Pablo's Misc Corner - 6/24/07

Last night could quite possibly be the lowest moment I have personally witnessed in all the time I have been following the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Bucs were completely obliterated by one of the best teams in baseball. In so doing they looked nothing short of pathetic.

I caught the game from the 7th on, the Pirates already down 6-0. Ian Snell must have cooked up a chicken breast before the game in his hotel room on a George Foreman or something because it was one of his worst outings of the year. I saw the Pirates score their lone measly run in the 8th, only to give up a 4 spot in bottom half of the inning en route to a 10-1 loss.

I think that last night stands out as a low moment because of the timing. 2001 was a really bad 100 loss season, but the novelty of PNC Park opening helped to ease the pain. 2005 and 2006 were both huge disappointments, but the gleam of the All Star Game loomed. All that is gone now. The fans are in an outrage unlike many teams in pro-sports have ever had to endure. The culmination comes next week when an unknown number of people will walkout on the team during the June 30th contest against the Nationals. Oh, and guess what. We now have the same record as the Nats, so we might actually be lower in the standings than that AAA team at game time.

Ian Snell should be applauded. I mean, big time. I have never been much of a fan and I have felt he was overly cocky at PirateFest last year, but he scored alot of points in my book by the way he boiled over after the game yesterday. He went out there and said what we all feel. The losing is ridiculous and there is nothing else to say about the subject. This is something that has been missing from this team from the minute Lloyd was fired at the end of 2005. Finally someone to stand up and say what needs to be said. You don't hear it from Jason Bay or Adam LaRoache or Jim Tracy. Occasionally Jack will voice something, but nothing as complete or "out there" as what Snell said. Perhaps Ian is the leader this team needs to say, "We are tired of being jokes. The losing is unacceptable and if you aren't with that, we don't need you on this club no matter who you are."

Core groups of players coming up together is a great concept. Its a winning concept and one the Bucs should continue to explore. However, there comes a point when you have to decide if all the core players you have chosen are right for the team. If they are not with the winning idea, or are content with the status quo, they have got to go. Look at the Cleveland Indians. They have a core group that were all brought up together to win. But some of the pieces are no longer there (Coco Crisp and Milton Bradley). They were moved for one reason or the other, early in the rebuilding process. Maybe the Bucs should look for more fire in their players like Snell has.

THIS DATE IN 1997

The Pirates won 8-3 against the Houston Astros at the Astrodome. Kevin Polkovich went 3-4 with a run. Jon Lieber gave up no ERs going 7 innings and picking up the win. The Pirates improved to 35-40.

Petey Pablo OUT!!!