In our daily Wake-Up Call, we get you ready for the day with a complete look at all things Pittsburgh Pirates.
An Emotional Move to the Corner
It’s no secret the Pittsburgh Pirates have been “taking calls” from other teams about trading Andrew McCutchen. It’s also no secret that he is still a member of the team. One of the most discussed topics at PirateFest was the prospect of McCutchen moving to a corner spot in the outfield. By all metrics, Starling Marte is a better defensive Center Fielder than McCutchen. So it seems likely he will take over as the starting Center Fielder by Opening Day.
Andrew McCutchen seems to take a lot of pride in being a Center Fielder but I think he knows the writing is on the wall. He’s not quite as quick anymore and doesn’t cover nearly as much ground. So a move to Left or Right Field could really benefit him in the long run. It will help him and the Pirates in 2017 and show any future teams that McCutchen is still worthy of investing money into. A position change seems like a legitimate win/win situation for all parties involved. The Pirates and Andrew McCutchen may have a slightly strained relationship but if the team wins and McCutchen plays well, nobody will think about this come the regular season.
Apologists vs. Cynics
This portion of the Wake Up Call will definitely be an op-ed. Recently the Pirates and more specifically their management team have come under fire. Anytime that happens, the internet turns into two major camps. The apologists and the cynics. Every argument eventually ends with the two sides insulting each other and acting like the other isn’t a “real fan.”
I’m almost always accused of being an apologist. When times were good, I could laugh that off but since we’re coming off a mediocre season, the cynical voices are much louder. Let’s get one thing straight, just because people aren’t seething with rage over every move or non-move by the Pirates’ doesn’t make them apologists. You can be objective and question the team without acting like they’re the biggest idiots in the history of sports. At the same time, you can question every move the management team makes and still be a genuine fan. We all follow the Pittsburgh Pirates. Don’t let petty nonsense divide you from your fellow fan. Baseball is all about bringing people together.
Another narrative I am sick of is hearing is that optimistic fans are being conned by the Pirates. There is nothing more condescending than telling other people they’re being conned by of all things a Pro Baseball team. As fans, you have the right to question your ballclub and it’s direction but you can do that without trying to act like you’re above fans that don’t mash their keyboard and tweet #GoNuttingsWallet whenever the Pirates sign a reclamation project. Let’s just focus on the offseason and come together for the regular season. Or does going to baseball games mean we’re getting conned? I can never remember.
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