Sometimes that approach works, but not always. Your players do respond when they know you care about them as people, not just players. This is what Hurdle brings to the table and what could be the beginning of a turnaround that is much needed in these parts.
I am a cautious optimist and a glass half full kind of guy and I have been fortunate to witness winning baseball in this area and I believe it can happen again. There is plenty of young talent on the parent roster that needs to be cultivated and the pitching staff needs to be upgraded. But I believe the influence Hurdle has will be the key ingredient in getting this done. He would not have come to Pittsburgh if it couldn’t be done. Now, the hard part comes in getting production. The offense is there, as is the defense. It all comes to pitching. Good pitching, nearly always, beats good hitting. That’s how championships are won.
This may not be the year for a winning season, but I believe this is the year the turnaround begins. Hurdle is going to be an active manager and will get the most out of his players. What that translates into in terms of wins, that is what the season is for. I, for one, am looking forward to this baseball season. The young blood will finally have a full season playing together under their belts, which will be a plus. They’ll have a manager looking to get the most out of them, and they will want to perform to the best of their abilities to be a part of the turnaround. I see a win-win situation beginning this year.
More will come in the weeks and months ahead as the Pirates begin Grapefruit League play and Opening Day approaches. We should have reason to believe that some things just might change, finally, at PNC Park and for the Pirates organization. Sports Beat will be on top of the action as the season unfolds.
*Congratulations to Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne, the 20 year old Cinderella story who drove the number 21 Ford Fusion to the checkered flag and Victory Lane. For those scoring at home, the number 21 was famously driven by David Pearson back in the day for the Wood Brothers, who still own the car and the number that has been passed down through the generations in the family owned business.
The 500 was driven in a most unusual way, with two car drafts on the newly paved surface, causing a record number of lead changes as well as caution flags. It was one of the more exciting 500s in a long time. And a rookie winning the race only added to the intrigue as many veterans saw their day coming to an early end with engine problems and accidents. Anything can happen on a race track and that was proven Sunday at Daytona. The Sprint Cup Series shifts to Phoenix this weekend.
*It is survival of the fittest while the Penguins deal with an ever changing roster, what with call ups from Wilkes Barre/Scranton to fill the void left by injuries to many key players on the roster. First and foremost, Sidney Crosby’s concussion and the symptoms that have followed continue to be a mystery and only Sid knows how he feels. Of course, his health is of the most concern while dealing with this injury. If he isn’t fully healthy, nothing else matters.
The Pens had a full week this week, with a game at Chicago on Sunday, Washington at home Monday night, San Jose at home on Wednesday, at Carolina Friday night, and at Toronto on Saturday. The prospects of overtaking Philadelphia for the division lead and number one overall in the conference look bleak; however, staying at the number four or five seed is realistic and likely attainable as the Pens play down the stretch. Dan Bylsma has done a masterful job keeping this team together amid all of the chaos. Just like with the Steelers, the standard is the standard.
We are proud to boast six Super Bowl championships, three Stanley Cup titles, and five World Series championships, the last having come in 1979. Much has been written about the 1960 championship and how it still carries so much weight in this region even 51 years later. There is a statue of Bill Mazeroski proudly displayed at PNC Park commemorating that event and joyful moment. A hard scrabble, scrappy team that defeated the mighty, and evil, empire in the New York Yankees. It also came on the heels of the last World Series title in 1925, 35 years in between.
That 1960 championship helped to spawn the titles in 1971 and 1979. The 1970s were a golden era in these parts with a team that was loaded and contended for division titles every year. But, it all began to dry up in 1980 and, if not for the three division championships in the early 90s, we would be marking over 30 years of baseball futility in Pittsburgh.
Having said all of that, I see reason for optimism with the hiring of Clint Hurdle as manager. He had the opportunity to go elsewhere for more money, but he chose Pittsburgh, and that tells me something. He saw something that has potential, but needs to be cultivated. He saw something in this city and its people that told him that he could succeed here. Perhaps the most optimistic manager we’ve had since Jim Leyland.
