Fan and Editorial Reaction To McLouth Trade not so good
Morgoth
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in Sports Talk
From Pittsburgh Gazette. I agree with most of his comments, especially the moving target for a finish line and the real question of loyality this trade brings up to the players.
HOUSTON -- In the aftermath of the Nate McLouth trade, one that will reverberate with the Pirates for years, here are three significant lessons that could be learned by Frank Coonelly and Neal Huntington, the two men running the franchise, from the overwhelmingly negative reaction of the players and public:
1. Players do not see themselves as interchangeable pieces.
Although management has made clear -- and acted upon -- its willingness to keep anyone available via trade, sending away McLouth was, as reliever John Grabow described it, "very different" because, as he put it, "you saw the Jason Bay and other ones coming, but Nate was supposed to be part of the core, the future."
That "core" message was stated in bold terms by management when McLouth, starter Paul Maholm and catcher Ryan Doumit were signed to extensions this past winter.
The team uses an internal slogan -- "Pride. Passion. Pittsburgh Pirates" -- one that is emblazoned on the clubhouse wall at PNC Park. And, to the credit of manager John Russell, he and his staff have engendered a strikingly intense loyalty from their players. But the gap created by this trade between the players and upper management will not be easily bridged.
Players take the field for a grueling 162 games, pretty much every day, and they do not care about Class A prospects, Dominican facilities or even $6 million draft picks. They need to know that what they are doing is more meaningful than killing time for a 19-year-old in Lynchburg.
2. A finish line must be drawn.
It is not enough to say, as Huntington reiterated this week, that no one is untouchable. At some point, though maybe not now, the players -- as well as the manager and his staff -- will need to know that the carpet will not keep getting yanked out on an annual basis.
Surely, the argument that Coonelly and Huntington make that mediocrity is unacceptable has great merit: Even with quality starting pitching, these Pirates have appeared no threat to erupt into a contender in 2009, with or without McLouth. Still, when a vital piece -- again, part of the declared "core" -- is removed, it creates the sense that the cycle never will end, that even Andrew McCutchen, Pedro Alvarez and others could be peddled for Class A talent because it promises a better return down the road.
Coonelly and Huntington have stated that they do not favor creating a "window," as baseball people often call it, wherein they envision a limited time to compete with a specific group. But constant turnover means no group will contend.
3. It is always about the money.
In Pittsburgh, as it relates to the Pirates, the topic of money always is at the forefront, even though upper management seemed taken aback by that aspect of the public's reaction.
Most fans, by all accounts, will not believe that the Pirates are doing -- or spending -- all that they can to win until they see evidence at the major league level. Signing Alvarez was important, as will be another strong draft in the coming week and, possibly, the signing of elite Dominican prospect Miguel Angel Sano. But every time a player such as McLouth leaves -- or Adam LaRoche, Jack Wilson and Grabow later this summer -- the charge will be cheapness.
And, so long as the Milwaukee Brewers, based in a market two-thirds the size of Pittsburgh, spend $80 million on major league payroll while the Pirates spend $51 million, the Pirates' front office will not be able to firmly defend the charge.
Power outage in outfield
Perhaps the most powerful aspect of the McLouth trade is the power that is left behind, especially in the outfield. The three starters -- Nyjer Morgan, McCutchen and Brandon Moss -- have one combined home run this season, and newcomer McCutchen had four for Class AAA Indianapolis before his promotion.
That is a far, far cry from the power the Pirates boasted in their outfield early last summer, the best in Major League Baseball with Jason Bay, McLouth and Xavier Nady. And McLouth, in particular, stood out in that he was that rare center fielder with pop.
It was quite the asset, but it might be gone for a long time.
McCutchen's power, if it develops, will not translate nearly as well to PNC Park as McLouth's because the place is much friendlier to left-handed hitters. Moss displays power in batting practice but seldom in games and, when he does, it is to left-center, deepest part of PNC. Among prospects, Jose Tabata has some power but remains unknown. And Gorkys Hernandez, the Class AA prospect in the McLouth trade, profiles like Morgan.
Consider this, too: If LaRoche is traded this summer, the Pirates will be left with only the switch-hitting Doumit for power from the left side. That would put them right back where they were for most of the Dave Littlefield era in that critical area.
Timely giveaways
Lynchburg, the Pirates' Class A affiliate, inadvertently has set up a promotional series that looks perfectly timed with the mood of the fan base in Pittsburgh.
On July 17, the Hillcats will give away an Aramis Ramirez bobblehead.
On Aug. 14, they will give away McLouth.
Insert obligatory one-liner here.
Morton's acquisition a signal
Be sure that the message was received when the Pirates acquired Class AAA starter Charlie Morton in the McLouth trade. He immediately found a spot on management's depth chart above anyone currently in Indianapolis, and he soon should leap above at least one in Pittsburgh.
Expect that to affect Snell and Gorzelanny the most.
Snell will need to pitch well, beginning this afternoon at Minute Maid Park, to keep his place in the rotation. If not, when Morton arrives as expected within the month, he will bump Snell to the bullpen. Or, Snell could be traded.
