The Mets open up a four game series tonight with the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. As a fan I really like the look PNC Park has, I just wish there were more fans in th seats. This is by no means a knock on Pirates fans. Its been 16 years since the Bucks have had a winning season. That is a season where they finished over.500.
If you’re a Pirate fan, you are either incredibly loyal, or you like misery.
Back in the late 1970’s, the Pirates were one of the toughest teams in the NL East. Those were the Pirates of Willie “Pops” Stargell, and Dave “The Snake” Parker. I remember watching a young second baseman, who would later become a manager of the Mets break in with the Pirates (Willie Randolph).
In the early 1990’s the Pirates were once again a force to be reckoned with. These were the Pirates of Andy Van Slyke, Barry Bonds and Bobby Bonilla. Current Detroit Tiger’s manager, Jim Leyland was the Pirates skipper back then.
Since the early 1990’s the Buckos have fallen on tough times. Whether it was poor ownership, or bad management decisions, the Pirates just haven’t been able to hit the .500 mark, and that’s too bad. They have the Super Bowl Champion Steelers, the Penguins are battling the Detroit Red Wings for the Stanley Cup. They need a decent baseball team.
That said, I do believe the Pirates are on the right track. They are pretty good up the middle. There regular catcher Doumit is out for the season with an injury, but at second base they have Freddy Sanchez, the one time NL batting champ. Jack Wilson is solid at short, and Nate McLouth in center is going to be a huge star. The Pirate infield is rounded out by the La Roche brothers at the corners. Outfielder Nyjer Morgan is another potential big star.
I really wish the Pirates well in the future (so long as the Mets only play them 7 times a year). This once proud franchise, in this great sports city deserves to be a winner again.
