Pittsburgh Pirates Wake Up Call – Make Or Break

In our daily Wake-Up Call, we get you ready for the day with a complete look at all things Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates Have Reached an Inflection Point

The Pittsburgh Pirates enjoyed a true day off yesterday. After an earlier grueling 30+ day stretch with no break, the team played “just” 16 games in a row before this respite.

Manager Clint Hurdle should hope that his charges used the day off to mentally prepare for the next ten games, which may very well make or break their season.

Those ten games – three in Oakland, four in St. Louis, and three at PNC Park versus the Chicago Cubs – serve as a precusor to the All Star Break. The slate may also be the deciding factor on the team’s postseason plans.

At 38-41, the Pirates will need to start making some serious hay if they have any plans for October baseball. The next ten games could also decide if the club intends to be buyers or sellers at this year’s trade deadline.

A 7-3 record through this stretch would give the club a 45-44 record. This organization has long since abandoned the idea of a .500 record as being a “goal,” yet  getting a game over .500 would serve as a moral victory. It may also propel the team to push forward towards the second NL Wild Card. It may compel them to begin selling off pieces such as Mark Melancon and David Freese.

Not a Minor Matter

There is an issue swelling that would not only affect the Pittsburgh Pirates, but all of baseball.

Minor League Baseball players have long considered to be underpaid for the toil they put in to their craft. A lawsuit brought by former MiLB players in California back in 2015 is in the news again as Congress has opened legislation nullifying the plantiff’s request to receive overtime and fair pay.

We here at Pirates Breakdown broached the topic of MiLB pay back in March. From our findings:

[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”#000000″ class=”” size=””]MiLB says that in a player’s first contract year, they will be paid $1,100 per month. It doesn’t appear that MLB and MiLB make the actual wage scale available. However, there are a few sites out there that give you a an idea of how it looks. Short-Season Teams vary, at about $1,150 per month. Low-A sees a small increase to $1,300 per month. High-A tops out at $1,500 per month.[/perfectpullquote]

Though the Double-A and Triple-A levels do receive raises that push salaries over $2,000, the alarming reality that is an ‘entry level’ minor league player’s salary is sobering.

This is something that every baseball fan should keep an eye on. The eventual resolution of this issue may have an extreme ripple effect on how baseball’s business is done.

Baseball Talk On The Web

• In a move that may set the market for headline relievers, the Miami Marlins acquired Fernando Rodney late last night.
• Today is Bobby Bonilla pay day. Just 19 more years to go.  ESPN has the details of the best contract ever signed in sports.
• Our friends Jays From the Couch put out a quality Blue Jays podcast that you should all enjoy.  Here’s their latest.