Gorzelanny, despite being effective in relief to the point Russell has used him in situations where he clearly does not trust others, still sounds destined to return to Indianapolis to resume starting. But that might get him blocked, so a trade is a possibility there, too, especially given the hot market for major-league ready starters in Class AAA.
Last word from No. 13
Perhaps the most poignant quote from McLouth in his time with the Pirates, one that resonates especially this weekend, came after the final home game last season.
He was speaking of luring more of Pittsburgh's most rabid sports fans to PNC Park ...
"There's nothing I want more than what the Penguins have, to have those people on our side, to have other teams fear coming here," he said Sept. 21. "And that might look impossible now, but there was a time not that long ago at Mellon Arena when you could walk up and get a center-ice seat. Look at it now. ... That's what I want here, in our place. But that's up to us."
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09158/975649-63.stm#ixzz0Ht8re8M0&D
HOUSTON -- In the aftermath of the Nate McLouth trade, one that will reverberate with the Pirates for years, here are three significant lessons that could be learned by Frank Coonelly and Neal Huntington, the two men running the franchise, from the overwhelmingly negative reaction of the players and public:
1. Players do not see themselves as interchangeable pieces.
Although management has made clear -- and acted upon -- its willingness to keep anyone available via trade, sending away McLouth was, as reliever John Grabow described it, "very different" because, as he put it, "you saw the Jason Bay and other ones coming, but Nate was supposed to be part of the core, the future."
That "core" message was stated in bold terms by management when McLouth, starter Paul Maholm and catcher Ryan Doumit were signed to extensions this past winter.
The team uses an internal slogan -- "Pride. Passion. Pittsburgh Pirates" -- one that is emblazoned on the clubhouse wall at PNC Park. And, to the credit of manager John Russell, he and his staff have engendered a strikingly intense loyalty from their players. But the gap created by this trade between the players and upper management will not be easily bridged.
Players take the field for a grueling 162 games, pretty much every day, and they do not care about Class A prospects, Dominican facilities or even $6 million draft picks. They need to know that what they are doing is more meaningful than killing time for a 19-year-old in Lynchburg.
2. A finish line must be drawn.
It is not enough to say, as Huntington reiterated this week, that no one is untouchable. At some point, though maybe not now, the players -- as well as the manager and his staff -- will need to know that the carpet will not keep getting yanked out on an annual basis.
Surely, the argument that Coonelly and Huntington make that mediocrity is unacceptable has great merit: Even with quality starting pitching, these Pirates have appeared no threat to erupt into a contender in 2009, with or without McLouth. Still, when a vital piece -- again, part of the declared "core" -- is removed, it creates the sense that the cycle never will end, that even Andrew McCutchen, Pedro Alvarez and others could be peddled for Class A talent because it promises a better return down the road.
Coonelly and Huntington have stated that they do not favor creating a "window," as baseball people often call it, wherein they envision a limited time to compete with a specific group. But constant turnover means no group will contend.
3. It is always about the money.
In Pittsburgh, as it relates to the Pirates, the topic of money always is at the forefront, even though upper management seemed taken aback by that aspect of the public's reaction.
Most fans, by all accounts, will not believe that the Pirates are doing -- or spending -- all that they can to win until they see evidence at the major league level. Signing Alvarez was important, as will be another strong draft in the coming week and, possibly, the signing of elite Dominican prospect Miguel Angel Sano. But every time a player such as McLouth leaves -- or Adam LaRoche, Jack Wilson and Grabow later this summer -- the charge will be cheapness.
And, so long as the Milwaukee Brewers, based in a market two-thirds the size of Pittsburgh, spend $80 million on major league payroll while the Pirates spend $51 million, the Pirates' front office will not be able to firmly defend the charge.
Power outage in outfield
Perhaps the most powerful aspect of the McLouth trade is the power that is left behind, especially in the outfield. The three starters -- Nyjer Morgan, McCutchen and Brandon Moss -- have one combined home run this season, and newcomer McCutchen had four for Class AAA Indianapolis before his promotion.
That is a far, far cry from the power the Pirates boasted in their outfield early last summer, the best in Major League Baseball with Jason Bay, McLouth and Xavier Nady. And McLouth, in particular, stood out in that he was that rare center fielder with pop.
It was quite the asset, but it might be gone for a long time.
McCutchen's power, if it develops, will not translate nearly as well to PNC Park as McLouth's because the place is much friendlier to left-handed hitters. Moss displays power in batting practice but seldom in games and, when he does, it is to left-center, deepest part of PNC. Among prospects, Jose Tabata has some power but remains unknown. And Gorkys Hernandez, the Class AA prospect in the McLouth trade, profiles like Morgan.
Consider this, too: If LaRoche is traded this summer, the Pirates will be left with only the switch-hitting Doumit for power from the left side. That would put them right back where they were for most of the Dave Littlefield era in that critical area.
Timely giveaways
Lynchburg, the Pirates' Class A affiliate, inadvertently has set up a promotional series that looks perfectly timed with the mood of the fan base in Pittsburgh.
