Just Follow The Leader

The Anaheim Angels are a team that exudes the "dirt dog" mentality of their manager, Mike Scioscia. The world champion New Yankees are the personification of their disciplined field general, Joe Girardi. Likewise, the Pittsburgh Pirates are another team that reflects the persona of the man at the helm.

John Russell had a 10-year major league career as a catcher, with a 162 game average of 12 homers and 47 runs batted in. His batting average was a rather miniscule .225.

Whether or not the members of the Pirates' 2009 Major League roster were aware of their skipper’s batting prowess, they did their best to emulate his statistics. The Pirates finished dead last (30th) in the Majors in runs scored, 28th in batting average, 28th in home runs and 28th in RBI. Like brethren managers Scioscia and Girardi, who were also catchers, Russell seemed to have a grasp on handling his pitching staff. The Pirates  starters were a surprising seventh in the majors in quality starts.

Russell, himself, was a first round draft pick, so he should be well suited to handle the up and coming minor leaguers on whom the Pirate organization seem to be hanging all hope of future success.  Of course, Israel and Palestine are still hoping for peace in the Middle East. Given the Pirates' current 17-year streak of futility in posting losing records, it is an even bet which will come first, if either ever does.

A seasoned minor league manager, Russell posted a 280-288 mark managing Triple A teams (409-482 if you consider the Pirates to be a Triple A team, as some do). But each April, every team starts with zero wins and zero losses, and Russell tries to kindle a spirit of hope within his troops. Given his current roster, it is akin to trying to make Lobster Bisque with imitation crabmeat.

Majority owner Bob Nutting points to the foundation the Pirates have built in recent drafts as the cornerstone for a future turnaround. He sounds a bit like a Washington politician trying to put a positive spin on the latest health care proposal.  

The foundation that has been built on his watch so far is severely flawed. The veteran leadership on the current roster resides more in the backup positions than it does the starters. So much for leading by example. You’ll pay more for a weeklong stay in Nutting’s posh Seven Springs Mountain Resort than you would earn as a backup catcher on his major league club. (OK, not quite that much, but you get the picture.)

The Pirates' payroll for 2010 projects to be $40-45 million, including bonuses. Notable free agents of any worth avoid the Steel City as if it were a leper colony. It’s not even worth entertaining a visit to Pittsburgh when the monetary compensation is going to be far below market value. At least the hapless Washington Nationals make an effort to lure big names such as Mark Texeira with extravagant contract offers.

So, if you want to know why the Pittsburgh Pirates are doomed to continue to be the most consistent losers in the history of organized sports, look no further than Bob Nutting. It’s not John Russell’s fault that his roster isn’t as talented as the other managers he has to match wits with. The owner is the one who is far too shortsighted to pay money to a few established veterans now because he perceives no immediate return on that investment.  

The odds on the Pirates winning the World Series are currently at 125-1. That is tied with Washington for dead last. Division rivals such as Milwaukee and Cincinnati have odds at 40-1. That is tied for 19th highest.  

Still, there is legitimate hope that with a Ryan Braun and a Prince Fielder, the Brewers could catch lightning in a bottle and make the playoffs. Conan O’Brien has a better chance of hosting The Tonight Show in October than the Pirates do of playing baseball then.

The middle of the Brewers lineup projects to make about a combined $12 million in 2010. The 3-4-5 spots in the Pittsburgh lineup figure to rake in compensation just a little north of $5 million combined. Which seems like the better value when April begins.

MIL  Ryan Braun         25-years-old    32 HR  - 114 RBI  -  .320  BAV in 2009

MIL  Prince Fielder      25-years-old    46 HR  - 141 RBI  -  .291  BAV in 2009

MIL  Casey McGehee  26-years-old    16 HR -   66 RBI   -  .301  BAV in 2009

                             or

PIT    Garrett Jones      28-years-old     21 HR -  44 RBI   -   .293  BAV in 2009

PIT    Ryan Doumit       29-years-old     10 HR  -  38 RBI  -  . 250  BAV in 2009

PIT    Lastings Milledge  25-years-old     4 HR   -  21 RBI  -   .279 BAV in 2009

The Brewers' farm team, the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, are a closer match to the Pirates than the major league team. But that’s just what the 2010 Pittsburgh Pirates are this year: a good Triple-A ball club.  

That’s the way Bob Nutting runs the team; minor league all the way. So if you want to know why the Pirates are destined for continued futility, just follow the leader. The fish rots from the head down. Imitation crabmeat stinks just as bad as lobster when it’s left out in the sun all day. Bob Nutting would rather buy imitation than have to pay money for the real thing.