We all know that attitude, optimism, and a can do spirit can only do so much. You still need the horses to win ball games and win championships. But it is also a top down approach that produces winning and winners. Look at the Steelers and the Penguins. The Steelers didn’t start winning until Chuck Noll was hired and he changed the culture and the perception of the franchise. He also built through the draft – homegrown talent. The Penguins didn’t stabilize until Mario Lemieux bought the team out of bankruptcy and, of course, the ping pong ball bounced the way it did and the Pens landed Sidney Crosby. But both organizations offer a top down attitude about how to do things.
This is what the Pirates need, now, in order to stop the losing. In this case, it needs to come from Hurdle. He can make sure he is getting the support he needs from Bob Nutting, Frank Coonelly, and Neal Huntingdon. If you want to win like I do, then this is what I, and the team, need. Plain and simple. If you want me to do a job, then give me the tools and the resources with which to do it and let me do the job. I believe Hurdle has brought that type of attitude to Pittsburgh and the Pirates organization and not a moment too soon.
Part of being a coach, or a manager, is displaying leadership, optimism and having your team buying into what you have to say and also in how you do it. You can be a player’s coach/manager, or you can go about your business and be distant. Sometimes that approach works, but not always. Your players do respond when they know you care about them as people, not just players. This is what Hurdle brings to the table and what could be the beginning of a turnaround that is much needed in these parts.
I am a cautious optimist and a glass half full kind of guy and I have been fortunate to witness winning baseball in this area and I believe it can happen again. There is plenty of young talent on the parent roster that needs to be cultivated and the pitching staff needs to be upgraded. But I believe the influence Hurdle has will be the key ingredient in getting this done. He would not have come to Pittsburgh if it couldn’t be done. Now, the hard part comes in getting production. The offense is there, as is the defense. It all comes to pitching. Good pitching, nearly always, beats good hitting. That’s how championships are won.
This may not be the year for a winning season, but I believe this is the year the turnaround begins. Hurdle is going to be an active manager and will get the most out of his players. What that translates into in terms of wins, that is what the season is for. I, for one, am looking forward to this baseball season. The young blood will finally have a full season playing together under their belts, which will be a plus. They’ll have a manager looking to get the most out of them, and they will want to perform to the best of their abilities to be a part of the turnaround. I see a win-win situation beginning this year.
More will come in the weeks and months ahead as the Pirates begin Grapefruit League play and Opening Day approaches. We should have reason to believe that some things just might change, finally, at PNC Park and for the Pirates organization. Sports Beat will be on top of the action as the season unfolds.
*Congratulations to Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne, the 20 year old Cinderella story who drove the number 21 Ford Fusion to the checkered flag and Victory Lane. For those scoring at home, the number 21 was famously driven by David Pearson back in the day for the Wood Brothers, who still own the car and the number that has been passed down through the generations in the family owned business.
The 500 was driven in a most unusual way, with two car drafts on the newly paved surface, causing a record number of lead changes as well as caution flags. It was one of the more exciting 500s in a long time. And a rookie winning the race only added to the intrigue as many veterans saw their day coming to an early end with engine problems and accidents. Anything can happen on a race track and that was proven Sunday at Daytona. The Sprint Cup Series shifts to Phoenix this weekend.
*It is survival of the fittest while the Penguins deal with an ever changing roster, what with call ups from Wilkes Barre/Scranton to fill the void left by injuries to many key players on the roster. First and foremost, Sidney Crosby’s concussion and the symptoms that have followed continue to be a mystery and only Sid knows how he feels. Of course, his health is of the most concern while dealing with this injury. If he isn’t fully healthy, nothing else matters.
The Pens had a full week this week, with a game at Chicago on Sunday, Washington at home Monday night, San Jose at home on Wednesday, at Carolina Friday night, and at Toronto on Saturday. The prospects of overtaking Philadelphia for the division lead and number one overall in the conference look bleak; however, staying at the number four or five seed is realistic and likely attainable as the Pens play down the stretch. Dan Bylsma has done a masterful job keeping this team together amid all of the chaos. Just like with the Steelers, the standard is the standard.
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