In our daily Wake-Up Call, we get you ready for the day with a complete look at all things Pittsburgh Pirates …& more.
Some Pittsburgh Pirates fans have adopted the Cleveland Indians as their team to root for in the 2016 postseason. Last night, the Indians punched their ticket to the World Series.
@Reflog_18 @SC_ClevelandNOT @chefsymon @CaseyKulas
Circumstances ✔
Scared pitching ✔
World Series✔#RallyTogether pic.twitter.com/604MHQ2Bl3— Kevin Beard (@TheKevinBeard) October 19, 2016
Once again, fantastic bullpen pitching from Andrew Miller and Cody Allen paved the way for the Tribe. One of the most intriguing moments came late in the game.
Okay, that did not happen, but who can resist posting a clip from – in my opinion – the best baseball movie out there the day after the Cleveland Indians win the ALCS? Regardless, the Indians going to the Fall Classic should serve as some inspiration for Pittsburgh Pirates fans. The Indians have talent up and down their roster, but also rank 22nd in payroll according to Spotrac. With figure that was only about $10 million higher than what the Bucs ended up with this year, the Indians’ journey should give hope to Pirates fans that they too might see this level of success within their lifetimes.
We will have much more on the lessons the Pirates can take away from the Indians in the coming days.
Reds Get a New TV Deal
Normally, a news item such as this would go under our Baseball Talk on the Web segment, but it warrants a deeper mention.
The Cincinnati Reds have entered into a new partnership with their local cable affiliate. Financial terms were not fully disclosed, but it is a given that the Reds will take home something higher than the $30 million on their current deal.
The Reds join the Cardinals, who signed a 15-year/ $1 billion deal last year, as NL Central teams with shiny new television dollars to throw at payroll.
The Pittsburgh Pirates have a famously bad television rights deal that runs through 2019. Concrete figures have never been released, though reporting by Fangraphs back in 2013 pegged it at around $18 million.
None of this is presented as a “doomsday scenario.” The Reds are not going to magically become contenders overnight because of a new TV deal. That is simply not how it works. But the Pirates are quickly getting lapped by their division rivals. In the eyes of many, 2019 cannot get here soon enough.
Baseball Talk on the Web
- Here is a link about nothing. An oral history of the baseball element of Seinfled.
- SB Nation has a fantastic profile on almost-Pittsburgh Pirates SP Rich Hill
- The Post-Gazette’s Stephen Nesbitt had a fantastic comparison involving the defensive prowess of Andrew McCutchen and Dexter Fowler.
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