The Pirates Losing Streak: Old enough to have sex with.

[homesystem]

Matt and I were talking about this over the weekend, and it looks like it's happened:

http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/this-just-in/21147021/dc-theo-has-5-year-deal-cubs

If the Cubs combine good management with the massive amounts of money they spend, it will not be good news for the Buccos' outlook in the NL Central.

[Tha_Professa]

If the Cubs combine good management with the massive amounts of money they spend, it will not be good news for the Buccos' outlook in the NL Central.

Oh no, their record might go to shit.

[Tank Decker]

If the Cubs combine good management with the massive amounts of money they spend, it will not be good news for the Buccos' outlook in the NL Central.

Oh no, their record might go to shit.

 This isn't only bad news for the Pirates, but for Milwaukee, Cincinnati, and St Louis as well. Not so much Houston, because they potentially could have very deep pockets, and there are signs that they may be managed a little better with new ownership.

[Tha_Professa]

So apparently 93.7 will now air the Pirates games.

Maybe they'll bring Rocco back.

[pnickers]

Thank god.  I don't have to listen to Rush Limbaugh advertisements anymore, unless I want to...in which case, please have me committed and/or shot. 

[Tank Decker]

So apparently 93.7 will now air the Pirates games.

Maybe they'll bring Rocco back.

That is good because I'll never again have to doze off during a Pirate clobbering only to be woken up by Michael Savage's rants.

It is bad because now all of the morons that host their shows will be blathering about something they know very little about.

Hopefully they do bring Rocco back

[Tank Decker]

[/quote]
 This isn't only bad news for the Pirates, but for Milwaukee, Cincinnati, and St Louis as well. Not so much Houston, because they potentially could have very deep pockets, and there are signs that they may be managed a little better with new ownership.
[/quote]

well, with Houston out of the picture now, that makes things a little better

[homesystem]

Indian prospect update:

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/major-league-imports-added-to-adelaide/story-e6frecj3-1226171178209

Rinku Singh is still in the system, and is going to play offseason ball for the Adelaide Bite in Australia.  I almost entirely posted this to point out that there's a team called the Adelaide Bite.
Also looks like Calvin 'The Creature' Anderson is going too.

[Tank Decker]

More bad news...

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/baseball/mlb/10/20/jed.hoyer.cubs/index.html?sct=hp_t2_a6&eref=sihp

[homesystem]

More bad news...

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/baseball/mlb/10/20/jed.hoyer.cubs/index.html?sct=hp_t2_a6&eref=sihp

Looks like we could be dealing with our very own Red Sox in the NL Central in a few years...  just when the Buccos might be able to contend in the current mediocre division... what a pisser.

[Jeebas]

Mehhh I have heard about Epstein's success in Boston, but I'm not gonna freak out because the rich dumb kid in the division is gonna be getting advice from some nerd as to how to spend his lunch money.

[pnickers]

[homesystem]

Mehhh I have heard about Epstein's success in Boston, but I'm not gonna freak out because the rich dumb kid in the division is gonna be getting advice from some nerd as to how to spend his lunch money.

It's true- the rich dumb kid is cursed:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curse_of_the_Billy_Goat

And then there's this, which I cite merely because of the name:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merkle%27s_Boner

And within that article, this sentence makes me happy:

"The Cubs went on to win the 1908 World Series, beating Ty Cobb and the Detroit Tigers four games to one. Over a century later, it remains the last championship in Cub franchise history. The Pirates won the 1909 World Series, also against Cobb's Tigers."

[newefezziwig]

I love wikipedia's outline of the doc:
Situation
The Game
The Boner
Aftermath

[Bull]

I ate at the billy goat tavern, it was underground and kinda creepy.

[homesystem]

Since it hasn't been mentioned on here yet, let me just say that this:

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/11/highlights-from-the-new-cba.html

is bullshit.

Particularly this part:

"Draft limits may curb rebuilding efforts -  Teams will face draft spending ceilings in the $4.5-11.5MM range. Clubs like the Pirates, Rays, Indians, Nationals, Blue Jays and Mets had been spending aggressively on the draft, but will have to slow down or face steep fines and lose future selections."

[Tha_Professa]

Steep fines?
So what, Nutting likes to throw his money around, he'll just pay that shit! [/sarcasm]

[pnickers]

And teams who do already have boatloads of cash may just go ahead and pay the fines for top tier draft picks.  It's pretty much bullshit.  But why complain?  No one gives a shit so long as the Yankees and Red Sox can be shown playing each other 57 times a season on ESPN. 

[homesystem]

This looks like it'll probably be good for the Buccos- but it'll also make the draft pretty confusing.. especially the 'formulas involving a combination of winning % and revenue sharing':

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111130&content_id=26059392&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb

[Tank Decker]

This looks like it'll probably be good for the Buccos- but it'll also make the draft pretty confusing.. especially the 'formulas involving a combination of winning % and revenue sharing':

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111130&content_id=26059392&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb

This whole new deal is ridiculous and pretty grim for teams like the Bucs, unless Huntington can find a way to exploit the system.

[pnickers]

Really?  Bad idea, Huntington. 

http://www.postgazette.com/pg/11341/1195189-100.stm

[homesystem]

Really?  Bad idea, Huntington. 

http://www.postgazette.com/pg/11341/1195189-100.stm

Why'd 'em Nuttings go tradin' signin' a Maclaath??

[Tank Decker]

Not a bad deal so long as he isn't being counted on to start. And when he gets traded this summer then we'll have the joy of listening to people complain "abaht tradin' alluver good players away"

[Tank Decker]

Here's a better deal, contingent on this Bedard staying healthy for at least half the season

http://www.bucsdugout.com/

[homesystem]

Here's a better deal, contingent on this Bedard staying healthy for at least half the season

http://www.bucsdugout.com/

Yeah, that's a good signing if he stays healthy.

[Tank Decker]

holy shit, $25mil + for Poo-holes is just fucking ridiculous

But it is the best thing that has happened to the Pirates in a long time. This alone increases their win total by 3-4 games next year. Now if only Fielder can sign in the AL too...

[pnickers]

What?  You don't think the Buccos are trying to get Fielder? 

[Jeebas]

What?  You don't think the Buccos are trying to get Fielder? 

Get him what? A cupcake?

[homesystem]

Ha! Whatta douche!

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/dailypitch/post/2011/12/ryan-braun-steroids-50-game-suspension-appeal/1

[homesystem]

Another problem heading out of the NL Central- although I'd be glad to see the Cardinals or Cubs saddled with his 9-year deal- Detroit's gonna be paying him a lot of money when he's old, fat and useless:

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/01/tigers-to-sign-prince-fielder.html