A (Strange) Look at The 2012 World Series

As the 2012 World Series begins, the announcer introduces the home team: "Ladies and gentlemen, the National League Champions, your Pittsburgh Pirates." Here's the lineup (the youngest in the majors):

"Batting first, and playing center field, Andy McCutcheon." He was promoted there in 2009 when the Pirates traded Nate McLouth to the Braves.

"Batting second, and playing left field, Gorkys Hernandez." He was acquired for McLouth in the trade with the Braves.

"Batting third, and playing right field, Jose Tabata." He was a prospect acquired from the Yankees in 2008 for Xavier Nady.

"Batting fourth and playing third base, Pedro Alvarez." He was signed in 2008 using the salary saved by trading Jason Bay for four prospects in 2008.

"Batting fifth and playing shortstop, Miguel Angel Sano." He was one of the first teenaged Dominican players acquired in the Pirates's new push for such players.

Batting sixth and playing first base, Howard Ryan. He's the new 'Ryan Howard', who was acquired from the Phillies in exchange for Ian Snell, a "good" pitcher (by Phillies' standards). This was a reprise of the offer of Howard for pitcher Kip Wells, which Pirates manager Dave Littlefield turned down in 2005.  

"Batting seventh and playing second base, Andy LaRoche." Acquired in the Bay trade, he was moved to second, like his predecessor, Freddy Sanchez, to make room for Pedro Alvarez. Sanchez, meanwhile was not offered a new contract, due to the glut of second basemen.

Batting eighth and catching, Robinzon Diaz. He was acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays for Jose Bautista.

"Batting ninth and pitching, Dallas Braden." He was the 2011 American League Cy Young winner acquired from the Oakland As for both Paul Maholm, and Zach Duke.

The other members of the rotation are Charlie Morton, Jeff Locke (these two acquired for Nate McLouth), and Ross Ohlendorf and Jeff Karstens, plus "reserve" starter/long reliever Dan McCutcheon  (the other components of the trade of Nady and Damasco Marte).

The visiting team is the Boston Red Sox, and its new captain is none other than the former Pirate, Jason Bay, traded in 2008.

It also includes Jose Bautista (also traded in 2008) at third base. Valued by the Red Sox for his high on base percentage, he was received from the Blue Jays for a pitcher they needed.

There's also Nate McLouth, traded to the Braves in 2009, re-traded by Atlanta for another pitcher, now playing right, not center field.

And the shortstop is Jack Wilson, signed after the Pirates declined to renew his contract. He's the reverse of ours, a strong defender and light hitter who bats ninth in American League parks.

Plus Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury, and Jason Varitek, among "earlier" Red Sox.

The team we (mostly) might have had, versus the team we've got, which Pirates' management is now building. And this is the team that will someday go to the World Series IF the players are as good as management says they are.

But that's a big IF. In fact, this might be described as a BEST CASE scenario, resulting from the Pirates' recent trades.

But let's get real. There's a good chance either Morton or Locke, or possibly Gorkys Hernandez in the batch won't last in the big leagues; it would be a miracle if all of them did. Ditto for the "tag team" of elite prospects, Alvarez and Tabata.

It's also expecting a lot to believe that both Andy LaRoche and Brandon Moss will both work out, which is why it didn't make sense to trade proven performer Jason Bay for them.

It's possible that Ohlendorf and Karstens represent only one starter and one reliever between them. And Oakland's Billy Beane would have traded his ace to us because he would feel that two above average pitchers are a safer investment than one elite pitcher.

The other problem is, this is a team that no long term Pirate fan will remember (everyone joined the Pirates in 2008 or later).

On the other hand, the Pirates' line-up from the 1960s and early 1970s didn't change much from year to year. Bob Bailey at third base. Billy Virdon (then Mattie Alou) in center field. Roberto Clemente in right field. Willie Stargell in left. Donn Clendenon at first base. Bill Mazeroski at second. Gene Alley, at shortstop.

The catchers and pitchers had the most changes. But apart from them, the above were our players year in and year out (with numerous replacements in the early to mid 1970s).

These guys would often win, sometimes not, and more than their share. (Three world series in twenty years represented a triple share, even allowing for the fact that the period began with only 20 major league teams.)

And even a kid knew that when "the team" didn't win, it wasn't their fault but rather that other teams had "tag teams" of star players like Lou Brock and Curt Flood (St. Louis Cardinals), or pitching duos like Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale (LA Dodgers), or Jim Bunning (later a Pirate) and Chris Short (Philadelphia Phillies).

Baseball is about winning. But it is not just about winning. It's about getting behind a team and rooting for it.

One has to wonder about all the changes that have been made to the Pirates, recently. Is it really better to win with strangers than to lose with friends? Is this a team a Pittsburgher can get behind and root for, especially with "real" Pirates on the other side? And if these guys don't win, what's left?