The Pirates have been about the worst team in baseball for the last 30-40 years. It is crazy how well they are playing this year. Best team in baseball right now correct? or one of the top ones. Look at the Rays, one of the smallest payrolls but each year they make the postseason somehow. Especially the last few years. Teams like the Yankees, Phillies, Red Sox, Rangers, Angels etc. have a huge advantage over teams such as Rays, Pirates, Astros, Royals, Rockies. Bigger markets draw bigger attendances/free agents which boost sales, which in turn boosts revenue, which boosts overall funds.
- BoltsFan4Life

The problem is Pittsburgh really hasn't capitalized on its brutalness of years ago as far as the draft. Littlefield made some ridiculous picks and very few have panned out - absent McCutchen, Walker, Alvarez.

The Pirates are playing well - only because of the pitching staff. The team is anemic offensively. I'm glad to see they are playing well and hope it continues. The Bucs' fans have been through alot with this franchise for the last two decades. We need to add another quality contact bat to the lineup.

You don't think they have already tried that?
- Ryan_Wilson

Yes but now the Russians know the NHL can do squat about it.

Yes but now the Russians know the NHL can do squat about it.
- VANTEL

Actually New Jersey agreed to letting Kovalchuk out of the contract. Had they not things would not have gone down the way they did.

Actually New Jersey agreed to letting Kovalchuk out of the contract. Had they not things would not have gone down the way they did.
- Ryan_Wilson

But the KHLs response would be it is okay for one but not others? American laws and contracts mean very little to Russia

But the KHLs response would be it is okay for one but not others? American laws and contracts mean very little to Russia
- VANTEL

IIHF wouldn't look too kindly on that, given that it is an Olympic year in Russia I would assume that would hold some weight.

IIHF wouldn't look too kindly on that, given that it is an Olympic year in Russia I would assume that would hold some weight.
- Ryan_Wilson

Olympics are over in Feb, after that it could be a free for all.

Olympics are over in Feb, after that it could be a free for all.
- VANTEL

World Championships are every year.

World Championships are every year.
- Ryan_Wilson

I personally don't think some mafia owner in Russia gives a rats ass ,half as much ,as filling the arenas every game with a star player.

I personally don't think some mafia owner in Russia gives a rats ass ,half as much ,as filling the arenas every game with a star player.
- VANTEL

Russians care about the World Championship. If star players start breaking their NHL contracts the IIHF would step in and most likely stop those players from participating in future tournaments for Russia.

There is not going to be a mass exodus from Russian NHL players back home.

This is from 2009 http://slapshot.blogs.nyt...n-contract-jumping-cases/

Which is why we need to have some game between the khl and NHL. NHL all stars vs. khl all stars?
- drummer829

A new Summit series. Take the best the NHL has to offer vs the best the KHL has to offer and let them go.

I personally don't think some mafia owner in Russia gives a rats ass ,half as much ,as filling the arenas every game with a star player.
- VANTEL

They won't but the governing internation hockey body will.

A new Summit series. Take the best the NHL has to offer vs the best the KHL has to offer and let them go.
- Ben37

There you go. Let's make this happen

They won't but the governing internation hockey body will.
- Ben37

Again I don't think a mafia owner cares squat about the IIHL . He cares about his team only

I am very cautious about my enthusiasm for the Bucs. Last year the hitting disappeared then the starting pitching went and it was a painful last few monthsot the season.

This year the bats are struggling again, but the pitching has been lights out. We'll see, if they keep it up perhaps they get into the wild card playin game. Even though I'll take .500 at this point.

Again I don't think a mafia owner cares squat about the IIHL . He cares about his team only
- VANTEL

That's fine but the Russian National team will care and so will the player who gets banned.

Sucks that the honest Russians are gonna be under the microscope because of what that scumbag did.

Sucks that the honest Russians are gonna be under the microscope because of what that scumbag did.
- Xnightwish

Smart executives will take things on an individual basis and not paint a group of people with a broad brush

Smart executives will take things on an individual basis and not paint a group of people with a broad brush
- Ryan_Wilson

Where's the fun in that?