On July 17, the Hillcats will give away an Aramis Ramirez bobblehead.
On Aug. 14, they will give away McLouth.
Insert obligatory one-liner here.
Morton's acquisition a signal
Be sure that the message was received when the Pirates acquired Class AAA starter Charlie Morton in the McLouth trade. He immediately found a spot on management's depth chart above anyone currently in Indianapolis, and he soon should leap above at least one in Pittsburgh.
Expect that to affect Snell and Gorzelanny the most.
Snell will need to pitch well, beginning this afternoon at Minute Maid Park, to keep his place in the rotation. If not, when Morton arrives as expected within the month, he will bump Snell to the bullpen. Or, Snell could be traded.
Gorzelanny, despite being effective in relief to the point Russell has used him in situations where he clearly does not trust others, still sounds destined to return to Indianapolis to resume starting. But that might get him blocked, so a trade is a possibility there, too, especially given the hot market for major-league ready starters in Class AAA.
Last word from No. 13
Perhaps the most poignant quote from McLouth in his time with the Pirates, one that resonates especially this weekend, came after the final home game last season.
He was speaking of luring more of Pittsburgh's most rabid sports fans to PNC Park ...
"There's nothing I want more than what the Penguins have, to have those people on our side, to have other teams fear coming here," he said Sept. 21. "And that might look impossible now, but there was a time not that long ago at Mellon Arena when you could walk up and get a center-ice seat. Look at it now. ... That's what I want here, in our place. But that's up to us."
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09158/975649-63.stm#ixzz0Ht8re8M0&D
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Comments
Dear Pirates Fan,
On the heels of this Wednesday's trade with the Atlanta Braves, I felt it was important that you hear directly from me as to why this move brings us closer to our goal of building a consistent championship organization and providing you a team of which you will be proud.
Obviously this was a very difficult decision as Nate is a quality player and person. We knew this move was not going to be popular in the clubhouse with our players or among our fan base who have suffered through a long stretch of losing seasons. Despite recognizing the probable unpopularity of this trade, we believed it to be the right step for our organization and made a sound baseball decision.
The quality and quantity of the players we received in this trade was the crucial component to this trade. We are excited about the three young players we received. We have been interested in and closely monitored all three of these players for some time as they are highly regarded by us and by most within the industry.
Charlie Morton is a power right-handed starting pitcher with upside, who should be ready to help us this year in Pittsburgh. In fact, in his first outing for our Triple-A affiliate, he tossed seven scoreless innings, giving up only four hits while striking out seven. Jeff Locke is an intriguing young left handed starter with the frame, athleticism and stuff to become a quality major league starting pitcher. Gorkys Hernandez is a dynamic athlete who has the speed and potential to become an above average everyday major league outfielder. It is worth noting that these three players were rumored to be sought by the Padres when they were talking to the Braves about trading former Cy Young award winner Jake Peavy.
Additionally, Andrew McCutchen has proven that he is ready to take the next step and begin his career at the Major League level. Andrew has done what we have asked of him in Triple-A and showed he was ready for the challenges of the Major League level. Andrew is an intelligent, hard working player that has shown the present ability to play impact defense in centerfield. While we do not expect Andrew to replace Nate's power production immediately, Andrew is an exciting top-of-the-order player who proved this spring that he can be an exciting part of a productive offense.
Ultimately, to become a championship team we need more championship caliber players at all levels. As difficult as these types of trades are to make, they are an important part of the talent acquisition and development process that will position us to be a consistent championship caliber organization sooner rather than later.
I understand why some people at first glance may believe this move was financially motivated, but I can assure you that this was strictly a baseball decision. In fact, our owner Bob Nutting was as surprised as some of our fans when we sought his approval for this trade. I am grateful that he has the faith in me, our baseball operations staff and the processes we have in place to approve a move like this, despite the risk of public backlash on him personally and the organization as a whole. Furthermore, I am appreciative that he continues to provide us with the resources necessary to build a championship caliber organization. Whether we sought to build our new facilities in Bradenton and the Dominican Republic, sign our young major league players to long-term deals, triple our amateur signing bonus budget in order to be aggressive in acquiring talent both domestically and internationally or significantly increase our scouting and development budgets, Bob was willing to provide the resources necessary to make these fundamental changes.
We have said several times that tough decisions will need to be made as we build and sustain a championship caliber organization. The decision to trade Nate was perhaps the most difficult one both personally and professionally that we have made to date. Tough decisions are not always popular. However, we have a singular focus on our goal of building an organization that can consistently compete for championships, not simply finish above .500. The organizational talent level has been vastly improved during the past two years and, as a result, we are a much stronger organization and closer to our ultimate goal.
Your understanding of the situation is greatly appreciated by all of us in the organization. Your passion for this team is the driving force behind our motivation to bring winning baseball back to you, the fans of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Sincerely,
Neal Huntington
Senior Vice President and General Manager
Pittsburgh Pirates
Sincerely,
Maz