Well the baseball postseason is here and, once again, our Pittsburgh Pirates are not in it. The Bucs have not had a winning season in 15 years now - since that devastating loss to the Atlanta Braves off the bat of Francisco Cabrera back in the 1992 NLCS. I remember watching that like it was yesterday - I was up and ready for that last out that would send the Buccos to the World Series for the first time since 1979. Just as quickly, I dropped to my knees and watched as Barry Bonds could not throw out Sid Bream (the SLOWEST runner in Major League Baseball at the time) from shallow left field. It was the final game as a Pirate for Bonds... and we've not won since.
Now, 15 years later, the pain is in another form: Derision and mockery of the team I love so dearly. One MLB executive was quoted (anonymously) that to take the General Manager position for the Pirates was like "poison." Now, during the final game in Pittsburgh, many players did not even hold to the tradition of going to the fans along the railing to high-five or throw their caps to the fans. Jack Wilson did - and this was likely his last game as a Pirate. You can dump all over Jack if you want to but I will tip my cap to him and say thanks for respecting the fans that came out to see you with nothing to gain - all 90,000 during the final home stand to mark a 94-loss season.
The hiring of Frank Coonelly as President and CEO - a true baseball man and Neal Huntington as General Manager is a promising beginning but we've no idea what these men intend to do yet. One thing does seem clear at this point: Manager Jim Tracy's two-year tenure is likely over. I really would like to make my pitch for the new manager and, even though he's not a baseball guy, Elgarf might agree with my pick: Bob Walk.
Bob Walk was a pitcher for us in the late 80s and early 90s and currently resides in the broadcast booth. Back when the Pirates hired Lloyd McClendon after the 2000 season, they considered 'Walkie' for the position. Bob Walk is a baseball man and has a keen intellect when it comes to this game. He is also a no-nonsense, blue-collar man who is just what this team and this town needs. I say to Huntington: Go Get Him! He's the man you want managing this club. After you do that, replace half the team as they no longer want to or should not be there. You can't win with this group of guys as it is: Get a new lineup and get it fast!
Maybe, just maybe, if we do this thing right, we can get this (Pirate) ship turned around.
Beat 'Em Bucs!
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Tears for the Bucs
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7 comments:
I'm no sports fan and am in no position to comment on who should lead the bucks. Having said that, some of my fondest memories took place in Three Rivers Stadium. I remember many games where the Pirates were playing a close game and had to pull the pitcher. Next thing you know there would be this tall guy with a beer belly and and a long, scraggly, hair-do sticking out from his hat going to the mound. Appearance aside, the guy would get the job done. If he couldn't procure a win, the guy would leave them in no worse a state than when he got there. That was Bob Walk.
As an Irish American, I first must say, that we do not make good baseball managers. The ones who make the best baseball managers have their last names end in vowels. First of all, during the baseball playoffs of 2007, you have 4 teams out of 8 that I know of that have Italian heritage. These are the managers of the New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, and the Los Angeles Angels. Their is a man named Joe Giradi, who wants to manage again. I think he would be a great fit for your BUCKS
bob Walk would be ideal. He's incredibly astute, knows the team and organization, and is a bulldog. He will not stomach loosing nor will he accept Paulino's "no throws".
Thank god there are some people out there who have some common sense. Bob Walk would make a great manager of our Bucs. Yes he wouldn't take any crap from players who do not perform to the standards of a pro.Not that Tracy isn't a good manager but lets face it...he's not what the Bucs needed.Just listen to Bob Walk doing a broadcast of a game. He knows what he is talking about and even tells the listeners what to expect or what should have been done. The rest of the coaching staff isn't great either. The powers to be should have never messed with pitchers delivery points,etc. if this team doesn't fix the bleeding soon the fan base will give up more than we already have and well ...theres always.....Cleveland???
Being a fan all my life (I'm 46) I remember worlds series and being at playoff games in the early 90's...I'm having a hard time watching or wanting to even go to games. And I only live 75 miles away from PNC.Come on guys lets get it right and bring back the pride the Pirates and it's fan had...spend some money ....trade players...do something and maybe...just maybe we might play good ball next season
Elgarf How awesome! It's so wonderful to reminisce about the days past and some of the truly great Buccos - not just the superstars - but the role-players who were just as important!
Mr Omalley Well, I never gave it that much thought but you do seem to make a good case for the Paisanos! LaRussa, Torre, Francona, Scosscia, et al - all really good managers. As for Joe Girardi - I was a fan of his when he was catching for the Cubs (even though I don't like the Cubs at all). He's a class act and Florida was stupid for letting him go - just because he was the bigger man when it came to talking to the umpires and the owner couldn't stop shooting his mouth off.
Anonymous I am glad to hear from you and that you also agree that 'Walkie' would be a good choice. Please don't give up on those Bucs! They will be good again - we may have the pieces in place for some good decision making and I can't bring myself to NOT root for them!
I would much rather prefer someone who has managed successfully before, but chances are we will not have that luxury. Girardi would be ideal but he is going to be the Yankees manager after Torre retires. So, our options are limited. My fear is hiring a manager such as Phil Garner who lucked into some wins and has not shown anything as a decision maker. Most likely the bucs will have a freshman manager next year, but that does not need to be a bad thing. The number one thing I am looking for is a money pitching coach. We need to trim the number of runs given up in order to win. I am so tired of seeing promising young pitchers either blow out their arm or pitch inconsistently, the trend seems as if it must have to do with coaching, so if we hire Walk as a manager that might be a good thing. I am not sure of his aptitude for working with pitchers but what is the worst that could happen, we have a losing season.
KJ, Interesting to think that Girardi might go to NY. irregardless of the fact that he played there - I would not want to take the hot seat in that town and would Steinbrenner really go for him with his only proven coaching gig being with the Marlins? It is interesting and I don't doubt you - it's just hard to imagine.
I actually like the idea of Joel Skinner (Indians' current Third Base Coach). I think Skinner would make a great fit - his father actually played for the Bucs in that 1960 World Series year!
I think Bob Walk, while he wouldn't be a visibly animated guy - he would sure not be shy with his players! He's a great communicator of baseball - but in layman's terms! Not in a nice and easy way - he tells it like it is. I still hope they consider him but it doesn't even sound like his name is being mentioned but if he's not considered, I still like Skinner.
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