When you write "thanks for reading" at the end of your blog, it makes people want to read more of your blogs and pass them on, share them , etc.

Good for you. You're a winner.

Sucks that the honest Russians are gonna be under the microscope because of what that scumbag did.
- Xnightwish

It's not one scumbag, its three or four. Filatov and Radulov are two more. There will be more coming.

The problem is Pittsburgh really hasn't capitalized on its brutalness of years ago as far as the draft. Littlefield made some ridiculous picks and very few have panned out - absent McCutchen, Walker, Alvarez.

The Pirates are playing well - only because of the pitching staff. The team is anemic offensively. I'm glad to see they are playing well and hope it continues. The Bucs' fans have been through alot with this franchise for the last two decades. We need to add another quality contact bat to the lineup.
- Oneonta Penguin

Littlefield made his picks based on "signability". He deliberately took lesser prospects simply because the Pirates ownership wouldn't pay for the best prospects. No doubt he was a lousy GM but the real villain was ownership. Imagine how much further ahead this team would be if they chose Wieters over Bullington.

I'm still not sold on this team for any long term viability simply because they prefer to line their pockets before paying players, but I'll give Huntington some credit. He refused to take the job unless he could draft the best players.

Bob Nutting is and always will be a total scumbag.

I am very cautious about my enthusiasm for the Bucs. Last year the hitting disappeared then the starting pitching went and it was a painful last few monthsot the season.

This year the bats are struggling again, but the pitching has been lights out. We'll see, if they keep it up perhaps they get into the wild card playin game. Even though I'll take .500 at this point.
- Sell My Monkey

I'm very guarded in my optimism. I'm very happy with the success, but this team is flawed. If the pitching wasn't spot on, this team would be among the worst in the league. You have Cutch, Marte, Alvarez and RussMart. After that, you don't have much supplying the offense. Garrett Jones, I guess. Neil Walker has been a disappointment thus far.

We need to either acquire a first baseman to move Jones out to RF; or a RF and keep Jones at 1st. We don't need a home run hitter either, just a contact hitter.

When you write "thanks for reading" at the end of your blog, it makes people want to read more of your blogs and pass them on, share them , etc.

Good for you. You're a winner.
- JLO961

I'm grateful that people take the time to read what I write. There are a lot of hockey options out there to choose from.

Littlefield made his picks based on "signability". He deliberately took lesser prospects simply because the Pirates ownership wouldn't pay for the best prospects. No doubt he was a lousy GM but the real villain was ownership. Imagine how much further ahead this team would be if they chose Wieters over Bullington.

I'm still not sold on this team for any long term viability simply because they prefer to line their pockets before paying players, but I'll give Huntington some credit. He refused to take the job unless he could draft the best players.

Bob Nutting is and always will be a total scumbag.
- madmike71

Nutting is a scumbag and will always be that. He has stolen money from Pirates fans for as long as he has owned the team.

Littlefield took Moskos because of his ties to Clemson. If Moskos was pitching at Kansas State, we don't take him.

Neal has made some mistakes (Barmes), but yet, has done well in deals as well. He took chances on Burnett and Liriano and they are paying off. Signing Russell Martin was a godsend. The farm system has been reconstructed to one of the best in the league. Neal has the goods to go out and get Giancarlo Stanton if he wanted to.

Nutting is a scumbag and will always be that. He has stolen money from Pirates fans for as long as he has owned the team.

Littlefield took Moskos because of his ties to Clemson. If Moskos was pitching at Kansas State, we don't take him.

Neal has made some mistakes (Barmes), but yet, has done well in deals as well. He took chances on Burnett and Liriano and they are paying off. Signing Russell Martin was a godsend. The farm system has been reconstructed to one of the best in the league. Neal has the goods to go out and get Giancarlo Stanton if he wanted to.
- Oneonta Penguin

That's right, it was Moskos over Wieters.

Burnett wouldn't be a Pirate if the Yankee's weren't paying half of his salary. It's amazing NY agreed to that deal. Again, credit to Huntington.