BUCCO BLOG NAILS IT

BUD BELIEVES MY MONEY IS HIS, AND THAT I SHOULD BE GLAD HE THEN GIVES IT TO McCLATCHY WHO THEN FAILS TO USE IT WISELY. (I DON'T EVEN GET A THANK-YOU). From Bucco:

• "The franchise has long forgot that efficient scouting, drafting, and player development are the keys to future credibility in the industry. Instead, the proud Black-n-Gold owners spend every penny maximizing sales, liquidity, and future profit.

  Efficiency to the Pirates is profits - not wins, and the end result has been a less desirable place to play for the men who participate in the game.

  In any given year, one or two of the young Pirates fold up like a smashed can of corn praying that the organization will let them out of their contracts. Some, like Benson and Gerut, fight the front office ritually. Others like Bradley and Bullington walk away or play the 'I'm hurt' game.

  Agents representing players refuse to even answer phone calls originating out of 115 Federal Street anymore. Most General Managers don't even bother to call the Pirates brass. Free agent's worth their salt will only consider Pittsburgh as a side show stop if they get one and one-half their true value in return.

  This same atmosphere exists in other small markets like with the Devil Rays and the Royals. It's not just in Pittsburgh. And, no matter what theme is played out to try and change the inequality, it will always still exist."

Thanks to Bucco Blog, 10/5/06. My own 3 point program:

• Never buy another ticket to an MLB game.
• Boycott ESPN advertisers
• Never buy a newspaper that allows its employees to vote on baseball awards.

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